Amador ledger., 1906-07-06

NAY, I am a man Of peace" said
Alleyne Edricson. Besides I have
other work to do.''
''Peste!" growled the soldier, strik-
Ing his flagon on the board until the
| dishes danced again. What, in the
| name of the devil, hath come over the
| folk Why sit ye all moping by the
f1reside, like crows round dead horse.
when there is mans work to be done
within few short leagues of ye? Out
| upon you all, as set of laggards and
hang-backs! By my hilt! I believe
that the men of England are all in
France already, and that what is left
behind are in sooth the women dressed
up in their paltocks and hosen."
"Archer," quoth Horde John, ''you
have lied more than once and more
than twice: for which, and also be-
cause I see much in you to mislike,
am sorely tempted to lay you upon
your back"
'By my hilt! then, I have found a
man at lasti" shouted the bowman.
"And, fore God, you are a better man
than take you for if you can lay me
on my back. For seven long years 1
have found no man in the Company
who could make my jerkin dusty.''
I'VE have had enough bobance and
boasting," said Horde John, rising and
throwing off his doublet. 'T will show
you that there are better men left in
England than ever went thieving to
France"
"Pasques Dieu!" cried the archer,
loosening his jerkin, and eyeing his
foeman over with the keen glance of
one who is a judge of manhood. "I
have only once before seen such a
body of man. By your leave, my red
headed friend, should be right sorry
to exchange buffets with you; and
will allow that there is no man in the
Company who would pull against you
on rope; so let that be a salve to your
pride. On the other hand, should
judge that you have led a life of ease
for some months back, and that nv
muscle is harder than your own.
am ready to wager upon myself
against you, if you are not afeard.'
''Afeard, thou lurden," growled big
John. IT never saw the face yet of a
man that I was afeard of. Come out,
and we shall see who is the better
man"
But the wager?"
II have nought to wager. Come out
for the love and the lust Of the
thing"
''Nought to wager," cri d the soldier.
'Why, idiot, you have that which I
covet above all things. It is that big
body of thine that I am after. See now.
I have a French feather bed there,
which I have been at pains to keep
these years back. I had it at the sack
ing of Issodun, and the king himself
hath not such a bed. If you throw me,
it is thine; but, if I throw you, then
'ou are under vow to serve the White
Company as long as we be enrolled"
Then you may bid farewell to your
bed, soldier" roared Horde John.
May; I shall keep the bed, and l
shall have you to France in spite of
your teeth, and you shall live to thank
infant? Collar and elbow, or close
lock, or catch how you can?"
ITO the devil with your tricks!" said
John, opening and shutting his great
red hands. "Stand forth, and let me
clip thee.''
"Shalt clip me as best you can, then"
quoth the archer, moving out into the
open space, and keeping most wary
eye upon his opponent. He had
thrown off his green jerkin, and his
chest was covered only l. a pink silk
jupon, or undershirt, cut low in the
neck and sleeveless. Horde John was
near stripped from his waist upward,
and his huge body, with his great
muscles swelling out like the gnarled
rOOIS OF an oak, lowered nlgh ABOVE
the soldier. The other, however,
though near foot shorter, was a man
OF great strength; I'D there was a
| gloss upon his white skin which was
wanting in the heavier limbs of the
renegade monk. He was quick on his
feet too, and skilled at the game: so
that it was clear, from the poise of
head and shine of eye, that he counted
the chances to be in his favor. 1t
would have been hard that night,
through the whole length of England,
to set I'D finer pair in the face Of
each other.
Big John stood waiting in the centre
with sullen, menac' G -.e, and his
red hair in a bristle. while the archer
paced lightly and swiftly to the right
and the LETT with crooked knee and
hands advanced. Their with sudden
dash so swift and fierce that the eye
could scarce follow it. he flew in upon
his man and locked h leg around
him. 1t was grip that between men
of equal strength would mean fall;
but Horde John tore him off from him
as he might rat, and hurled him
| across the room, so that his head
| cracked up against the wall.
ma foil" cried the bowman, pass
| ing his fingers through his curls, ''you
were not far from the feather-bed
then. mon gar"
Nothing daunted he approached his
man once more: but this time with
more caution than before. With a