fearless and taking little heed for the future, had
set aside the cautions of his younger brother. Yet
Huon was loved and praised by all and he, Gerard,
was deemed a youngling, not to be given serious
heed.
Before nightfall they met with the worthy Ab-
bot of Cluny who was also on his way to court.
And both the brothers were most glad to see him,
for he was their well-beloved uncle. So did they
join their party to his and that night all lay to-
gether in friendship at an abbey he chose to visit.
Again in the morning, after breaking their fast,
they rode on together and all went very well with
them until they reached the top of a hill and could
see where the road wound down into the leafy lip
24
of a wood. Huon pulled back his mount and those
with him, wondering at his act, did likewise.
Then he pointed out to the company certain
flashes of light among the trees belowўas if men
clad in mail moved there. And so the party hesi-
tated, not knowing what lay before them, hidden
in that wood.
Since they were not men of war, the Abbot and
his monks and laymen withdrew to the side of the
road, and the churchman spoke frankly to Huon,
saying:
"Fair sir, I and all my followers are men of peace
and good will. If evil men lie in ambush before us,
surely they must mean ill to you who ride with
armor on your backs and swords at your sides.
Therefore, since of war I can have no part, we
needs must separate here and go our several ways.
For if I shed blood, even in the defending of my
own, I have committed black sin. But you are a
man of strife and bred to conflict."
And, as the Abbot was speaking so, out of the
trees below a Knight, masked by the lowered visor
of his helmet, spurred his horse to that he now
barred the path of all who would come down the
hill. There he sat silently waiting.
