Now Hugh's
serving-men also lifted their bows, but Grey Dick hissed:
"Leave them to me! This is fine work, and you'd muddle it!"
Ere the words had ceased to echo another horse was down.
Then, as those who remained still came on, urged by the knight who ran
shouting behind them, all loosed, and though some arrows went wide, the
end of it was that ere they reached the little mound every Clavering
horse was dead or sore wounded, while on the heath stood or lay seven
helpless men.
"Now," said Grey Dick, "let us go and talk with these foot-soldiers."
So they went out, all of them, except he who had the horses, and Hugh
called aloud that the first man of the Claverings who lifted a bow or
drew a sword should die without mercy. And he pointed to Grey Dick, who
stood beside him, arrow on string.
The Claverings began to talk together excitedly.
"Throw down your weapons!" commanded Hugh.
Still they hesitated. Then, without further warning Dick sent an artful
arrow through the cap of one of them, lifting it from his head, and
instantly set another shaft to his string. After this, down went the
swords and bows.
"Daggers and knives, too, if it please you, masters!"
Then these followed.
Now Hugh spoke a word to his men, who, going to the dead and dying
horses, took from them the stirrup-leathers and bridle-reins and
therewith bound the Claverings back to back.
Pages:
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83