Could
he lead a prisoner to the rear when honor beckoned him to the van? He
staggered to his feet, seized Pommers by the mane, and swung himself
into the saddle.

An instant later he was by Chandos' side once more and they were
bursting together through the last ranks of the gallant group who had
fought so bravely to the end. Behind them was one long swath of the
dead and the wounded. In front the whole wide plain was covered with the
flying French and their pursuers.

The Prince reined up his steed and opened his visor, whilst his
followers crowded round him with waving weapons and frenzied shouts
of victory. "What now, John!" cried the smiling Prince, wiping his
streaming face with his ungauntleted hand. "How fares it then?"

"I am little hurt, fair lord, save for a crushed hand and a spear-prick
in the shoulder. But you, sir? I trust you have no scathe?"

"In truth, John, with you at one elbow and Lord Audley at the other, I
know not how I could come to harm. But alas! I fear that Sir James is
sorely stricken."

The gallant Lord Audley had dropped upon the ground and the blood oozed
from every crevice of his battered armor. His four brave Squires--Dutton
of Dutton, Delves of Doddington, Fowlhurst of Crewe and Hawkstone of
Wainhill--wounded and weary themselves, but with no thought save for
their master, unlaced his helmet and bathed his pallid blood-stained
face.

He looked up at the Prince with burning eyes. "I thank you, sir, for
deigning to consider so poor a knight as myself," said he in a feeble
voice.

The Prince dismounted and bent over him. "I am bound to honor you very
much, James," said he, "for by your valor this day you have won glory
and renown above us all, and your prowess has proved you to be the
bravest knight."

"My Lord," murmured the wounded man, "you have a right to say what you
please; but I wish it were as you say."

"James," said the Prince, "from this time onward I make you a knight
of my own household, and I settle upon you five hundred marks of yearly
income from my own estates in England."

"Sir," the knight answered, "God make me worthy of the good fortune you
bestow upon me. Your knight I will ever be, and the money I will divide
with your leave amongst these four squires who have brought me whatever
glory I have won this day." So saying his head fell back, and he lay
white and silent upon the grass.

"Bring water!" said the Prince. "Let the royal leech see to him; for I