Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-23
CHAPTER xv1-continued.

CHAPTER XVI-Contfnued.
But the fight had taken a new and q
strange turn upon the other side. Spade
beard and his men had given slowly back
hard pressed by Sir Nigel. Aylward. Black
Simon and the poop guard. Foot by foot
the Italian had retreated, his armor run
ming blood at every joint, his shield split
his crest shorn, his voice fallen away to
a mere gasping and croaking. Yet he faced
his foemen with dauntles> courage, dashing
in springing back, sure-footed, steady
handed, with a point which seemed to
menace three at once. Beaten back to the
deck of his own vessel, and closely followed
by a dozen Englishmen, he disengaged him
self from them, ran swiftly down the DECK
sprung back into the cog once more, cut
the rope which held the anchor. and was
back in an instant among his crossboW-
men At the same time the Genoese sail
ors thrust with their oars against the side
Of the cog and a rapidly widening rift ap-
peared between the two vessels.
by St. George" cried Ford, I'VE are
cut off from Sir Nigel!'
He is lost" gaSped Terlake. come, let
US spring for It,"
The two youths jumped with all their
strength to reach the departing ga!iey.
Ford's feet reached the edge of the bull
warks and his hand clutching rope, ne
swung himself on board. Terlake fell short.
crashed in among the oars, and bounded of
into the sea. Alleyne. staggering TO the
side, was about to hurl himself after MIN,
but Horde John dragged him back by the
girdle.
You can scarce stand. lad. far less
jump" said he. See how the blood rips
from your bassinet."
my place is by the flag" cried Alleyne,
vainly struggling to break from the other
hold
"Bide here, man. You would need wings
ere you could reach Sir Nigels side
The vessels were indeed so far apart now
that the Genoese could use the full sweep
of their oars, and draw away rapidly from
the cog.
my God, but it is noble fght!' shouted
big John. ciapping his isl hands and t they
spring into the waist. Well struck.
my lord! Well struck. Aylward! See to
Black Simon, how he storms among the
shipmen! But this Spade-beard Is gallant
warrior. He rallies his men upon the fore-s
castle. He hath slain an archer Ha! my
lord is upon him. Look to 1t, Alleyne! See
to the whirl and glitter of IT.!
by heaven, Sir Nigel is DOWN. cried the
squire.
"Upv' roared John. TT was but a feint.
He bears him back. He drives him to the
side All, by Our Lady! his sword is through
him. They cry for mercy! Down goes the
red cross, and up springs simon with the
scarlet roses!"
The death of the Genoese leader did in
deed bring the resistance to an end Amid
a thunder of cheering from cog and from
galleys the forked pennon fiuttered upon the
forecastle, and the galley, sweeping round,
came slowly back, as the slaves who roWed
it learned the wishes of their new masters.
The two knights had come aboard the cog,
and the grapplings having been thrown OFT
the three vessels now moved abreast.
Through all the storm and rush of the
fight Alleyne had been aware of the voice
OF Goodwin Hawtayne, the master-shpman,
49, Ii,,nf nar
the sheetv' and strange it was to him to
see how swiftly the blood-stained sailors
turned from the strife to the ropes and
back Now the cog's head was turned
Franceward, and the shipman walked the
deck peaceful master-mariner once more
There is sad scath done to the cog, SIT
Nigel" said he. Here is a hole In the side
two ellis across, the sail split through the
center, and the wood as pare as Iriar
poll In good sooth, 1 know not what |
shall say to Master Witherton when
see the Itchen once more"
by St Paul, it would be a very sorry
thing If we suffered you to be the worse
of this days work. said Sir Nigel You
shall take these galleys back with you, and
Master Witherton may sell them. Then
from the moneys he shall take as much as
may make good the damage, and the rest
he shall keep until our home coming, when
every man shall have his share. An image
OF silver fifteen inches nigh l have vowed
to the Virgin to be placed in her chapel
to allow me to come upon this Spade-beard
who seemed to me- from what | have seen
of him. to be a very sprightly and valiant
gentleman But how fares it with you,
Edr:cson?"
1T is nothing my fair lord said Alleyne,
who had now loosened his bassinet which
was cracked across by the Norman's blow.
Even as he spoke, however, his head swirled
RI und and he fell to the deck with the
blood gushing from his nose and mouth.
''He will come to anon, said the knight,
stopping over him and passing his fingers
through his hair. II have lost one very
valiant and gentle squire this day. l can
III afford to lose another How many men
have fal!en?'
II have pricked off the tally said Ayl
ward who had come aboard with his lord.
There are seven of the Winchester men,
eleven seamen, your squire, young Master
Terlake and nine archers."
And of the others?"
''They are all dead-save only the Norman
knight who stands behind you. What would
you that we should do with him?'
He must hang on his own yard said
Sir Nigel. 1T was my VOW, and must be
done"
The pirate leader had stood by the bull