rs from the string
when he turned to jeer at us."

"I see well that you are indeed a master-bowman," said old Wat, "and it
is comfort to my soul to think that if I fall I leave such a man behind
me to hold high the credit of our craft. Now gather your shafts and on,
for Sir Robert awaits us on the brow of the hill."

All day Knolles and his men marched through the same wild and deserted
country, inhabited only by these furtive creatures, hares to the strong
and wolves to the weak, who hovered in the shadows of the wood. Ever and
anon upon the tops of the hills they caught a glimpse of horsemen who
watched them from a distance and vanished when approached. Sometimes
bells rang an alarm from villages amongst the hills, and twice they
passed castles which drew up their drawbridges at their approach and
lined their walls with hooting soldiers as they passed. The Englishmen
gathered a few oxen and sheep from the pastures of each, but Knolles had
no mind to break his strength upon stone walls, and so he went upon his
way.

Once at St. Meen they passed a great nunnery, girt with a high gray
lichened wall, an oasis of peace in this desert of war, the black-robed
nuns basking in the sun or working in the gardens, with the strong
gentle hand of Holy Church shielding them ever from evil. The archers
doffed caps to them as they passed, for the boldest and roughest dared
not cross that line guarded by the dire ban and blight which was the one
only force in the whole steel-ridden earth which could stand betwixt the
weakling and the spoiler.

The little army halted at St. Meen and cooked its midday meal. It had
gathered into its ranks again and was about to start, when Knolles drew
Nigel to one side.

"Nigel," said he, "it seems to me that I have seldom set eyes upon a
horse which hath more power and promise of speed than this great beast
of thine."

"It is indeed a noble steed, fair sir," said Nigel. Betwixt him and his
young leader there had sprung up great affection and respect since the
day that they set foot in the Basilisk.

"It will be the better if you stretch his limbs, for he grows
overheavy," said the knight. "Now mark me, Nigel! Yonder betwixt the
ash-tree and the red rock what do you see on the side of the far hill?"

"There is a white dot upon it. Surely it is a horse."

"I have marked it all morning, Nigel. This horseman has kept ever upon
our flank, spying upon us or waiting to make some attempt upon us. Now