Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1906-07-26

Ia was A blood smearcd shambcs, VIII
bodies piled three deep upon each other
a, the living covering behind the dead q
u shelter themselves trOm that suduei
storm-blast of death Gu either side tn
g seamen whom Sir Nigel had chosen to
| the purpose had cast their anchors owe
3 the sides OF the galleys.
= forc and aft the archers had clearc'
!, the galleys' decks, but from either sid'
b the royers had poured down into th'
4 waist. where the seamen and boWnci
were pushed back and 50 mingled viii
[ their foes that IL was impossible Tor theii
comrades above TO draw string to hell
! theln. Ii was "A wild chaos where axe and
/ sword rose aud fell. while hnghshmen
Norman aud Italian staggered aud rcciel
ON a deck which was numbered with
bodies and slippery with blood
The giant Tcte-noirc. towering
above his fellows and clad from head "a
foot In plate Of proof. led on his boardcrs.
| swinging huge mace with which b.
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 thrive
score Genocse men-at-arms close at his
/ heels
Hut help was close AZ s. oliver
Buttcsthorn with bic men-at.arms had
/
Sir Nigel, with his three squires, Black
Simon, Aylward. Horde John. and
scpre more. sprang down from the poop
AMI hurled themselves into the thickcst
Of the light Alleynp, as In duty bound.
Kept his eyes ever on his lord ard pressed
forward close at his hccls. Often had be
hca~i Of Sir Nigcls proves aud skn
with all knightly weapons. but all the
tale that had reached his ear fell far
a II -. A.
OF The man. IL was as II the devil was
in I'm, for he sprang here and sprang
th,r now tarlstng aud now cutting.
ca hiug blows on his shield turning them
viii bis blade. stopping under The swing
OF ln axe. spnnging over the sweep Of a
sword - swift and 80 erratic that the
MAJ who braced himself for a blow at
hiu might find him sin paccs od ere h.
CO.. j bring IL down. Three pirates had
faen before him. aud be bad wounded
ST. Ic-beard In the neck. whsn the Nor
ma Giant sprang 40 him from the side
VIII a slashing blow from bis deadly
ma Sir Nigel STOPPED 20 avoid IL. aud
at ,lc same instant turned a thrust n, D
thu ttsnoese sworsssman. but. hts foot
sliI q In a pool II blood. h. fcll heavily
10 tae deck. Alieyne sprsnE Ia front II
"a, norman. bot his sword was shattered
an be- himself beaten % the deck By a
scvuad blow from the ponderous weapon.
IL, The pirate chief could rrpeat "a. how
eve Horde johns lron grip fsll upon
his INST. and be found that Tor once be
Wa n the hands Of a stronger man than
hiu a. Then came IN truth a battle u
giauft such as u seldom Witnessed.
fierriy the Norman strovc 20 disrnEaEr
hts weapon. cursine angrily Ia frcDch az
beir. 'awarted b. such an unlo Toe
ant. MIST but Horde John. with
bul. elbow. bending his great muscles 90
the .4Wouiei task. forcrd The huge
piu' sword arm slowly down aud back
war Terribly the Norman struggled.
hurhrf bis v hole weight against his oP-
pouer. in an snd~avor % break the Vicr-
Ike sf b which held him.
Bh aud forth they nunE and surrei.
until 18th a quick movement. -.ordle
John forth 6@rcs Effort, twisting and
forCr. farther back the N0rmaus arm
until IA a sharp crack. like a breaking
stafr turned limp Ia bis grasp aud the
macf ropprd from The BsryeiesS uuEerH
Ia ~ ~ h. tried 90 pluck u with the
other land liack and back stili the
saxon bent him until. with aroar Of pain
aud q fury. the Eiant changed hts fun
], uFth upon the boards while the Klimmcr
OF a knife before IA. bars Of b.. hclrne,
warned him that short would be biz
Shift II be- moved
Cowed aud disheartened by the ioas OF
fheir leader. the Normans hal given back
and were now streaming over the bull
varks on 60 their oVu galley. dropping
a doEen ~ time. on % her deck.
But the FIGHT had taken = new and
strange turn upon the other side. Spade
ben M and his men had gwen slowly back.
bard prrs--i by Sir Nigel. Aylward.
Black Simon. aud the poopguard. Foot
d -. Il. A. a ~ -
armor running blood al every joint. his
shield split his crest shorn. bis voice
fallen away 10 mere Fasping and cruak
| ing Yet he faced his foetnen with daunt.
less courngc. dAshins in. springinE hack.
sure footed. steady handed, With n shin.
tnering point which -ecmed 60 menace
three at once. Beaten back on To the
deck Of his own vessel. aud closely FOL.
| lowed by a dozen Englishmen. be dis
/ engaged himself from them. ran swiftly
| down the deck. sprang back into The coz
once more. cut the rope which held the
| anchor. and was back in an instant among
his crOssbowmen. ~ the same time the
Gcnocze sailors thrust with their oars
against the side Of the COG. and a rapidly
widening rife appeared between the two
vessels.
by ST George" cried Ford. 1--WE are
cut OF from Sir Nigel
lie - lost EAspfd lerioke. Tome,
let IA spring for H." The two youths
jumped with all their strength to reach
the departing galley. Ford's feet reached
the edge Of the bulwarks. and his hand
. clutching n rope he 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 10 hurl himself after him, but
Horde Johns heavy hand dragged him
back by the girdle.
The vessels were indeed 80 far apart
now that the Genoese could use the full
sweep Of their oars and draw away
rapidly from the cog.
Look Look but IL II a noble fight -
shouted big John. clapping his hands.
"'They have cleared the poop. and they
spring into the waist. Well struck. my
lord, Well struck, Aylwardl See too.
Black Simon. how he storms among the
shipmen! But this Spadebea.d Is a
gallant warrior.
"by Heaven, Sir Nigel is down." cried
the squire.
. 0Jrr =" rooro1 Iobo att xuaa hut n