Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-13
Copyright, 1901, by Max Pemberton.)
CHAPTER XII.

Copyright, 1901, by Max Pemberton.)
CHAPTER XII.
The scum
That rises upmost, when the nation boils.
In a belt Of the trees at the western
extremity Of ST. James fields where they
began to border upon the manor OF Hyde
and its park, Roy Of Calverton waited with
q hundred about him for the passing OF the
rebels. IL was 8 o'clock on a sunny morn
ing; dulcet music Of the bells called the
citizens 10 the abbey mass. All the con-
tent. all the sweetness Of day seemed
breathed In that good hour. The distant
city, clear to be seen upon the horizon.
lifted sunlit spires and flashing windows to
q heaven Of blue. BY here and there, I'M
conscious OF what was passing, travellers
went northward, southwark. TO the river
and the villages. Peace touched the scene
with her golden brush, giving to the spark
ling meadows a freshness Of her dews, to
the leaves a tremor as Of the gentle spring
time. Even cattle browsed within a hun
dred PAGES Of that ambush.
The hundred lay concealed In the thlcket
and so had their leader placed them that
one passing on the high road might not so
much as espy q glimmer Of the sunshine
upon their helmets, a flash of the Lincoln
green amid their leafy bower. Aware now
Of the issue, they spake but in whispers.
The hour Of truce wrought upon their
nerves as an hour OF waiting intolerable.
Impatient horses champed and whinnied.
think ye that they conner" Roy OF CAL
verton alone asked questions OF no men.
EYE will not discover until the word be
spoken" lie said, grown sure In that COM
mand which the night had given him. II
command your patience, comrades. We are
but q hundred against four thousand and
pought but stratagem will save US this day.
Let 1t be our business that Wyatt shall
pass in to my lord Of Pembroke with as few
at his back as judgment and opportunity
shall permit. l would not have ye forget
that these be poor people. whom ignorance
hath misled. They think to strike a blow
for England. but strike only at that which
Is our good security. Do SO to them as we
would 1t were done to you IL you were in
like case. God bear me witness, l will have
no butchers work this dayl"
Many assented with a murmur of their
praise. Had you pressed them for a rea-
son. perchance they knew not why they
were there at all, II It were not that Roy
Of Calverton had hidden them. And the
humor OF their employment vas not to be
forgotten oy any man. Hear Meagre, the
dwarf, as he handles the Jest:
"God save law and order and them that
30 to and fro In forests" said he; ~ am all
for the sherif's men, whose ears your wor-
ship nailed to the pump at Nottingham.
Aye, masters, would ye be as ravening
wolves, hieing you to Sherwood again when
the right royal nobility claps your honors
on the back and says, 'GodspeedI' Put me
In q pages doublet and l will serve Sir
Roy Of Calvertonl Ho. hol there was one
Of his name that my lord Of Stowe did call
the outlaw-a sorry word for him that will
come in a bishops rochet when the day
comesi"
And then, remembering their need, he
cried, Speak, comrades, will We not hold
your tongues when all the cry is 'tip-toes?' -
Roy. who loved the dwarf, suffered his
humor patiently, as ever he did in sher-
woods stronghold.
And thou dost not fulfill the behest,
law and order shall put you In yon brook
presently"
He tweaked the dwarf by the ear and,
pointing to the tree above him, he babe him
climb II.
Thou limb OF Satan, get ye UP upon yon
branch ana tell me what thou seest on the
road. Ride any in. or must law and order
tarry YETI"
Now the dwarf pulled himself up from his
saddle and, being hidden by the leaves. he
began to tell them Of that which befeli.
There Is a.road, sirs, and yon Is the river
blood Of Paul! they stand where they
stood an hour agoi"
Thou devils searecrow, who rides upon
the road2"
The wind, your worship. God knows
will cast q broomstick II thou hast the
mind"
A little while they waited and then he
spoke again;
There be swine upon four legs and 9TH
srs upon two; hide yourselves, my masters.
lest they claim acquaintance"
Someone lifted a halbred and made pre-
tense to prick him as he sat. but his mock
cry was hushed upon his lips and he that
held the halbred withdrew II.
Thou seest something spawn"
"The road there, the meadow is there,
and. God reward We, ] bid you draw,
masters, heaktn! Like ye the music. Ye
shall hear more presently, for yonder be
those who would marry the queen"
1t was no frolic Of his Jest. Those who
erstwhile had dared the laugh or the Jest
now fell to a grim silence. Swords leaped
from their aeabbards, o~ailvers were up
lifted. bows were strung. pixies slung up;
the very horses seemed to stand as at
some call OF duty. In the branch OF the
tree Meagre. the dwarf, put on the wisdom
Of the sage.
II see a man upon a white horse and
. hundred that ride about him. There
are pennons for the breeze; but they be
Of rags. masters. Would ye carry a hedge
pole less bravely for that? Yonder is
the wagon by which Mary shall pass for
wyatt's bride; they have gotten a husband
for her. and stuffed his belly with shay
ingsl like the man. Here comes a
lord bishop whose paunch you shall drum
upon. There be 500 dancing in the helds