Ranulph later, "in getting a cook like that little man. He deserves
something, truly, for giving you the information he did. And then, we are
rid of Garin for good now. He will never come back to Auvergne.

"You should have seen that Norman madman when your message came. He had us
under arms and riding for dear life before we fairly understood what had
happened. Yet from what Martin says, but for your daring and ready wit no
message could have come. You will not allow me to say what I think of
that, and therefore I suppose we must give all the credit to the victor in
our tournament of the pigeons,--little Sieur Rien-du-Tout!"



THE JESTERS

Where through the dapple of wood-shadows dreaming
Faun-footsteps pattering run,
Where the swift mountain-brooks silvery-gleaming
Carol through rain and through sun,
Thee do we follow, O Spirit of Gladness,--
Thee to whom Laughter gave suck.
We are thy people by night or by noontide,--
We are thy loves, O Puck!

Lips thou hast kissed have no pleasure in sadness,
Bitterness, cant nor disdain.
Hearts to thy piping beat bravely in gladness
Through poverty, exile or pain.
Gold is denied us--thine image we fashion
Out of the slag or the muck.