Captal de Buch, brave and
experienced as he was, frowned darkly and whispered his misgivings to
Chandos.

But the Prince's courage flamed the higher as the shadow fell, while his
dark eyes gleamed with a soldier's pride as he glanced round him at his
weary comrades, and then at the dense masses of the King's battle which
now, with a hundred trumpets blaring and a thousand pennons waving,
rolled slowly over the plain. "Come what may, John, this has been a most
noble meeting," said he. "They will not be ashamed of us in England.
Take heart, my friends, for if we conquer we shall carry the glory ever
with us; but if we be slain then we die most worshipfully and in high
honor, as we have ever prayed that we might die, and we leave behind
us our brothers and kinsmen who will assuredly avenge us. It is but one
more effort, and all will be well. Warwick, Oxford, Salisbury, Suffolk,
every man to the front! My banner to the front also! Your horses, fair
sirs! The archers are spent, and our own good lances must win the
field this day. Advance, Walter, and may God and Saint George be with
England!"

Sir Walter Woodland, riding a high black horse, took station by the
Prince, with the royal banner resting in a socket by his saddle. From
all sides the knights and squires crowded in upon it, until they formed
a great squadron containing the survivors of the battalions of Warwick
and Salisbury as well as those of the Prince. Four hundred men-at-arms
who had been held in reserve were brought up and thickened the array,
but even so Chandos' face was grave as he scanned it and then turned his
eyes upon the masses of the Frenchmen.

"I like it not, fair sir. The weight is overgreat," he whispered to the
Prince.

"How would you order it, John? Speak what is in your mind."

"We should attempt something upon their flank whilst we hold them in
front. How say you, Jean?" He turned to the Captal de Buch, whose dark,
resolute face reflected the same misgivings.

"Indeed, John, I think as you do," said he. "The French King is a very
valiant man, and so are those who are about him, and I know not how we
may drive them back unless we can do as you advise. If you will give me
only a hundred men I will attempt it."

"Surely the task is mine, fair sir, since the thought has come from me,"
said Chandos.

"Nay, John, I would keep you at my side. But you speak well, Jean, and
you shall do even as you have said. Go ask the Earl of Oxford for a