282 THE BOY CRUSADERS.

the king looked towards the noble demoiselle, who, |
princess as she was, felt her heart beat rapidly, and
was under the necessity of making a strong effort
not to betray the interest which she felt in the
fortunes of the young warrior, with whose fate, she
had convinced herself, since the rescue at Posse-
Poulain, her own was strangely intermingled.

‘Wherefore,’ continued Louis, ‘I would fain, ere
parting with them, give them a token of my appre-_
ciation of their piety, and the courage they have
shown in hours of danger and disaster, as I have
already admonished them how to act towards their
God and their neighbour. Kneel.’

And as they obeyed, Louis gave each of them
three blows on the shoulder with the flat of his
weapon, mentioning the name of each, and repeating
the formula—-‘ In the name of God, of St. Michael,
and St. George, I dub thee knight. Rise up, Sir
Walter Espec, and Sir Guy Muschamp.’

And as Walter and Guy rose to their feet, blush-
ing with this new and unexpected honour, Louis
added—

‘And now you will accompany your king to
England, and lose no time in winning your spurs,
so as to justify me, in the eyes of men, for having
thus distinguished you.’

‘By St. George, cousin,’ said Henry, laughing, ‘I
fear me that their patience will be put to the test;
for at present I have not an uy against who
to lead such redoubted warriors.’

‘My lord and father,’ said Prince Edward, inter-
posing, ‘if the young knights will enter my service,