Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-04

snap his fingers at the foolish men who had
let him slip He threw back his head, bowling
at them like dog, and at the instant an arrow
struck him full in the throat and laid him dead
among the bracken There was hush of sur
prised silence, and then a loud cheer burst
from the archers.
BY the rood of Beverley cried old Wat
I" l have not seen finer rowing shaft this many
year In my own best day | could not have
bettered it Which of you loosed it?"
q" 1t was Awkward of Tilford-Samkin Ayl-
ward, cried a score of voices, and the bow
man. flushed at his own fame, was pushed to
the front
Indeed would that it had been at nobler
mark" said he. He might have gone free
for me- but | could not keep my fingers from
the string when he turned to ieer at us
&" see well that you are indeed master
bowman" said old Wat, land it is comfort
to my soul to think that if fall l leave such
man behind me to hold high the credit of our
craft Now gather your shafts and on, for
Sir Robert awaits on the brow of the hill )"
All day Knolles and his men marched
through the same wild and deserted country,
inhabited only by these furtive creatures,
hares to the strong and wolves to the weak,
who lowered in the shadows of the wood.
Ever and anon upon the tops of the hills
they caught a glimpse of horsemen who
watched them from a distance and vanished
when approached. Sometimes bells rang an
alarm from villages amongst the hills, and
] II
drawbridges at their approach and lined
their walls with hoot1ng soldiers as they passed.
The Englishmen gathered few oxen and sheep
from the pastures of each; but Knolles had no
mind to break his strength upon stone walls,
and so he went upon his way
Once at Saint-Meen they passed a great
nunnery, grit with a high gray lichened wall,
an oasis of peace in this desert of war; the
b1ack-robed nuns basking in the sun or work
ing in the gardens, with the strong gentle
hand of Holy Church shielding them ever
from evil. The archers dotted caps to them
as they passed, for the boldest and toughest
dared not cross that line guarded by the dire
ban and blight, which was the one only force
in the whole steel-ridden earth which could
stand betwixt the weakling and the spoiler
The little army halted at Saint-Meen and
cooked its midday meal. 1t had gathered into
its ranks again and was about to start when
Knolles drew Nigel to side.
Nigel" said he, 1T seems to me that /
have seldom set eyes upon horse which hath
more power and promise of speed than this
great beast of thine
ct is indeed noble steed fair sir" said
Nigel Betwixt him and his young leader there
had sprung up great affection and respect
since the day that they set foot in the Basilisk.
" 1t will be the better if you stretch his
limbs, for he grows overheavy," said the knight.
Nov mark me, Nigel! Yonder betwixt the
ash-tree and the red rock, what do you see
on the side of the far hill?"
There is a white dot upon it. Surely it is
a horse"
Il have marked it all morning, Nigel.
This horseman has kept ever upon our flank,
spying upon us or waiting to make some
attempt upon us. Now l should be right
glad to have a prisoner for it is my wish to
know something of this countryside, and
these peasants can speak neither French nor
English. l would have you linger here in
hiding when we go forward. This man will
still follow us. When he does so, yonder wood
will lie betwixt you and him Do you ride
round it and come upon him from behind.
There is broad plain upon his left, and we will
cut him off upon the right. If your horse be
indeed the swifter, then you cannot fail to
take him.
Nigel had already sprung down and was
tightening Pommers' girth
NAY, there is no need of haste, for you
cannot start until we are two miles upon our
way And above all pray you, Nigel, none
of your knight Grant ways 1t is this man
that | want, him and the news that he can
bring me. Think little of your own advance
ment and much of the needs of the army.
When you get him, ride westwards upon the
sun, and you cannot fail to find the road
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To be continued next Sunday