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

across the broad. sluggish, reed-elrt
stream-men, horses, and baggage Ia the
ilat ferry barEes-and so journeyed on
through the fresh morning air past Ex-
bury to Lepe. Topping the healthy down,
they came Of sudden full Ia sight Of the
old seaport Some way out from the
town line OF PRISONERS, creyers, and
other small craft were rolling lazily on
the gentle swell. Further out still Law
great merchant ship, high-ended. deem
waisted, painted Of a canary yellow, and
towering above the fishing boats like
swan among dncklings.
by St. Paulw said the knight "our
good merchant Of Southampton hath not
played US false, for methinks / can see
our ship down yonder. He said that she
would be OF great size and Of a yellow
shade"
-By my hilt, yes" muttered Awkward
she Is yellow as a kites claw, and would
carry as many men as there are pips in a
pomegranate."
IT IL well" remarked Terlake; "for
mothinks, my fair lord, that we are not
me only ones who are waiting a passage
70 Gaseony. Mine eye catches al times
Hash and sparkle from among yonder
houses which assuredly never came from
shipman's jacket or the gaberdlne Of a
burgher."
II can also see t." said Alleyne, shad-
Ing his eyes with his hand. and | can
see men-at-arms In yonder boats which
ply betwixt the vessel and the shore.
But methinks that we are very welcome
here, Tor already they come forth to meet
US"
A tumultuous crowd of fishermen. citi.
zenss and women had indeed swarmed
out from the northern gate, approached
them up the side Of the moor. waving
their hands and dancing with Joy, as
though great fear had been rolled back
from their minds. At their head rode
very large and solemn man with a long
chin and dropping lip. He wore a fur
tlppet round his neck and q heavy gold
chain over 1t, with a medallion which
dangled In front of him.
welcome, most puissant and noble
lord" he cried, dofing his bonnet. "You
see In me the mayor and chief magistrate
OF the ancient and powerful town Of Lepe
bid you very heartily welcome, and the
more 80 as you are come at a moment
when we are sore put to 1t for defence"
"Ha" cried Sir Nigel, pricking up his
ears.
''Yes, my lord, for the town being very
ancient, and the walls as old as the town,
It follows that they are very ancient too
But there Is certain villianous and blood
thirsty Norman pirate knight Tete-noire,
who, with a Genoan called Tito Caracci,
commonly known as Spade-beard, hath
been a mighty scourge upon these
coasts. Indeed, my lord, they are very
cruel and black-hearted men, graceless
and ruthless. They have come In two
great galleys, with two banks of oars on
either side, and great store Of engines OF
war and of men-at-arms. At Weymouth
and at Portland they have murdered and
ravished. Yesterday morning they were
at Cowes, and we saw the smoke from the
burning crofts. To-day they lie at their
ease near Freshwater, and we fear much
lest they come upon us and do us a mis-
chief"
I'VE cannot tarry," said Sir Nigel,
riding toward the town, with the mayor
upon his left side; "the Prince awaits us
at Bordeaux, and we may not be behind
the general muster. Yet | will promise
you that on our way we shall find time to
pass F'reshwater and to prevail upon
these rovers to leave you in peace"
1--WE are much beholden to you y
Clied the mayor. But l cannot see, my
lord, how, without a warship, you may
venture against these men. With your
archers, however, you might well hold the
town and do them great scath if they
attempt to land"
''There is a very proper cog out yon-
DER" said Sir Nigel; lit would be very
strange thing IL any ship were not war
ship when it had such men as these upon
her decks. Certes, we shall do as l say,
and that no later than this very day."
'My lord" said a rough-haired, dark.
faced man, who walked by the knights
other stirrup, with his head slopcd to
catch all that he was saying, by your
leave, have no doubt that you are skilled
10 land fighting and the marshalling of
lances, but, by my soul you will find it
another thing upon the sea. l am master
shipman of this yellow cog, and my name
is Goodwin Hawtayne. / have sailed
since was as high as this staff, and !
have fought against these Normans and
against the Genoese, as well as the
Scotch, the Bretons, the Spanish, ana the
Moors. / tell you, sir, that my ship is
overnight and over-frail for such work,
and It will but end in our having our
throats cut, or being sold as slaves to
the Barbary heathen."
II also have experienced one or two
gentle and honorable ventures upon the
sea-" Quoth Sir Nigel, land am right
blithe to have SO fair a task before us.
/ think, good master-shipman, that you
and may win great honor in this matter,
q brave and stout man."
al like it not" said the other stur..
Oily. "In Gods name, ] like 1t not
And vet Goodwin Hawtayne is not the
man to stand back when his fellows are
for pressing forward. BY my soul be ii
sink or swim, / shall turn her beak into
Freshwater Bay, and if good Master
Witherton of Southampton like not my
handling of his ship, then he may ind
another master"
The throng moved on, until at the very
rate Il was brought to a stand by
wond1ously stout man, who came darting
forth from the town with rage in every
feature of his rubicund face.
SHOW now, Sir Mayor2" he roared, IN
voice like a bull. SLOW now, Sir
Mayor? How of the CLAIMS and the
scallopsT -,
"By our Lady, my sweet Sir Oliver,
cried the mayor, II have had so much to
think of, with these wicked Williams, SO
close upon us, that 1t had quite gone Out
Of my head" -. :,
Sir Nigel, laughing. "Let your anger be
appeased, since instead of this dish you
come upon an old friend and comrade.
e Oh fa1