The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-05-18
CHAPTER III.
I Find Myself in Tavern Brawl; ant
Barely Escape.

Find Myself in a Tavern Brawl; and
Barely Escape.
It wanted, maybe, quarter to Z
that evening when, passing out at the
college gate on my way to All Hal
lows Church, 1 saw under the lantern
there a man lettering and talking with
the porter. Twas Master Anthony's
lackey; and as came up he held out a
note for me.
"Deare Jack
Wee goe to the 'Crowne' at VI.
o'clock, I having NETT with Captain
Settle, who is on dewty with the horse
to.nite, and must to AbendoEn by IN.
I locke for you.
"Your unfayned loving
"-'~- "a. K.
"The bearer has left by servise, and
his helth conserns me mott. Soc xix
him if he tarrie."
This last advice I had no time to
carry out with any thoroughness; but
being put in great dread by this
change of hour, pelted off toward the
Corn Market as fast as legs could
carry me.
The windows of the Grown" were
cheerfully lit behind their red blinds.
A few straddling grooms and troopers
talked and spat in the brightness or
the entrance, and outside in the street
was q servant leading up and down
a beautiful sorrel mare, ready saddled,
that was marked on the near hind leg
with a high white stocking. In the
passage met the host Of the Grown"
Master John Davenant.
TOP of the stairs" says he, indi-
eating my way, land open the door
ahead Of you, if y'are the young gentle
man Master Killigrew spoke o."
I had my foot on the bottom step,
when from the room above comes the
crash of a table upsetting, with a
noise Of broken glass, chairs thrust
back, and a racket of outcries. Next
moment the door was burst open,
letting out a flood of light and curses;
and down flies a drawer, three steps
at time, with a red stain Of wine
trickling down his white face.
"Murderw he gasped out; and sitting
down on a stair, fell to moppiing his
face, all sick and trembling.
1 was dashing past him, with the
landlord at my heels, when three men
came tumbling out of the door, and
downstairs. squeezed myself against
the wall to let them pass, but Master
Davenant was pitched to the very foot
of the stairs. And then he picked
himself up and ran out in the Corn
Market, the drawer after him, and
both shouting watch! Watch!" at
the top of their lungs, and so left the
three fellows to push by the women
already gathered in the passage, and
gain the street at their ease. All this
happened while a man could count
twenty; and in half a minute l heard
the ring of steel and was standing in
the doorway.
There was now no light within but
what was shed by the fire and two
tallow candles that guttered on the
mantelshelf. The remaining candle
sticks lay in a pool of wine on the
floor, amid broken glasses, bottles.
scattered coins, dice boxes and pewter
pots. In the corner to my right cow
cred a potboy, with tankard dangling
in his hand, and the contents spilling
into his shoes. His wide. terrified eyes
were fixed on the far end Of the room,
where Anthony and the brute Settle
stood, with 4 shattered chai: between
them. Their swords were crossed in
tierce. and grating together as each
sought occasion for a lunge: which
might have been fair enough but for
dog-faced trooper in frowsy, black
periwig, who. as entered, was gather
ing a handful Of coins from under the
fallen table, and now ran across, sword
in hand, to the captains aid.
Twas Anthony that fac'd me. with
his heel against the wainScoting, ard.
catching my cry Of alarm, he caIrd
out cheerfully over the captains shoul-
der, but without lifting his eyes:
Just in time, Jack! Take off the
second cur. that's q sweet boy"