Part 22 (2/2)
The calm was succeeded by a strong south-westerly gale, so that all advantage of the previous favourable breeze was totally lost; and, unable to make headway, the fleet was driven back towards the English coast, taking shelter in the Cornish harbour of Fowey.
For six days the fleet lay weather-bound, till Sir G.o.dfrey of Harcourt counselled the King to give up the idea of landing in Gascony.
”Sire,” he exclaimed, ”Normandy is one of the plenteous countries of the world. On jeopardy of my head, if thou wouldst land there, there is none to resist thee. The people of Normandy are not used to war, and all the knights and squires of the country are now at the siege before Aiguillon.”
The advice, though hardly correct, the King took, and, the wind moderating and blowing more in their favour, the fleet again put to sea, and reached La Hogue without further incident.
Arrived on the coast of Normandy, the English began to make a revengeful attack on the ports of Cherbourg and Barfleur, the s.h.i.+ps of these ports having harried the coasts of England in times past, and with fierce shouts the soldiers pillaged the defenceless towns, burning every s.h.i.+p they found in the harbours.
One night, Sir John Hacket, who had been in audience with the King, returned to his quarters in high glee.
”Raymond,” he exclaimed, ”the King hath again done signal honour to my Company. News hath reached us that the Count of Tancarville, who is the most puissant n.o.ble in Normandy, lieth at a hunting lodge near the village of Brique, within five leagues of the camp. He hath, we are told, no knowledge of our presence. Could we but entrap him and bring him a prisoner into the camp, it will clear the way for our advance, for, bereft of the counsel of the Count of Tancarville, all Normandy would be masterless. Now, consider; I have a free hand in this small matter, and can use the whole of my Company to my advancement. What think ye? Is it better to take but a few mounted men, or adventure with them all?”
”In my humble opinion, Sir John,” replied Raymond, ”the matter is best undertaken by but a few. Too many would give alarm. A few would, in the case of our plans miscarrying, be but little missed, and if they do succeed, then the greater the honour!”
”Thy words do thee credit, Raymond, and, by St. George, a better leader for the enterprise than thou I cannot choose. Take your choice of mounted men, and begone. A guide is even now detained in the camp, who will lead you to Brique. Now, remember, alive or dead, bring the Count into the camp, but alive by choice.”
Quickly the young squire went about preparations for his mission.
Five trusted men-at-arms were chosen, and their arms and horses carefully inspected by their young leader, who resolved to leave nothing to chance. Then, placing their guide, a heavy-limbed Norman peasant, upon a spare horse, and attaching a light chain to his wrist (one end being held by a soldier with orders to despatch the man at the first sign of treachery), the little party left the camp, pa.s.sed the outlying cordon of sentries, and plunged into the darkness.
By degrees the hors.e.m.e.n became accustomed to the gloom, and, riding closely together, with the guide in their midst, they maintained a brisk pace towards their goal, and ere long the camp-fires of their comrades were lost to sight behind them.
The night was sultry; not a leaf stirred on the branches of the trees that lined the road, and a dull oppressive feeling pervaded the atmosphere.
Suddenly the faint rumble of distant thunder was borne to their ears, and instinctively the hors.e.m.e.n glanced at one another, for a thunder-storm was looked upon by the mediaeval soldier as a harbinger of evil.
Nearer and nearer came the storm, till the lightning flashed across their path, illuminating the horizon with its sulphurous glow, but as yet not a drop of rain had fallen.
Meanwhile their guide had kept perfectly silent, answering the questions put to him with either a nod or a shake of his head. Though Raymond had acquired a smattering of the French language he was unable to understand the patois of the peasant, so one of the men-at-arms was deputed to put any necessary question to their impa.s.sive guide.
At length they reached the confines of a dense forest, and hardly had they gained the dangerous shelter of the trees than down came the rain, accompanied by almost incessant flashes of lightning.
Dazzled by the appalling light, and almost deafened by the sharp detonating rattle of the thunder, the little party rode in fear and trembling till their guide stopped them with a motion of his hand, and indicating an almost invisible avenue that forked from the road they were following, exclaimed, ”V'la, m'sieurs!”
”Ask him how far it is to the Count's hunting-lodge!” exclaimed Raymond.
”He says 'not far.'”
”Certes, I am as wise as before. Ask him again.” The man mumbled something unintelligible, then held up two fingers.
”A murrain on his thick-headedness; fair Sir, I cannot rightly tell what he doth mean.”
”Then be cautious. Remember, directly we catch sight of the place, one man remains with the guide and the rest follow me!”
The path was too narrow for two to ride abreast, so they proceeded in single file, the guide leading, with a soldier, leaning over his crupper to give the necessary length of chain, following closely behind and through the avenue, so dense that even the lightning almost failed to illumine, Raymond's party rode on their desperate errand.
CHAPTER XV
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