WINNING HIS SPURS A Tale of the Crusades. BY G. A. HENTY 1895 CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE OUTLAWS CHAPTER II. A RESCUE CHAPTER III. THE CAPTURE OF WORTHAM HOLD CHAPTER IV. THE CRUSADES CHAPTER V. PREPARATIONS CHAPTER VI. THE LISTS CHAPTER VII. REVENGE CHAPTER VIII. THE ATTACK CHAPTER IX. THE PRINCESS BERENGARIA CHAPTER X. PIRATES CHAPTER XI. IN THE HOLY LAND CHAPTER XII. THE ACCOLADE CHAPTER XIII. IN THE HANDS OF THE SARACENS CHAPTER XIV. AN EFFORT FOR FREEDOM CHAPTER XV. A HERMIT'S TALE CHAPTER XVI. A FIGHT OF HEROES CHAPTER XVII. AN ALFINE STORM CHAPTER XVIII. SENTENCED TO DEATH CHAPTER XIX. DRESDEN CHAPTER XX. UNDER THE GREENWOOD CHAPTER XXI. THE ATTEMPT ON THE CONVENT CHAPTER XXII. A DASTARDLY STRATAGEM CHAPTER XXIII. THE FALSE AND PERJURED KNIGHT CHAPTER XXIV. THE SIEGE OF EVESHAM CASTLE CHAPTER XXV. IN SEARCH OF THE KING CHAPTER XXVI. KING RICHARD'S RETURN TO ENGLAND WINNING HIS SPURS. CHAPTER I. THE OUTLAWS. It was a bright morning in the month of August, when a lad of some fifteen years of age, sitting on a low wall, watched party after party of armed men riding up to the castle of the Earl of Evesham. A casual observer glancing at his curling hair and bright open face, as also at the fashion of his dress, would at once have assigned to him a purely Saxon origin; but a keener eye would have detected signs that Norman blood ran also in his veins, for his figure was lither and lighter, his features more straightly and shapely cut, than was common among Saxons. His dress consisted of a tight-fitting jerkin, descending nearly to his knees. The material was a light-blue cloth, while over his shoulder hung a short cloak of a darker hue. His cap was of Saxon fashion, and he wore on one side a little plume of a heron. In a somewhat costly belt hung a light short sword, while across his knees lay a crossbow, in itself almost a sure sign of its bearer being of other than Saxon blood. The boy looked anxiously as party after party rode past towards the castle. "I would give something," he said, "to know what wind blows these knaves here. From every petty castle in the Earl's feu the retainers seem hurrying here. Is he bent, I wonder, on settling once and for all his quarrels with the Baron of Wortham? or can he be intending to make a clear sweep of the woods? Ah! here comes my gossip Hubert; he may tell me the meaning of this gathering." Leaping to his feet, the speaker started at a brisk walk to meet a jovial-looking personage coming down from the direction of the castle. The new comer was dressed in the attire of a falconer, and two dogs followed at his heels. "Ah, Master Cuthbert," he said, "what brings you so near to the castle? It is not often that you favour us with your presence."