Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-14

all like their messenger. they are indeed
men Of whom leader may be proud Your
name. good archer?"
"San Awkward sir, of the Hundred of
Essebourne and the Rape of Chichester
"And this giant behind your"
HE is big John of Horde, forest man,
who hath now taken service in the COM
pany."
"a proper figure of man-at-arms." said
the little knight. why, man. you are no
chicken, yet I warrant him the stronger
man. See to that great stone from the
coping which hath fallen upon the bridge.
Four of my lazy varlets strove this day to
carry it hence. would that you two could
put them to shame by budging it, though
fear that overtask you, for it is of a
grfevous weight.
He pointed as he spoke, to a huge.
rough-hewn block which lay by the road
side, deep sunken from it's own weight in
the reddish earth. The archer approached
1t, rolling back the sleeves of his jerkin,
but with no very hopeful countenance, for
indeed 1t was a mighty rock. John, how
ever, put him aside with his left hand, and,
STOPPING over the stone, he plucked 1t Sill
gle-handed from it's soft bed and swung It
far into the stream. There 1t fell with
mighty splash. one Jagged end peaking out
above the surface, while the waters bub-
| bled and foamed with fair circling eddy
Good iack!"' cried Sir Nigel. and Good
lack!'' cried his lady, while John stood
laughing and wiping the caked dirt from
his fingers.
II have felt his arms round my ribs"
said the bowman, land they crackle yet at
the thought of it. This other comrade of
mine is a right learned clerk, for all that
he is so young hight Alleyne, the son OF
Edric, brother to the Socman of Minstead.
Young man." quoth Sir Nigel, sternly.
off you are of the same way of thought as
your brother you may not pass under port
culls of mine.
Nay, fair SIR" cried Aylward. hastily.
II will be pledge for it that they have no
thought in common; for this very day his
brother hath set his dogs upon him, and
driven him from his lands
"And are you, too, of the White Com
pany?" asked Sir Nigel. Hast had small
experience of war. If l may judge by your
looks and bearing"
Il would fain to France with my friends
here" Al1eyne answered; but am man
of peace-a reader, exorcist, acolyte and
clerk"
THAT need not hinder" quoth Sir Nigel.
mo, fair sir, cried the bowman, joyous
ly. why, l myself have served two terms
with Arnold de Cervolles, he whom they
called the archpriest. BY my hilt! l have
seen him ere now, with monks gown truss
ed to his knees, over his sandals in blood
in the forefront of the battle. Yet ere
the last string had twanged, he would be
down on his four bones among the stricken,
and have them all houseled and shriven, as
quick as Smelling pease. Ma foil there
were those who wished that he would have
less care for their souls and a little more
for their bodieS!'
1T Is well to have a learned clerk in
every troop" said Sir Nigel. by ST. Paul!
there are men so caitif that they think
more of a scriveners pen than of their
lady's smile, and do their devoir in hopes
that they may fill line in a chronicle
make tag to a jongleur's romance l re-
member well that at the siege of Refers
there was little, sleek, fat clerk of the
name of Chaucer, who was so apt at rom
del, sirvente or tonsen that no man dare
give back foot from the walls, lest he
IND 1t all set down In his rhymes and sung
n md I'll q ",
But, my souls bird, you hear me pirate as
though all were decided, when I have not
yet taken counsel either with you or with
my lady mother Let US to the chamber,
while these strangers find such fare as
pantry and cellar may furnish"
The night air strikes chill" said the
lady. and turned down the road with her
hand upon her lords arm. The three com
RACES dropped behind and followed: Ayl-
ward much the lighter for having accom-
plished his mission, Alleyne full of won
derment at the humble bearing of so re-
nowned captain and John loud with
snorts and sneers, which spoke his disap-
pofntment and contempt
What ails the MANI asked Awkward
in surprise.
II have been cozened and beianed :, ouotb
he, gruff1y.
BY whom, Sir Sampson the strongY'
by thee, Sir Baalam the false prophet"
BY my hilt.' cried the archer, though
De not Balaam, yet l hold converse with
the very creature that spoke to him What
is amiss. then, and how have 1 played You
false?" go
Why marry, did you not say. and AL
leyne here will be my witness, that. if 7
would HE to the wars with you you would
place me under a leader who was second
TO none in all England for valor? Yet here
sod ~ prins me 10 shred of a man. peaky
ana lH-nourished, with eyes like a mouIttnp
owl, VINO must needs, forsooth take conn
sci with his mother ere he buckle sword to
girdle." ~
as he urba
bowman, and ~
laughed aloud, Il will ask you what Won
thihk OF him three months hence if we he
an awe; ioF sure am that
SIWaiu words were interrupted by
an extraordinary hubbub which broke
out that instant some little way down the
Street IN the direction of the priory There
was oeep-mouthed shouting of men
IfigEtened shrleks of women, bowling
and barking of ours and over all a CIT
len, thunderous rumble indescribabIv
lnenaclhg and terrible. Round the corner
" the narrow street there came rushing a
brace OF whining dogs with tails tucked
under their legs, and after them q white
raced burgher, with outstretched hands
ana widespread fingers, his hair all
ayr istle ana ms eyes glintins back from
one shoulder to the other as though some
great terror were at his very heels "F,lv
my lady, tiy1' he screeched and whizzed
past them like bolt from bow while close
behind came numbering huge hIacIs
bear, with red tongue loIIine, from his
mouth, and a broken chain jangiing he
h1nd him. To right and left the folk flew
Tor arch and doorway. Horde John caught
up the Lady Loring as though she had
been feather and sprung with her into
an open porch, while Aylward with a
Whlrl of French oaths pIucked at his
CULVER and tried to unsling his bow. Al
| leyne, all unnerved at so strange and nm
Wonted sight shrunk up against the
wall with his eyes fixed upon the frenzied
creature, which came bounding along
with ungafnly speed, looking the larger
In the uncertain light, it's huge laws
agape with blood and SLAYER trickIinp to
the ground. Sir Nigel alone unconscious
TO all appearance, of the universal panic
walked with unfaltering step I'D the cen
ter OF the road, .siiken handkerchief in one
hand and his gold comfit box in the-other,
1t sent the blood cold through AlIeyne's
veins to see that as they came together
the man and the beast-the creature rear
ed mp, with eyes ablaZe with fear and
hate and whirled its great paws above
the knight to smite him to the earth He
however, blinking with puckered ewes
reached up his kerchief and ficked the
beast twice across the snout with it, "Ah
saucy! saucy!" quoth he, with gentle
Gliding; on which the bear, uncertain and
puzzled dropped it's four legs to earth
again, and Waddlinp hack was COON