he Grand Company of Fra Moreale. The love of his pay
and plunder has drawn away the mercenaries of every Tuscan Signor."

As he ceased speaking, the bugle sounded again from nearly the same spot
as before; it was answered by a brief and martial note from the very
rear of the horsemen. At the same moment, from the thickets behind,
broke the gleam of mail and spears. One after another, rank after rank,
from the copse behind them, emerged men-at-arms, while suddenly, from
the vines in front, still greater numbers poured forth with loud and
fierce shouts.

"For God, for the Emperor, and for the Colonna!" cried the Knight,
closing his visor; and the little band, closely serried, the lance in
every rest, broke upon the rush of the enemy in front. A score or so,
borne to the ground by the charge, cleared a path for the horsemen, and,
without waiting the assault of the rest, the Knight wheeled his charger
and led the way down the hill, almost at full gallop, despite the
roughness of the descent: a flight of arrows despatched after them fell
idly on their iron mail.

"If they have no horse," cried the Knight, "we are saved!"

And, indeed, the enemy seemed scarcely to think of pursuing them; but
(gathered on the brow of a hill) appeared contented to watch their
flight.

Suddenly a curve in the road brought them before a broad and wide patch
of waste land, which formed almost a level surface, interrupting the
descent of the mountain. On the commencement of this waste, drawn up in
still array, the sunlight broke on the breastplates of a long line of
horsemen, whom the sinuosities of the road had hitherto concealed from
the Knight and his party.

The little troop halted abruptly--retreat--advance alike cut off; gazing
first at the foe before them, that remained still as a cloud, every eye
was then turned towards the Knight.

"An thou wouldst, my Lord," said the leader of the Northmen, perceiving
the irresolution of their chief, "we will fight to the last. You are the
only Italian I ever knew whom I would willingly die for!"

This rude profession was received with a sympathetic murmur from the
rest, and the soldiers drew closer around the Knight. "Nay, my brave
fellows," said the Colonna, lifting his visor, "it is not in so
inglorious a field, after such various fortunes, that we are doomed to
perish. If these be brigands, as we must suppose, we can yet purchase
our way. If the troops of some Signor, we are strangers to the