Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/32

8 "Hugh," said the baron kindly, "it shall be as you shall say. We have been comrades in arms for many years since you first strung your bow in my service. Twice I have had to thank you for saving my life on the battlefield, and if you ask it, I shall take you with me against the infidels across the sea. But all that life holds for me I must leave in this little stone fortress,—my wife, my son, my dearest friend's daughter,—and hard as it is to lose you, I would go with a light heart if I knew you were with them. I know the wisdom that is thatched by that grizzled wig of yours, and I know the skill in warfare long years have brought you. My wife is worthy to be the lady of an English baron; my son also is brave and worthy, if unskilled; my ward Amabel has in her veins the blood of a brave soldier; but all these avail nothing without knowledge. I do not command you, but I ask of you, as a comrade in arms, to remain with them."

Hugh of Cambray was a Welshman, and all of his actions were deliberate. He sat in silence for a few moments before answering. Then he sighed and said:

"I will stay, my lord: but only on condition that you come back safe from Palestine."

All smiled, but seeing that the old soldier had spoken entirely in earnest, no one laughed.