Produced by Al Haines. [Illustration: Cover art] *[Illustration: "ROLAND WAS SAVAGELY ATTACKING HIM IN HIS TURN" (missing from book)]* *Edgar the Ready* A Tale of the Third Edward’s Reign BY W. P. SHERVILL _Illustrated by Charles M. Sheldon_ BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED LONDON GLASGOW AND BOMBAY 1914 *Contents* CHAP. I. A Gallant Sacrifice II. An Ordeal of the Night III. The Castle of Wolsingham IV. The Winning of Peter V. The Fracas VI. Sir John’s Esquire VII. To Guienne VIII. The Lists of Bordeaux IX. The Encounter with Sir Gervaise X. News of Sir John XI. In Pursuit XII. Castle Ruthènes XIII. Prisoners XIV. A Desperate Venture XV. Ill News at Bordeaux XVI. A New Quest XVII. The Opening of the Attack XVIII. The Plight of Beatrice XIX. The Assault XX. The Last Hope XXI. Through the Darkness XXII. The Last of Ruthènes XXIII. Sir John’s Choice *Illustrations* "Roland was savagely attacking him in his turn" (missing from book) . . . _Frontispiece_ "Sir Gervaise sprang towards his adversary, thirsting to retrieve his fallen fortunes" "A torch was thrust close to Edgar’s face" "The torch fell upon the bottom steps, revealing the three crouching figures" (missing from book) "’Bah! These walls laugh thee and thy rabble to scorn!’" "’Come, Beatrice, I will strive yet to save thee’" (missing from book) *EDGAR THE READY* *CHAPTER I* *A Gallant Sacrifice* "Now, lad, I will tell thee how it cometh that Sir John Chartris hath sent me down into Devon to seek thee and to bring thee back to his castle of Wolsingham. The road seemeth less rough and wild, and I can tell thee all that befell with the more comfort. I would, though, that I could have brought a spare horse. To have thee riding behind my saddle smacks of a farmer and his dame rather than of man-at-arms and fledgeling warrior." "No matter, Matthew," replied the soldier’s companion, a lad of some fourteen or fifteen summers, "our road will take us along the borders of Exmoor, and I have hopes that we may be able to snare or capture one of the ponies that run wild thereabouts." "Perchance. Now, as thou hast already heard, ’twas at Sluys that thy father met his death--and a right gallant one it was--but of the fashion of it only rumours have reached thee.