Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-08-03

shelter themselves from that sudden
st0rm-blast of death. On either side The
seamen whom Sir Nigel had chosen foi
the purpose had cast their anchors over
the sides Of the galleys.
Fore aud aft the archers had cleared
the galleys decks, but from either side
the royers had poured down into the
waist, where the seamen and b0wmen
we're pushed back and 50 mingled with
their foes that IL was impossible for their
comrades above 10 draw string 10 help
them. IL was a wild chaos where axe and
sword rose aud fell, while Englishmen,
Norman and Italian staggered aud reeled
on a deck which was numbered with
bodies and slippery with blood.
The giant Tete-noire. towerino
above his fellows and clad from head h
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 a
road almost to the mast, with three
score Gen0ese men-at-arms close at bis
heels.
But help was close at h SIR Oliver
Buttesthon with his men-at-arms had
swarmed down from the fOrecastle, while
Sir Nigel, with his three squirea, 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 Nigel'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. Ii was as IL 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 d
sword, 80 swift and so errntc that the
man who braeed himself for a blow al
him might find him six PAGES off ere he
could bring 1t 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 IT, anC
at the same instant turned thrust frc
the Genoese swordsman, but, his fool
slipping in a pool of blood, he fell heavily
to the deck. Alleyne sprang in front Of
the Norman, but his sword was shattered
and he himself beaten to the deck by q
second blow from the pOnderous weapon
Ere the pirate chief could repeat II, how
ever, Horde Johns iron grip fell upor
his wrist, and he found that for once b,
was in the hands of a stronger man thar
himself. Then came in truth a battle Of
giants, such as is seldom witnessed
Fiercely the Norman strove to disengagC
his weapon, eursing angrily in French al
being thwarted by such an unlo fol
antagonist. But Horde John, with q
bulls below, bending his great muscles t
the unwonted task, forced the huge
pirates sword arm slowly down and back
ward. Terribly the Norman struggled
hurting his whole weight against his op
ponent in an endeaVor to break the vice
like grip which held him.
Back and forth they flung and surged
until, with a quick movement, Aordlt
John put forth a fierce effort, twisting anC
forcing farther back the Norman's arm
until with sharp crack, like breaking
stave, it turned limp in his grasp and the
mace dropped from the nerveless fingers
In vain he tried to pluck it with the
other hand. Back and back still the
Saxon bent him until, with aroar of pair
and of fury, the giant changed his full
length upon the boards, while the glimmel
OF a knife before the bars of his helmet
warned him that short would be hi:
shrift If he moved.
Cowed and disheartened by the loss Of
their leader, the Normans had given bach
and were now streaming over the bull.
warks on to their own galley, dropping
dozen at time, on to her deck.
But the fight had taken a new and 6
strange turn upon the other side. Spade
beard and his men had given slowly back
bard pressed by Sir Nigel, Aylward
Black Simon, and the poop-guard. Foo
by foot the Italian had retreated his
armor running blood at every joint, his
shield split, his crest shorn, his voic,
fallen away to a mere gasping and croak
ing. Yet he faced his foemen with daunt
less courage, dashing in, springing back
sure-footed, steady-handed, with a shin
mering point which seemed to menac'
three at once. Beaten back on to tn
deck of his own vessel, and closely fol
lowed by dozen Englishmen, he dis
engaged himself from them, ran swift!
down the deck, sprang back into the col
once more, cut the rope which held tn
anchor, and was back in an instant anon
| his crossbowmen. At the same time tn
Genoese sailors thrust with their oar
| against the side of the cog, and rapid.
widening rift appeared between the tw
vessels.
''By st. George!" cried Ford, 1--WE ar
cut off from Sir Nigel"
'He is lost" gasped Terlake. "Come
let us spring for it." The two youth
Jumped with all their strength to reac
| the departing galley. Ford's feet reaches
the edge of the bulwarks, and his ham
clutching a rope he swung himself Of
board. Terlake fell short, crashed il
among the oars, and bounded off into tn
sea. Alleyne, staggering to the side, wa
about to hurl himself after him, blu
Horde Johns heavy hand dragged hir
| back by the girdle.
The vessels were indeed so far apar
now that the Genoese could use the full
sweep of their oars and draw ava,
rapidly from the cog.
LOOK Look but it is noble fight !!
shouted big John, clapping his hands
"They have cleared the poop, and the
spring into the waist Well struck, m
| lcrd! Well struck, Awkward! See toe
Black Simon, how he storms among tn
shipmen! But this Spade-beard is
| gallant warrior,
by Heaven, Sir Nigel is down" erie
the squire.
"Up!" roared John. att was but
feint. He bears him back. He drive
him to the side. All, by Our Lady, hi
sword is through him
The death of the Genoese leader di
indeed bring the resistance to an enc
Amid thunder of cheering from cog an