Page:A C Doyle - The White Company.djvu/187

Rh orison.' Pulling off his cap, and clasping his hands, he chaunted in a shrill voice: 'Benedictus dominus Deus meus, qui docet manus meas ad prœlium, et digitos meos ad bellum.' A strange figure he seemed to his three squires, perched on his huge horse, with his eyes upturned and the wintry sun shimmering upon his bald head. 'It is a noble prayer,' he remarked, putting on his hat again, 'and it was taught to me by the noble Chandos himself. But how fares it with you, father? Methinks that I should have ruth upon you, seeing that I am myself like one who looks through a horn window while his neighbours have the clear crystal. Yet, by St. Paul! there is a long stride between the man who hath a horn casement and him who is walled in on every hand.'

'Alas! fair sir,' cried the blind old man, 'I have not seen the blessed blue of heaven this two score years, since a levin flash burned the sight out of my head.'

'You have been blind to much that is goodly and fair,' quoth Sir Nigel, 'but you have also been spared much that is sorry and foul. This very hour our eyes have been shocked with that which would have left you unmoved. But, by St. Paul! we must on, or our Company will think that they have lost their captain somewhat early in the venture. Throw the man my purse, Edricson, and let us go.'

Alleyne, lingering behind, bethought him of the Lady Loring's counsel, and reduced the noble gift which the knight had so freely bestowed to a single penny, which the beggar with many mumbled blessings thrust away into his wallet. Then, spurring his steed, the young squire rode at the top of his speed after his companions, and overtook them just at the spot where the trees fringe off into the moor and the straggling hamlet of Hordle lies scattered on either side of the winding and deeply rutted track. The Company was already well nigh through the village; but as the knight and his squires closed up upon them, they heard the clamour of a strident voice, followed by a roar of deep-chested