Evening star., 1905-10-27
THE WHITE COMPANY
BY A.. CONAN DOYLE.

| with a weapon strapped to its waist. In
| such combats. as well as In the more for-
| NAL sports Of the fitting yard, Tranter had
| won name for strength and dextertty
| which had caused Northbury to utter his
! well-meant warning. On the other hand,
| Alleyne had used his weapons in constant
| exercise and practice every day for many
months, and being by nature quick of eye
| and prompt OF hand. he might pass now as
/ no mean swordsman. A strangely opposed
| pair they appeared as they approached
each other-Tranter dark and stout and
| stin, with hairy chest and corded arms.
| Alleyne a model of comelness and grace,
| with his golden hair and his skin fair as
a wOman's. An unequal fight II seemed to
most; but there were a few. and they the
| most experienced. who saw something in
the youths steady gray eye and wary step
which left the issue open to doubt.
Hold, sirs, hold!" cried Northbury, ere q
| blow had been struck. This gentleman
| hath a two-handed sword, a good foot
longer than that OF our friend"
Take mine. Alleyne" said Ford.
NAY, friends" he answered. Il under
| stand the weight and balance of mine own.
| To work, sir, for our lord may need us at
| the abbey
Tranter's great sword was indeed a
| mighty vantage in his favor He stood
with his feet close together, his knees ben:
| outward, ready for dash inward or a
spring out. The weapon he held straight
up in front Of him with blade erect, so tha t
he might either bring 1t down with a swing
ing blow, or by a turn of the heavy blade
he might guard his own head and body. A
further protection lay in the broad and
powerful guard which crossed the hilt. and
which was furnished with a deep and mar
row notch, in which an expert swordsman
might catch his foeman's blade, and by q
quick turn of his wrist might snap 1t
across. Alleyne. on the other hand, must
trust for his defense to his quick eve and
active foot-for his sword, though keen as
milestone could make 1t. was of light
and graceful build with a narrow, sloping
pommel and tapering steel.
Tranter well knew his advantage and lost
no time in putting it to use AS his oppo-
nent walked toward him he suddenly
bounded forward and sent In whistlng
cut which would have severed the other in
twain had he not sprung lightly back from
1t. So close was 1t that the point ripped a
cash In the jutting edge of his linen cyclas.
Quick as a panther. AlIeyne sprung in with
thrust, but Tranter, who was as active
as he was strong, had already recovered
himself and turned it aside with a move
ment Of his heavy blade. Again he whiz-
zed In blow which made the spectators
hold their breath, and again Alleyne very
quickly and swiftly slipped from under it
and sent back two lightning thrusts which
the other could scarce parry. So close were
they to each other that Alleyne had no
time to spring back from the next cut,
which beat down his sword and gra zed his
forehead, sending the blood streaming into
his eyes and down his cheeks. He sprung
out beyond sword sweep, and the pair stood
breathing heavily, while the crowd or
young squires buzzed their applause.
"Bravely struck on both sidesr' cried
Roger Harcomb. You have both won
honor from this meeting, and it would be
sin and shame to let 1t go further"
You have done enough, Edrfcson," said
Northbury.
- You have carried yourself WE'LL" cried
several of the older squires.
For my part, have no wish to slay this
young man." said Tranter wiping his heat
ed brow.
Does this gentleman crave my pardon
for having used me despitefully?" asked
Aleyne.
NAY. not I!''
Then stand on your guard, sirv'
With a clatter and dash the two blades
met once more, Alleyne pressing in SO as
to keep within the full sweep of the heavy
blade, while Tranter as continually sprung
back to have space for one of his fatal
cuts parts -parried blow drew
blood from Alleyne's left shoulder, but at
the same moment he wounded Tranter
slightly upon the thigh. Next instant,
however, his blade had slipped into the
fatal notch, there was a sharp cracking
sound with tinkling upon the ground and
he found a splintered piece of steel fifteen
inches long was all that remained to him
of his weapon.
'Your life is in my hands!'' cried Tran
ter, with bitter smile.
NAY, nay, he makes submission broke
in several squires.
another SWOfC! crleQ F'OrQ.
NAY, SIR" said Harcomb that is not
the custom"
Throw down your hilt, Edricson," cried
Northbury.
"Never!' said Alleyne. DO you crave
my pardon, sir?"
You are mad to ask it,
Then on guard again!" cried the young
squire, and sprung in with fire and fury
which more than made up for the shortness
of his weapon. 1t had not escaped him
hat Mt hra h in ch
hoarse gasps, like a man who is dizzy with
fatigue Now was the time for the purer
living and the more agile limb to show
their value. Back and back gave Tranter
ever seeking time for a last cut. On and
on came Alleyne, his jagged point now at
his foeman's face, now at his throat now
at his chest, still stabbing and thrusting to
pass the line of steel which covered him
Yet his experienced foeman knew we'll that
such efforts could not be long sustained
Let him relax for one instant, and his
death-blow had come. Relax he must.
Flesh and blood could not stand the strain
Already the thrusts We're less fierce. the
foot less ready, although there was no
abatement OF the spirit in the steady gray
eyes Tranter, cunning and wary from
years of fighting, knew that his chance had
come. He brushed aside the frai1 weapon
which was opposed to him, whirled up his
great blade, sprung back to get the fairer
sweep-and vanished into the waters of the
Garonne.
ants and spectators been on the matter in
hand that all thought of the steep bank
and swift, still stream had gone from their
minds. 1t was not until Tranter, giving
back before the others fiery rush. was
upon the very brink, that general cry
warned him of his danger. That last spring.
which he hoped would have brought the
fight to q bloody end, carried him clear of
the edge, and he found himself in an in
slant eight feet deep in the ice-cold stream.
Once and twice his gasping face and clutch
ing fingers broke through the still green
water. sweeping outward in the swirl of
the current. In vain We're sword sheaths
apple branches and belts linked toge...er
thrown out to him by his companions. AL
leyne had dropped his shattered sword, and
was standing, trembling In every limb with
his rage all changed in an instant to pity
For the third time the drowning man came
to the surface, hfs hands full of green,
Shiny water plants, his eyes turned in de-
spair to the shore. Their glance fell upon
Alleyne, and he could not withstand the
mute appeal which he read in them In an
instant he, too, was In the Garonne strik-
Ing out with powerful strokes for his late
foeman.
Yet the current was swift and strong. and
good swimmer as he was 1t was no easy
task which Alleyne had set himself To