, the French, back beyond the
Loire."

I felt my face reddening at these ill words, so I stooped, as if to clear
my spur of mire.

"Shortly shall she taste the tar-barrel," I answered, whereat he swore
and laughed; then, calling a clerk, bade him write my indenture, as is
the English manner. Thus, thanks to my northern English tongue, for
which I was sore beaten by the other boys when I was a boy myself, behold
me a man-at-arms of King Henry, and so much of my enterprise was
achieved.

I make no boast of valour, and indeed I greatly feared for my neck, both
now and later. For my risk was that some one of the men-at-arms in
Rouen, whither we were bound, should have seen my face either at Orleans,
at Paris (where I was unhelmeted), or in the taking of the Bastille at
Compiegne. Yet my visor was down, both at Orleans and Compiegne, and of
those few who marked me in girl's gear in Paris none might chance to meet
me at Rouen, or to remember me in changed garments. So I put a bold brow
on it, for better might not be. None cursed the Puzel more loudly than
I, and, without feigning, none longed so sorely as I for a fair wind to
France, wherefore I was ever going about Winchelsea with my head in the
air, gazing at the weather-cocks. And, as fortune would have it, the
wind went about, and we on board, and with no long delay were at Rouen
town.

CHAPTER XXXI--HOW NORMAN LESLIE SAW THE MAID IN HER PRISON

On arriving in the town of Rouen, three things were my chief care,
whereof the second helped me in the third. The first was to be lodged as
near as I might to the castle, wherein the Maid lay, being chained (so
fell was the cruelty of the English) to her bed. The next matter was to
purvey me three horses of the fleetest. Here my fortune served me well,
for the young esquires and pages would ever be riding races outside of
the gates, they being in no fear of war, and the time till the Maid was
burned hung heavy on their hands. I therefore, following the manner of
the English Marchmen, thrust myself forward in these sports, and would
change horses, giving money to boot, for any that outran my own. My
money I spent with a very free hand, both in wagers and in feasting men-
at-arms, so that I was taken to be a good fellow, and I willingly let
many make their profit of me. In the end, I had three horses that, with
a light rider in the saddle, could be caught by none in the whole
garrison of Rouen.

Thirdly,