The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-07-26


the living covering behind the dead IL
shelter themselves from that Sudden
| slofAs- blast OF death. On either side the
seamen whom Sir Nigel had chosen foa
the purpose bad east their anchors over
/ the sides OF the galleys.
/ fofe aud att tae archers had cleared
the galieys' decks, but from either side
| the fovers had poured down into the
waist, where tine ssamen aud powmen
were pushed back and 80 mingled with
their foes that IL was impossible tor thear
| comrades above TO draw string 10 nelp
| them. 1t Mas wild chaos where axe aud
sword rose and fell. while k4nghshmen,
/ Norman aud Italian staggered and reeled
on deck which was numbered WITH
bodies ami slippery with blood.
| The giant Tefe~nolre, towering
/ above his fellows aud clad fran head ke
loot Ia plate OF proof, bed ON bis 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 { a
road almost 20 the mast. with three
score Genoese men-at-arms close aE his
heels.
But help was close at Sir Oliver
Butfesthorn with bis men-at-arms had
swarmed down from the foreeastie while
Sir Nigel. with his three squlres, Black
Simon, Awkward. Horde John. and a
score more, sprang down from the poop
and hurled themselves into the thickest
OF the fight Alleyne, as in duty bound.
kept bis eyes ever GA his lord and pressed
forward close at bis heels Often had he
heard OF Sir Nigers prowess and skill
with all kntghtiy weapons, but all the
tales that had reached his ears fell far
short OF the real quiekness aud GOODNESS
Of the man. Ii was as II the devil was
In him. for be sprang here and sprang
there. now thrusring and now cutting.
catching blows ON his shield, turning them
with his blade, STOPPING under the swing
of an axe. springlng over the sweep Of a
sword. so swift and SO errafie that the
man who braced himself for a blow at
him might find him six PAGES off ere be
fallen before him, and he had wounded
Spade-beard in the meek, when the Nor
man giant sprang at him FROM the side
with a slashing blow from his deadly
mace. Sir Nigel stopped TO avoid 1t. and
az the same instant turned thrust frs
the tsenoese swordsmnu. but. his foot
slipping in pool Of blood, he fell heavily
TO the deck. Alleyue sprang In froat OF
the Norman. but his sword was shattered
aud be himself beaten to the deck BY q
second blow from the ponderous weapon.
Ere the pirate chief could repeat IL. how
ever, Horde Johns iron grip fell upon
his wrist. and he found that for once be
was ia the hands of stronger man than
himself. Then came in truth battle OF
giants, such as is seldom witnessed.
Fiercely the Norman sfroye 10 disengage
his weapon. earsing ansrily In French al
being thwarted By such an unlo for
antagonist But Horde John. With a
bulls below. bending bis great muscles 10
the unwonted task. forced the huge
pirates sword arFn slowly down and back
ward. Terribly the Norman struggled,
hurting his whole weight against bis OPP
ponenf in an endeavOr to break the vice
like grip which held him.
Back and forth they flung and xurged.
until. with a quick movement. l~ordls 4
John put forth fierce effort. twisting and
forcing farther back the Norman's arm Il
until with a sharp crack. like breaking
stave, lie turned limp ia his grasp and the Il
mace dropped from the nerveleSs fingers
f. sasa be tried TO pluck II with the
other hand. Back and back still the
saxon bent him until. with aroar Of pain
and of fury. the giant changed bis full
L myth upon the boards. while the giimmce
of knife before the bars Of bis helmet
warned him that short would be biz
shrift il BE- moved
Cowed and dishearsened By the LOSES Of
heir leader. the <ornans had given back
md were now streaming over enc bull
warks on TO their own galley, dropping
4 dozen at a time. on TO her deck.
But the fight had taken a new aud q
strange turn upon the other side. Spade
,eArd and bis men had given slowly back,
1ard pressed by Sir Nigel. Aylward.
Black Simon. and the poolrguard- Foot
" foot the Italian had reiterated. bis
armor running blood az every joint. bis
Ihield split, bis crest shoFn. his voice
allen away to a mere wmsping and croak-
ny. Yet be faced bis fosmeu with daunt-
ess courage. dashing In. springing back.
ure-foofed. steady-handed. with shin
aering point which seemed 10 menace
hree at once. Beaten back on 10 the
Ieek of his own vessel, aud closely fol-
owed By a dozen Englishmen, be dis
.ngaged himself from them, ran swiftly
Town the deck, sprang back into the cog
nee more, cut the rope which held the
lnchor. and was back in an instant among
lis crossbowrnen. At the same time the
senoese sailors thrust with their oars
.gainst the side OF the cog. and rapidly
widening riff appeared between the t~oI
'esseIs.
"By NJ. Georgef' cried Ford. I'VE are
ut off from Sir Nigel"
s-IIe in lost gasped TerIake. ~come.
n us spring for IT," The two youths
,sruped wish all their strength to reach
he departing galley. Forti's feet reached
he edge of the buIwarks. and bis hand
Iufching rope he swung himself on
toard. TerIake fell short. crashed 10
mong the oars. and bounded of into the
ga. AIleyne, staggering 10 the side was
bout TO hurl himself after him. but
IoraIe Johns heavy band dragged him
ack by the gireIie.
The vessels were indeed so far apart
ow that the Genoese coulI use the full
weep OF their oars and draw away
apidIy from the cog.
Look Look bat II is a noble fight =
bouted big John. cIapping bis hands
They have cleared the poop and they
rring srfo the waist. Well struck. my
srd Well struck, Aylwardl See too.
Hack Simon, how be storms among tns
hfprnen! But this Spads-beard Is
by Heaven. Sir Nigel is down. cried
be squire.
sTpfv roared John. eft was but a
int. He bears him back. He drives
i'm to the side. All, by Our Lady, bis
word IN through him
The death Of the Genoese leader did
adsed bring the resistance to an end.
raid thunder OF cheering from cog and
rom galIeys the forked pennon auttsred
pon the foreeastIe, and the galley. sweep
Ia round. came slowly back.
The two knights had come aboard The