eltering in Paris. Five of his best mounted
men Walter chose as messengers, and one rode each day to New Town with
the news which had been gathered, returning on the following day, and
then resting his horse for three days before again setting out.

Night and day sentries were placed on the walls, for although Walter
heard nothing of any body gathering in his immediate vicinity, a force
might at any moment issue from Amiens and appear suddenly before the
place. Such was indeed what really took place, and at daybreak one
morning Walter was aroused by the news that the sentinels saw a large
body of men rapidly approaching. The horse of the messenger next on
duty stood, as usual, saddled and bridled in readiness, and without a
moment's delay Walter ordered the man to mount and ride to the prince,
and to give news that the castle was assailed, but by how large a force
he could not as yet say.

The instant the messenger had started through the gates Walter ascended
to the walls; he saw at once that the party was a strong one; for
although still at some distance, and but dimly seen in the gray morning
light, he judged that it must contain at least a thousand men-at-arms.
At this moment a call from the sentry on the other side of the castle
was heard, and hastening thither, Walter saw that another body nearly as
numerous as the first were approaching from the side of Calais, having
made a detour so as to place themselves between the castle and the army,
to which news would naturally be sent of their coming. Walter watched
his messenger, who had now ridden half a mile towards the approaching
body. Suddenly he saw him turn his horse and ride off at right angles to
the road.

"He sees them," he said, "and is going to try to ride round them. I
fear that there is but little hope of his escaping, seeing that they are
between him and Calais, and that assuredly some among them must be as
well or better mounted than himself." As he spoke a party of horsemen
were seen to detach themselves from the flank of the French column
and to gallop off at full speed to intercept the messenger; the latter
diverged more and more from his course, but he was constantly headed
off by his pursuers, and at last, seeing the impossibility of getting
through them, he again turned his horse's head and galloped off towards
the castle, which he reached a few hundred yards only in advance of his
foes.

"I could not help it, Sir Walter," he said, as he gallo