The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-08-03

J was . blood-smeersd shambles, Wit
bodies piled three deep upon each Other
the living covering behind the dead +
shelter themselves from that suddei
storm-blast Of death. ON either hide IL
seamen whom Sir Nigel had chosen fO
the purpose had cast their anchors owe
n the sides Of the galleys.
Il Fore and aft the archers had cleare,
the galleys' decks, but from either sid
i the rovers had poured down into tn,
waist, where the seamen and bowmei
were pushed back and 90 mingled will
their Ioes that 1t was impossible for thei
comrades above to draw string to hell
them. 1t was q wild chaos where axe am
sword rose and fell while Englishmen
Norman and Italian staggered and reelel
on deck which was numbered witt
bodies and slippery with blood.
The giant Tete-noire. towerins
above his fellows and clad from head y
foot in plate Of proof, led on his boarders
swinging q huge mace with which M
struck to the deck every man who Opposed
him. On the other side, Spade-beard. \
dwarf in height, but of great breadth ~
shoulder and length Of arm. had Z / \
road almost to the mast with three
score Genoese men-at-arms close at his
heels.
But help was close at b 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, ana 4
score more, sprang down from the poop
and hurled themselves into the thickest
Of the fight. 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 Nigel's prowess and skill
with all knightly weapons, but all the
tales that had reached his ears fen Ear
short OF the real quickness and cooIness
q the man. It was as If the devil was
IN him, TOR he sprang here and sprang
there, now thrusting and now cutting.
catching blows on his shield, turning them
with his blade, STOPPING under the swing
OF an axe, Springing over the sweep Of a
sword, 80 swift and 80 erratic that the
man who braced himself for a blow al
him might find him six PAGES OF ere be
could bring it 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 slashing blow from his deadly
mace. Sir Nigel stopped to avoid it, and
at the same instant turned thrust frc i
the Genoese swordsman, but, his foot
slipping In a 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 Johns iron grip fell upon
his wrist, and he found that for once he
was In the hands Of stronger man than
himself. Then came in truth battle Of
giants, such as is seldom witnessed.
Fiercely the Norman strove to disengage
his weapon, cursing angrily in French at
being thwarted by such an unlo for
antagonist. But Horde John, with a
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
lonent in an endeavor to break the vice.
like grip which held him.
Back and forth they flung and surged,
until, with q quick movement, -4ordle |
John put forth fierce effort, twisting and |
forcing farther back the Norman's arm
until with sharp crack, like breaking
olufC3 ~ thAhOA 4AAAR Al LIE SIdSp duu luS l.
mace dropped from the nerveless fingers.
In vain he tried to pluck it with the
,ther hand. Back and back still the
Saxon bent him until, with aroar Of pain
ind of fury, the giant changed his full
ength upon the boards, while the glimmcr
il knife before the bars Of his helmet
warned him that short would be his
'hrift If he moved.
Cowed and disheartened by the loss Of
heir leader, the Normans had given back
yarks on to their own galley, dropping
dozen at time, on to her deck.
But the fight had taken new and a
TRANCE turn upon the other side. Spade
eard and his men had given slowly back,
lard pressed by Sir Nigel, Aylward,
Black Simon, and the poop-guard Foot
" foot the Italian had retreated, his
.rmor running blood at every joint, his
held split, his crest shorn, his voice
allen away to mere gasping and croak-
ng. Yet he faced his foemen with daunt-
ess courage, dashing in, springing back,
steady -handed, with SHIN
lering point which seemed to menace
hree at once. Beaten back on to the
eek of his own vessel, and closely fol-
owed by dozen Englishmen, he dis
ngaged himself from them, ran swiftly
own the deck, sprang back into the cog
nee more, cut the rope which held the
nchor, and was back in an instant among
is crossbowmen. AT the same time the
ienoese sailors thrust with their oars
gainst the side of the cog, and rapidly
-idening rift appeared between the two
essels.
"Rv ST. George! ~ cried Ford. tive are
ut off from Sir Nigel"
HE is lost" gasped Terlake. "Come,
It us spring for it." The two youths
lmped with all their strength to reach
le departing galley. Ford's feet reached
,e edge Of the bulwarks, and his hand
utching a rope he swung himself on
oard. Terlake fell short, crashed in
mong the oars, and bounded off into the
"a. Alleyne, staggering to the side, was
Bout to hurl himself after him, but
[ordle Johns heavy hand dragged him
ack by the girdle.
The vessels were indeed so far apart
wv that the Genoese couli use the full
weep of their oars and draw away
lpidly from the cog.
LOOK Look but it is noble fghtw
outed big John, clapping his hands.
They have cleared the poop, and they
ring into the waist Well struck, my
I'd! Well struck, Aylwardl See too,
lack Simon, how he storms among the
lipmen! But this Spade-beard is
s.au Heaven Sir NIGEL IL down ~ cried