Step by step the heavy sound approached, until the form of the huge and substantial Fleming at length issued from the turret-door to the platform where they "were conversing. Wilkin Flammock was cased in bright armour, of unusual weight and thickness, and cleaned with exceeding care, which marked the neatness of his nation; but, contrary to the custom of the Normans, entirely plain, and void of carving, gilding, or any sort of ornament. The basenet, or steel-cap, had no visor, and left exposed a broad countenance, with heavy and unpliable features, which announced the character of his temper and understanding. He carried in his hand a heavy mace. "So, Sir Fleming," said the Castellane, "you are in no hurry, methinks, to repair to the rendezvous." "So please you," answered the Fleming, "we were compelled to tarry, that we might load our wains with our bales of cloth and other property." "Ha! wains?--how many wains have you brought with you?" "Six, noble sir," replied Wilkin. "And how many men?" demanded Raymond Berenger. "Twelve, valiant sir," answered Flammock. "Only two men to each baggage-wain? I wonder you would thus encumber yourself," said Berenger. "Under your favour, sir, once more," replied Wilkin, "it is only the value which I and my comrades set upon our goods, that inclines us to defend them with our bodies; and, had we been obliged to leave our cloth to the plundering clutches of yonder vagabonds, I should have seen small policy in stopping here to give them the opportunity of adding murder to robbery. Gloucester should have been my first halting-place." The Norman knight gazed on the Flemish artisan, for such was Wilkin Flammock, with such a mixture of surprise and contempt, as excluded indignation. "I have heard much," he said, "but this is the first time that I have heard one with a beard on his lip avouch himself a coward." "Nor do you hear it now," answered Flammock, with the utmost composure--"I am always ready to fight for life and property; and my coming to this country, where they are both in constant danger, shows that I care not much how often I do so. But a sound skin is better than a slashed one, for all that." "Well," said Raymond Berenger, "fight after thine own fashion, so thou wilt but fight stoutly with that long body of thine. We are like to have need for all that we can do.--Saw you aught of these rascaille Welsh?--have they Gwenwyn's banner amongst them?" "I saw it with the white dragon displayed," replied Wilkin; "I could not but know it, since it was broidered in my own loom." Raymond looked so grave upon this intelligence, that Dennis Morolt, unwilling the Fleming should mark it, thought it necessary to withdraw his attention. "I can tell thee," he said to Flammock, "that when the Constable of Chester joins us with his lances, you shall see your handiwork, the dragon, fly faster homeward than ever flew the shuttle which wove it."