The House of Walderne - A Tale of the Cloister and the Forest in the Days of the Barons' Wars by A. D. (Augustine David) Crake
page 290 of 339 (85%)
page 290 of 339 (85%)
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The day wears away. Drogo paces the battlements of the watchtower with excited steps--the royal banner will soon be seen surmount ing that ridge above the castle. Yes, there is a messenger spurring downwards as fast as the sandy road will permit him; see, he is galloping as for dear life--look at the cloud of dust which he raises. The "merrie men" have disappeared in the woods, and Drogo descends to meet him; just as the rider enters beneath the suspended portcullis into the court of the castle, he reaches the foot of the stairs. "What news? Speak, thou varlet!" "The king approaches. Already he is within sight from the upper windows of the windmill." "Throw open the gates, man the battlements, let pennon and banner wave; here will we receive him. Get me the keys to deliver to my liege." Then Drogo paid a visit to the kitchen to see that the men cooks were getting forward with the banquet, that the oxen and fatlings, the spoils of a successful foray upon the farmyards of hostile neighbours--the deer, the hares, and partridges of the woods--the fish of the mere, were being successfully roasted, boiled, baked, stewed, or the like, for the king's supper. Then he interviewed the butler about the supplies of malmsey, clary, mead, ale, and the like. Then he saw that the adornments of the great hall were completed, the banners, the armour, the antlers of the deer, suspended becomingly around the walls, the floor strewn with fresh |
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