The sun., 1891-05-24
THB WHITE COMPANY.
BY CON AN DOYLE E.
CHAPTER TX.

HOW STRANGE THINGS BEFELL IN MtSsTEAr
WOOD.
Tho path which the Young clerk had nov
10 follow lay through maRniHoent
forest OF the very heaviest timber
where the giant boles OF oak and o
beech formed long aisles In every direction
shooting up their hugo branches to build the
majestic arches OF Natures own cathedral.
Beneath lay broad carpet OF the softest and
Rreenest moss. necked over with fallen leaves.
but yielding PLEASANTLY to tho foot OF the
traveller. The track which guided him was
ono 40 seldom used that In places It lost itself
entirely among the grass. to reappsar as
reddish rut between the distant tree trunks.
1t was very stiR here in tho heart OF the wood
ands. The gentle rustic OF the branches and
the distant cooling Of pigeons were the only
sounds which broke In upon the silence, save
that once Aleyne heard afar of merry call
upon hunting bugle and tho shrill yapping
Of tho hounds.
It was not without some emotion that he
looked upon the scene around him. for. In spite
Of his secluded life. he know enough OF tho an-
oient greatness Of his own family to be aware
that the time had beon when they had hold un-
disputed and paramount sway over all that
tract OF country. His father could trace his
puro Saxon lineage back to that Godfrey Mali
who had held tho manors OF BistsrEe and OF
Minstead at tho time whom the Norman first
set mailed foot upon English soil. The afor-
sstation OF theldistrict. however. and Its con-
version into royal demesne had clipped OF
large section OF bis estate. while other parts
had been conflscnted as o punishment for his
supposed completely In an aborttve Saxon rs-
tng. The fate OF the ancestor had boon typical
OF that Of his descendants. During three
hundred years their domains had eradu-
sf- ,t,I ip,n
fouda encroachment, and sometimes through
such gifts to the Church os that with which
Alleyne's father had opened the doors OF Beau
lieu Abbey to his younger son. Tho impor-
tance OF the family had thus dwindsd but
they still retained the old Saxon manor house.
with n couple OF farms and grove large
enough to afford pannage to n hundred pigs
"sylvn do centum porcis" as the old family
parchments describe It. Above all. tho owner
OF tho soil could still hold his head high as tho
veritable Socman OF Minstead-that Is. as hold
ing the land In free socage with no feudal su-
perior and answerable to no man lower than
the king. Knowing this. Alleyne felt some
little glow OF worldly pride as he looked for tho
first time upon the land with which so many
generations OF his ancestors had been associ-
ated. He pushed on tho quicker. twirlinR his
staff merrily, and looking out at every
turn OF the path for some sign Of
the old Saxon residence He was sud-
denly arrested. however. BY the appearance Of
wild looking fellow armed with club. who
sprang out from behind . tres and barred his
passage. He was rough. powerful peasant
with cap and tunio OF untanned sheepsktn.
and feet
stand |" he shouted, raising his heavy
cudgel to enforce the order. Who are you
who walk so freely through the wood2 Whittier
would you go. and what is your errandr'
why should I answer your questions my
friend ?" said Alieyne. standing on his guard.
Because your tongue may save your pate.
But whore have looked upon your fscsI"
mo longer ago than last night at the Pied
Merlin" the clerk answered. recognizing the
escaped serf who had been 90 outspoken as to
hiswrongs.
by the virRini yes You were the little,
clerk who sat so mum and cried ~ on the gles-
man. What hast in the SCRIPT"
"Nought OF any price,"
How can toll that clerkf Let me sss."
"NotL"
Fool! could pull you limb from limb like
pullet. What would you havs2 Hast forgot
that we are alone far from all men2 How can
your clerkshlp help your Wouldst lose scrip
and life. too2"
Il will part with neither without light"
uButs Quotu61 a ukub p0tWl4s opuIE0U
cock and nsw-hatchsd chickenl Thy fighting
days may soon be over"
Hadst asked mo In the nsme Of charity
would have given freely" cried Alleyns. AS
It stands not one farthing shall you have with
my free will. and whom I see my brother. tho
Sooman Of Minstead. he will raise hue and CRY
from will to will from hundred to hundred.
until you are taken as . common robbsr and
scourGe to the country"
The outlaw sank his club. 1.-THE Sooman's
brotherW he gasped. Now. BY the keys Of
Peterl had rather that hand withsrsd and
tongue was palsied ere had struck or mis-
you are one Of the right side. warrant. for all
your clerkly dress"
His brother am" said Alleyno. But II I |
were not. Is that reasoniwhy you should mo-
lest me on tho kings ground2"
Il give not the pip Of an apple for king or for |
noble" cried the serf passlonately IN have |
had from them. and Ill shall repay them. I |
Am good friend to my friends. and. By the |
Virgin! an OWL foeman to my foes'
And therefore the worst Of foemsn to thy
'slf." said Alleyne. But. pray you. since
rou seem to know him. to point out to mo tho
shortest path to my brothers. house."
The serf was about to reply. whom tho clear
'inging call OF bugle burst from the wood
,lose behind them. and Allsyne caught sight
or an instant OF tho dun side and white breast
II lordly stag glanclng swiftly bstwixt tho
Instant tres trunks. A minute later came tho
shaggy door hounds, q dozen or fourteen Of
hem. running on hot scent. with nose to
'arth and tail In air. AS thoy stresmed
'nst the silent forest around broke sud-
lenly into loud life. with galloping OF
,oofs cracking OF brushwood. and tho
hort sharp cries OF the hunters Close bo.
lind the pack rode a furrier and o yeomon
'ricker whooping on tho lageards and enoour-
'ging the leaders, In the shrlll half French
argon which was the language OF venery aud
Allsyns was still gazing after
HON. listening to the loud "Hyks-a- Bayard!
Iyke-a- Pomers! Hyke-a-Lebryt!" with which
hey called upon their favorlte hounds. whom
group OF horsemen crashed out through the
underwood at tho very spot whore the aerf and
10 wore standing.
Tho one who led was man between so and
years OF age war.wsrn and weather.
eaten. with broad, thoughtful forehead and
yes which shons brightly from under his
md oyarhunu i