ered his tent once more,
whilst Chandos, glancing round, held out a warm welcoming hand to Nigel.

"I have heard much of your noble deeds," said he. "Already your name
rises as a squire errant. I stood no higher, nor so high, at your age."

Nigel flushed with pride and pleasure. "Indeed, my dear lord, it is very
little that I have done. But now that I am back at your side I hope that
in truth I shall learn to bear myself in worthy fashion, for where else
should I win honor if it be not under your banner."

"Truly, Nigel, you have come at a very good time for advancement. I
cannot see how we can leave this spot without a great battle which will
live in men's minds forever. In all our fights in France I cannot call
to mind any in which they have been so strong or we so weak as now, so
that there will be the more honor to be gained. I would that we had
two thousand more archers. But I doubt not that we shall give them much
trouble ere they drive us out from amidst these hedges. Have you seen
the French?"

"Nay, fair sir, I have but this moment arrived."

"I was about to ride forth myself to coast their army and observe their
countenance, so come with me ere the night fall, and we shall see what
we can of their order and dispositions."

There was a truce betwixt the two forces for the day, on account of the
ill-advised and useless interposition of the Cardinal of Perigord, Hence
when Chandos and Nigel had pushed their horses through the long hedge
which fronted the position they found that many small parties of the
knights of either army were riding up and down on the plain outside. The
greater number of these groups were French, since it was very necessary
for them to know as much as possible of the English defenses; and many
of their scouts had ridden up to within a hundred yards of the hedge,
where they were sternly ordered back by the pickets of archers on guard.

Through these scattered knots of horsemen Chandos rode, and as many of
them were old antagonists it was "Ha, John!" on the one side, and "Ha,
Raoul!" "Ha, Nicholas!" "Ha, Guichard!" upon the other, as they brushed
past them. Only one cavalier greeted them amiss, a large, red-faced man,
the Lord Clermont, who by some strange chance bore upon his surcoat a
blue virgin standing amid golden sunbeams, which was the very device
which Chandos had donned for the day. The fiery Frenchman dashed across
their path and drew his steed back on to its haunches.

"How