The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-07-27

seamen whom Sir Nigel had chosen for
the purpose had cast their anchors over
the sides of the galleys,
Fore and aft the archers had cleared
the galleys' decks, but from either side
the royers had poured down into the
waist, where the seamen and Dowmen
were pushed back and so mingled with
their foes that ii was impossible Tor their
comrades above to draw string TO help
them. 1t was wild chaos where axe aud
sword rose and fell, while Enghshmen,
Norman and Italian staggered and reeled
on a deck which was numbered with
bodies and slippery with blood
The giant Tete-noire. towering
above his fellows and clad from head 10
foot IN plate of proof, led on his boarders.
swinging a 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 c
road almost to the mast, with three
score Genoese men-at-arms close at his
heels.
But help was close at h Sir Oliver
Buttesthorn with his men-at-arms had
swarmed down from the forecastle, while
Sir Nigel, with his three squires. Black
Simon, Aylward, 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 his eyes ever on his lord and pressed
forward close at his heels Often had he
heard OF Sir Nige's prowess and skill
with all knightly weapons, but all the
tales that had reached his ears fell far
short of the real quickness and GOODNESS
OF the man. 1t was as if the devil was
in him, for 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
sword, so swift and so cratic that the
man who braced himself for a blow at
him might find him six PAGES off ere he
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 a slashing blow from his deadly
mace. Sir Nigel stopped to avoid il, and
at the same instant turned thrust frc |
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 |
md he himself beaten to the deck by a |
second blow from the ponderoIis 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 a stronger man than /
himself. Then came in truth battle of
giants, such as is seldom witnessed.
t1ercely the Norman stroYe to disengage
his weapon, cursing angrily in French at
icing thwarted by such an unlo for
antagonist. But Horde John, with a
,ull's below, bending his great muscles to
he unwonted task. forced the huge
,irate's sword arm slowly down and back
ward. Terribly the Norman struggled,
lurling his whole weight against his OPP
,onent in an endeavor to break the vice
ike grip which held him.
Back and forth they flung and surged,
ntil, with a quick movement, .ordle
ohm put forth fierce effort, twisting and
orcing farther back the Norman's arm
mil with sharp crack, like a breaking
tave, 1T turned limp in his grasp and the
lace dropped from the nerveless fingers.
n vain he tried to pluck it with the
Their hand. Back and back still the
axon bent him until, with aroar of pain
nd of fury, the giant changed his full
myth upon the boards, while the glimmcr
{ knife before the bars of his helmet
armed him that short would be his
hrift if he moved.
Cowed and disheartened by the loss of !
heir leader, the Normans had given back
nd were now streaming over the bull ,
arks on to their own galley, dropping !
dozen at time, on to her deck.
But the fight had taken a new and a =
range turn upon the other side. Spade
card and his men had given slowly back, ,
ard pressed by Sir Nigel, Awkward, !
lack Simon, and the poop-guard. Foot :
7 foot the Italian had retreated, his !
rmor running blood at every joint, his
al urtff ~ IL wx.ssa
lien away to a mere gasping and croak-
g. Yet he faced his foemen with daunt-
IS courage, dashing in, springing back,
Ire-footed, steady-handed, with a SHIN
ering point which seemed to menace
ree at once. Beaten back on to the
,ck of his own vessel, and closely fol
wed by a dozen Englishmen, he dis |
gagged himself from them, ran swiftly
,wn the deck, sprang back into the cog
ice more, cut the rope which held the
lchor, and was back in an instant among
S crossbowmen. AT the same time the
enoese sailors thrust with their oars
,ainst the side Of the cog, and rapidly
idening rift appeared between the twoI
ssels.
by ST. George cried Ford, I'VE are
i off from Sir Nigel"
He is lost" gasped Terlake. Come.
/ as spring for it." The two youths
mped with all their strength to reach
e departing galley. Ford's feet reached
e edge of the bulwarks, and his hand
Itching a rope he swung himself on
ard. Terlake fell short. crashed in
long the oars, and bounded off into the
a. Alleyne. staggering to the side, was
out to hurl himself after him, but
ordle Johns heavy hand dragged him
OK by the girdle
The vessels were indeed so far. apart
w that the Genoese could use the full
reep of their oars and draw away
pidly from the cog.
Look! but it is a noble ight!'
outed big John, clapping his hands.
hey have cleared the poop, and they
ring into the waist Well struck, my
d! Well struck, Awkward! See too.
ack Simon. how he storms among the
pmen! But this Spade-beard is
liant warrior,
by Heaven. Sir Nigel is down." cried
! squire.
''Up!, roared John. at was but
Mt He bears him back. He drives
d to the side. All, By Our Lady, his
ord Is through him
The death of the Genoese leader did
Iced bring the resistance to an end.
MD a thunder Of cheering from cog and
m galleys the f0rked pennon hutteredI
On the forecastle, and the galley, sweep
round. came slowly back.
The two knights had come aboard the
!, the shipman walked the deck,
lcefrl masfer-nsariner once more.
There Is sad seath done to the cog,
Nigel said he Here is hole in
side Of two ellis across. the sail split inl
ough the center. and the wood as bare q
n friar'g pOll