warhorses--roans, which he bred himself--and he could never abide to be
helped into the saddle. He saw the rope hanging from the beam and
laughed, and his men laughed, for I was too stiff to rise.

'"This is poor entertainment for a Norman knight," he said, "but, such
as it is, let us be grateful. Show me, boy, to whom thou owest most, and
we will pay them out of hand."'

'What did he mean? To kill 'em?' said Dan.

'Assuredly. But I looked at the Lady AElueva where she stood among her
maids, and her brother beside her. De Aquila's men had driven them all
into the Great Hall.'

'Was she pretty?' said Una.

'In all my long life I have never seen woman fit to strew rushes before
my Lady AElueva,' the knight replied, quite simply and quietly. 'As I
looked at her I thought I might save her and her house by a jest.

'"Seeing that I came somewhat hastily and without warning," said I to De
Aquila, "I have no fault to find with the courtesy that these Saxons
have shown me." But my voice shook. It is--it was not good to jest with
that little man.

'All were silent awhile, till De Aquila laughed. "Look, men--a miracle,"
said he. "The fight is scarce sped, my father is not yet buried, and
here we find our youngest knight already set down in his Manor, while
his Saxons--ye can see it in their fat faces--have paid him homage and
service! By the Saints," he said, rubbing his nose, "I never thought
England would be so easy won! Surely I can do no less than give the lad
what he has taken. This Manor shall be thine, boy," he said, "till I
come again, or till thou art slain. Now, mount, men, and ride. We follow
our Duke into Kent to make him King of England."

'He drew me with him to the door while they brought his horse--a lean
roan, taller than my Swallow here, but not so well girthed.

'"Hark to me," he said, fretting with his great war-gloves. "I have
given thee this Manor, which is a Saxon hornets' nest, and I think thou
wilt be slain in a month--as my father was slain. Yet if thou canst keep
the roof on the hall, the thatch on the barn, and the plough in the
furrow till I come back, thou shalt hold the Manor from me; for the Duke
has promised our Earl Mortain all the lands by Pevensey, and Mortain
will give me of them what he would have given my father. God knows if
thou or I shall live till England is won; but remember, boy, that here
and now fighting is foolishness and"--he reached for the reins--"craft
and cunning is al