Evening star., 1905-11-11
CHAPTER XXXV.
How Sir Nigel Hawked at an Eagle.


To the south of Pampeluna, in the king
dom of Navarro, there stretched a hisl
tableland, rising into bare, sterile hills
brown or gray in color, and strewn will
huge powders of granite On the Gasco1
side of the great mountains there had beer
running streams, meadows, forests and lit
tie nesting villages. Here, on the contrary
were nothing but naked rocks, poor pasture
and savage, stone-strewn wastes. Gloomy
6efiles or barrancas intersected this wilG
country with mountain torrents dashing
and foaming between their rugged sides
The clatter of waters, the scream of the
eagle and the bowling of wolves were the
only sounds which broke upon the silence II
that dreary and inhospitable region.
Through this wild country it was that Sil
Nigel and his company pushed their way
riding at times through vast defiles where
the brown. gnarled cliffs shot up on either
side OF them, and the sky was but long
winding blue slit between the clustering
lines of box which fringed the lips of the
precipices; or again leading their horses
along the narrow and rocky paths worn by
the mueteers upon the edges of the chasm
where under their very elbows they couG
see the white streak which marked the gave
which foamed a thousand feet below them
So for two days they pushed their way
through the wild places of Navarro. past
F'uente, over the rapid Ega, through Estella
until upon winters evening the mountains
fell away from in front of them, and they
saw the broad. blue E;bro curving betwixt
its double line of homesteads and of vii
lagos. The fishers of Viana We're aroused
that night by rough voices speaking in a
strange tongue, and ere morning Sir Nige
and his men had ferried the river and were
safe upon the land of Spain.
All the next day they lay in a pine wood
near to tee town of Logrono, resting theiI
horses and taking counsel as to what they
should do. But Sir Nigel had with him Sill
William FELTON,. Sir Oliver Buttesthorn
stout old Sir Simon Burley, the Scotch
knight errant. the Earl of Angus, and Sin
Richard Causton. all accounted among the
bravest knights in the army, together with
sixty veteran men-at-arms and $40 archers
Spies had been sent out in the morning, ant
returned after nightfall to say that the
King of Spain was encamped some fourteen
miles off in the direction of Burgos, having
with him 10000 horse and $4,000 foot. 4
dry-wood fire had been lighted, and rounl
this the leaders crouched, the glare beating
upon their rugged faces, while the hardy
archers lounged and chatted amid the teth
cred horses while they munched their scantJ
provisions.
For my part" said Sir Simon Burley, %
am of opinion that we have already done
that which we have come for. For do we
not now know where the king is, and how
great Il following he hath, which was the
end of our journey?"
True" answered Sir William FELTON,
but l have come on this venture because
1t is long time since have broken spear
In war, and certes. l shall not go back unit
l have run a course with some cavalier o.
| Spain. Let those go back who WILL but
must see more of these Spaniards ere
turn"
II will not leave you. Sir William re
turned Sir Simon Burley; 'and yet, al
old soldier and one who hath seen much o.
war, l cannot but think that it is an il
thing for 400 men to find themselves be
tween an army of G0,oO0 on the one side ant
q broad river on the other
Yet said Sir Richard Causton, I'VE can
not for the honor of England go back with
out blow struck"
Nor for the honor of Scotland, either,
cried the Earl of Angus. BY st. Andrew
1 wish that l may never set eyes upon The
water of Leith again If | pluck my horses
bride ere | have seen this camp of theirs.
by st. Paul, you have spoken very we'll.
said Sir Nigel, land l have always heard
that there were very worthy gentlemen
among the Scots, and fine skirmishing to b'
had upon their border. Bethink you, Sil
Simon, that we have this news from the lip:
of common spies, who can scarce tell us a:
much of the enemy and his forces as tht
prince would wish TO hear
You are the leader in this venture, Sil
Nigel" the other answered, and l do bu
ride under your banner"
yet l would fain have your rede ant
counsel, Sir Simon. But, touching what yot
say of the river. we can take heed that w'
shall not have Il at the back of US, for tht
prince hath now advanced to Salvatierra
and thence t. Vittoria, SO that if we come
upon their camp from the further side WI
can make good our retreat
What, then, would you propose?" asked
Sir Simon, shaking his grizzled head as on'
who is but half convinced.
THAT we ride forward ere the new;
reach them that We have crossed the river
In this way we may have sight of theil
army, and perchance even find OCCASION fol
some small deed against them"
so be it, then" said Sir Simon Burley
and the rest of the council having approved
a scanty meal was hurriedly snatched, anC
the advance resumed under cover of the
darkness. All night they led their horses
stumbling and cropping through wild defiles
and rugged valleys, following the guidance
of a frightened peasant, who was strapped
by the wrist TO Black Simon's stirrup-leath
er. With the early dawn they found them
selves in black ravine. with others slop
ing away from II on either side, and tn,
bare brown crags rising In long, bleak ter
races all round them.
IF 1t please you, fair lord" said Blacl
Simon. "this man hath misled us, and since
there is no tree upon which we may hans
him, II might be well to hurl him over yon
der cliff"
The peasant, reading the soldiers mean
ing In his fierce eyes and harsh accents
dropped upon his knees, screaming loudly
for mercy.
How comes it, dog?" asked Sir William
FELTON,, in Spanish. Where is this camI
to which you swore that you would lead
us?"
by the Sweet Virgin, Ey the blessed
Mother of God" cried the trembling peas
ant, II swear to you that in the darkness:
have myself lost the path"
"Over the cliff with him!' shouted hall
a dozen voices; but ere the archers could
drag him from the rocks to which he clunl
Sir Nigel had ridden up ana called upor
them to stop.
How is this. srs?'' said he. las long al
the prince doth me the honor to intrust thi:
venture to me, Ii Is for me only to give or
ders; and, by st. Paul, shall be right blith,
| to go very deeply into the matter with an,
: one To whom NV words NAV give offense