Evening star., 1905-10-07
CHAPTER VI.
How Samkin Aylward Wagered His
Feather Bed.

How Samkin Aylward Wagered His
Feather Bed.
He was a middle-sized man of most
massive and robust build. with arching
chest and extraordinary breadth of shoul-
der. His shaven face was as brown as
hazelnut, tanned and dried by the weather,
with harsh, well-marked features, which
were not improved by long white scar
which stretched from the corner of his left
nostrn to the angle of the jaw. His eyes
were bright and searching. with something
of menace and of authority in their quick
glitter, and his mouth was firm-set and
hard, as befitted one who was wont to set
his face against danger. A straight sword
by his side and painted long-bow jutting
over his shoulder proclaimed his profession,
while his SCARED brigandine of chain-maii
and his dinted steel cap showed that he was
no holiday soldier but one who was even
now fresh from the wars A white surcoat
with the lion of st. George in red upon the
center covered his broad breast, while a
sprg of new-plucked broom at the side of
his headgear gave touch Of gayety and
grace to his grim, war-worn equipment.
'Ha!'' he cried, blinking like an owl in the
sudden glare. .Good-even to you, CANA
rades. Hola a woman, by my soulp' And
In an instant he had clipped Dame Eliza
round the waist and was kissing her vio-
lently. His eye happening to wander upon
the maid, however, he instantly abandoned
the mistress and danced off after the
other, who scurried in confusion up one of
the ladders and dropped the heavy trap
door upon her pursuer. He then turned
back and saluted the landlady once more
with the utmost relish and satisfaction.
La petite is frightened" said he. ''Ah,
c'est ramour. ramour Curse this trick of
French, which will stick to my throat!
must wash 1t out with some good English
ale. By my hilt. camarades, there is no
4
true English bowman, Samkin Aylward by
name; and / tell you, mes amis, that it
warns my very heartroots to set my feet
on the dear old land once more. When I
came off the galley at Hythe, this very day,
down on my bones and 1 Kissed the good
brown earth, / kiss thee now, ma belle
for it was eight long years since 1 had seen
it. The very smell of it seemed life to me.
But where are my six rascals? Hola
therei En- avantr
At the order six men, dressed as common
drudges, marched solemnly into the room,
each bearing huge bundle upon his head
They formed in military line, while the SOL
dier stood in front of them with stern eyes
checking off their several packages
Number, one-a French feather-bed with
the two counterpanes of white sandell''
said he.
Here, worthy SIR" answered the first of
the bearers, laying great package down
in the corner.
Number two-seven ellis of red Turkey
down by the other. Good dame, | prithee
give each of these men bottrine of wine
or a jack of ale. Three-a full piece of
white Genoan velvet. with twelve ellis of
purple silk. Thou rascal there is dirt on
the hem! Thou hast brushed it against
some wall coquin.'
Not l, most worthy sir" cried the car
rier, shrinking away from the fierce eyes of
the bowman
Il say yes, dog, BY the three kingsi I
have seen man gasp out his last breath
for less. Had you gone through the pain
and unease that | have done to earn these
things you would be at more care swear
by my ten finger bones that there is not one
of them that hath not cost its weight in
French blood, Four-an incense-boat. a
ever of silver, a gold buckle. and a cope
worked in pearls. l found them, CANA
rades, at the Church of st. Denis in the
marrying of Narbonne, and l took them
away with me lest they fall into the hands
OF the wicked. Five-a cloak of fur turned
up with minever. gold goblet with stand
ana cover, and box of rose-colored sugar
See that you lay them together. Ska box
or moneys, three pounds of Limousine gold
work. pair of boots, silver-tagged, and,
lastly, store of naping linen. So, the tally
is completei Here is q groat apiece, and
you may CO.
Go whittier. worthy sir2" asked one of
the carriers
Whittier? To the devil, if YOU will
What is 1t to me? Now, ma belle, to sup
per. pair of cold capons, a mortress of
Drawn, or what you will. with flask or
two OF the right Gascony. | have crowns
in my pouch, my sweet and l mean to
spend them. Bring in wine while the food
is dressing Buvons my brave lads; you
shall each empty stoup with me-"
Here was an offer which the COM
pany in an English inn. at that or any
other date. are slow to refuse The
hagons We're regathered and came back
with the white foam dripping over
their edges Two of the woodmen and
three of the laborers drank their portions
off hurriedly and trooped off together, for
their homes were distant and the hour
late The others. however, drew closer.
leaving the place of honor to the right of
the gleeman to the free-handed newcomer.
He had thrown off his steel cap and his
brigandine, and had placed them, with his
sword. his CULVER and his painted long bow
on the top of his varied heap of plunder in
the corner. Now. with his thick and some
what bowed legs stretched in front of the
blaze, his green jerlkin thrown open. and a
great pot held in his corded fist, he looked
the picture of comfort and of good fellow
ship. His hard-set face had softened, and
the thick crop of crisp brown eurls which
had been hidden by his helmet grew low
upon his massive neck. He might have
been forty years of age though hard toll
and harder pleasure had left their grim
ceased painting his pied merlin, and sat,
brush IN hand, staring with open eyes at a
type of man so strange and so unlike any
whom he had met Mon had been good or
was a man who was fierce one instant and
gentle the next, with curse on his lips
and smile In his eye. What was to be
made OF such man as that?
1t CHANGED that the soldier looked up
and saw the questioning glance which the
young clerk threw upon him. He raised
his ftagOn and drank TO him, with merry