Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-03
CHAPTER w.
How the Bailiff of Southampton Slew
the Two Masterless Men.

scarce as populous as most other roads In
the kingdom, and far less so than those
which lie between the larger towns. Yet
from time to time Alleyne met other way
farers, and more than once was overtaken
by strings of pack-mules and horsemen
journeying in the same direction as him
self. Once a begging friar came limping
along in a brown habit, imploring in a
most dolorous voice to give him single
groat to buy bread wherewith to save him
self from impending death. Alleyne passed
him swiftly by. for he had learned from
the monks to have no love for the wander
ing friars, and besides, there was great
half-gnawed mutton-bone sticking out of
his pouch to prove him liar. Swiftly as he
went however, he could not escape the
curse of the four blessed evangelists which
the mendicant howled behind him. So
dreadful were his excavations that the
frightened lad thrust his fingers into his
ear-holes, and ran until the fellow was
but brown snirch upon the yellow road.
Further on, at the edge of the woodland,
he came upon chapman and his wife,
who sat upon a fallen tree. He had put
his pack down as a table, and the two of
them were devouring a great pasty, and
washing 1t down with some drink from
stone jar. The chapman broke rough jest
as he passed. and the woman called shrilly
to Alleyne to come and Join them, on which
the man, turning suddenly from mirth to
wrath. began to belabor her with his
cudgel. Alleyne FASTENED on, lest he make
more mischief, and his heart was heavy
as lead within him. Look where he would,
he seemed to see nothing but injustice and
violence, and the hardness of man to man.
But even as he brooded sadly over 1t and
pinned for the sweet peace of the abbey, he
came on an open space dotted with holly
bushes, where was the strangest sight that
he had yet CHANGED upon. Near to the
pathway lay a long clump of greenery, and
from behind this there stuck straight up
into the air four human legs clad in parti-
colored hosen, yellow and black. Strangest
of all was when a brisk tune struck sud-
denly up and the four legs began to kick
and twitter in time to the music. Walking
on tiptoe round the bushes he stood in
amazement to see two men bounding about
on their heads, while they played, the one
viol and the other a pipe, as merrily and
as truly as though they were seated in
chair Alleyne crossed himself as he gazed
at this unnatural sight and could scarce
hold his ground with a steady face, when
the two dancers, catching sight of him,
came bouncing in his direction. A spears
length from him they each threw somer-
sault into the air, and came down upon
their feet with Sinking faces and their
hands over their hearts.
"A guerdon-a guerdon my knight of the
staring eyes!" cried one.
"A gift. my prince!" shouted the other.
Any trffe will serve-a purse of gold, or
even a jeweled goblet"
Alleyne thought of what ne had read of
demoniac possession-the jumpings, the
twitchings, the wild talk. IT was in his
mind to repeat over the exorcism proper to
such attacks; but the two burst out
a-laughing at his scared face and turning
on to their heads once more clapped their
heels in derision.
Hast never seen tumblers before?" asked
the elder, black-brewed, swarthy man,
as brown and supple as hazel twig WHY
shrink from us, then, as though we were
the spawn of the Evil One?"
Why shrink. my honey-bird? Why so
afeard, my sweet cinnamon" exclaimed the
other, loose jonted lanky youth with a
dancing roguish eye.
Truly. sir, it is new sight to me-" the
clerk answered when I saw your four
legs above the bush could scarce credit my
own eyes. Why is it that you do this
thing?"
"A dry question to answer" cried the
younger coming back onto his feet. "A
most husky question. my fair bird! But
how? A flask, fiask!-by all that is Won
derful! He shot out his hand as he spoke
and plucking Alleyne's bottle out of his
scrip. he deftly knocked the neck off, and
poured the half of 1t down his throat. The
rest he handed to his comrade. who drank
the wine, and then, to the clerks increasing
amazement, made show of swallowing the
bottle, with such skill that Alleyne seemed
to see 1t vanish down his throat. A moment
later. however. he flung 1t over his head,
and caught 1t bottom downward upon the
calf Of his left leg.
I'VE thank you for the wine. kind SIR"
with you offered 1t. Touching your cues
ton. we may tell you that we are strollers
and jugglers, who, having performed with
much applause at Winchester fair, are now
on our way to the great Mich&elmas mar
ket at Ringwood. AS our art is very fine
and delicate one, however, we cannot let
day go by without exercising ourselves in
1t, to which end we choose some quiet and
sheltered spot where we may break our
journey. Here you find us; and we cannot
wonder that you. who are new to tumbling
should be astounded, since many great
barons. earls, marshals and knights, who
have wandered as far as the Holy Land
are Of one mind in saying that they have
never seen a more noble or gracious per
Torrance If you will be pleased to sit upon
that stump, we will now continue our ex-
ercise."
Alleyne sat down willingly, as directed
with two great bundles on either side of
him which contained the strollers' dresses
doublets of fiame-colored silk and gtrdles of
leather spangled with brass and tin The
jugglers were their heads once more
bounding about with rigid necks, playing
the while In perfect time and tune. 1t
CHANGED that out Of one of the bundles there
stuck the end of what the clerk saw to be
cittern. so, drawing it forth. he tuned it up
and twanged harmony to the merry Tilt
which the dancers played. On that they
dropped their own instruments, and putting
their hands to the ground they hoped
about faster and faster, ever shouting to
him to play more briskly, until at last for
very WedIlueSS Ill three mao TO SCOD,
We'll played. sweet poppet!' cried the
younger. Hast rare touch on the
strings"
How knew you the tuner" asked the
other.
II knew it not. did but follow the notes
/ heard"
Both opened their eyes at this and stared
at Alleyne with much amazement as he
mad shown at them.
You have a fine trick Of ear then" said
one. I'VE have long wished to meet such a
man. Wilt join us and jog on to Ringwood?
Thy duties shall be light, and thou shalt
have twopence a day and meat for supper
every night"
with as much beer as you can put
away" said the other, land a flask of Gas
con wine on Sabbaths."
NAY, 1t may not be. I have other work
to do. / have tarried with you over long"
quoth Alleyne, and resolutely set forth upon
his journey once more. They ran behind
him some little way offering him first four
pence and then sixpence a day, but he only
smiled and shook his head, until at last they
fell away from him. Looking back, he saw
that the smaller had mounted on the young
er's shoulders. and that they stood so, some
ten feet high, waving their adleus to him.
He waved back to them, and then FASTENED
on. the lighter of heart for having fallen in
wifi those n r,1p