The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-23
CHAPTER xx1-Continued.

The crowd had thlckened In front. so
that the lame man ana tho girl had
come to a stand. Several half-drunkcn
English archers. attracted, as the squires
had been. by, their Singular appearance,
were facing towards them. and peering
at them through the dim light.
"ByE the three kings!" cried one, mere
q cr,ltch! Use tho leg that God hath
given you, man. and do not bear SO
heavily upon the wcncl." II.
Twenty devils fy away with hint
shouted another. What. how, man! are
brave archers to go maidless while III
old man uses ono MS walking stnff?"
"Come with me, my l,oney-bird!" cried
third, plucking at the girls mantle.
May, with me. my hearts desire!'
IS short, and we should be merry while
we may. May i never see Chester Bridge
again, II she ls not right winsome lass!''
''What hath the old toad under Ills
arm 2" cried ono OF the others. he
hugs it to him rs the devil Rugged the
pardonor." ;4 ii@
'.Let us SEQ. old bag Of bones; let US
SEQ what 1t Is that you have under your
arn!'' They crowded In upon him. while
he. ignorant OF their language. could
but clutch the girl with one hand and
about In search OF help.
Nay. lads. nay!" cried Ford, push
Ing back the nearest archer. "This Is
but scr,rvy conduct. Keep your hands
on or 1t will DO the worse for you. = u,
Keep your tongue still. or II will be
the worse for YOU" shouted the most
drunken Of the archcrs. Who are you
to spoil the sport7" ft58
"a raw squire. new landed" said
e, 80 IA
are at the beck OF our master. but we
arc not to be ordered by every babe whose
mother hath sent him as far as Aqui-
tame. - f
T"Oh, gentlemen" cried tho girl 4,
( broken French, "sor dear Chrirt's sake
stand by us. and do not let these terrible
men do us an injury" s
Have no fears. lady. Alleyne answered.
$''We shall see that all is well with you
Take your hand from the girls wrist.
you north-country rogue!'' 4
b Hold to her, NAt!" said a grcat
black boarded mnn-at-aru1e, whose steel
breast-plate glimmered IN the dusk.
Keep your hands from your bodkins.
you two. for that was my trade before
you were born. and, by Gods soul!
/ Will drive handful OF steel through
you II you move finger
5s THANK Cod" said Aleyne suddenly,
as he sped In the lamplight n shock
OF blazing red hair which frtnged steel
Here is John. and Aylward, tool Help
us. comrades. for there is wrong being
done to this maid and to the old man.
"Hola, mon petit" said the old bow.
man. pushing his way through the crowd.
with the huge forester at his heels.
what is all this, then? BY the twang
OF string! think that you viii have
some work upon your hands II sou are
to right ali the wrongs that you may
lis not TO be thought that troop OF
bowmen, with tho wine buzzing In their
ears will be as soft-spoken az SO many
young clerks In an orchard. When you
have been q year with the Company you
will think less OF such matters. But
what Is am!ss here?. The provost mar
shall with his nrchers is, coming this way.
and some OF you may find yourselves In
the stretch meek, II you take not heed" 3&
>''Wl,y, It Is old Sam Aylward OF the
White Company" shouted tho man-at-
arms. why. samkin. what hath come
upon thee? can call to mind the day
when you were as roaring a blade as ever
called himself a FREQ companion. Br
nv soul! from Limoges to Navarro, who
was these who would kiss a wench or
cut throat as readily as bowman Ayl-
ward OF Hawkswood's company"
3s''Like enough, Peters" said Aylward.
f""and. BY my hilt! may not have
changed so much. But It was ever a
fair loose and clear mark with me.
The iwencl, must be willing. or the man
must be standing up against me, else.
by these ten finger bones! either were
safe enough for me.
"A glance Mt AylWard's resolute face.
and at the huge shoulders OF Horde
John had convinced the archers that
there was little to be got by violence.
The girl and the old man began to shuttle
on IN the crowd without their torlnenors
venturinK to stop them. Ford and Al
leyne followed slowly behind them. hui
Aylward caught the latter by the snoul-
der. as! 5.5g "a
"By my hilt! camarade," said he. y