The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-02
THE WHITE COMPANY.
By CON AN DOYLE.
CHAPTER XIxvI.


TWAS cold bleak morning In the beginning
81 March, and tho mist was drifting In dense
rolling cloud ; through the passes OF the Cantn-
brian Mountains. The Company. who had
nassed the night In sheltered gully. were al
rsniy astir, some crowdinG around tho blaz.
ING fires and others rompinS or lsapinG
ever each 9th RS bucks. for their
limbs were chilled and the air biting.
Hore and there. through the dense haze which
surrounded them. there doomed out huge pin
pac,es and juttiu2 bouders OF rock; while
h;ob above the soa OF vapor there lowered up
ono gigantic peak. with the pink glow OF tho
sarly sunshine upon Its snow-carped head.
,rhe GROUND was wet. the rocks dripping. the
grass and evorgrosns spnrIljnG with beads OF
moisture: yet the camp was loud with laughter
.nd nerrjmcnt for messenger had ridden In
t,,n, IN. Prince with words OF heart.stirring
nrolse for what they had done aud with orders
cha. thcy should e.ill Dido IN the forefront OF
the army.
Round ono OF tho nres wsre clustered four or
or. Of the leading men OF the archers. cleaning
the rust from their weapons. and glancing i'm
patiently from timo to time ut great not
which SIN oke over the blaze. There was Ayi-
ward sliat,ing cross-!e2god In his shirt, while
no scrubbed away at his chain mail briGadins.
vhist,lnc loudly the while. On one siie OF
min. the feathers OF some arrows to his lik-
iry. mud ON the other Horde John. who lay
vi,hhis great limbs all n-sprawl. and his head-
,,,o,s balanced upon his uplif.ed foot Black
SIMON OF Norwich crouched amid the rocks.
grooming an Eastland ballad to himself. while
he vhetted his sworl upon fiat stone which
,nv ,cross his kners while bssids hi m sat Al
i.vro Edr.c,on. and Norbury. tho silent squire
OF Sir Ovs,, holding out their chilled hands
towar! the cracking fagCots.
Cast on another cuIpon. John. and stir the
broth with thy sword sheath" growled ohm
sion, looking aqNi1u4iy for the twentieth time
81 tho rocking pot.
by my nil,." cried Awkward. now that
John hath como by this great ransom he will
scarce abide the fare o, poor archer la %. How
say you. camarade? When you see Horde on CO
more there will be- no penny ole and fat bacon.
but Gnscon wines AMI baked meats every day
the seven"
"Iknow rot about that" said John. kicking
his helmet up into the air and catching ii In his
hand. II do but know that whether the broth
be really or no, am about to dip this into It,"
1T summers and 1t boils." cried Johnston.
pushing his hard lined face through the
smoke. In an instant the pot had been
rlucsed from tho blaze. and its contents had
been scoopcd no In half u dozen steel hend
owners knees. while with spoon and goblet
Of bread they deroured Their morning meal.
1T IL Ill weather for bows remarked John
Nlast. when. with long sigh. he had drained
the last drop from his helmet. Ny strings are
Hllmp as cows tail this morning."
"You should rub thsm with water glue"
quoth Johnston. You remember. inmkin.
r. that It was wotter than this on the morning OF
Cricy. and yet cannot call to miud that there
was aucht am;ss with our strings"
1T is in my thoughts" said Black Simon.
still pensivsy grinding hi. sword. that we
MAJ have nosd OF your strings ere sundown. l
dreamed OF tho rod COW last night"
And what Is this red COW. Sinon?" asked
Alcyne.
"Iknow not young sir: but can only say
thu; on the eve o! Cadsand. and on tho eve OF
Crlcy. and on the eve OF Nogent. dreamed OF
red COW; and now the dream has como upon
me again, so | am now settin. u Very keen
edge 10 my blade"
We! said Oil war dog" cried Awkward
BY my hiit! ! pray that your dream may
come true for the Prince hath not set us out
here 10 drink broth or 10 gather whorteber-
res. One more isht. aad am ready to hang
up my bow. marry vile, aud take to the fire
corner But how now. Robin Whom Is 1t
that you seek Z"
The Lord Loring Graves your attendance in
his tent sa a Young archer to Alleyne.
The sluirs !oso ana proceeded to the pa
vilion. where he found thu knight SO tied upon
cushion with hi4 LEG, crossed in IRON:
OF him and broa ribbon OF parchment laid
across his knees. over which he WAS porlng
with frownng brows and purssd lips.
1t came this morning by the Princes mos.
sengor." said DC. aai WAS bvou.h, from Eng.
LAM By Sir John Ia!iislec. WIG is new come
Of
outer side!"
:" It's fairly AMI clearly written" Allsyne
answered AMI it signifies To Sir Nigel Lor-
Ing. Knight. Constable OF Twynhan Castle. by
th' hanl OF Christopher the servant Of God at
tho Priory OF Chris,cnurch.'"
So road It." sad Sir Nigel. Now ! pray
you to real wha, Is set forth within"
r. AaSyne ,urheM t. tn. letter. and as his eyes
o'sWSrprlss and srisi burst from nj lis lbs '''
wv What then asked tho knight; ps.rins up
WIZ lie Lady Nd or With the I lay hlaaas =
Is my, bro her. my poor unhappy broth
% cried e e.. A!Ieyne with his hand to his brow.
,,m,l'y = Paul! I have never heard that he
Snau sn moa1 so hm eh love for you that
Kin !lss i Es aoon ears aay nny Ell 10 had d
given 10 the abbey for NY unnrnsinE. Alas!
h nat a. an gassi mysali against him, when
w 49, ho u"S OecH siam : ana slam,
iear; amidst crime ana violence"
TAX ~, s a. Sir Mel! Read on. pray You. y
pS p 10 ., ns, IN i,5 l..ly kcerinx The Lady
what hath belal on at Twynhun,. nni Nil that
E"nner9s he death o. thy Il neGhhnr tho Soc
avs n1S cyl wi ana msn Esnered ound MIN AZ out
were COM 10 sMrn iorco that they slew and
ttSSa atnt' the Kings men who went acni nsl
han hS.hi insn coming forth from the wools
tbs sy n,t Siege TO The castle. and for Two days
. sm, glIt u IN and shot hard against w. witt
is n numbers a. wers y marvel to so-. Yet the
aay L1Iing held the place stoutiy. and on tho
mar day the 5orman wa. slain, by his owT
i from a. , some think. so That we were delivered
~ the s"s sa n h,an!s; Tor which praise be 4
to rss SNso 1h. upon whose tslst IT came
aud is 10 u a RAT daughter. AFRO in good health
Tie ,n 4" neo am ]. sHvo for nm imposthume o
sins 'eI!olh,; which hath lssn sem me Tor In
MAJ NAY a! tho saints preserve theo'"
ssit NJ ny ". Vision OF tho Lady iiphaine,'
not Ls or al aisei attor pause. MARKED yol
vail m sle said ti,nt the leader WAS ono will
ErttIbow Tear and how he fell before tn CAT o
VIM moW came II. Alieyne, that this woman, I,
i