sprang forward sword in hand and took his place by Nigel's side.

"Nay, comrades!" said he. "Samkin Aylward cannot stand by and see
a gallant man shot down like a bull at the end of a baiting. Five
against one is long odds; but two against four is better, and by
my finger-bones! Squire Nigel and I leave this room together, be
it on our feet or no."

The formidable appearance of this ally and his high reputation
among his fellows gave a further chill to the lukewarm ardor of
the attack. Aylward's left arm was passed through his strung bow,
and he was known from Woolmer Forest to the Weald as the quickest,
surest archer that ever dropped a running deer at tenscore paces.

"Nay, Baddlesmere, hold your fingers from your string-case, or I
may chance to give your drawing hand a two months' rest," said
Aylward. "Swords, if you will, comrades, but no man strings his
bow till I have loosed mine."

Yet the angry hearts of both Abbot and sacrist rose higher with a
fresh obstacle.

"This is an ill day for your father, Franklin Aylward, who holds
the tenancy of Crooksbury," said the sacrist. "He will rue it
that ever he begot a son who will lose him his acres and his
steading."

"My father is a bold yeoman, and would rue it evermore that ever
his son should stand by while foul work was afoot," said Aylward
stoutly. "Fall on, comrades! We are waiting."