“Aye, go not from us, my lord!” cried the others.  “Be thou our leader henceforth!” and thereto they besought him with eager cries and with hands outstretched.

But Beltane shook his head; quoth he: 

“Look now, as men are born into the world but for the good of man, so must I to my duty.  And methinks, this is my duty:  to do such deeds as shall ring throughout this sorrowful Duchy like a trumpet-blast, bidding all men arise and take hold upon their manhood.  Garthlaxton is no more, but there be many castles yet to burn whose flames, perchance, shall light such a fire within the souls of men as shall ne’er be quenched until Wrong and Tyranny be done away.  So must I back to the wild-wood to wild and desperate doings.  But, as for ye—­I have heard tell that the men of Belsaye are brave and resolute.  Let now the memory of wrongs endured make ye trebly valiant to maintain your new-got liberty.  If Duke Ivo come, then let your walls be manned, for ’tis better to die free men than trust again to his mercy.”

“Verily, lord,” said the Reeve, “but we do lack for leaders.  Our provost and all our captains Duke Ivo hanged upon his gallows.  Beseech thee, then, give to us a leader cunning in war.”

“That will I,” answered Beltane, “on this condition—­that every able man shall muster under arms each day within the market-square.”

“It shall be done, my lord.”

Then summoned he Eric of the wry neck, together with Giles who came forthwith, being yet bedight in Sir Gui’s harness.

“Eric, I have marked thee well; methinks thou art one long bred to arms and learned in war?”

“My lord Beltane, in other days I was the Duke thy father’s High Constable of all the coast-wise towns.”

“Ha—­say’st thou so in sooth?  Then now do I make thee lord Constable of Belsaye.  As to thee, Giles, thou guileful rogue, hast full oft vaunted thyself a soldier of experience, so now am I minded to prove thee and thy methods.  How if I give thee charge over the bowmen of Belsaye?”

“Why first, sweet, tall brother, first will I teach them to draw a bow, pluck a string, and speed a shaft as never townsman drew, plucked or sped—­in fine, I will teach them to shoot:  and, thereafter, devoutly pray the good Saint Giles (that is my patron saint) to send us Black Ivo and his dogs to shoot at!”

“So be it.  Choose ye now each ten men of your companies that shall abide here with ye what time I am away—­yet first mark this:  In your hands do I leave this fair city, to your care I give the lives and well-being of all these men and women and children.  Come now, lay here your hands upon my sword and swear me to maintain Belsaye to the last man ’gainst siege or storm, so long as life be in you!”

Now when they had sworn, Beltane turned him to the Reeve: 

“Good sir,” quoth he, “I pray you loose now the captives from their chains.  Let your prisoners be secured, and for the rest, let us now eat and drink lest we famish.”