148 THE BOY CRUSADERS.

‘Alas! alas!' said Guy sadly, and he clasped his
hands, as if muttering a prayer for his comrade’s
soul; ‘ woe is me, that I should live to hear that my
brother-in-arms, the good Walter, has fallen.’

‘My brave youth,’ urged Bisset, kindly, as he
observed that the boy’s face was suffused with tears,
‘death has this day been the portion of many thou-
sands of valiant men; and, for your brother-in-armgs,
I can testify for your comfort that he fought to the
last with the courage of a hero, and I doubt not,
that he faced death with the courage of a martyr.’

‘And if we are to give the uit. which our fathers
did to the words of holy men,’ added Guy, solemnly,
‘the souls of all such as fall, fighting for the Cross,
are purified from sin, and admitted straight to Para-
cise.’

‘ By the mass, I have heard priests say so,’ replied
Bisset, after a pause, during which he eyed the boy
with evident surprise; ‘and mayhap,’ continued he,
‘in the days of Peter the Hermit, and Godfrey of
Bouillon, such was the case. But, credit me, in
our day, armed pilgrims are guilty of such flagrant
sins during their pilgrimage, and while decked with
the oo that I hardly deem them likely’ to get
access to Paradise on such easy terms.’

‘By St. John of Beverley,’ exclaimed the squire,
in great astonishment, ‘deem you that matters are
so much changes sir knight?’

‘So much go,’ answered Bisset, shaking his head,
‘that seeing, save myself, you are almost the only
Inglishman left in this army of pilgrims, I am free
to confess to you my opinion, that for aught we are