Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-20
THE WHITE COMPANY
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

upon u.s. that 1T had quite gone out Of my
riousiy. Am to be put Of with words!
l say to you again. how Of the CLAIMS and
my fair sir. you flatter me!'., cried the
mayor. am a peaceful trader. ana
am not wont to be so shouted at upon 80
small matter
'small!'' shrieked the other Small!
CLAIMS and scallops! Ask me to your table
to partake Of the dainty OF the town, and
when come. barren welcome and a bare
board! Where is my spear bearer?'
Nay, Sir Oliver Sir Oliver," cried Sir
Nigel, laughing. Let your anger be APP
upon an old friend and comrade."
by st. Martin of Tours!' shouted the
fat knight, his wrath all changed in an in
slant to joy, IF 1t is not my. dear little
game rooster of the Garonne. All, my sweet
co., am right glad to see you. What days
we have seen togetherr
"Ay, by my faith! cried Sir Nigel, with
sparkling eyes. I'VE have seen some valiant
men, and we have shown our pennons in
some noble skirmishes BY st. Paul! we
nave had great joys in France
And sorrows also" quoth the other. II
have some sad memories Of the land. Can
you recall that which befell US at LII
bourne?"
Nay, 1 cannot call to mind that we
ever so much as drew sword at the place"
Man, man." cried Sir Oliver. your mind
nets. Hast no space in thy frame for the
softer joys. All, even now / can scarce
speak OF 1t unmoved. So noble pie, such
teIs"S pigeons. and sugar in the gravy in
stead or salt! You were by my side that
day, as were Sir Claude Latour and the
Lord of Pommers."
Il remember it," said Sir Nigel laughing,
and how you harried the cook down the
street, and spoke of setting fire to the inn.
BY st. PAUL. most worthy mayor. nv old
friend Is perilous man, and l rede you
that you compose your difference with him
on such terms as you may"
The CLAIMS and scallops shall be ready
within the hour" the mayor answered 81
had asked Sir Oliver Buttesthorn to do my
humble board the honor to partake at II OF
the dainty upon which we take some little
prlde, but In sooth this alarm of pirates
hath cast such shadow on my wits hat
am like one distract. But l trust. Sir
Nisei, that you will also partake of none
meat with me?'
Il have overmuch to do" Sir Nieel an.
swered, for We must be aboard, horse and
man, as early Is we may. How many do
you muster. Sir oliver"
Ihree-and-forty. The forty are drunk,
ana the three are but Indifferent sober /
have them all safe upon the ship"
They had best find their wits again. for
L snail have work for every man of them
ere the sun set 1t is my intention, if It
seems good to you. to try venture against
these Norman and Genoese royers"
Ihey carry caviare and certain very no.
Die spices from the Levant aboard of ships
from Genoa" quoth Sir Oliver. 1--WE may
come to great profit through the business
pray you, master shipman, that when you
go on board you pour a helmetful of sea
water over any of my rogues whom you
may there"
Leaving the lusty knight and the mayor
of Lepe, Sir Nigel led the company straight
down to the waters edge, where long lines
or nat lighters swiftly bore them to their
vessel. Horse after horse was slung by
Prn, H.
kicking and plunging in empty air was
dropped into the deep waist of the yellow
cog, where rows of stalls stood ready for
.helr safe keeping. Englishmen in those
Gays were skilled and prompt in such mat
tiers, for 1t was not so long before that Ed
ward had embarked as many as fifty thou
sand men In the port of Orwell, with their
horses and their baggage, all in the space
OF four and-twenty hours So urgent was
SIR Nigel on the shore, and so prompt was
Goodwin HaWtayne lon the cog that Sir
Oliver Buttesthorn had scarce swallowed
MS last scallop ere the peal of the trrmpet
ana Gang OF nakir announced that all was
READY ana the anchor drawn. In the last
BOAT which left the shore the two COM
manders sat together in the sheets a
strange contrast to each other while under
the 1eet OF the rowers was litter of huge
stones which Sir Nigel had ordered to he
carried to the cog. These once aboard the
ship set her broad mainsaiI, purple in color
ana ana with golden st. Christopher bearing
christ upon his shoulder in the center of
IT, The breeze blew, the sail bellied. over
heeled the portly vessel, and away she
plunged through the smooth blye rollers.
amid the clang of the Ministries of her noon
ana the shouting of the black crowd who
lrlnged the yellow beach. To the left Law
the green Island Of Wight, with its long.
low, curving hills peeping over one an
others shoulders to the sky line: to the
right the wooded Hampshire coast as far
as eye could reach; above a steel-blue
heaven, with a wintry sun shfmmerins
down upon them, and enough of frost to set
the breath a-smokfng
Go be continued tomorrow