The Greeley tribune., 1906-07-05

Nay, am a man of peace" said
Alleyne Edricson. Besides have
other work to do"
"Feste!" growled the soldier. strik-
ing his fiaeon 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
| freside like crows round a dead horse,
| " hen there Is mans work to be done
within few short leagues Of ye? sOut
upon you all, as a set OF laggards and
hang backs, By nv hilt, l 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 ! see much in you to mislike. I
am sorely tempted to lay you upon
| your back"
by my hilt. then, I have found a
man at last" shouted the bowman.
And. fore God, you are better man
than take you for If you can lay me
on my back For seven long years /
have found no man in the Company
who could make my jerkin dusty"
We have had enough bobance and
boasting." said Horde John. rising and
/ throwing of his doublet. IT will show
Won that there are better re, left in
England than ever went thievinc to
France"
'Pasques Dieu," cried the archer,
/ .ioosening his jerkin. and cycling his
foeman over with the keen glance Of
one who is judge of manhood. 81
have only once before seen such a
body of a man. BY your leave. my red
headed friend. I should he right sorry
( to exchange huffets with you: and /
VIII allow that there is no man in the
Company who would null against YOU
on rope: so let thet be a salve to your
pride On the other hand, I should
judge that you have led life of eas.
for some months back. and that my
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. II 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 wagers"
Il 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 /
covet above all things. It is that big
have French feather bed there.
which / have been at pains to keep
these years back. had It at the SACK
ing of Issodun. and the king himself
hath not such a bed II YOU throw me.
it is thine: but, if I throw you. then
-ou are under a vow to serve the White
Company as long as We be enrolled"
Then you may bid farewell to your
bed soldier" roared Horde John.
Nay: ! shall keep the bed. and I
shall have you to France IN spite of
your teeth. and you shall live to thank
me for it How shall 1t be. then. my
infant2 Collar and elbow. or close
lock, or catch how you can7''
ITO the devil with your tricks." said
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 on his green jerkin. and hir
chest was covered only l. n pink silk
tupon- 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
roots Of an oak. lowered high above
the soldier. The other. however
though near foot shorter. was a mar
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: &c
that # was clear. from the poise o,
head and shine OF eye. that he counted
the chances to be in his favor II
would have been hard that night
through the whole length of England
to set Up a Aner pair in the face o.
zach other.
Big John stood waiting IN the centr,
with sullen. menac' .e. and hi,
red hair in a bristle. while the arrhe,
paced lightly and swiftly to the righ
and the let with crooked knee ant
hands advanced. Thel. with suddeY
dash SO swift and fierce tat the ey,
could scarce follow 1t. he few in upor
his man and locked h leg around
him. 1t was grip that between mer
Of equal strength would mean a fan
hut Horde John tore him of from hin
as he might a rat. and hurled hin
across the room. 40 that his beat
cracked UP against the wall
Ma fol-" cried thc bowman, pass
ing his fingers through his curIs "yo,
were not far from the feather-bet
then. mon gar"
Nothing daunted. he approached hi
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