The Living and the Dead!
“Be warned, all ye who hear my lay,
And pray to God for grace
To keep your souls from the foul fiend’s snare,
And your feet from his chosen place!”
His hearers tremblingly crossed themselves, and for some moments no one spoke. At last the pedlar said—
“The spot is haunted, then, by the ghost of yon felon knight?”
“Even so; and he is ever seen when evil is in store for France. Just ere Crecy Field was fought, men saw him flitting to and fro in the Haunted Circle, uttering cries that made all hearts fail; and now that he hath shown himself again, no doubt some fresh trouble is at hand. God help us!”
“Of what form is he?” asked the pedlar, his ruddy face paling visibly.
“Like a knight fully armed, but with armour of ancient fashion, and all stained and rusty with lying long in the damp grave. He is ever seen on foot, with visor closed and sword in hand; and, be the moon ever so bright, he hath no shadow!”