Amador ledger., 1906-08-03

Beaulieu. At early dawn they passed
across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt
stream-men, horses, and baggage in the
fiat ferry barges-and so journeyed on
through the fresh morning air past Ex-
bury to Lepe. Topping the healthy down,
they came of sudden full in sight of the
old seaport. Some way out from the
town line of PRISONERS, creyers, and
other small craft were rolling lazily on
the gentle swell. Further out still lay
a great merchant ship, high-ended, deep
WASTED, painted of canary yellow, and
towering above the fishing boats like
swan among ducklings.
'By st. PAUL." said the knight, ''our
good merchant of Southampton hath not
played US false, for methinks l can see
our ship down yonder. He said that she
would be of great size and of yellow
shade"
"By my hilt, yes ~ muttered Aylward;
"she is yellow as kites claw, and would
carry as many men as there are pips in
pomegranate."
at is WE'LL" remarked Terlake; sfor
methinks, my fair lord, that we are not
the only ones who are waiting a passage
to Gascony. Mine eye catches at times
fash and sparkle from among yonder
houses which assuredly never came from
shipman's jacket or the gaberdine of a
burgher."
II can also see it." said AIleyne, shad-
ing his eyes with his hand. And 1 can
see men-at-arms in yonder boats which
ply betwixt the vessel and the shore.
But methinkS that we are very welcome
here, for already they come forth to meet
u.s."
A 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 great fear had been rolled back
from their minds. At their head rode
very large and solemn man with a long
chin and dropping lip. He wore a fur
tippet round his neck and heavy gold
chain over 1t, with a medallion which
dangled in front of him.
Welcome, most puissant and noble
lord!" he cried, dofing his bonnet. "You
see in me the mayor and chief magistrate
OF the ancient and powerful town of Lepe.
1 bid you very heartily welcome, and the
more 30 as you are come at moment
when we are sore put to it for defence"
Hal" cried Sir Nigel, pricking up his
ears.
Eyes, my lord, for the town being very
ancient, and 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 mighty scourge 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-arms. At Weymouth
and at Portland they have murdered and
hal
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 mis-
chief"
I'VE cannot tarry," said Sir Nigel,
riding toward the town, with the mayor
upon his left side; "the Prince awaits us
at Bordeaux, and we may not be behind
the general muster. Yet l will promise
you that on our way we shall find time to
pass FreshwateE and to prevail upon
these rovers to leave you in peace"
"We are much beholden to you'll"
clied the mayor. "But 1 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 a very proper cog out yon-
der," said Sir Nigel sit would be 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 1 say,
and that no later than this very day."
"My lord" said 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
10 land fighting and the marshalling of
lances, but, by my soul you will find it
another thing upon the sea. l am master
shipman of this yellow cog, and my name
is Goodwin Hawtayne. l have sailed
since 1 was as high as this staff, and ]
have fought against these Normans and
against the Genoese, as well as the
Moors. tell you, sir, that my ship is
overnight and OVERHAUL for such work,
and it will but end in our having our
throats cut, or being sold as slaves to
the Barbary heather"
ST also have experienced one or two
gentle and honorable ventures upon the
sea-" quoth Sir Nigel, land l am right
blithe to have SO fair a task before us.
! think, good master-shipman, that you
and may win great honor in this matter.
and I can see very readily that you are
brave and stout man."
"I like it not" said the other stur-
Oily. SIN Gods name, like it not!
And yet Goodwin Rawtayne is not the
man to stand back when his fellows are
for pressing forward. By my soul be it
sink OF swim, 1 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
rate ii was brought to a stand by
wondSously stout man, who came darting
forth from the town with rage in every
feature of his rubicund face.
''How now, Sir Mayor?' he roared, in
a voice like a bull. "How now, Sir
Mayor? How of the clans and the
scallops?"