enots, could no longer
stay there; and were therefore making south to see, in the first
place, their friends at home; and then to take service, under some
Catholic lord, would sound likely enough."

"I don't know that we can contrive a better scheme than that,
Maitre Bertram. What do you think?"

"It promises well," the trader agreed.

"Do you know what part of Gascony these men come from, Pierre?"

"They come from near Dax."

"That matters little," Philip said, "seeing that it is only to the
south of Guyenne that we are bound. Still, they will probably have
traversed the province often; and in any case there should be no
trouble in finding our way, seeing that Agen lies on the Garonne,
and we shall only have to keep near the river, all the way from the
point where we are landed. Our great difficulty will be in crossing
the Dordogne, the Dronne, and the Lot, all of which we are likely
to find guarded."

"If you can manage to cross the Garonne here, near Langon," the
merchant said, placing his finger on the map, "you would avoid the
two last rivers and, by keeping west of Bazas, you would be able to
reach Nerac without difficulty. You have to cross somewhere, and it
might be as easy there as at Agen."

"That is so," Philip agreed. "At any rate, we will try there first.

"I don't know which of the men I had best take with me. They are
all shrewd fellows, as Gascons generally are, so I don't know how
to make my choice."

"I don't think there is much difference, sir," Pierre said. "I have
seen enough of them to know, at least, that they are all honest
fellows."

"I would let them decide the matter for themselves," Philip said.
"Some might like to go, and some to stay behind. If I chose two,
the others might consider themselves slighted.

"Do you know where they have bestowed themselves, Pierre?"

"Down in the stables with the horses, sir. I could pretty well put
my hand on them, in the dark."

"Well, go and fetch them hither, then. Say nothing about the
business on which they are required."

In a quarter of an hour Pierre returned, with the four men. Philip
explained to them, briefly, that he wanted two of them to journey
with him, on a mission of some danger, through Guyenne.

"I have sent for you all," he said, "in order that you might
arrange among yourselves which two shall go. Therefore do you
settle the matter, and if you cannot agree, then cast lots and
leave it to fortune. Only, as you are two s