e shot at like a popinjay at a
fair, by any reaver or outlaw that seeks a mark for his bow?" he cried.
"By Saint Paul! Aylward, I will put on my harness and go further into
the matter. Help me to untruss, I pray you!"

"Nay, my fair lord, I will not help you to your own downfall. It is a
match with cogged dice betwixt a horseman on the moor and archers amid
the forest. But these men are no outlaws, or they would not dare to draw
their bows within a league of the sheriff of Guildford."

"Indeed, Aylward, I think that you speak truth," said Nigel. "It may
be that these are the men of Paul de la Fosse of Shalford, whom I
have given little cause to love me. Ah! there is indeed the very man
himself."

They sat their horses with their backs to the long slope which leads up
to the old chapel on the hill. In front of them was the dark ragged edge
of the wood, with a sharp twinkle of steel here and there in its shadows
which spoke of these lurking foes. But now there was a long moot upon
a horn, and at once a score of russet-clad bowmen ran forward from amid
the trees, spreading out into a scattered line and closing swiftly in
upon the travelers. In the midst of them, upon a great gray horse, sat a
small misshapen man, waving and cheering as one sets hounds on a badger,
turning his head this way and that as he whooped and pointed, urging his
bowmen onward up the slope.

"Draw them on, my fair lord! Draw them on until we have them out on the
down!" cried Aylward, his eyes shining with joy. "Five hundred paces
more, and then we may be on terms with them. Nay, linger not, but keep
them always just clear of arrowshot until our turn has come."

Nigel shook and trembled with eagerness, as with his hand on his
sword-hilt he looked at the line of eager hurrying men. But it flashed
through his mind what Chandos had said of the cool head which is better
for the warrior than the hot heart. Aylward's words were true and wise.
He turned Pommers' head therefore, and amid a cry of derision from
behind them the comrades trotted over the down. The bowmen broke into
a run, while their leader screamed and waved more madly than before.
Aylward cast many a glance at them over his shoulder.

"Yet a little farther! Yet a little farther still!" he muttered. "The
wind is towards them and the fools have forgot that I can overshoot them
by fifty paces. Now, my good lord, I pray you for one instant to hold
the horses, for my weapon is of more avail t