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


they came of a sudden full in sight of tn
old seaport. Some way out from tbs
town a line of PRISONERS, creyers, ant
other small craft were rolling Iazily or
the gentle swell. Further out still lay
a great merchant ship, high-ended, deep
waisted, painted of a canary yellow, ans
towering above the fishing boats like Z
swan among ducklings.
by st. Paul.' said the knight. "ouI
good merchant of Southampton hath moi
played US false, for methinks l can see
our ship down yonder. He said that she
would be of great size and of a yellow
shade
''By ny hilt. yes," muttered Awkward
'she is yellow as kites claw, and would
carry as many men as there are pips in q
pomegranate."
1T is WELL" remarked Terlake; "for
methinks, my fair lord, that we are not
the only ones who are waiting a passage
to Gascony. Mine eye catches at times
a flash and sparkle from among yondeE
houses which assuredly never came from
shipman's jacket or the gaberdine of a
burgher."
Il can also see it, safd AIleyne, shad-
ing his eyes with his hand. And l can
see men-at-arms in yonder boats which
ply betWlXt the vessel and the shore.
But methinks that we are very welcome
here, for already they come forth to meet
tumultuous crowd of fishermen, citi-
zens, 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 a great fear had been rolled back
from their minds. At their head rode a
very large and solemn man with q long
chin and dropping lip. He wore d fur
tippet round his neck and a heavy gold
chain over it, with a medallion which
dangled in front of him.
Welcome, most puissant and noble
lOrd!' he cried, dOfting 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 so as you are come at a moment
when we are sore put to it for defence"
"Ha :" cried Sir Nigel, pricking up his
ears.
Yes, my lord for the town being very
ancient, aud the walls as old as the town.
it follows that they are very ancient too
But there is a 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 scOuTge 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-aFmS. 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 larry" said Sir Nigel,
riding toward the town, with the mayor
upon his left side; 1.-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 Ereshwater and to prevail upon
these rovers to leave you in peace -
We are much beholden to you :"
cied 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 very proper cog out yon-
DER" said Sir Nigel 1T would be a very
strange thing If any ship were not war
ship when it had such men as these upon
her decks. Certes, we shall do as | say,
and that 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
ia land fighting and the marshalling of /
lances, but, by my soul you Will find it
another thing upon the sea. | am master /
shipman of this yellow cog. and my name
is Goodwin Hawtayne | have sailed |
since l was as high as this staff. and
have fought against these NOrmans a9d /
against the GenoeSe, as well as the |
Scotch the Bretons, the Spanish, ano the
AoOrs. l tell you, sir, that my ship Is
overnight and overhaul for such work, I
and it viii but end in our having our
threats cut, or being sold as slaves to /
the Barbary heather.
II also have experienced one or two /
gentle and honorable ventures upon the /
sea-" Quoth Sir Nigel, land | am rght
blithe to have so fair a task before us. T
l think, good master-shipman, that you +
and | may win great honor IN this matter
and l can see very readily that you are
a brave and stout man"
II like it not" said the other stur-
Oily. In Gods name, | like it not!
And vet Goodwin Hawtayne is not the
man to stand back when his fellows are
for pressing forward. BY my soul! be 1t
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 find
another master.
The throng moved on, until at the very
gate it was brought to a stand by a
stout man, who came darling
forth from the town with rage in every
feature of his rubicund face.
How now, Sir Mayor ne roared, IN
a voice like a bull. How now, Sir
Mayor? How of the clans and the
scallops?"
by our Lady, my sweet Sir Oliver
cried the mayor, Il have had so much to
think of, with these wicked Williams, so
close upon US, that it 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."
by St. Martin of Tours : shouted the
fat knight. his wrath all changed IN an
instant to Joy, IF it is not my dear little
game rooster of the Garonne. All, my
sweet coz | am right glad to see you. ]
What days we have seen together.
1.-THE CLANS and scallops shall be ready '
within the hour" the mayor answered {
Il had asked Sir Oliver Buttesthorn to ]
10 my humble board the honor TO partake ;
at it of the dainty upon which we take ;
some little pride but in sooth this alarm
IF pirates hath cast such a shadow on my