She was of the old blood of Merlin with the power of
sight. Thus she said--
"'Twixt the oak-tree and the river
Knightly fame aid brave endeavor
Make an honored name forever.'
"Methinks I see the oak-tree, and yonder is the river. Surely this
should betide some good to us."
The huge German Squire betrayed some impatience during this speech
of his leader. Though his rank was subordinate, no man present
had more experience of warfare or was more famous as a fighter
than he. He new broke brusquely into the talk. "We should be
better employed in ordering our line and making our plans than in
talking of the rhymes of Merlin or such old wives' tales," said
he. "It is to our own strong arms and good weapons that we must
trust this day. And first I would ask you, Sir Richard, what is
your will if perchance you should fall in the midst of the fight?"
Bambro' turned to the others. "If such should be the case, fair
sirs, I desire that my Squire Croquart should command."
There was a pause while the knights looked with some chagrin at
each other. The silence was broken by Knolles.
"I will do what you say, Richard," said he, "though indeed it is
bitter that we who are knights should serve beneath a squire. Yet
it is not for us to fall out among ourselves now at this last
moment, and I have ever heard that Croquart is a very worthy and
valiant man.
Pages:
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426