“How is he to know?” said another of the carters.  “My brother’s boy was served just like that.  He was born free, the same as all our family, but he was fond of roving, and when he reached Quinton, he was seen by Baron Robert, who was in want of men, and being a likely young fellow, they shaved his lip, and forced him to labour under the thong.  When his spirit was cowed, and he seemed reconciled, they let him grow his moustache again, and there he is now, a retainer, and well treated.  But still, it was against his will.  Jack is right; you had better join the king’s levy.”

The king’s levy is composed of his own retainers from his estates, of townsmen, who are not retainers of the barons, of any knights and volunteers who like to offer their services; and a king always desires as large a levy as possible, because it enables him to overawe his barons.  These, when their “war”, or forces, are collected together in camp, are often troublesome, and inclined to usurp authority.  A volunteer is, therefore, always welcome in the king’s levy.

Felix thanked them for the information they had given him, and said he should certainly follow their advice.  He could now hardly keep up with the carts, having walked for so many hours, and undergone so much previous exertion.  Finding this to be the case, he wished them good-night, and looked round for some cover.  It was now dusk, and he knew he could go no farther.  When they understood his intention, they consulted among themselves, and finally made him get up into one of the carts, and sit down on the bundles of arrows, which filled it like faggots.  Thus he was jolted along, the rude wheels fitting but badly on the axle, and often sinking deep into a rut.

They were now in thick forest, and the track was much narrower, so that it had become worn into a hollow, as if it were the dry bed of a torrent.  The horses and the carters were weary, yet they were obliged to plod on, as the arms had to be delivered before the morrow.  They spoke little, except to urge the animals.  Felix soon dropped into a reclining posture (uneasy as it was, it was a relief), and looking up, saw the white summer stars above.  After a time he lost consciousness, and slept soundly, quite worn out, despite the jolting and creaking of the wheels.

The sound of a trumpet woke him with a start.  His heavy and dreamless sleep for a moment had taken away his memory, and he did not know where he was.  As he sat up two sacks fell from him; the carters had thrown them over him as a protection against the night’s dew.  The summer morning was already as bright as noonday, and the camp about him was astir.  In half a minute he came to himself, and getting out of the cart looked round.  All his old interest had returned, the spirit of war entered into him, the trumpet sounded again, and the morning breeze extended the many-coloured banners.