The Greeley tribune., 1906-08-02

across the broad sluggish, reed-glri
stream--men. horses. and baggage in the
fiat ferry barges-and so Journeycd on
through the fresh morning air past f.A-
bury TO Lepe. Topping the heath! uoWh'
they came of Sudden full in sight OF the
old seaport Some way out from the
town a line OF PRISONERS. creyers, aai
other small craft were rolling lazlly on
the gentle swell. Further out still lay
Il great merchant ship. high-ended, deep,
wasted, painted of a canary yellow, ana
towering above the fishing boats ike
swan among ducklinss.
by st. PAUL" said the knight. "our
good merchant OF Southampton hath not
played us false for methinks can see
our ship down youder. He said that sh.
would be OF great size and OF yellow
shade.
by ny hilt. yes, muttered Aylward I;
"she is yellow as kites claw, and would
carry as many men as there are pips IN Il
pomegranale.
1T is well.' remarked Terlake; "for
methinks my fair lord. that We are not
the only ones who are waiting passage
to Gascouy. Mine eye catches ut times
houses which assuredly never came from
shipman's jacket or the gaberdine OF u
burgher.
Il can also see it." said Alleyne, shad-
ing his eyes with his hand. And l 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
us."
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 a
very large and solemn man with long
chin and dropping lip. lie Wore a fur
tippet round his neck and heavy gold
chain over it, with medallion which
dangled in front OF him.
WELCOME. most puissant and noble
lord - he cried, doifins his bonnet. You
see in me the mayor and chief magistrate
OF the ancient and powerful town of Lepe.
l bid you very heartily welcome, and the
more SO as You are come at 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, and the walls as old as the town,
it follows that they are very ancient too.
But there is certain villianous and blood
thirsty Norman pirate knight Tete-noire,
who, with 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
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 mis-.
chief
I'VE cannot tarry," 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 l will promise
you that on our way we shall find time tc
pass Freshwater and to prevail upoI
these rovers to leave you in peace.
S1ied the mayor. But l cannot see, NJ,
lord, how, without warship, you may
venture against these men. With YOU
archers, however, you might well hold tn
town and do them great scath it the.
attempt to land"
der," said Sir Nigel; lit would be a yer,
strange thing if any ship were not war
ship when it had such men as these upol
her decks. Certes, we shall do as say
and that no later than this very day.
My lord" said a rough-haired. dark
faced man, who walked by the knight
other stirrup, with his head slopcsl It
catch all that he was saying, 'by you
leave, l have no doubt that you are sk'ile'
Ia land fighting and the marshalling o
lances, but, by my soul! you will find j
another thing upon the sea. l am master
shipman of this yellow cog, and my nam
is Goodwin Hawtayne. ! have sa,ie'
since / was as high as this staff, and
have fought against these Normans AM
against the Genoese, as well as III
Scotch, the Bretons, the Spanish, ana tn
Moors. l tell you, sir, that my ship j
oversight and over-frail for such work
and it will but end in our having on
throats cut, or being sold as slaves
the Barbary heathen."
Il also have experienced one or IN
gentle and honorable ventures upon tn
sea-" quoth Sir Nigel, land am righ
blithe to have so fair a task before us
think, good master-shipman, that go
and may win great honor in this mattel
and can see very readily that you ar
q brave and stout man."
Il like it not" said the other stur
dily. in Gods name, l like 1t not
And yet Goodwin Hawtayne is not tn
man to stand back when his fellows ar
for pressing forward. BY my soul be
sink or swim, l shall turn her beak int
Freshwater Bay, and if good Maste
Witherton of Southampton like not m
handling of his ship, then he may fin
another master"
The throng moved on. until at the yer
gate it was brought to stand by
wondrously stout man, who came dartin
forth from the town with rage in ever
feature of his rubicund face.
"How now, Sir Mayor" he roared. j
voice like a bull. How now, 81
Sc tt,n f,Ia mo
scallops?'
..By our Lady, my sweet Sir Oliver,
cried the mayor. 81 have had SO much
think of, with these wicked Williams, S
close upon us. that it had quite gone ou
OF my head"
Nay. Sir Oliver. Sir Oliver!" erie
Sir Nigel. laughing. LET your anger
appeased. since instead of this dish 70
come upon an old friend and comrade.
by st. Martin of Tours" shouted tn
fat knight. his wrath all changed in a
instant to joy, "if it is not my dear littl
II h