Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/335

305 Count de Ferrers were fully as strong as those the Earl was leading against him.

But the Earl answered Edgar's look with a smile of confidence, saying: "Such men as the Count leads are not the equals of honest soldiers. They fight for plunder, not for glory and honor. Whenever they suspect they will lose the day, they think only of their own skins, and run like rats from a terrier. This Count, robber though he may be, is yet a man of mettle, and he will resist to the end. But his forces—pah! I would go gayly against then had I but half their number of good men and true."

Henry of Huntingdon now returned to the tent, reporting that all was ready, whereupon the Earl conducted his guests from the tent. They found their horses awaiting them, each held by a soldier; and when all were in the saddle, the earl sprang upon his own charger. Then raising his naked sword, he cried:

"Now forward to the relief of the fair ladies of Mortimer Castle!"

The whole cavalcade sprang into action, with a beating of hoofs upon the turf, a jangling of the trappings, and coats of mail, and a neighing of the steeds. Then suddenly one of the men-at-arms struck up a marching song, and one by one voices joined him until all were in full chorus: