he last
he would have rushed among his enemies, and his body was bent for the
spring, when with a deep sonorous hum, like a breaking harp-string,
the cord of the bow was cloven in twain, and the arrow tinkled upon the
tiled floor. At the same moment a young curly-headed bowman, whose broad
shoulders and deep chest told of immense strength, as clearly as
his frank, laughing face and honest hazel eyes did of good humor and
courage, sprang forward sword in hand and took his place by Nigel's
side.

"Nay, comrades!" said he. "Samkin Aylward cannot stand by and see a
gallant man shot down like a bull at the end of a baiting. Five
against one is long odds; but two against four is better, and by my
finger-bones! Squire Nigel and I leave this room together, be it on our
feet or no."

The formidable appearance of this ally and his high reputation among
his fellows gave a further chill to the lukewarm ardor of the attack.
Aylward's left arm was passed through his strung bow, and he was known
from Woolmer Forest to the Weald as the quickest, surest archer that
ever dropped a running deer at tenscore paces.

"Nay, Baddlesmere, hold your fingers from your string-case, or I may
chance to give your drawing hand a two months' rest," said Aylward.
"Swords, if you will, comrades, but no man strings his bow till I have
loosed mine."

Yet the angry hearts of both Abbot and sacrist rose higher with a fresh
obstacle.

"This is an ill day for your father, Franklin Aylward, who holds the
tenancy of Crooksbury," said the sacrist. "He will rue it that ever he
begot a son who will lose him his acres and his steading."

"My father is a bold yeoman, and would rue it evermore that ever his son
should stand by while foul work was afoot," said Aylward stoutly. "Fall
on, comrades! We are waiting."

Encouraged by promises of reward if they should fall in the service of
the Abbey, and by threats of penalties if they should hold back, the
four archers were about to close, when a singular interruption gave an
entirely new turn to the proceedings.

At the door of the chapter-house, while these fiery doings had been
afoot, there had assembled a mixed crowd of lay brothers, servants and
varlets who had watched the development of the drama with the interest
and delight with which men hail a sudden break in a dull routine.
Suddenly there was an agitation at the back of this group, then a swirl
in the center, and finally the front rank was violently th