Robert of Normandy
at Tenchebrai fight. Our ships were even then at Pevensey loading for
the war.'

'What happened to the knight?'Dan asked.

'They found him pinned to an ash, three arrows through his leather coat.
I should have worn mail that day.'

'And did you see him all bloody?'Dan continued.

'Nay, I was with De Aquila at Pevensey, counting horseshoes, and
arrow-sheaves, and ale-barrels into the holds of the ships. The army
only waited for our King to lead them against Robert in Normandy, but
he sent word to De Aquila that he would hunt with him here before he set
out for France.'

'Why did the King want to hunt so particularly?' Una demanded.

'If he had gone straight to France after the Kentish knight was killed,
men would have said he feared being slain like the knight. It was
his duty to show himself debonair to his English people as it was De
Aquila's duty to see that he took no harm while he did it, But it was
a great burden! De Aquila, Hugh, and I ceased work on the ships, and
scoured all the Honour of the Eagle--all De Aquila's lands--to make a
fit, and, above all, a safe sport for our King. Look!'

The ride twisted, and came out on the top of Pound's Hill Wood. Sir
Richard pointed to the swells of beautiful, dappled Dallington, that
showed like a woodcock's breast up the valley. 'Ye know the forest?'
said he.

'You ought to see the bluebells there in Spring!' said Una. 'I have
seen,' said Sir Richard, gazing, and stretched out his hand. 'Hugh's
work and mine was first to move the deer gently from all parts into
Dallington yonder, and there to hold them till the King came. Next, we
must choose some three hundred beaters to drive the deer to the stands
within bowshot of the King. Here was our trouble! In the mellay of a
deer-drive a Saxon peasant and a Norman King may come over-close to each
other. The conquered do not love their conquerors all at once. So we
needed sure men, for whom their village or kindred would answer in life,
cattle, and land if any harm come to the King. Ye see?'

'If one of the beaters shot the King,' said Puck, 'Sir Richard wanted to
be able to punish that man's village. Then the village would take care
to send a good man.'

'So! So it was. But, lest our work should be too easy, the King had done
such a dread justice over at Salehurst, for the killing of the Kentish
knight (twenty-six men he hanged, as I heard), that our folk were half
mad with fear before we began. It