, and was aware of a stunted peasant who bore upon his
rounded back an enormous bundle very much larger than himself. Behind
him walked a burly broad-shouldered archer, whose stained jerkin and
battered headpiece gave token of long and hard service. His bow was
slung over his shoulder, and his arms were round the waists of two buxom
Frenchwomen, who tripped along beside him with much laughter and many
saucy answers flung back over their shoulders to a score of admirers
behind them.

"Aylward!" cried Nigel, spurring forward.

The archer turned his bronzed face, stared for an instant with wild
eyes, and then, dropping his two ladies, who were instantly carried off
by his comrades, he rushed to seize the hand which his young master held
down to him. "Now, by my hilt, Squire Nigel, this is the fairest sight
of my lifetime!" he cried. "And you, old leather-face! Nay, Simon, I
would put my arms round your dried herring of a body, if I could but
reach you. Here is Pommers too, and I read in his eye that he knows me
well and is as ready to put his teeth into me as when he stood in my
father's stall."

It was like a whiff of the heather-perfumed breezes of Hankley to see
his homely face once more. Nigel laughed with sheer joy as he looked at
him.

"It was an ill day when the King's service called you from my side,"
said he, "and by Saint Paul! I am right glad to set eyes upon you once
more! I see well that you are in no wise altered, but the same Aylward
that I have ever known. But who is this varlet with the great bundle who
waits upon your movements?"

"It is no less than a feather-bed, fair sir, which he bears upon his
back, for I would fain bring it to Tilford, and yet it is overlarge for
me when I take my place with my fellows in the ranks. But indeed this
war has been a most excellent one, and I have already sent half a
wagonload of my gear back to Bordeaux to await my homecoming. Yet I have
my fears when I think of all the rascal foot-archers who are waiting
there, for some folk have no grace or honesty in their souls, and cannot
keep their hands from that which belongs to another. But if I may throw
my leg over yonder spare horse I will come on with you, fair sir, for
indeed it would be joy to my heart to know that I was riding under your
banner once again."

So Aylward, having given instructions to the bearer of his feather-bed,
rode away in spite of shrill protests from his French companions, who
speedily conso