Part 3 (2/2)
[Illustration: ”Both our lances flew into a thousand pieces”]
”That accounts for it,” said I; ”he is a Frenchman; and had he been a Scotchman, I had now been a corpse”
The eneht was still a goodly one
Sir Frederick was nowhere to be seen; so I quickly secured a sword froht, who had still the head and part of the shaft of a lance sticking in his side, and then did I plunge into the fight oncecrowd of the ene theht on foot, surrounded by a score or more of these rascals
”To the rescue!” cried I, and dashed into the circle The knight was standing beside his horse, which was dead, and reat strokes with his sword, in all directions Thus he had kept a circle clear around him Several corpses in that deadly circle told why the rest stood back But, just as I came up, one of the knaves did venture to make a dash forward, when the brave champion's head was turned I was upon him in an instant ”Ha! thou coward ruffian, take that!” I cried, as, with a straight doard stroke, I cleft his head from top to chin
Just then some of our men-at-arms came up, and the few Scots which escaped us did so by their fleetness of foot, and their knowledge of the country's -places
”Thou art not too soon,” said Harleston, for it was he, as he opened his visor and wiped his brow ”Indeed I was hard pressed by that pack of hyenas”
I quickly secured a horse for ht We soon becahts which were like to have done for us, had not,--ere sorely pressed--an arrow struck one of their horses, causing it to fall The rider fell with his leg underneath, and so was unable to take any further part in the fight I pressed ave him an opportunity to surrender, but as he refused to do so, I waited until his arm was raised for a blohen, with ht under his arm, where the armour divides I heard my point strike his harness on the other side, as it went through his body, so great was the force of the blow
Hot and furious was now the fight The eneallant troops were pressing thenal for the continuance of the slaughter
Berwick itself must now be carried whilst our blood was still at fever heat I looked around to see how fared ht hoht could I see of either of the riderless about the field I recognized it by the peculiarity of its housing A great sadness did then possess reatly fear that my dear friend must have fallen at the hand of his opponent ”Indeed he must be dead,” said I; ”else how could his steed be riderless?” Then did I swear a great and savage oath of vengeance ”For his life an hundred Scots shall die, and still shall he be but poorly paid for” Thus did I think; for during the short time in which I had known Sir Frederick I had learned to love this noble knight, better far than I would a brother
Our forces cae the loss of their comrades which had fallen that day, and these amounted to a considerable number Now and then a small body of the foe were driven to bay, and seldoed into a demon, with the thirst for blood Every one of the enehtered, and felt a savage delight in doing it Ah! the fierce delirium of victory
When we reached the walls of Berwick a white flag was flying from the Citadel; so the battle was over, and ere stopped fro foe Beras taken, and the as ended; though we did not know this latter at that ti we took possession of the fortress, and the flag of England replaced that of the Scots
After I had hadout of mine armour, who should walk into my room but my dear friend He was still in his complete harness, and was covered with sand and blood, from head to foot
”The saints be praised that thou art still alive!” cried I, as I rushed and grasped him by the hand ”I was sure thou must be dead, and ht But where, in the na?”
”Do but wait a moment and I will tell thee all,” he replied Then, ere seated, he told ht, hoe when the three attacked us?” he asked
I nodded, and he went on:--”He is a French his opponent's sith the hilt of his own He broke mine, as I aimed a blow at his head; but, before he could strike, I closed with hi mine ared him with me Of course he fell on top, which shook round was soaked with blood, I naturally do not look so clean as I ht”
”And what about the Frenchman?” I asked; ”didst thou kill him?”
”Oh, no,” he replied, ”he struck his head heavily on the ground, and as he was badly stunned, I took off his helive the poor devil some air, which I was in much need of s unto a wealthy house; for his arold”
I then told Harleston of ht earlier in the day, and when he had heard that the Frenchiven hi, as ere dressing, a knock ca it, a soldier handed unto , I found to be an order from the Duke of Gloucester to prepare myself for a journey, and to report to hiuessed ht to be Windsor; and in this I was not hness'
quarters, I was handed a packet and commanded to reach the castle in the shortest possible tiht accoht for a moment ere he answered, and then said:--”Yes, by Saint Paul, take the whole army, and thou wilt! we do not need them here; these Scotchht them yesterday, eh! Bradley?” and he slapped hness, which is ever the proper thing to do, when dealing with a Prince
Half an hour later Harleston and I were on our way to Windsor
”Not so long a caht,” said I, ere fairly on the road
”No,” he replied; ” now fulfilled”
And so we rode on, with our faces turned southward