. I have heard the minstrels sing of one Sir Roland who was slain
by the infidels in these very parts."

"If it please you, my fair lord," said Black Simon, "I know something
of these parts, for I have twice served a term with the King of Navarre.
There is a hospice of monks yonder, where you may see the roof among the
trees, and there it was that Sir Roland was slain. The village upon the
left is Orbaiceta, and I know a house therein where the right wine of
Jurancon is to be bought, if it would please you to quaff a morning
cup."

"There is smoke yonder upon the right."

"That is a village named Les Aldudes, and I know a hostel there also
where the wine is of the best. It is said that the inn-keeper hath a
buried treasure, and I doubt not, my fair lord, that if you grant me
leave I could prevail upon him to tell us where he hath hid it."

"Nay, nay, Simon," said Sir Nigel curtly, "I pray you to forget these
free companion tricks. Ha! Edricson, I see that you stare about you, and
in good sooth these mountains must seem wondrous indeed to one who hath
but seen Butser or the Portsdown hill."

The broken and rugged road had wound along the crests of low hills,
with wooded ridges on either side of it over which peeped the loftier
mountains, the distant Peak of the South and the vast Altabisca, which
towered high above them and cast its black shadow from left to right
across the valley. From where they now stood they could look forward
down a long vista of beech woods and jagged rock-strewn wilderness, all
white with snow, to where the pass opened out upon the uplands beyond.
Behind them they could still catch a glimpse of the gray plains of
Gascony, and could see her rivers gleaming like coils of silver in the
sunshine. As far as eye could see from among the rocky gorges and the
bristles of the pine woods there came the quick twinkle and glitter of
steel, while the wind brought with it sudden distant bursts of martial
music from the great host which rolled by every road and by-path towards
the narrow pass of Roncesvalles. On the cliffs on either side might also
be seen the flash of arms and the waving of pennons where the force of
Navarre looked down upon the army of strangers who passed through their
territories.

"By Saint Paul!" said Sir Nigel, blinking up at them, "I think that
we have much to hope for from these cavaliers, for they cluster very
thickly upon our flanks. Pass word to the men, Aylward, that they
un