He hesitated, though one of his curled-up shoes was out of the stirrup,
when suddenly Sir Robert broke in in his big voice, saying:

"God's truth, Cousin, I think that you will do well to leave this young
cock alone, since I like not the look of that red spur of his," and he
glanced at the sword Wave-Flame. "Though he be weary, he may have a kick
or two in him yet."

Then he turned to me and added:

"Sir, you have fought well; many a man has earned knighthood for less,
and if a fair maid thanked you in her own fashion, you are not to blame.
I, her father, also thank you and wish you all good fortune till we meet
again. Farewell. Daughter, make shift to share this horse with me, and
let us away out of this stricken town to Pevensey, where perchance it
will please those French to call to-morrow."

A minute later they were gone, and I noted with a pang that as they went
the lady Blanche, having waved her good-bye to me, talked fast to her
cousin Deleroy and that he held her hand to steady her upon her father's
horse.



CHAPTER III

HUBERT COMES TO LONDON

When the lady Blanche was out of sight, followed by the women who had
sheltered with us in the cave, William and I went to a stream we knew of