blood and of
coat-armor. But now I am yours, and what is your sweet will?"

"When you are fit to ride, you will come back with me to my people."

"Alas! I feared that you would say so. Had I taken you, Nigel--that is
your name, is it not?--had I taken you, I would not have acted thus."

"How then would you have ordered things?" asked Nigel, much taken with
the frank and debonair manner of his captive.

"I would not have taken advantage of such a mischance as has befallen me
which has put me in your power. I would give you a sword and beat you
in fair fight, so that I might send you to give greeting to my dear lady
and show her the deeds which I do for her fair sake."

"Indeed, your words are both good and fair," said Nigel. "By Saint
Paul! I cannot call to mind that I have ever met a man who bore himself
better. But since I am in my armor and you without, I see not how we can
debate the matter."

"Surely, gentle Nigel, you could doff your armor."

"Then have I only my underclothes."

"Nay, there shall be no unfairness there, for I also will very gladly
strip to my underclothes."

Nigel looked wistfully at the Frenchman; but he shook his head. "Alas!
it may not be," said he. "The last words that Sir Robert said to me were
that I was to bring you to his side, for he would have speech with you.
Would that I could do what you ask, for I also have a fair lady to
whom I would fain send you. What use are you to me, Raoul, since I have
gained no honor in the taking of you? How is it with you now?"

The young Frenchman had risen to his feet. "Do not take my sword," he
said. "I am yours, rescue or no rescue. I think now that I could mount
my horse, though indeed my head still rings like a cracked bell."

Nigel had lost all traces of his comrades; but he remembered Sir
Robert's words that he should ride upon the sun with the certainty that
sooner or later he would strike upon the road. As they jogged slowly
along over undulating hills, the Frenchman shook off his hurt and the
two chatted merrily together.

"I had but just come from France," said he, "and I had hoped to win
honor in this country, for I have ever heard that the English are very
hardy men and excellent people to fight with. My mules and my baggage
are at Evran; but I rode forth to see what I could see, and I chanced
upon your army moving down the road, so I coasted it in the hopes of
some profit or adventure. Then you came after me and I would have give