The La Jara chronicle., 1906-08-03
"And of the others ~

"And of the othersF
They are all dead-save the Norman
knight who stands behind you. What
would you that We should do with him
said Sir Nigel 1T was my VOW and
must be done"
How, Sir Knight" he cried in broken
English. What do you say:-to hang
the death of dog. 10 hang!
lit is my vow,' said Sir Nigel shortly.
Prom what l hear, you thought little
enough of hanging Others
Peasants, base roturiers!" cried the
other. 1t is their fitting death. But to
hang the Seigneur Andelys-a man
with the blood OF kings in his veins-it
is incredible.
Sir Nigel turned upon h; heel, while
two seamen cast If moose over the pirate 5
neck. At the touch of the cord he
snapped the bonds which bound him.
dashed one of the archers TO the deck.
and, seizing the other round the waist,
sprang with him into the sea.
by my hilt. he is gone,' cried Ayl-
ward, rushing to the side. They have
sunk together like stone.
Il am right glad of it," answered Sir
Nigel; for though it was against my
vow to loose him. l deem that he has
carried himself like n very gentle anil
debonnaire cavalier"
1t was on the morning of Friday, the
eight-and-twentieth day of November,
two days before the feast of st. Andrew.
that the cog and her two prisoners. after
running before northeasterly wind, and
weary tacking up the Gironde and the
Garonne, dropped anchor at last in front
of the noble city of Bordeaux. With
wonder and admiration, Alleyne, leaning
over the bulwarks, gazed at the forest of
masts. the swarm of boats darting hither
and thither on the bosom of the broad
curving stream. and the gray. crescent
L -. .l.a1 Il.
n tower and minaret along the western
shore. Never had he in his quiet life
seen so great town, nor was there in
the whole of England, save London alone,
one which might match it in size or in
wealth.
"I trust. Aylward," said Sir Nigel,
coming upon deck, that the men are
ready for the land. Go tell them that the
boats will be for them within the hour"
The archer raised his hand in salute,
and fastened forward. In the meantime
Sir Oliver had followed his brother
knight, and the two paced the poop to-
gether.
Once more, Sir Oliver" said Sir Nigel,
looking shoreward with sparkling eyes,
do we find ourselves at the gate of
honor, the door which hath so often led
us to all that is knightly and worthy.
There lies the princes banner, and it
would be well that we haste ashore and
pay our obeisance to him.
The horses both of knights and squires
were speedily lowered into a broad
lighter. and reached the shore almost as
soon as their masters. Sir Nigel bent
his knee devoutly as he put foot on land,
and taking a small black patch from his
bosom he bound it tightly over his left
eye.
May the blessed George and the men,
ory of my sweet lady-love raise high in
my heart.' quoth he. And as a token
vow that 1 will not take this patch from
mine eye until l have seen something of
this country of Spain. and done such a
small deed as it lies in me to do. And
this l swear upon the cross of my sword
and upon the glove of my lady"
War, which had wrought evil upon so
many fair cities around, had brought
rought but good to this one. As her
French sisters decayed she increased, for
here. from north, and from east, and from
south, came the plunder to be sold and
the ransom money to be spent.
In front of the minister and abbey of
st. Andrews was n large square with
priests. soldiers, women, friars, and
burghers, who made it their common
center for sightseeing and gossip. Amid
the knots of noisy and gesticulating
townsfolk. many small parties of mounted
knights and squres threaded their way
toward the princes quarters, where the
huge iron-clamped doors were thrown
back to show that he held audience
within.
The two knights were deep in talk.
when Alleyne became aware of a re-
markable individual who was walking
round the room in their direction. As he
passed each knot of cavaliers every head
turned to look after him, and it was evil
dent, from the bows and respectful salu-