Evening star., 1905-11-03
CHAPTER XVII.
How Roger Club Foot Was Passed Into
poro disc

CdAXVE6 AAv v4As
How Roger Club Foot Was Passed Into
Paradise.
It was evening before the three comrades
came into Aigullon. There they found Sir
Nigel Loring and Ford safely lodged at
the sign Of the Baton Rouge. where they
supped on good fare, and slept between
lavender-scented sheets. 1t chanced, how
ever that knight Of Poitou, Sir CASTOR
d dEstelle, was staying there on his way
back from Lithuania. where he had served
a term with the Teutonic knights under the
land-master Of the presbytery of Marfen-
berg. He and Sir Nigel sat late in high
converse as to bushments, outfalls and the
intaking of cities, with many tales Of war
like men and valiant deeds. Then their
talk turned to minstrelsy, and the stranger
knight drew forth q cittern, upon which
he played the minne-lieder of the north,
singing the while in a high cracked voice
Of Hildebrand and Brunhild and Siegfried,
and all the strength and beauty of the land
Of Almain. To this Sir Nigel answered
with the romances Of Sir Eglamour, and
OF Sir Isumbras, and so through the long
winter night they sat by the cracking wood
fire answering one another's songs until
the Growing cocks joined in their concert.
Yet. with scarce an hour of rest, Sir Nigel
was as blithe and bright as ever as they
set forth after breakfast upon their way.
This Sir CASTOR Is very worthy man,
said he to his squres, as they rode from
the Baton Rouge. He hath a very strong
desire to advance himself, and would have
entered upon some small knfghtly debate
with me, had he not CHANGED to have his
arm-bone broken by the kick of a horse.
1 have conceived a great love for him, and
have promised him that when this bone
Is mended will exchange thrusts with him.
But we must keep to the road upon the
left"
NAN my fair lord" quoth Aylward.
'The r6ad to Montaubon is over the river,
and SO through Quercy and the Agenois ;"
True my good Aylward; but I have
learned from this worthy knight. who hath
come over the French marches, that there
is a company of Englishmen who are burn
ing and plunderinE in the country round
Viflefranche. / have little doubt from
what he says that they are those whom
we seek
by my hilt! it is like enough" said
Aylward. by all accounts they had been
so long at Montaubon that there would be
little there worth the taking. Then, as
they have already been In the south, they
would come north to the country of the
Aveyron."
1--WE shall follow the Lot until we come
to Cahors. and then cross the marches into
villefranche.' said Sir Nigel. by st. Paul!
as we are but q small band, it is very
likely that we may have some very honor
able and pleasing adventure, for l hear
that there is little peace upon the French
border"
All morning they rode down q broad and
winding road barred with the shadows of
poplars. Sir Nigel rode in front with his
squires, while the two archers followed
behind with the sumpter mule be-
tween them They had left Aiguillon
and the Garonne far to the south, and rode
now by the tranquil Lot, which curves biue
and placid through gently rolling country
Alleyne could not but mark that, whereas
in Guinne there had been many townlsts
nd loo
castles and few houses. On either hand
gray walls and square, grim keeps peeped
out at every few miles from amid the TOR
ests. while the few villages which they
passed were all ringed round with rude
walls, which spoke of the constant fear and
sudden foray of wild frontier land. Twice
during the morning there came bands OF
horsemen swooping down upon them IRON
the black gateways of wayside, ,strongholds,
with short stern questions as to whence
they came and what their errand..,s BANDS
of armed men clanked along the highway,
and the few lines OF laden mules Whlen
carried the merchandise of the trader. were
guarded by armed varlets or by archers
hired for the service.
1.-THE peace Of Bretigny hath not made
much change in these parts, quoth Sir
Nigel, for the country Is overrun with
free companions and masterlesS men. Yon-
der towers between the wood and the hlll,
mark the town of Cahors and beyond II
is the land of France. But here Is man
and a squire l make little doubt that he is
d knight l pray you, Alleyne, to give him
greeting from me, and TO ask MIN LOT ms
titles and coat-armor. 1t may De mat
can relieve him of some vow, or perchahce
he hath lady whom he would wish 10
advance"
are not horses and squire but mules ana
a yarlet The man is a mercer, Tor ne
hath a great bundle beside him."
Now, Gods blessing on your honest
English voice!" cried the stranger, prick
ing up his ears at the sound or Alleyne
words Never have l heard rln mus,c SIC tu,a ina'
was so sweet to mine ear. Come, WatKln,
lad throw the bales over Lauras pack!
Ny heart was nigh broke. for II seemed
that I had left all that was English De-
hind me. and that I would never set eyes
upon Norwich market square again.
He was a tall. lusty, middle-aged man:
with a ruddy face, brown forked beard
shot with gray, and broad Flanoers ma
sci at the back Of his head. his serVan'
as tall as himself, but gaunt and ra"
boned. had swung the bales on the back ot
one mule, while the merchant mounted up
on the other and rode to join the party,
1t was easy to see, as he approached iron
the quality of his dress and the rlcnness
of his trappings that he was man OF
some wealth and position.
'.Sir knight" said he, my name is Da.
vid Micheldene, and I am burgher ana
alderman Of the good town of Norwich.
where I live five doors from the Church OF
Our Lady as all men know. on the banks
of Yare. I have here my pales OF cio-H,
which 1 carry to Cahors-woe worth the
day that ever I started on such an errano!
l crave your gracious protection upon the
way for me- my servant and my mercery'
for I have already had many perllous pas
sages. and have now learned that Roger
CIubfoot, the robber-knight of Quercy, Is
out upon the road in front Of me. hereby
agree to give you one rose noble II you
bring me safe to the inn of the Angel, In
Cahors, the same to be repaid to me or my
heirs, il any harm come to me or my
goods" ,r
by St. Paulv answered Sir Nigel, Il
should be a sorry knight, If l ask pay for
standing by countryman In strange
land You may ride with me and welcome,
Master Micheldene. and your varlet may
follow with my archers.
Goods benson upon thy bounty! cried
the stranger. Should you come to Nor
wich, you may have cause to remember
that you have been Of service to Alderman
MicheIdene 1t is not very far to Cahors
for surely / see the cathedral towers
against the Line: but have heard much
of this Roger Ciubfoot, and the more hear
the less do I wish to look upon his face.
oh, but am sick and weary of 1t all, ana
/ would give half that / am worth to see
my good dame sitting in peace beside me.
and to hear the bells of Norwich town."
your words are strange to me-, quoth
Sir Nigel. "for you have the appearance