Let us pray that this one has not taken wing, for if so I, too, must learn to fly." Thus they talked of these and other things amongst the hum of the great camp, which was like to that of bees on a lime-tree in summer, and whilst they talked the blue August sky became suddenly overcast.

Dense and heavy clouds hid up its face, a cold and fitful wind began to blow, increasing presently to a gale which caused the planted standards, blazoned with lions rampant and with fleurs-de-lis, and the pennons of a hundred knights set here and there among the long battle lines, first to flap and waver and then to stand out straight as though they were cut of iron.
A word of command was called from rank to rank.
"Sheath bows!" it said, and instantly thousands of slender points were lifted and sank again, vanishing into the leathern cases which the archers bore.
Scarcely were these snug when the storm broke.

First fell a few heavy drops, to be followed by such a torrent that all who had cloaks were glad to wear them.

From the black clouds above leapt lightnings that were succeeded by the deep and solemn roll of thunder.

A darkness fell upon the field so great that men wondered what it might portend, for their minds were strained.