The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-09

forth to meet us.
! !. a tumultuous crowd OF fishermen, citl-
hens and women had indeed swarmed out
from the northern gate. approached them
4 UP tho side or the moor, waving their
i hands and dancing with Joy, ms though
4 q great fear had been rolled back from
their minds. At their head rode q very
! large and solemn man, with n long chin
I and a dropping lip. He wore y. FUR U ppet
routid his neck and n heavy gold chain
over It, with a. medallion which dahsled
| III front Of him. Isl Il III "a H II
I Welcome, most puassai,t and noble
| lore" he cried, dofng his bonnet 10 Back
| Simon. II have heard OF your lordship's
4 valiant deeds and III sootl, they might
DO expected from your lordship's face
/ and bearing. Is there any small matter
IN which nny oblige YOU
"since you ask INC, aaid the inan-nt-
arms "1 would take It kindly It you
could spare a INK or two OF the chain
which hangs around your neck.
"What the corporation chain!" cried
! the other, in horror. '''rlc ancient chain
OF the township OF 1.cpe! This IS but n
sorry jest, Sir Nigel
What the plague did you ask me for
4 then?" said Simon. But 1T Is Sir
Nigel 14orng with WHOM, you would speak.
that Is lie upon the black horse.
,rhe Mayor OF Lepo gased with amaze
| mont on the mild face and slender frame
OF tho famous warrior. " 5,5
',Your pardon my gracious lord" he,
4 cried. You see IN me the mayor and
chief magistrate OF the ancient and pow.
erful town OF Lepe. bid o,lfvery heart
ily welcome and the more so as you, are
come at q moment when we are sore put
| to It for means OF defence. X 81
3G.'Ha!' cried Sir Nigel, pricking up his
ears. N s: s
Yes. my lord. for the town being very
! ancient and the walls MS old as the town.
| II follows that they are Very ancient too
But there Is a certain vlliainous and
bloodthirsty Norman pirate hight Tete--5
noire, who. with a Genoan called Tito
Caracci, commonly known an Spad beard
| hath been a mighty scourge upon these
coasts. 80 Indeed my lord they n re \ very
cruel and black hearted men. graceless.
and ruthless. and X they should come to-
the ancient and powerful town OF Lepe5
! then E Il ~ fs5{! r. lie ~
,.Thcn goodbye to the ancient and
powerful town OF y Lepc.' uuoth Ford.
!! whose Ellghtness OF tongue could at times
rise above his. awe OF Sir -ligel.
The knight. however. was too much
intent upon the matter In hand to- give
heed to the f1ppancy OF his squire. Have
yoil then cause. he asked. ITO think
that these men arc about TO venture an
attempt upon you
"rhcy have come in two great galleys,"'#
answered the ma y0r. with wo bank
OF oars on. either side, and great store
of engines OF war and OF men at arms.
At Weymouth and at Portland they have
murdered and ravished Yesterday MORN
Ing they were at Cowes and we 50 W the
smoke from the burning crofts. day
they lie at their ease near Freshwatcr
and we fear much lest they come upon
us and do us n mischief 655 5s
We cannot tarry." said Sir Nigel, rid
ing towards the town. with the mayor
upon his left side; he Prince a waits s,,s
at Bordeaux and we may not be behind
tie general mus ter. ct will promise
you that on our way We shall find time
Ito pass Freshwater and to- prevail upon
these rovers to leave you In pea &c.
1--WE are much beholden to you!" cried
the mayor But i cannot see. my lord.
! how without a warship, you may VEN
ture against these men. With your arch
ers. however. you might well hold the.
town and do them great scath II they
attempt to land ,s .asts
There IS very proper cog out yoll-
der said Sir Nigel: 1T would be a very
strange thing II any ship were not az
warship when 1t had such men as these
upon her decks. Certes, we shall do as
say and that no later than this very
day."
, .My lord said a rough hatred, dark
faced man. who walked by the knights
other 3stirrup with his head sloped . to
catch all that lie was saying. 8 BY yolr
leave. have no doubt that yoi ire skill
I'd in land fighting and the marshalling
OF ances. but by my soul! you will i'nd
1T another thing upon the sea. I am
|sthe naster-shipman OF this yellow cog,
and my name IS Goodwin Haytayne.
have sailed since l was as high as this
staff, and I have fought against these
Normans and against the Genoese, as we'll
as the Scotch the Bretons, the Spanish.
and tho Moors. I tell you, sir that my
1 ship is over light and over frall for such
work. and 1t will but end In our having
our. threats cut, Or being sold as slaves
to the Barbary heathen. III t
also have experienced one or two
gentle and honorable ventures upon the
sea- quotl1 Sir Nigel. "and ] am right
bllthc to have so fair a task before liz.
think good r1aster-shipman. that You
and ! may win great honor in this mat
ter. and can see5yery readily that you
are a brave and stout man." Sf5
81 like 1t not. :" said the other sturdily.
"In Gods nam6S1 like 1t not And yet
Goodwin Hawtayne Is not the man to-
stand back when his fellows are h for
pressing forward. BY my soul! be 1t
SINK OF SWIM, ! SudU turn mgr Deak llltoS
Frcshwater Bay, and Il good Master
Witherton. OF southampton. like not my
handling OF his ship then he may find
another master-shlpn,an." 5i
They were close BY the old north gate
of tho little town, and Alleyne, half turn
Ing In his saddle. looked back at the
motley crowd who followed. The bowlncn3
and mcn-nt-arms had broken their ranks
and were intermingled with the fisher
men and citizens. whose laughing faces
and hearty gestures bespoke the weight
OF care from which this welcome ar-a
rival had relieved them. Here ana there
among the moving tllrong OF dark jer-
kins and of white surcoats were scatter
ed dashes OF scarlet and blue, the whlm-
pies or shnwls OF the women. Aylward,
| with a fishing lass OH either arm, was
yowing constantly alternatclyfto her on
the right and her OH the left. while biz
John lowered In the rear with little
chubby maiden enthroned upon his great