and whiter, and scarce seemed to joy even in her babes, but would
only weep over them. That angered the Black Wolf, and there were
chidings which made matters little better, till at last the poor
lady pined away, and died while I was still an infant."

"A sad tale," said Eustace.

"Ay! I used to weep at it, when the old crone who nursed me would
tell it over as I sat by her side in the evening. See, here is
holy relic that my mother wore round her neck, and my nurse hung
round mine. It has never been parted from me. So I grew up to the
years of pagehood, which came early with me, and forth I went on my
first foray with the rest of them. But as we rode joyously home
with our prey before us, a band of full a hundred and fifty men-at-
arms set on us in the forest. Our brave thirty--down they went on
all side. I remember the tumult, the heavy mace uplifted, and my
father's shield thrust over me. I can well-nigh hear his voice
saying, 'Flinch not, Gaston, my brave wolf-cub!' But then came a
fall, man and horse together, and I went down stunned, and knew no
more till a voice over me said, 'That whelp is stirring--another
sword-thrust!' But another replied, 'He bears the features of
Alienor, I cannot slay him'"

"It was your mother's lover?"

"Montagudo? Even so; and I was about to beg for mercy, but, at my
first movement, the other fellow's sword struck me back senseless
once more, and when I recovered my wits, all was still, and the
moonlight showed me where I was. And a fair scene to waken to!
A score of dark shapes hung on the trees--our trusty men-at-arms