Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-08


chrust your arms e1bow-deep among good
silver pieces ere the nights are moon,ess
again Tor on every hand of US are fair
women. rich wine and good plumber. as
much as heart could wish
II have other plans" answered Sir
Nigel, CURLY, for 1 have come hither
to- lead these bowmen to the help of the
prince, our master, who may have sore need
OF them ere he set Pedro upon the throne
of Spain. 1t is my purpose to start this
very day for OAK upon the Adour, where he
hath now pitched his camp
The face of the Gascon darkened and his
eyes flashed with resentment.
For me-" he said. II care little for this
war and 1 find the life which lead very
Joyous and pleasant one. / will not go to
OAK
Nay, think again, Sir Claude" said Sir
Nigel, gently; for you have ever had the
name OF true and loyal knight. Surely
you will not hold back now when your mas
ter hath need of you
II will not go to Dax," the other shouted
But your devqir-your oath of fealty?'
I say that will not CO.
Then, Sir Claude l must lead the COM
pany without you"
"If they will follow, cried the Gascon, with
sheer. These are not hired slaves, but
free companions. who will do nothing save
by their own good wills In very sooth, my
Lord Loring, they are i'll men to trifle with
and it were easier to pluck bone from ga
hungry bear than to lead bowman out of
land of plenty and of pleasure
Then l pray you to gather them to-
gether.' said Sir Nigel land I will tell
them what is in my mind. for If am their
leader they must to OAK, and if 1 am
not, then l know not what 1 am doing in
Auvergne Have my horse ready, Alleyne
for by st. Paul! come what may L must be
upon the homeward road ere midday"
A blast upon the bugle summoned the
bowmen to council, and they gathered in
little knots and groups around a great fall
en- tree that lay athwart the glade. Sir
Nigel sprang lightly upon the trunk and
stood with blinking eye and firm lips look
ing down at the ring of upturned, warlike
faces.
They tell me, bowmen," said he that
ye have grown so fond of ease and plumber
and high living that ye are not to be moved
from this pleasant country. But, by st.
Paul! l will believe no such thing of you
for l can readily see that you all very
valiant men, who would scorn to live here
in peace when your prince hath so great a
venture before him. Ye have chosen me
a leader. and leader l will be If we come
with me to Spain; and l vow to you that
my pennon of the five roses shall. If God
give me strength and life, be ever where
there is most honor to be gained. But if 1t
be your wish to Toll and loiter in these
glades, bartering glory and renown for vile
gold and ill-gotten riches, then we must find
another leader. for 1 have lived in honor,
end in honor l trust that / shall die. If
there be forest men Hampshire men
among We. call upon them to say whether
they will follow the banner of Loring.'
young bowman with a sprig of evergreen
set in his helmet.
And lad from Arlesford!' shouted an
other.
And from Mltony'
And from Burley!'
and from Lymington!"
and a little one from Brockenhurst!"
shouted huge-limbed fellow who spra wled
beneath a tree.
by my hilt, lads!" cried Awkward, jump
ing upon the fallen trunk, Il think that we
could not look the girls in the eyes if we let
the prince cross the mountains and did not
pull string to clear a path for him. 1t is
very well in time of peace to lead such a
life as we have had together, but now the
war banner is in the wind once more. and
by these ten finger bones, If he go alone
old Samkin Aylward will walk beside it,
These words from man as popular as
Awkward decided many of the waverers and
shout of approval burst from his audi
ence.
Far be it from me- said Sir Claude La
tour, sauvey. ito persuade you against this
worthy archer. or against Sir Nigel Loring
yet we have been together in many ven
lures, and perchance 1t may not be amiss if
l say to you what think upon the matter"
Peace for the little Gascon!" cried the
archers. Let every man have his word.
Shoot straight for the mark lad, and fair
play for ALL"
"Bethink you, then said Sir Claude that
you go under a hard rule, with neither free
dom nor pleasure-and for what? For six
ptIlct I'll ddyr at inc HlOSt, While now you
may walk across the country and stretch
out either hand to gather in whatever you
have a mind for. What do we not hear of
our comrades who have gone with Sir John
Hardwood to Italy? In night they
have held to ransom six hundred Of the
richest noblemen of Mantua. They camp
before great city, and the base burghers
come forth with the keys and then they
make great spoil; or. If it please them bet
ter. they take many horseloads of silver
as a composition; and so tAy journey on
from state to state, rich and Zee and feared
by all. Now, Is not that the proper life for
a solder?'
THE proper life for a robberl'' roared
Horde John. in his laundering voice.
And yet there is much in what the Gas
con says" said swarthy fellow in
weather-stained doublet: and | for one
would rather prosper in Italy than starve
In Spain"
You were always a cur and traitor.
Mark Shaw cried Awkward. BY my hilt!
if you will stand forth and draw your
sword. l will warrant you that you will see
neither one nor the other"
Nay, Aylward' said Sir Nigel, I'VE
not mend the matter by broiling Sir
Claude, / think that what you have said
does you little honor, and II my words ag-
grieve you, | am ever ready to go deeper
into the matter with you. But you shall
have such men viii follow you, and you
may go where you will, so that you come
not with us. Let all who love their prince
and country stand fast, while those who
think more of d we!l-lined purse, step forth
upon the further side
Thirteen bowmen, with hung heads and
sheepish faces, stepped forward with Mark
Shaw and ranged themselves behind Sir
Claude Amid the hootings and hissings Of
their comrades, they marched off together
to the Gaseous hut, while the main body
broke UP their meeting and set cheerly to
work packing their possessions, furnishing
their weapons, and preparing for the march
which lay before them. Over the Tarn and
the Garonne, through the vast quagmires
of Armagnac, past the swift-fiowing Losse,
and SO down the long valley of the Adour,
there was many long league to be crossed
ere they could join themselves to that dark
war-cloud which was drifting slowly south
ward to the line of the snowy peaks, be-
yond which the banner Of England had
never yet been seen.
Go be continued tomorrow
FIGHTING IN CAUCASUS.