Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-21


some more than usually sanctifed treasure
passed 1t down the line of his comrades,
that all might kiss and reap the virtue.
The yellow cog had now shot out from
the narrow waters of the Solent, and was
plunging and rolling on the long heave of
the open channel. The wind blew freshly
from the east. with a very keen edge to it;
and the great sail bellied roundly out, lay
Ing the vessel over until the water Missed
beneath her lee bulwarks. Broad and I'M
calmly she foundered from wave to wave,
dipping her round bows deeply into the blue
rollers, and sending the white flakes of
foam in a spatter over her decks. On her
larboard quarter lay the two dark galleys,
which had already hoisted sail, and were
shooting out from FreShWater bay in swift
pursuit, their double line of oars giving
them vantage which could not fail TO
bring them up with any vessel which
English cog; long, black and swift the pi-
rate galleys, like two fierce, lean wolves
which have seen lordly and unsuspecting
stag walk past their forest lair.
Shall we turn, my fair lord, or shall we
carry on?" asked the master-shipman, look
ing behind him with anxious eyes.
Nay, we must carry on, and play the
part of the helpless merchant"
But your pennons? They will see that
we have two knights with u.s."
Yet 1t would not be to a knights honor
or good name to lower his pennon. Let
them be, and they will think that we are
wool bales of some mercer Of the Staple.
Ma fol, but they are very swift They swoop
upon us like two goshawks on a heron. Is
there not some symbol or device upon their
sailsr'
That on the right" said Edricson. ZAP
pears to have the head Of an Ethiop
upon it,"
tbs the badge Of Tete-noire, the Nor
~ cried sea-mariner. II have seen
1t before. when he harried us at Winchel-
sea He Is wondrous large and strong
man, with no ruth for man, woman or
beast. They say that he hath the strength
OF SIX and, certes, he hath the crimes Of
six upon his soul. See, now, to the poor
souls who swing at either end of his yard
arm!"
AT each end of the yard there did, indeed,
hans the dark figure of a man, Jolting and
lurching with hideous jerkings of its limbs
at every plunge and Swoop of the galley
BY st. Paul!' said Sir Nigel, land by
the help of st. George and Our Lady, it
headed friend does not himself swing there
ere he be many hours older But what IS
that upon the other galley?"
1t is the red cross of Genoa. This SPADE
peard Is very noted captain. and it is his
BOAST tnat there are no seamen and no
archers in the world who can compare with
those who serve the poge Boccanegra"
Ihat we Shall prove" said Goodwin.
f11aWtayne; but it would be well. ere they
close with u.s. TO raise up the mantlets and
paVlses as screen against their bolts -
lie shouted hoarse order and his seamen
worked swiftly and silently. heightenfng
me ouiWarks and strengthening them. The
three ships anchors were at Sir Nigeps
command carried into the waist and tied
to-th mast. with twenty feet of cable be-
tween, each under the care of four seamen.
zig NJ others were stationed with leather
water bags TO quench any fre-arroWs which
might come aboard, while others were sent
up the mast, to lie along the yard and dron
stones or shoot arrows, as the occasion
served.
Let them be supplied with all that ia
Nigel. '"-u 81
Then we must send them I'D Sir Oliver
Buttesthorn." quoth Ford
The knight looked at him with face
which struck the smile from his lips.
No squire of NINE" he said. shall ever
make Jest of belted knight. And yet" he
ADDED ms eyes softening, Il know that 1t is
put boys mirth, with no sting in IL Vet 7
should Ill do my part toward your father
play" 'oui 'oiis ue-
They will lay us aboard on either quar-
Ter my Iord! cried the master See how
they stretch out from one anotherI The
norman hath mangonel or a trabuch
upon the forecastle. See, they bend to the
levers. They are about to loose it,
Aylward," cried the knight ''pick vour
three trustlest archers, and see If you can
rot DO something to hinder their aim. Me.
phinhs they are within long arrow flight"
ia
running his eye backward and forward. '.By
my ten finger-bones! 1t would be a strange
thing II we could not notch a mark at tina
distance Here, Watkin of Sowley, Arnold
long long Williams, let US show the rogues that
they have English bowmen to deal with
Inc three archerS named stood at the
1urther end OF the poop, balancing them
selves with feet widely spread and bows
arrows were level with the center of the
stave You are the surer, Watkin." said
AWKWARD, standing by them with shaft upon
string. DO you take the rogue with the
with the headpiece, and I will hold myself
ready If you miss. Ma fol! they are about
to loose her. Shoot. mes garcons, or you
will be too late"
from the great wooden catapult, leaving
two of their number to discharge 1t. One
III scarlet cap bent over It, steadying the
| Jagged rock which was balanced on the
spoon-shaped end of the long wooden lever
The other held the loop of the rope which
would release the catch and send the I'M
| wieldy missile hurting through the air Sc
| for an instant they Stood showing hard
and clear against the white sail behind
them. The next, redcap had fallen across
the stone with an arrow between his ribs
and the other, struck in the leg and in the
throat, was writhing and spluttering unon
| the ground. AS he toppled backward he
had loosed the spring, and the huge beam
of wood, swinging round with tremendous
force, cast the corpse Of his comrade sc
close to the English ship that It's mangled
and distorted limbs grazed their very stern
AS to the stone 1t glanced off obliquely and
fell midway between the vessels. A roar
Of cheering and of laughter broke from the
rough archers and seamen at the sight, am
swered by yell of rage from their pur-
suerS
Lie low, mes enfantsl" cried Awkward
motioning with his LEFT hand. "They will
learn wisdom They are bringing forward
shield and mantlet We shall have some
pebbles about our ears ere long"
CTo be continued tomorrow