Amador ledger., 1906-07-20
CHAPTER VII.

dogs We're TO De set upon MIN II ne
showed face upon Minstead land. then
indeed was Alleyne adrift upon earth.
North, south, east and west-he might
turn where he would, but all was equal
ly chill and cherries. The Abbot
had rolled ten silver crowns in let
tuce-leaf and hid them away in the bot
tom of his scrip, but that would be
sorry support for twelve long months.
IN all the darkness there was but the
one bright spot of the sturdy comrades
whom he had left that evening; II ne
could find them again all would pc
we'll. He pushed on. therefore, now
walking and now running.
The forest began to shred out into
scattered belts Of trees o WITH geam1 o5
between. Here and there by the way
side stood little knots of wattle-and-
lounging by the doors. and red-cheeked
children sprawling in the roadway.
BY these Alleyne knew that he was
fberefore 3H enc eel no great great W Way VI from Christ
church. Right glad later, was the tray
eller to see the high tower of Christ
church Priory cleaning in the mellow
evening light, and giadder still when,
rounding a corner, he came upon his
comrades of the morning seated astrad.
die upon a fallen tree. They had fiat
space before them, on which they al.
ternateIy threw little square pieces OF
bone, and were so intent upon their oc-
cupation that they never raised eye as
he approached them. He observed with
establishment, as he drew near, that the
archer's bow was on johns back, the
archer's sword by Johns side, and the
steel cap laid upon the tree-trunk be-
s'Mort de ma vie" Awkward shouted;
/ such cursed luck. A murrain on the
bones! I have not thrown good main
since left Navarro. | am like to reach
denly glancing up, "Hola, by the splen-
dor of heaven, here is our cher petitl
Now, by my ten finger bones! this is
and and fnaS threw - his is arms round Al1eyne's
more backward and saxon in his habits,
stood It and P96Rlmg ses eS eae eae
stuck wrong-side foremost upon his
tangle of red hair.
man, patting Alleyne all over in his de-
light. shall not get away from US
Il wish no better said he, with a
"Weli said, lad" cried big John. 1--WE
the devil may fly away with the Abbot
of Beaulieui But your feet and hosen
are. all besmudged. Hast been in the
Il have in good sooth," Alleyne ans
wered, and then. as they journeyed on
their way, he told them the many
But you" said Alleyne. ''tnere nave
been changes with you also. Where
are bow and sword and cap-and why
SIT is a game which friend Aylward
hath been a-teaching of me-"
"And I found him an over-apt pupil.
grumbled the bowman; he bi9t, nam 1di1
must render them back to me. CANA
rade. lest you bring discredit upon, my
mission. and I will pay you Tor them
"Take them, back. man. az and LIZ never yer
heed the pay" said John Il did but
1 am like to have such trinkets hung
to my own girdle for some years to
come" me- 60, ,a was horn free COM
panion!' cried Aylward. "He hath the
thought. I take them back then, and
INDEED it giyes tapeng me st my Ieg
1t CHANGED on that yeADaening that
Sir Nigel Loring, EaW9eupped before
sunset, as was his custom, had taken
russet-clad varlets, with loud ,halloo
and cracking whips, walked tgraIfigd thigniIfdieep
amid the swarm, guiding, ne controNNIiipsi Sir Nipssi
Himself, him With Lady Loring. upon, his
arm, the pair walking slowly and Sc
dately, as befltted both their age ana ana
Sir Nigel was a slight man of poor
stat11r with So SOFT abort Was he that his
wife, who was no very tall woman,
had the better of him by the breadth
Injured in his early wars by basket
ful of lime which had been emptied
over him when he led the Earl Of
Bergerac, he had contracted something
of a stoop, with a blinking, peering
expression of face. His age was six
and-forty, but the constant practice of
arms, together with cleanly life, had
preserved his activity and endurance
unimpaired, so that from distance ne
swift grace of a boy. His face, how
ever, was tanned of a dull yellow tint,
and the little pointed beard which he
His features were small, delicate, and
regular, with clear-cut curving nose,
and eyes which jutted forward from
vet spruce. A gold embroidered belt
of knighthood encircled his loins, with
his arms, five roses gules on field
clasp. So stood Sir Nigel Loring upon
the bridge of Avon, and talked lightly
with his lady.
been seen, and the stranger been asked
which were the more likely to belong
to the bold warrior whose name was
loved by the roughest soldiery OF Eu-
rome. he had assuredly selected the
iady's. Her face was large and square,
with fierce thick brows, and the eyes
II was the age of martial women. The
deeds of Black Agnes of Dunbar, OF
Lady Salisbury, and of the Countess or
Montfort were still fresh in the public
mind With such examples before them;
the wives of the English captains had
become as warlike as their mates ans ana
ordered the castle in their absence with
the prudence and discipline of veteran
seneschals.. Right easy were the n Mont 1T
acutes of their Castle of Twynham, ana
little had they to dread from rowing
galley or or French squadron while Lady
Mary L9ring had the &c ordering g erin of Of It, saw
de1mnoiselie: hawks and hounds. rotes
and citoles, singing a French rondei, Id
or reading the Gestes de Doom de May
tending sleep. the artful with the cor
ner of the scroll thrusting forth from rom
under her pillow. Lent her by Father
Christopher of the Priory, forsooth",,