At the first words which had
shown him the turn which affairs had taken he had run swiftly to
the spot where he had left his pony. From its mouth he removed
the bit and the stout bridle which held it. Then leaving the
creature to nibble the grass by the wayside he sped back whence he
came.
"I take your gift, monk," said he, "though I know well why it is
that you give it. Yet I thank you, for there are two things upon
earth for which I have ever yearned, and which my thin purse could
never buy. The one is a noble horse, such a horse as my father's
son should have betwixt his thighs, and here is the one of all
others which I would have chosen, since some small deed is to be
done in the winning of him, and some honorable advancement to be
gained. How is the horse called?"
"Its name," said the franklin, "is Pommers. I warn you, young
sir, that none may ride him, for many have tried, and the luckiest
is he who has only a staved rib to show for it."
"I thank you for your rede," said Nigel, "and now I see that this
is indeed a horse which I would journey far to meet. I am your
man, Pommers, and you are my horse, and this night you shall own
it or I will never need horse again. My spirit against thine, and
God hold thy spirit high, Pommers, so that the greater be the
adventure, and the more hope of honor gained!"
While he spoke the young Squire had climbed on to the top of the
wall and stood there balanced, the very image of grace and spirit
and gallantry, his bridle hanging from one hand and his whip
grasped in the other.
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