"Mayhap, Ralph," said Hugh, amidst the general laughter of the knights, "yet even so, it might have caused the death of Beosund or another." "Nay, Messer Hugh," protested the archer, "no war-horse could come by his death from such a toy. But I will teach them a thing or two, an they will but bide in bowshot of me." "I will warrant you do," assented Villehardouin. "St. Remi guide your shafts, brave varlet. But what says the shipmaster?" The Venetian captain leaned over the rail of the sterncastle and shouted down to them: "Be prepared, lords! We approach the shore. Ho, there, varlets, draw the door-pins." The galley which had been towing them sheered to one side, casting off the tow-rope, and their keel ran into the soft sand of the beach. The shipmen let the side-doors drop, and the knights and squires led the horses down the inclined bridges which were formed by this manoeuvre. Hugh found himself splashing along in water up to his middle, clutching Beosund's bridle in one hand and his lance in the other. Matteo was beside him and Ralph a pace or two behind, holding his precious bow overhead to protect its string from the water that was boiling under the tumult of men and beasts. "Form ranks, Messers," ordered Villehardouin, as the transport's company gained the beach. "So! With the lance! St. Remi be our guardian!" They galloped forward in line with other units of their battalion, but the Greeks would not withstand them. Before they came to the shock the enemy had scattered and retired under shelter of a hail of arrows. "Hold!" called Villehardouin. "We must not outrun our archers." "Nay, Lord Marshal, but there is one with you," said Ralph, dismounting from his horse. The Greeks had halted just out of what they deemed safe bowshot and were occupied in rearranging the dense ranks of their companies. Ralph flicked a blade of grass into the air, marked the drift of the wind, and nocked a shaft. "The tall knight in the green surcoat, Ralph," suggested Hugh. "Ay, Messer Hugh. Here is a message for him." The bowstring hummed, and whilst the company breathed twice nothing happened. Then the green knight fell from his horse. There was a riffle of panic in the Greek ranks, and they retired hastily a considerable distance farther to the rear. "Well shot," approved Villehardouin. "Here come our foot-sergeants. Now we may prick up these people again."