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in mind; and that I think you will welcome. Important indeed it is that they
be master bowmen, not merely as to skill with the long shaft; but men who have
stood in line of battle before, and can be counted on even in the thick of
things to do what they have been set to do."
"By Saint Dunstan!" said Brian. "I do not remember you being asked to plan
our fighting for us!"
"I was sent to find archers; and archers are used to a particular purpose, or
they are wasted," said Dafydd. "Being the only archer here myself among us, it
seemed to me that I must take upon myself the planning of what the archers
should do, for none of the rest of you are trained to do so. Am I wrong in
that? Or was I wrong?"
"No, Dafydd," Jim answered for all the rest, "you were not wrong and are not
wrong. Let's at least hear what you have in mind."
"It is not ordinary for an archer to tell belted knights how fighting should
go, I know," said Dafydd, "but an archer, look you, is like a tool to the
hand. No two tools are exactly alike; and some are better fitted to a
particular job than any others, even though others look so like to them that
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those not used to tools cannot tell the difference. I have here three bowmen
specially fitted to a certain use. Whatever else you plan to do, Sir James,"
he said, now addressing Jim directly, "it is your plan to bring yourself,
these gentlemen with you, and in particularyour Prince, close to King Jean and
Malvinne. Is it not?"
"That's true," said Jim.
"And your only hope of approaching him is during the battle, am I not right?"
went on Dafydd.
"You're right," said Jim.
"And am I further right that in a battle, the King of France will be
surrounded as thick as they can ride, by at least fifty picked knights, who
will be ready to die in place rather than let any possible enemy close to
him?"
"That is no whit less man the truth," said Sir Raoul, "and by the Lilies and
Leopards themselves, I have from the beginning imagined no way by which a
small group like this can penetrate such defense. If you have come up with a
method, archer, I freely give you my apologies for any opinion less than
favorable of you I have had in the past."
"What I suggest," said Dafydd, as calmly and quietly as always, "must needs
depend upon myself and these three being carried safely within a certain range
of King Jean and his bodyguards. From that point, however, they may become the
tool to open up that steel shield that surrounds not only the French king and
Malvinne but the false Prince, for he is sure to be there also as a sign to
both armies that he is on the French side."
"I think there is much sense in what the archer says," said the Prince
unexpectedly.
"Indeed, Your Highness is probably right," said Brian. "But, Dafydd, just how
did you plan that we were to carry you that close?"
"Ah, that," said Dafydd with a slow smile. "I leave to you gentlemen of metal
weapons and dress. Think you, thatwhomsoever leads the approach against these
knights cannot be naked men such as myself and these three archers, but must
be armored in steel as they are. You know that in such battles as these, your
men of the bow are of great power from a distance; and so long as they can
retire behind armed and armored men when the enemy comes to close blows. At
close range, we are so much cold meat to be sliced."
"True enough, Dafydd," said Jim, as much to end the discussion as to give
Dafydd his due. "The making of plans to get us close is within my province.
Even our men-at-arms must followwe leaders who're in full armor; or else they,
too, could not face the clash with those armed and clad as we. In fact, they'd
stand the shock only a little better than you and your bowmen. As it happens,
I've got some ideas on that."
"It would be of a great benefit," said Brian wistfully, "if you could go
before us in your dragon guise; and at least throw their horses into dismay
and excitement. So that they will be less free to oppose us, for needing to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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