The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1906-07-27

Enghshmen in those days were skilled
and prompt in such matters, for it was
not long before that Edward had embarked
as many as fifty thousand men in the por1
! of Orwell, with their horses and theiI
baggage, all in the space of four-and.
twenty hours. So urgent was Sir Nige
on the shore, and so prompt was Goodwin
| Hawtayne on the cog, that Sir Oliver
ButtesthOrn had scarce swallowed his
last scallop ere the peal of trumpet and
clang of maker announced that all was
ready and the anchor drawn. In the last
boat which left the shore the two COM
manders sat together in the sheets, a
strange contrast to one another, while
under the feet of the r0wers was q litter
Of huge stones which Sir Nigel had
ordered to be carried TO the cog. These
once aboard, the ship set her broad main
sail, the breeze blew, the sails bellied.
over heeled the portly vessel, and away
she plunged through the smooth, blue
rollers.
by St. Paul!' said Sir Nigel gayly,
as he stood upon the poop and looked on
either side of him, 1T is a land which is
very we'll worth fighting for. nd it were
pity to 90 TO France for what may be
had at home You may bring my harness
from below he continued, TO his squires,
and also, pray you, bring up Sir Oliver )
and we shall don it here. Ye may then
see to your own gear; for this day you
will, l hope, make a very honorable en-
trance into the field of chivalry and prove
yourselves to be very worthy and valiant
sqmres. And now, Sir Oliver, as to our
dispositions would it please you that
should order them or viii you?'
You, my cockerel, youl BY Our
Lady l am no chicken, but | cannot
claim to know as much of war as the
squire Of Sir Walter Nanny. Settle the
matter to your own liking"
shall xvo,7p r,oprnu .,~o,D ~,
fcIe-part, then, and l upon the poop.
For foreguard I shall give you your own
forty men, with two-scOre archers. Two
score men, with my own men-at-arms and
squires, will serve as a poop-guard. Ten
archers, with thirty shipmen. under the
master, may hold the waist, while ten lie
aloft with stones and arbalests.''
Meanwhile there had been hustle and
preparation in all parts of the great yes
sci. The archers stood in groups about
the decks, new-stringing their bows and
testing that they We're firm at the nocks
Among them moved Awkward and other
of the older soldiers, with a few whispered
words of precept and of warning there.
Stand to it, my hearts of gold.' said
the old bowman, as he passed from knot
to knot. by my hiIt! we are IN luck
this journey. But it is time that we took
our order, for methinkS that between the
Needle rocks and the Alum cliffs yonder
/ can catch a glimpse of the topmasts of
the galleys. Hewett, Cook. johnson.
Cunningham, your men are of the poop
guard Thornbury, Walters, Hackett
Baddlesmere. you are with Sir Oliver on
the forecastIe. Simon, you bide with
your lords banner; but ten men must go
forward"
Quietly and promptly the men took
their places, lying fiat upon their faces on
the deck, for such was Sir Nigel's order. |
Near the Prov was planted Sir divers |
spear, with his arms-a boar's head gules
uron a field of gold. Close by the stern
stood Black Simon with the pennon of |