The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-09
CIR THIS OUT AND KEEP IT.
q IA NOW.
The WHITE COMPANY
CHAPTER x1v.-Continued.
Nv A. CONAN DOYLE.

i cNe~>e~>~~>~.~~~>1>e~ >rNe~~-~~>>es>s~'
CHAPTER x1v.-c Continued.
S,riierosi lis a third cross-road where the
track from Eoldre rims down to tho old
i fishing village OF Pitts Deep. Down
this. as they came abreast OF 1T,
There WALKED two men, the one 4
pace or two behind the other. The cav
alters could not but pull vi, their horses
TO look ut hem. for n stranger pair were
never seen jot,rncYing together. The
! first was a mis- -sliapen, sHunli man.
with cruel /, cunning eyes and shock
Of tangled red hair, bearing III, Ills hands
/ a small implanted cross. which he held
Thigh 50 that's all men might see IT., He
seemed 70 be in the last extremity Of
I fright, 18th a face the color Of clay and
| his limbs all asfake MS one who l1atf,
ali Hgue. Behind him. with his toe ever
rasping upon the others heels, there
walked a very stern, black bearded man
with a hard eye and Il set mouth. He
l3borc over his shoulder great knotted
stick with three Jagged nails stuck In
tho head OF II. and from time to ttnc
he wlrled 1t up In the mir with a quiv-
ering arm. as though he could scarce
hold baclt from dashing his companion's
brains out. SO in silence they walked
under the spread Of the branches on the
grass grown path from Boldrc.
| by st. Pau! ~ uuoth tho knight, "but
| this Is n passing strange sight, and per-
chance some Very pcrilous and honorable
venture may arise from It. pray you,
Edricson, to ride up to them and to ask
them the ca use OF IT, $5
/ There was no need however, for him
TO move. for the twain came swiftly to-
wards them until they were within q
spears length. wlen the man with the
cross sat himself down sullcniy9 upon a
tussock OF grass by the wayaide. while
tho other stood beside him withhs grca
cudgel still hanging over his head. SO
intent was he that he raised his eyes
neither 10 knight nor squircs, but kept
them ever fixed with savage glare
upon his conlradc. III @
n pray you, friend" said Sir Nigel
ITO tell liz truthfully who you are and
why YOU follow this man with such bitter
enmity?'' i ss
$50 long as Il am within the pale OF
the kings law" the strange answered.,
II cannot see why I should render ac-
count to every passing wayfarer'"' sS
You are no very shrcwd reasoner. fel-l
low" quoth the knight; "forYlf It be with-s
in the law for you to threaten him with
your club. then it is also lawful for me
{ to threaten you with my sword. -
5l The man with tho cross was down in I
an instant on his knees upon the ground.
with hands clasped above him and Ills
face shining with hope. For dear
iChrist's sake. my fair lord" he cried in
a cracking voice, ~ have at my belt
a bag with a hundred rose mobiles. and
i will give 1t to you freely II you win 4
bit pass your sword through this mans
BODY $y 5s
M How, you foul knave?" exclaimed Sir
Nigel hotly. DO YOU think that a cava-
.ler's arm is TO be bought like a pack
mans ware? BY ST. Paul! ! have little
doubt that this fellow hath some very
good cause to hold you in hatred
Indeed, my fair sir, you speak sooth. =
Iquoth he with the club, while the other
seated himself once more by the way
side. For this man Is Peter p PETERSON
Il very noted reve. draw-latch, and MUIR
ftherer, who has wrought much evil for
many years In the parts about Winches-
ter It was but the other day, upon the
feast of the blessed Simon and Jude
that he slew my younger brother William
lis Bere Forest--for which, by the black
thorn OF Glastonbury! ! shall have his
hearts blood, though I walk behind him
to the further end OF earth. .
but II this be indeed so,'' asked Sir
Nigel why is 1t that you have come
with him SO far through the forest ~ I'm
Because 1 am an honest Eng ishman,I
and Will take no more than the law al
lows. For when tho deed was done this
foul and base wretch fled to sanctuary
at st. Cross and ], as you may think
after him with all the posse. The prior.
however, hath SO ordered that while he
holds this cross no man may lay hand
upon him without the ban OF church,
which heaven forfend from me or mine.
Yet II for an instant lie lay the cross
aside or IT. he fall to journey to Pitts
Deep, where 1t Is ordered that he shall
take ship to outland PARTS. or If he take
not tho first ship or Z until the ship be
ready he walk not every day into the
sea as far as his loins, then he becomes
outlaw. and shall forthwith dash out
his brains Il;
At this the man on the ground snarled
up ut him like raj; while I. the other
clcnched his Atceth, and shook his club
and looked down at him with murder In
his eyes. Knight and squire gazed from
rogue to avenger. but as It was q matter
which none could mend they tarried no
longer, but rode upon their way, Alleyne.5
looking back, saw that the murderer had
drawn bread and cheese from his scrip,
and was silently munching It, with the
protecting cross still Rugged to his
breast, while the other. black and grim,
stood in the sunlit road and threw his
dark shadow athwart him.
CHAPTER XIV.
HOW THE YELLOW COG s4E SAILED
FORTH ElROM LEPE.
THAT night the Company slept at ST.
tLeonards, In tho great monustic barns
and spicamum-ground Well known both
to Alleyne and TO John, for they were
almost within sight Of the Abbey Of Beau
lieu. A strange thrill It gave TO the
young squire to see tho Well-remembereo
iwhita sdrcss once more, and TO hear the