The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1906-07-27

was DtOOQ-SmeaTeQ SlamD1eS. VIII
bodies piled three deep upon each other
the living covering behind the dead t
shelter themselves from that sudden
storm-blast of death. On either side tn,
seamen whom Sir Nigel had chosen fol
the purpose had cast their anchors over
/ the sides of the galleys.
Fore and aft the archerS had cleared
the galleys' decks, but from either side
| the royers had poured down into the
waist, where the seamen and bowmeI
were pushed back and so mingled with
| their foes that it was impossible for then
comrades above to draw string 10 help
them. 1t was a wild chaos where axe and
sword rose and fell, while Englishmen
/ Norman and Italian staggered and reeied
/ on deck which was numbered with
/ bodies and slippery with blood.
| The giant Tete-noire. towering
/ above his fellows and clad from head to
| foot in plate of proof, led on his boarders.
/ swinging huge mace with which he
/ struck to the deck every man who opposed
him. On the other side. Spade-beard. a
dwarf in height, but of great breadth of
shoulder and length of arm. had c a
road almost to the mast, with three
score Genoese men-at-arms close at his
heels.
But help was close at h Sir Oliver
Buttesthorn with his men-at-arms had
swarmed down from the forecastle, while
Sir Nigel, with his three squires. Black
/ Simon, Awkward, Horde John. and q
score more, sprang down from the poop
and hurled themselves into the thickest
OF the tight Alleyne, as in duty bound,
kept his eyes ever on his lord and pressed
forward close at his heels. Often had he
heard of Sir Nigers prowess and skill
with all knightly weapons, but all the
tales that had reached his ears fell far
short of the real Quickness and coolness
Of the man. 1t was as if the devil was
IN nm, for he sprang here and sprang
there, now thruSung and now cutting.
catching blows on his shield, turning them
with his blade, STOPPING under the swing
OF an axe, spunglng over the sweep of
sword, so swift and so cratic that the
man who braced himself for a blow at
him might lind him six PAGES off ere he
could bring 1T down. Three pirates had
fallen before him, and he had wounded
Spade-beard in the neck, when the Nor
man giant sprang at him from the side
with a slashing blow from his deadly
mace. Sir Nigel stopped to avoid it, and
at the same instant turned a thrust fro
the GenOese SWOTdsman, but. his foot
slipping in pool of blood, he fell heavily
to the deck. Alleyne sprang in front of
the Norman, but his sword was shattered
and he himself beaten to the deck by a
second blow from the pOnderous weapon.
Ere the pirate chief could repeat it, how
ever, Horde john iron grip fell upon
his wrist, and he found that for once he
was in the hands of a stronger man than
himself. Then came IN truth a battle of
giants, such as is seldom witnessed.
Eiercely the Norman strove to disengage
his weapon, cursing angrily in French at
being thwarted by such an unlo for
antagonist. But Horde John, with
bulls below, bending his great muscles to
the unwonted task. forced the huge
pirates sword arm slowly down and back
ward Terribly the Norman struggled,
hurting his whole weight against his OPP
ponent in an endeavor to break the vice
like grip which held him.
Back and forth they flung and surged, |
until, with a quick movement, --ordle
John put forth fierce effort. twisting and
forcing farther back the Norman's arm
until with a sharp crack, like breaking |
staVe, it turned limp in his grasp and the /
mace dropped from the nerveless fingers. |
In vain he tried to pluck it with the /
other hand. Back and back still the /
Saxon bent him until, with aroar of pain /
and Of fury, the giant changed his full |
length upon the boards. while the glimmcr |
OF a knife before the bars of his helmet /
warned him that short would be his |
sErift if he moved.
Cowed and disheartened by the loss of
their leader, the Normans had given back
and were now streaming over the bull
warks on to their own galley, dropping
a dozen at Il time, on to her deck.
strange turn upon the other side. Spade
beard and his men had given slowly back,
bard pressed by Sir Nigel, Awkward,
Black Simon, and the poop-guard. Foot
)y foot the Italian had retreated, his
armor running blood at every joint his
shield split, his crest shorn, his voice
fallen away to Il mere gaSping and croak-
ing. Yet he faced his foemen with daunt-
less courage, dashing IN, springing back,
;ure-fOoted, steady-handed, with a SHIN
nering point which seemed to menace
three at once. Beaten back on to the
lcck of his own vessel. and closely fol-
Owed by a dozen Englishmen, he dis
Engaged himself from them, ran swiftly
Town the deck sprang back into the cog
once more, cut the rope which held the |
anchor. and was back in an instant among |
his crossbowmen. At the same time the
Ienoese sailors thrust with their oars
against the side of the cog, and a rapidly
rift appeared between the two
ressels.
by St. GEORGE - cried Ford, 1--WE are
ut off from Sir Nigel"
HE is lost gasped Terlake. Come,
ct us spring for it." The two youths
Jumped with all their strength to reach
he departing galley. Ford's feet reached
he edge of the bulwarks, and his hand
a rope he swung himself on
,oard. Terlake fell short crashed in
mong the oars, and bounded off into the
ea. Alleyne. staggering to the side, was
bout to hurl himself after him, but
1ordle Johns heavy hand dragged him
,ack by the girdle.
The vessels were indeed so far apart
low that the Genoese could use the full
sweep of their oars and draw away
aDidly from the cog.
Look Look but it is a noble fight!'
houted big John, clapping his hands.
They have cleared the poop, and they
pring into the waist. Well struck, my
ord, Well struck, Awkward! See too.
Slack Simon, how he storms among the
hipmeni But this Spade-beard is a
allant warrior
by Heaven, Sir Nigel is down." cried
he squire.
Up roared John. cit was but a
eint He bears him back. He drives
i'm to the side. All, by Our Lady, his
word is through him
The death of the Genoese leader did
indeed bring the resistance. to an end;
amid a thunder of cheering from cog and
rom galleys the forked pennon futtered