The metropolis is always an attractive scene for a story, and doubly so for a story like this, which tells how two boys and a girl made their way by their own pluck and ability. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. * * * * * * [Illustration: Firm as a rock stood the young warrior. (See page 18.)] WITH THE BLACK PRINCE by WILLIAM O. STODDARD Author of Crowded Out o' Crofield, The Red Patriot, Success Against Odds, etc. Illustrated [Illustration] New York D. Appleton and Company 1898 Copyright, 1898, By D. Appleton and Company. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I.--THE KING'S DEER 1 II.--THE MEN OF THE WOODS 25 III.--THE EARL AND THE ESQUIRE 49 IV.--THE KING'S MESSENGER 70 V.--THE ENDING OF THE PEACE 96 VI.--THE SEA FIGHT 119 VII.--THE GREAT PLAN OF THE KING 143 VIII.--THE CASTLE OF BRUYERRE 166 IX.--KING EDWARD AT PARIS 188 X.--THE GREAT DAY OF CRÉCY 212 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. FACING PAGE Firm as a rock stood the young warrior _Frontispiece_ Loudly twanged the bow 102 "Yield thee, De Renly!" he shouted 132 Up went the ladder, and on it the English climbed fast 177 Soon the air was full of the roaring 224 "Arise, Sir Richard of Wartmont!" 230 WITH THE BLACK PRINCE. CHAPTER I. THE KING'S DEER. There came a sudden sound, breaking the shadowy silence of Longwood forest. Crash followed crash, at short intervals, with the snapping of dry twigs and bush branches, and then came ringing, clear and sweet, three notes of a hunting horn. Out into an open glade, where the sunlight fell upon the long, green grass of midsummer, there bounded a splendid stag--a stag royal, a stag of ten--fit to be the antlered monarch of the king's deer in Longwood. Three leaps, and then the beautiful animal stood still; but as he turned, panting, and lowered his horns, it could be seen that he was wounded. The feather of an arrow in his flank told how deeply the shaft was driven. He was at bay now, and splendid was his courage as he stood to battle with his pursuers. Again, and nearer, nearer, sounded the horn; for the hunters were coming. Out through the leafy barrier of the bushes at the edge of the glade bounded three eager deerhounds, one after another. Large dogs they were, brown-haired, lop-eared. Their baying had chimed in with the music of the horn. Better for them it were if one of the huntsmen had been there to hold them from their haste; for there is danger for any who rush rashly in upon a stag at bay.