Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-08
THE WHITE COMPANY
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.
CHAPTER XXI.
How the Company Took Counsel Round
the Fallen Tree.

C0AE1GA AAAAAs
How the Company Took Counsel Round
the Fallen Tree.
where is Sir Claude Latour?" asked Sir
Nigel, as his feet touched ground.
He Is In camp near Montpezat, t"o
hours march from here, my fair lord saio
Johnston. the grizzled bowman who COM
manded the archers.
Then we shall march thither. for would
fain have you all back at OAK in time 10
be in the princes vanguard"
my lord cried Aleyne, joyfully, here
are our chargers in the field, and l see your
harness amid the plumber which these
rogues have left behind them
by ST. Ives! you speak sooth. young
squire" said Du Guesclin. There Is my
horse and my ladys jennet. The knaves
led them from the stables. but fled without
them. Now. Nigel, it is great JOY to me 70
have seen one of whom 1 have often heaTa.
Yet we must leave you now, for L must DC
with the king-of Spain ere your army
crosses the mountains
"I had thought that you were IN Spain
with the valiant Henry of Trastamare.
II have been there but l came to France
to raise succor for him. l shall ride oack'
Nigel, with four thousand of the best lances
OF France at my back, so that your prince
may find he hath a task which Is worthy
y
we meet again in better times!
Il do not think" said Sir Nigel as ne
stood by Alleyne's side, looking after the
French knight and his lady, that IN an
Christendom you will meet with a more
stout hearted man or a fairer and SWEEPER
dame. But your face is pale ana SAD,
Aleyne! Have you perchance met Win
some hurt during the ruftie?
my friend Ford, and how he sat upon my
couch no later than yesternight
Sir Nigel shook his head sadly. Two we
brave sauires have l lost, said ne; l
know not why the young shoots should be
plucked, and an old weed left standing; YET
certes there must be some good reason,
since God hath so planned 1t. Dld you .no .
note Alleyne that the Lady T1phane oio
give us warning last night that aahsei wa"
coming upon uS?'
''She did, my lord
...By st. Paul! my mind misgives me as to
what she saw at Twynham Castle. Ana YET
l cannot think that any Scottish or
French rovers could land in such force as
to beleaguer the fortalice. CAL the com
pany together Aylward; and let US on, Tor
1t will be shame to us If we are not at DdA
uron the tryStng-day.
The archers had spread themselves over
thu ruins but a blast upon bugle Drought
them all back to the muster with sue
booty as they could bear with them stulie '
into their pouches or slung over their Shout
ders AS they formed into ranks, each man
dropping silently into his place, Sir Niger
ran a questioning eye over them, ana d
smile of pleasure played over his race ian
and sineWv and brown, clear-eyed. hard-
featured with the stern and prompt bearing
of experienced soldiers, 1t would be nara
indeed for leader to seek for cholcer
following. Here and there In the RAMS ann
were old soldiers of the French wars, grlz-
zled and lean, with fierce. puckered feat
ures and shaggy, bristling brows Inc
most however. were young and dandy arch-
ers with fresh English faces, their peaIos
hot l1air
their close steel hufkens. with gold or Jew
eled earrings cleaning in their ears Whlie
their gold-spangled baldrics, their sllken
belts and the chains which many OF theH1
wore round their thick brown necks, all
spoke of the brave times which they had
had as free companions. Each had a yew
OF hazel stave slung over his shoulder, pam
and serviceable with the older men, pu,
paudiIv PAINTED and carved at either end
with the Others Steel caps, mail brlgan-
dimes white surcoats with the red Hon OF
ST. George and sword or battle-aX SWING
ins, from their belts, completed TINS
murderous maule or hve-foot maiiel
was hung across the bow-stave, be ng 1as-
tened to their leathern shoulder-beit by
hook in the center of the handle. SIT
Nigers heart beat high as he looked upon
their free bearing and fearless faces.
For two ours they marched through for.
est and marshland along the LETT bank OF
fine river Averyron: Sir Nigel riding behind
his company with AHeyne at his right hand,
and Johnston, the old master bowman;
walking by his left stirrup. Ere they had
reached their journeys end the knight had
learned all that he would know of his men,
their doings and their intentions. Once
as they marched, they saw upon the further
bank of the river a body of French men-at-
arms riding very swiftly in the direction or
Villefranche. ~,
following" said Johnston. shading his eyes
with his hand. Had he been on this SIDE
OF the water, he might have attempted
something upon us
.I think that il would be well that we
should cross" said Sir Nigel. 1T We're pity
to balk this worthy seneschal, should ne
desire to try some small feat of arms
Nay, there IS no ford nearer than iour-
Vile" answered the old archer. He is on
his way to Villefranche, and short VIII De
the shrift of any Jacks who come into ms
hands. for he is a man of snort speech. 1t
was he and the Seneschal of Beaucalre Who
hung Peter Wilkins. of the company, last
Iammastide; for which, by the black ROOD
of Waltham they shall hang themse! ives,
If ever they come into our power. But mere
are our comrades, Sir Nigel, and here Is
our camp
AS he spoke, the forest pathway along
which they marched opened out into q
green glade, which sloped down toward the
river. High, leafless trees girth 1t IN on
three sides. with a thick underground OF
holly between their trunks. At the further
end of this forest clearing there stood forty
or fifty huts, built very neatly from woou
and clay with the blue smoke curling OUT
from the roofs. A dozen tethered horses
and mules grazed around the encampment,
while a number OF archers lounged about
some shooting at marks, while others punt
up great wooden fires in the open, and hung
their cooking kettles above them. AT the
sight of their returning comrades there was
a shout of welcome, and horseman, VINO
had been exercising his charger behind tne
camp, came cantering down to them he
was a dapper, brisk man, very richly clao,
with q round, clean-shaven face. and very
bright black eyes, which danced ana
sparkled with excitement.
Sir Nigel!' he cried Sir Nigel Lorlng.
at last! By my soul! we have awaited you
this month past. Right welcome, Sir Nigel!
You have had my letter?' :,
1T was that which brought me here,
said Sir Nigel. But indeed, Sir Claude La
tour, it is a great wonder to me that you
did not yourself lead these bowmen, for
surely they could have found no better
leader?'' -.
None. none. by the Virgin of l. Esparre!'
he cried, speaking in the strange thick Gas
con speech which turns every into o:
But you know what these islanders OF
yours are, Sir Nigel. They will not be leo
by any save their own blood and race
There is no persuadng them. Not even l.
Claude Latour, Seigneur of Montchateau,