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courtyard； where the four armed men waited with six good horses； one
of them Hugh's own。 Here he bade farewell to his brothers； to his
father； who kissed him on the brow； and to Sir Andrew； who stretched
his hand above his head in blessing。 Then he turned to Eve and was
about to embrace her even before that company； when Sir Andrew looked
at him； and； remembering the penance that had been laid upon him； he
but pressed her hand； whispering：
〃God be with you； sweetheart！〃
〃He is with us all； but I would that you could be with me also；〃 she
answered in the same low voice。 〃Still； man must forth to battle and
woman must wait and watch； for that is the world's way。 Whate'er
befalls； remember that dead or living I'll be wife to no man but you。
Begone now ere my heart fails me； and guard yourself well； remembering
that you bear in your breast not one life； but two。〃
Then Hugh swung himself to the saddle of which Grey Dick had already
tested the girths and stirrup leathers。 In another minute the six of
them were clattering over the stones of Middlegate Street； while the
burgesses of Dunwich peeped from their window places； wondering what
knight with armed men rode through their town thus early。
Just as the grey dawn broke they passed the gate； which； there being
peace in the land； was already open。 Fifteen minutes later they were
on the lonely Westleton Heath； where for a while naught was to be
heard save the scream of the curlew and the rush of the wings of the
wild…duck passing landward from the sea。 Presently； however； another
sound reached their ears； that of horses galloping behind them。 Grey
Dick pulled rein and listened。
〃Seven； I think； not more；〃 he said。 〃Now； master； do you stand or
run； for these will be Clavering horses？〃
Hugh thought for a moment。 His aim was not to fight； but to get
through to London。 Yet if he fled the pursuers would raise the country
on them as they came； so that in the end they must be taken； since
those who followed would find fresh horses。
〃It seems best to stand；〃 he said。
〃So say I；〃 answered Grey Dick； and led the way to a little hillock by
the roadside on which grew some wind…bent firs。
Here they dismounted and gave their horses into the keeping of one
man； while Grey Dick and the others drew their bows from the cases and
strung them。 Scarcely had they done so when the mist； lifting in the
morning breeze； showed them their pursuersseven of them； as Dick had
saidheaded by one of the French knights； and riding scattered；
between two and three hundred yards away。 At the same moment a shout
told them that they had been seen。
〃Hark now all！〃 said Hugh。 〃I would shed no more blood if it may be
so； who have earned enough of penance。 Therefore shoot at the horses；
not at the riders； who without them will be helpless。 And let no man
harm a Clavering unless it be to save his own life。〃
〃Poor sport！〃 grunted Grey Dick。
Nevertheless； when the Norman knight who led came within two hundred
yards； shouting to them in French to surrender； Dick lifted his great
bow； drew and loosed carelessly； as though he shot at hazard； the
others holding their bows till the Claverings were nearer。 Yet there
was little of hazard when Grey Dick shot； save to that at which he
aimed。 Away rushed the arrow； rising high and； as it seemed； bearing
somewhat to the left of the knight。 Yet when it drew near to that
knight the wind told on it and bent it inward； as he knew it would。
Fair and full it struck upon the horse's chest； piercing through to
the heart； so that down the poor beast came； throwing its rider to the
ground。
〃A good shot enough；〃 grumbled Grey Dick。 〃Still； it is a shame to
slay nags of such a breed and let the rogues who ride them go。〃
But his companions only stared at him almost in awe； while the other
Clavering men rode on。 Before they had covered fifty paces； again the
great bow twanged； and again a horse was seen to rear itself up；
shaking the rider from its back； and then plunge away to die。 Now
Hugh's serving…men also lifted their bows； but Grey Dick hissed：
〃Leave them to me！ This is fine work； and you'd muddle it！〃
Ere the words had ceased to echo another horse was down。
Then； as those who remained still came on； urged by the knight who ran
shouting behind them； all loosed； and though some arrows went wide；
the end of it was that ere they reached the little mound every
Clavering horse was dead or sore wounded； while on the heath stood or
lay seven helpless men。
〃Now；〃 said Grey Dick； 〃let us go and talk with these foot…soldiers。〃
So they went out； all of them； except he who had the horses； and Hugh
called aloud that the first man of the Claverings who lifted a bow or
drew a sword should die without mercy。 And he pointed to Grey Dick；
who stood beside him； arrow on string。
The Claverings began to talk together excitedly。
〃Throw down your weapons！〃 commanded Hugh。
Still they hesitated。 Then； without further warning Dick sent an
artful arrow through the cap of one of them； lifting it from his head；
and instantly set another shaft to his string。 After this； down went
the swords and bows。
〃Daggers and knives； too； if it please you； masters！〃
Then these followed。
Now Hugh spoke a word to his men； who； going to the dead and dying
horses； took from them the stirrup…leathers and bridle…reins and
therewith bound the Claverings back to back。 But the French knight； in
acknowledgment of his rank； they trussed up by himself； having first
relieved him of his purse by way of fine。 As it chanced； however； Hugh
turned and saw them in the act。
〃God's truth！ Would you make common thieves of us？〃 he said angrily。
〃Their weapons and harness are ours by right of war； but I'll hunt the
man who steals their money out of my company。〃
So the purse was restored。 When it was safe in the knight's pouch
again Hugh saluted him； begging his pardon that it should have been
touched。
〃But how are you named； sir？〃 he added。
〃Sir Pierre de la Roche is my name；〃 replied the knight sadly； and in
French。
〃Then； Sir Pierre de la Roche；〃 said Hugh； 〃here you and your people
must bide until some come to set you free； which； as this place is
lonely and little crossed in winter； may be to…day or may be
to…morrow。 When at length you get back to Blythburgh Manor； however；
or to Dunwich town； I trust it to your honour to declare that Hugh de
Cressi has dealt well with you。 For whereas he might have slain you
every one； as you would have slain him and his if you could； he has
harmed no hair of your heads。 As for your horses； these； to his
sorrow； he was obliged to kill lest they should be used to ride him
down。 Will you do this of your courtesy？〃
〃Ay；〃 answered the knight； 〃since to your gentleness we owe our lives。
But with your leave I will add that we were overcome not by men； but
by a devil〃and he nodded toward Grey Dick〃since no one who is only
man can have such hellish skill in archery as we saw yesterday； and
now again this morning。 Moreover；〃 he went on； contemplating Dick's
ashen hair and cold eyes set wide apart in the rocky face； like to
those of a Suffolk horse； 〃the man's a