Evening star., 1905-10-31
THE WHITE COMPANY
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.



and freedom of man who had spent his
life under arms and had learned in hard
| school to know at a glance the points OF
| morse and his rider. He stared now at the
| stranger with a wrinkled brow and the air
| or q man who is striving to stir his memory.
| BY my hilt! have seen the thick body OF
| him before today. Yet I can not call to
mind where 1t could have been. At Noget
beiIke, or was 1t at Auray? Mark me, lads,
TINS man will prove to be one Of the best
ianees of France, and there are no better
1t Is but child's play, this poking game"
said John. Il would fain try my hand at it.
Tor. by the black rood! think that it might
| be amended"
| What, then. would you do, John?" asked
several
There are many things which might be
done said the forester thoughtfuIly. Me-
| thinks that l woulu begin by breaking my
| spear
SO they all strive to do"
| Nay, but not upon another mans shield.
And what the better fea that old beef
and bones?" asked Black Simon.
SO would turn what is but a ladys bod
KIN OF a weapon into a very handsome
And then John?'
Then l would take the others spear into
my arm or my leg, or where it pleased him
pest, pest TO put 1t, and l would dash out his
by my ten finger bones. old john" said
| Ayiward, Il would give my feather bed to
| see you at a spear running. This Is
most eourtly and gentle sport which you
| have devised"
so it seems to me-" said John seriously.
| Or, again. one might seize the other round
| the middle. pluck him off his horse, and
| bear him to the pavilion, there to hold him
| to ransom"
| "Good!' cried Simon. amid roar of
laughter from all the archers round. by
| Thomas of Kent. we shall make camp
! marshal of thee and thou shalt draw up
rules for our jousting. But, john, who is
! 1t that you would uphold in this knightly
| and pleasing fashion,
What mean your
| why, John, so strong and strange a tilt
er must fight for the brightness of his
ladys eyes or the curve of her eyelash,
even as Sir Nigel does for the Lady Lo-
| ring
Il know not about that" said the big
archer. scratching his head in perplexty.
Since Mary hath played me false. 1 can
scarce fight for her.
Yet any woman will serve"
There Is my mother, them said John.
| She was at much pains at my upbring-
ing, and. by my soul! 1 will uphold the
curve of her eyelashes, for 1t tickleth my
very heart root to think of her. But who
is here?'
ut is Sir William Beauchamp. He is
valiant man. but l fear that he Is scarce
firm enough upon the saddle to bear the
| thrust of such a tilter as this stranger
promises to be-
Aylward's words were speedily justified.
1Or even as ne spoke the TWO knights met
i'll the center of the lists. Beauchamp struck
his opponent a shrewd blow upon the he'll
met, but was met with so frightful a thrust
that he whirled out of his saddle and rolled
ever and over upon the ground. Sir Thomas
Percy met with little better success, for
his shield was split his vambrace torn, and
he himself wounded slightly in the side
Lord Audley and the unknown knight
struck each other fairly upon the helmet;
but, while the stranger sat firm and
rigid as ever upon his charger, the Eng
lishman was bent back to his horses crup-
per by the weight of the blow, and had gal
loped halfway down the lists ere he could
recover himself. Sir Thomas Wake was
beaten to the ground with battle-ax-that
being the weapon which he had selected
and had to be carried to his pavilion. These
rapid successes, gained one after the other
over four celebrated warriors, worked the
crowd up to a pitch of wonder and admira-
tion. Thunders of applause from the Eng
lish soldiers, as we'll as from the citizens
and peasants, showed how far the love Of
brave and knightly deeds could rise above
the rivalries of race
BY my soul, John" cried the prince
with his cheek flushed and his eyes shin
ing, this is a man of good courage and
great hardness. l could not have thought
that there was any single arm upon earth
which could have oyerthrown these four
champions"
He is, indeed, as I have said, sire, a
knight from whom much honor is to he
gained. But the lower edge of the sun is
long"
Here Is Sir Nigel Loring. on foot and
with his sword said the prince. Il have
heard that he Is fine swordsman."
"The finest In your army, SIRE" Chandos
answered. Yet l doubt not that he will
need all his skill this day"
AS he spoke, the two combatants ad-
vanced from either end in full armor, with
their two-handed swords sloping over their
shoulders. The stranger walked heavily
and with a measured stride, while the Eng
I-s-l
there was no iron shell to weigh down the
freedom of his limbs. At four PAGES dis
tance they stopped, eyed each other for a
moment, and then in an instant fell to work
with a clatter and clang as though two
sturdy smiths were busy upon their anvils.
Up and down went the long, shining blades.
round and round they circled in curves of
glimmering light. crossing, meeting, dsen-
gagng, with flash of sparks at every parry.
Here and there bounded Sir Nigel. his head
erect his jaunty plume 1utterng in the air
while his dark opponent sent In crashing
blow upon blow, following fiercely up with
cut and with thrust, but never once get
ting past the practiced blade of the skilled
swordsman. The crowd roared with delight
as Sir Nigel would stoop his head to avoid
a blow. or by some slight movement of his
body allow some terrible thrust to glance
harmlessy past him. Suddenly, however
his time came. The Frenchman, whirling
up his sword, showed for an instant
chink betwixt his shoulder-piece and the
In dashed Sir Nigel and out again so swift
ly that the eye could not follow the quick
play of his blade, but a trickle Of blood
from the strangers shoulder, and rapid
ly widening red smudge upon his white
surcoat. showed where the thrust had
taken effect. The wound was however, but
81 slight one and the Frenchman was about
! to renew his onset, when, at a sign from
the prince, Chandos threw down his baton,
and the marshals of the lists struck up the
, weapons and brought the contest to an end
1T were time to check It," said the prince
smiling. for Sir Nigel is too good a man
for me to lose. and, by the five holy
wounds, If one of those cuts came home l
should have fears for our champion. What
think you. Pedro?'
Il think, Edward. that the little man was
very well able to take care of himself
For my part should wish to see so we'll
matched a pair fight on while a drop of
blood remained in their veins"
We must have speech with him. Such a
man must not go from my court without
rest or sup. Bring him hither Chandos
and certes, IL the Lord Loring hath re-
| signed his claim upon this goblet, 1t is right
and proper that this cavalier should carry
A