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shame to be outlawed and banned。 Had it been so； I would not have told
thee thereof； nor have bidden thee send my true love to thy father； as I did
but now。 But； boy； certes he standest continually in great danger greater
than thou wottest of。 Were it known where he lieth hid； it might be to his
undoing and utter ruin。 Methought that belike thou mightest not know that；
and so I sent for thee for to tell thee that it behoovest thee to say not one
single word concerning him to any of these new friends of thine； nor who
he is； nor what he is。〃
〃But how came my father to be so banned？〃 said Myles； in a
constrained and husky voice； and after a long time of silence。
〃That I may not tell thee just now；〃 said the old knight； 〃only thisthat
I have been bidden to make it known to thee that thy father hath an enemy
full as powerful as my Lord the Earl himself； and that through that enemy
all his ill…fortune his blindness and everythinghath come。 Moreover；
did this enemy know where thy father lieth； he would slay him right
speedily。〃
〃Sir；〃 cried Myles； violently smiting his open palm upon the table； 〃tell
me who this man is； and I will kill him！〃
Sir James smiled grimly。 〃Thou talkest like a boy；〃 said he。 〃Wait until
thou art grown to be a man。 Mayhap then thou mayst repent thee of these
bold words； for one time this enemy of thy father's was reckoned the
foremost knight in England； and he is now the King's dear friend and a
great lord。〃
〃But；〃 said Myles； after another long time of heavy silence； 〃will not
my Lord then befriend me for the sake of my father； who was one time his
dear comrade？〃
Sir James shook his head。 〃It may not be；〃 said he。 〃Neither thou nor
thy father must look for open favor from the Earl。 An he befriended
Falworth； and it came to be known that he had given him aid or succor； it
might belike be to his own undoing。 No； boy； thou must not even look to
be taken into the household to serve with gentlemen as the other squires
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do serve； but must even live thine own life here and fight thine own way。〃
Myles's eyes blazed。 〃Then；〃 cried he； fiercely； 〃it is shame and attaint
upon my Lord the Earl； and cowardice as well； and never will I ask favor
of him who is so untrue a friend as to turn his back upon a comrade in
trouble as he turneth his back upon my father。〃
〃Thou art a foolish boy；〃 said Sir James with a bitter smile； 〃and
knowest naught of the world。 An thou wouldst look for man to befriend
man to his own danger； thou must look elsewhere than on this earth。 Was I
not one time Mackworth's dear friend as well as thy father？ It could cost
him naught to honor me； and here am I fallen to be a teacher of boys。 Go
to！ thou art a fool。〃
Then； after a little pause of brooding silence； he went on to say that the
Earl was no better or worse than the rest of the world。 That men of his
position had many jealous enemies； ever seeking their ruin； and that such
must look first of all each to himself； or else be certainly ruined； and drag
down others in that ruin。 Myles was silenced； but the bitterness had
entered his heart； and abided with him for many a day afterwards。
Perhaps Sir James read his feelings in his frank face； for he sat looking
curiously at him； twirling his grizzled mustache the while。 〃Thou art like
to have hard knocks of it； lad； ere thou hast gotten thee safe through the
world；〃 said he； with more kindness in his harsh voice than was usual。
〃But get thee not into fights before thy time。〃 Then he charged the boy
very seriously to live at peace with his fellow…squires； and for his father's
sake as well as his own to enter into none of the broils that were so
frequent in their quarters。
It was with this special admonition against brawling that Myles was
dismissed； to enter； before five minutes had passed； into the first really
great fight of his life。
Besides Gascoyne and Wilkes； he found gathered in the dormitory six
or eight of the company of squires who were to serve that day upon
household duty； among others； Walter Blunt and three other bachelors；
who were changing their coarse service clothes for others more fit for the
household。
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〃Why didst thou tarry so long； Myles？〃 said Gascoyne； as he entered。
〃Methought thou wert never coming。〃
〃Where goest thou； Falworth？〃 called Blunt from the other end of the
room； where he was lacing his doublet。
Just now Myles had no heart in the swimming or sport of any sort； but
he answered； shortly； 〃I go to the river to swim。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Blunt； 〃thou goest not forth from the castle to…day。 Hast
thou forgot how thou didst answer me back about fetching the water this
morning？ This day thou must do penance； so go thou straight to the
armory and scour thou up my breastplate。〃
From the time he had arisen that morning everything had gone wrong
with Myles。 He had felt himself already outrated in rendering service to
the bachelors； he had quarrelled with the head of the esquires； he had
nearly quarrelled with Gascoyne； and then had come the bitterest and
worst of all； the knowledge that his father was an outlaw； and that the Earl
would not stretch out a hand to aid him or to give him any countenance。
Blunt's words brought the last bitter cut to his heart； and they stung him to
fury。 For a while he could not answer； but stood glaring with a face fairly
convulsed with passion at the young man； who continued his toilet；
unconscious of the wrath of the new recruit。
Gascoyne and Wilkes； accepting Myles's punishment as a thing of
course； were about to leave the dormitory when Myles checked them。
〃Stop； Francis！〃 he cried； hoarsely。 〃Thinkest thou that I will stay behind
to do yon dog's dirty work？ No； I go with ye。〃
A moment or two of dumb； silent amazement followed his bold words；
then Blunt cried； 〃Art thou mad？〃
〃Nay；〃 answered Myles in the same hoarse voice； 〃I am not mad。 I tell
thee a better man than thou shouldst not stay me from going an I list to go。
〃I will break thy cockerel head for that speech；〃 said Blunt； furiously。
He stooped as he spoke； and picked up a heavy clog that lay at his feet。
It was no insignificant weapon either。 The shoes of those days were
sometimes made of cloth； and had long pointed toes stuffed with tow or
wool。 In muddy weather thick heavy clogs or wooden soles were strapped；
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like a skate； to the bottom of the foot。 That clog which Blunt had seized
was perhaps eighteen or twenty inches long； two or two and a half inches
thick at the heel； tapering to a point at the toe。 As the older lad advanced；
Gascoyne stepped between him and his victim。
〃Do not harm him； Blunt；〃 he pleaded。 〃Bear thou in mind how new…
come he is among us。 He knoweth not our ways as yet。〃
〃Stand thou back； Gascoyne；〃 said Blunt； harshly； as he thrust him
aside。 〃I will teach him our ways so that he will not soon forget them。〃
Close to Myles's feet was another clog like that one which Blunt held。
He snatched it up； and set his back against the wall； with a white face and
a heart beating heavily and tumultuously； but with courage steeled to meet
the coming encounter。 There was a hard； grim look in his blue eyes that；
for a moment perhaps； quelled the elder lad。 He hesitated。 〃Tom！ Wat！
Ned！〃 he called to the other bachelors； 〃come hither； and lend me a hand
with this knave。〃
〃An ye come nigh me；〃 panted Myles； 〃I will brain the first within
reach。〃
Then Gascoyne dodged behind the others； and； without being seen；
slipped out of the room for help。
The battle that followed was quick； sharp； and short。 As Blunt strode
forward； Myles struck； and struck with might and main； but he was too
excited to deliver his blow with calculation。 Blunt parried it with