Varlets had rushed forth to draw away the two dead Bretons, and a
brace of English archers had carried Nigel from the field. With
his own hands Aylward had unlaced the crushed helmet and had wept
to see the bloodless and unconscious face of his young master. He
still breathed, however, and stretched upon the grass by the
riverside the bowman tended him with rude surgery, until the water
upon his brow and the wind upon his face had coaxed back the life
into his battered frame. He breathed with heavy gasps, and some
tinge of blood crept hack into his cheeks, but still he lay
unconscious of the roar of the crowd and of that great struggle
which his comrades were now waging once again.
The English had lain for a space bleeding and breathless, in no
better case than their rivals, save that they were still
twenty-nine in number. But of this muster there were not nine who
were hale men, and some were so weak from loss of blood that they
could scarce keep standing. Yet, when the signal was at last
given to reengage there was not a man upon either side who did not
totter to his feet and stagger forward toward his enemies.
But the opening of this second phase of the combat brought one
great misfortune and discouragement to the English. Bambro' like
the others, had undone his visor, but with his mind full of many
cares he had neglected to make it fast again.
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