Amador ledger., 1906-07-06

Genoan velvet with twelve ellis of
dirt on the heml Thou hast brushed
it against some wall, coquin!"
mot I, most worthy SIR" cried the
carrier, shrinking away from the fierce
eyes of the bowman.
II say yes, dogl By the three kings.
have seen a man gasp out his
breath for less. Had you gone
through the pain and unease that 1
have done to earn these things you
would be at more care. I swear by my
ten finger bones that there is not one of
them that hath not cost its weight in
French blood Four-a incense-boat.
ever of silver, gold buckle, and a
cope worked in pearls. I found them,
camarades, at the Church of st. Denis
in the harrying of Narbonne, and I
took them away with me lest they
fall into the hands f the wicked
Ffve-a cloak of fur turned up with
minever, a gold goblet with stand and
cover, and box of rose-colored sugar
See that you lay them together. Six
box of moneys, three pounds of Lii
mousine gold-work, a pair of boots,
silver tagged, and, lastly, a store of
naping linen. So, the tally is COM
plete! Here is a groat apiece, and you
may CO.,
"Go whittier, worthy sir?" asked one
Of the carriers.
WHITTIER? To the devil, if We will.
What is it to me? Now, ma belle, to
supper. A pair of cold capons, NOR
tress of Drawn, or what you will, with
a flask or two of the right Gascony. I
have crowns in my pouch, my sweet,
and I mean to spend them. Bring in
wine while the food is dressing. Bu-
1oI I,T
empty stoup with me-"
Here was an offer which the COM
pany in an English inn, at that or
any other date, are slow to refuse. The
fagons were regathered. and came
back with the white foam dripping
over their edges. Two of the wood
men and three of the laborers drank
their portions off hurriedly and troop
ed off together, for their homes were
distant and the hour late. The others,
however, drew closer, leaving the
place Of honor to the right of the glee-
man to the free-handed newcomer. He
had thrown off his steel cap and his
brigandine, and had placed them with
his sword, his culver, and his painted
long-bow, on the top Of his varied
heap of plunder in the corner. Now,
with his thick and somewhat bowed
legs stretched in front of the blaze his
green jerkin thrown open, and a great
quart pot in his corded fist, he looked
the picture Of comfort and good-fel-
lowship. His hard-set face had soft
ened, and the thick crop of crisp brown
curls which had been hidden by his
helmet grew low upon his massive
neck. He might have been forty years
of age, though hard toll and harder
pleasure had left their grim marks
upon his features. Alleyne sat, star
ing with open eyes at a type of man
SO strange and so unlike any whom
he had met. Men had been good OF
had been bad in his catalogue, but
here was man who was fierce one
instant and gentle the next, with
curse on his lips and a smile in his
eye. What was to be made of such a
man as that?
It chanced that the soldier looked
up and saw the questioning glance
which the young clerk threw upon
him. He raised his f1agon and drank
to him, with merry flash Of his white
teeth.
"a toi, mon garconi" he cried. "Hast
surely never seen a man-at-arms, that
thou shouldst stare SOP"
81 never have" said Alleyne frank
ly, though I have oft heard talk Of
their deeds"
"By my hilt," cried the other, "if
you were to cross the narrow sea you
would find them as thick as bees at a
teehole. Couldst not shoot a bolt down
any street of Bordeaux, I warrant, but
you would pink archer, squire or
knight.
"And where got you all those pretty
things?" asked Horde John, pointing
at the heap in the corner.
Where there is as much more watt