Evening star., 1906-03-11


rode after them, and when in view of the main gate
the cause of the disturbance lay before them
On the tower above the portal three
standing in the garb of English archers, ropes
round their necks and their hands bound behind
them. Their comrades surged below them with
cries of recognition and of pity.
1T is Ambrose" cried one. Surely it is Ambrose
of Ingeton?"
Yes, in truth I see his yellow hair And the
other, him with the beard it is Lockwood of Skip
ton Alas for his wife who keeps the booth by the
bridge-head of Ribbel l wot not who the third
may be-"
1T is little Johnny Alspaye, the youngest man
in the companyl" cried old Wat, with the tears
ming down his cheeks Twas l who brought him
from his home. Alas, alas! Foul fare the day that
ever I coaxed him from his mothers side that he
might perish in a far landl"
There was the sudden flourish of trumpet and
the drawbridge fell. Across it strobe portly man
with faded herald's coat. He halted warily upon
the farther side and his voice doomed like drum
Il would speak with your leader he cried.
Knoes rode forward
Have [ your knighty word that I may advance
unscathed with all courteous entreaty BELTS a
herald?"
Knoles nodded his head
The man came slowly and pompousy forward.
Il am the messenger and Hege servant" said he,
." of the high baron, Oliver de St. Yvon, Lord of La
Brohiniere. He bids to say that if you continue
your journey and moest him further he Will
engage upon MS part MAKE attack pom
you. As to the whom he holds he will enroll
them in his own honorable service, for he has need
of longbowmen, and has heard much of their skill
But if you constrain him him further
dspeasure by remaining before his castle he hereby
gives you warning that he will hang these three
his gateway and every morning another
three until all have been slain. This he has sworn
upon the rood of Calvary and as he has said SO he
will do upon jeopardy of his soul
Robert Knolles looked grimy at the messenger
You may thank the saints that you have had my
promise said he else would l have stripped that
lying tabard from thy back and the skin beneath
it from thy bones, that thy master might have
fitting answer to his message. Tell him that l hold
him and all that within his castle hostage
for the lives of my men, and that should he dare
do them seattle he and every man that is with him
shall hang upon his battlements. Go, and go
quickly, lest my patience fall!
There was that in Knoles' cold gray eyes and in
his of speaking those last words which sent
the portly envoy back at quicker gait than he
had come AS he vanished into the gloomy arch
of the gateway the drawbridge swung up with
creak and rattle behind him.
A few minutes later a rough bearded fellow
stepped out over the portal where the condemned
archers stood and seizing the first by the shoulders
he thrust him over the wall. A cry burst from the
mans lips and deep groan from those of his com
rades below he fell with jerk which sent him
halfway up to the parapet again, and then after
dancing like child toy swung slowly backward
and forward with limp limbs and twisted neck.
The hangnan turned and bowed in mock rever-
to the spectators beneath him He had not yet
learned in a land of puny archers how and how
strong is the English bow. Half dozen men,
old Wat amongst them, had forward toward
the wall. They too late to their
rades, but at least their deaths speedily
avenged. The in the act of pushing of