horsemen galloped at the top of their speed straight and hard for
each other。 An instant later they met with a thunder…crash which
was heard by the burghers on the wall of Poitiers； seven good
miles away。
Under that frightful impact horses fell dead with broken necks；
and many a rider； held in his saddle by the high pommel； fractured
his thighs with the shock。 Here and there a pair met breast to
breast； the horses rearing straight upward and falling back upon
their masters。 But for the most part the line had opened in the
gallop； and the cavaliers； flying through the gaps； buried
themselves in the enemy's ranks。 Then the flanks shredded out；
and the thick press in the center loosened until there was space
to swing a sword and to guide a steed。 For ten acres there was
one wild tumultuous swirl of tossing heads； of gleaming weapons
which rose and fell； of upthrown hands； of tossing plumes and of
lifted shields； whilst the din of a thousand war…cries and the
clash…clash of metal upon metal rose and swelled like the roar and
beat of an ocean surge upon a rock…bound coast。 Backward and
forward swayed the mighty throng； now down the valley and now up；
as each side in turn put forth its strength for a fresh rally。
Locked in one long deadly grapple； great England and gallant
France with iron hearts and souls of fire strove and strove for
mastery。
Sir Walter Woodland； riding hard upon his high black horse； had
plunged into the swelter and headed for the blue and silver banner
of King John。 Close at his heels in a solid wedge rode the
Prince； Chandos； Nigel； Lord Reginald Cobham； Audley with his four
famous squires； and a score of the flower of the English and
Gascon knighthood。 Holding together and bearing down opposition
by a shower of blows and by the weight of their powerful horses；
their progress was still very slow； for ever fresh waves of French
cavaliers surged up against them and broke in front only to close
in again upon their rear。 Sometimes they were swept backward by
the rush； sometimes they gained a few paces； sometimes they could
but keep their foothold； and yet from minute to minute that blue
and silver flag which waved above the press grew ever a little
closer。 A dozen furious hard…breathing French knights had broken
into their ranks； and clutched at Sir Walter Woodland's banner；
but Chandos and Nigel guarded it on one side； Audley with his
squires on the other； so that no man laid his hand upon it and
lived。
But now there was a distant crash and a roar of 〃Saint George for
Guienne！〃 from behind。 The Captal de Buch had charged home。
〃Saint George for England！〃 yelled the main attack； and ever the
counter…cry came back to them from afar。 The ranks opened in
front of them。 The French were giving way。 A small knight with
golden scroll…work upon his armor threw himself upon the Prince
and was struck dead by his mace。 It was the Duke of Athens；
Constable of France； but none had time to note it； and the fight
rolled on over his body。 Looser still were the French ranks。
Many were turning their horses； for that ominous roar from the
rear had shaken their resolution。 The little English wedge poured
onward； the Prince； Chandos； Audley and Nigel ever in the van。
A huge warrior in black； bearing a golden banner； appeared
suddenly in a gap of the shredding ranks。 He tossed his precious
burden to a squire； who bore it away。 Like a pack of hounds on
the very haunch of a deer the English rushed yelling for the
oriflamme。 But the black warrior flung himself across their path。
〃Chargny！ Chargny a la recousse！〃 he roared with a voice of
thunder。 Sir Reginald Cobham dropped before his battle…ax； so did
the Gascon de Clisson。 Nigel was beaten down on to the crupper of
his horse by a sweeping blow； but at the same instant Chandos'
quick blade passed through the Frenchman's camail and pierced his
throat。 So died Geoffrey de Chargny； but the oriflamme was saved。
Dazed with the shock； Nigel still kept his saddle； and Pommers；
his yellow hide mottled with blood； bore him onward with the
others。 The French horsemen were now in full flight； but one
stern group of knights stood firm； like a rock in a rushing
torrent； beating off all； whether friend or foe； who tried to
break their ranks。 The oriflamme had gone； and so had the blue
and silver banner； but here were desperate men ready to fight to
the death。 In their ranks honor was to be reaped。 The Prince and
his following hurled themselves upon them； while the rest of the
English horsemen swept onward to secure the fugitives and to win
their ransoms。 But the nobler spirits … Audley； Chandos and the
others … would have thought it shame to gain money whilst there
was work to be done or honor to be won。 Furious was the wild
attack； desperate the prolonged defense。 Men fell from their
saddles for very exhaustion。
Nigel； still at his place near Chandos' elbow； was hotly attacked
by a short broad…shouldered warrior upon a stout white cob； but
Pommers reared with pawing fore feet and dashed the smaller horse
to the ground。 The falling rider clutched Nigel's arm and tore
him from the saddle； so that the two rolled upon the grass under
the stamping hoofs； the English squire on the top； and his
shortened sword glimmered before the visor of the gasping；
breathless Frenchman。
〃Je me rends！ je axe rends！〃 he panted。
For a moment a vision of rich ransoms passed through Nigel's
brain。 That noble palfrey； that gold…flecked armor； meant fortune
to the captor。 Let others have it！ There was work still to be
done。 How could he desert the Prince and his noble master for the
sake of a private gain？ Could he lead a prisoner to the rear when
honor beckoned him to the van？ He staggered to his feet； seized
Pommers by the mane； and swung himself into the saddle。
An instant later he was by Chandos' side once more and they were
bursting together through the last ranks of the gallant group who
had fought so bravely to the end。 Behind them was one long swath
of the dead and the wounded。 In front the whole wide plain was
covered with the flying French and their pursuers。
The Prince reined up his steed and opened his visor； whilst his
followers crowded round him with waving weapons and frenzied
shouts of victory。 〃What now； John！〃 cried the smiling Prince；
wiping his streaming face with his ungauntleted hand。 〃How fares
it then？〃
〃I am little hurt； fair lord； save for a crushed hand and a
spear…prick in the shoulder。 But you； sir？ I trust you have no
scathe？〃
〃In truth； John； with you at one elbow and Lord Audley at the
other； I know not how I could come to harm。 But alas！ I fear
that Sir James is sorely stricken。〃
The gallant Lord Audley had dropped upon the ground and the blood
oozed from every crevice of his battered armor。 His four brave
Squires … Dutton of Dutton； Delves of Doddington； Fowlhurst of
Crewe and Hawkstone of Wainhill … wounded and weary themselves；
but with no thought save for their master； unlaced his helmet and
bathed his pallid blood…stained face。
He looked up at the Prince with burning eyes。 〃I thank you； sir；
for deigning to consider so poor a knight as myself；〃 said he in a
feeble voice。
The Prince dismounted and bent over him。 〃I am bound to honor you
very much； James；〃 said he； 〃for by your valor this day you have
won glory and renown above us all； and your prowess has proved you
to be the bravest knight。〃
〃My Lord；〃 murmured the wounded man； 〃you have a right to say what
you please； but I wish it were as you say。〃
〃James；〃 said the Prince； 〃from this time onward I make you a
knight of my own household； and I settle upon you five hundred
marks of yearly income from my own estates in England。〃
〃Sir；〃 the knight answered； 〃God make me worthy of the good
fortune you bestow upon me。 Your knight I will ever be； and the
money I will divide with your leave amongst these four squires who
have brought me whatever glory I have won this day。〃 So saying
his head fell back； and he lay white and silent upon the grass。
〃Bring water！〃 said the Prince。 〃Let the royal leech see to him；
for I had rather lose many men than the good Sir James。 Ha；
Chandos； what have we here？〃
A knight lay across the path with his helmet beaten down upon his
shoulders。 On his surcoat and shield were the arms of a red
griffin。
〃It is Robert de Duras the spy；〃 said Chandos。
〃Well for him that he has met his end；〃 said the angry Prince。
〃Put him on his shield； Hubert； and let four archers bear him to
the monastery。 Lay him at the feet of the Cardinal and say that
by this sign I greet him。 Place my flag on yonder high bush；
Walter； and let my tent be raised there； that my friends may know
where to seek me。〃
The flight and pursuit had thundered far away； and the field was
deserted save for the numerous groups of weary horsemen who were
making their way back； driving their prisoners before them。 The
archers were scattered over the whole plain； rifling the
saddle…bags and gathering the armor of those who had fallen； or
searching for their own scattered arrows。
Suddenly； however； as the Prince was turning to