The Delta independent., 1906-07-06
wallsw cried another. what sort Of
talk Is this for a public inn"

walls" cried another. what sort of
talk Is this for public inn"
Shall it be litany, my good
clerk?" shouted third; "Or would a
hymn be good enough to serve"
The jongleur had put down his harp
in high dudgeon. Am l to be
preached to by a child?" he cried.
staring across at Alleyne with an in
famed and angry countenance. "Is a
hairless infant to raise tongue
against me, when have sung in every
fair from Tweed to Trent, and have
twice been named aloud by the High
Court Of the Minstrels at Beverly?
shall sing no more tonight"
NAY. but you will So" said one Of
Ine laborers. Hi! Dame Eliza, bring
stoup Of your best to viii, to clear
his throat. Go forward with thy song,
and II our girl-faced clerk does not
love 1t he can take to the road and go
whence he came"
NAY. but not too fast" broke in
Horde John. There are words
in this matter. 1t may be that my
little coInrade has been over-quick in
reproof, he having gone early into the
cloisters and seen little Of the rough
ways and words of the world. Yet
there is truth In what he says, for as
you know well. the song was not Of
the cleanest. I shall stand by him,
therefore. and he shall neither be put
out on the road. nor shall his ears be
offended indoors"
Indeed, your high and NIFTY
grace" sneered one Of the yeomen.
have you in sooth so ordained?"
by the Virgin"' said second. II
think that you may both chance to
find yourselves upon the road before
long"
And so belabored as to be scarce
able to crawl along it," cried a third.
NAY, shall go! I shall go" said
Alleyne hurriedly, as Horde John be-
gan to roll up his sleeves, and bare
an arm like leg of mutton. Il would
not have you brawl about me-"
Hush. lad" he whispered, Il
count them not a fly. They may find
they have more tow on their distaff
than they know how to spin. Stand
thou clear and give me space"
Both the foresters and the laborers
had risen from their bench, and Dame
Eliza and the travelling doctor had
flung themselves between the two
parties with soft words and soothing
EeStuTeS, Wueu TIE uoOT OI tHe lieu
Merlin was flung violently open, and
the attention OF the company was
drawn from their own quarrel to the
newcomer who had burst so uncere-
noniously upon them.
CHAPTER ~.
He was a middle-sized man, Of most
massive and robust build. with an
arching chest and extraordinary
breadth Of shoulder. His shayen face
was as brown as a hazel-nut, tanned
and dried by the weather. with harsh
well-marked features, which were not
improved by long white scar which
stretched from the corner Of his left
nostril to the angle Of the jaw. His
eyes were bright and searching. with
something Of menace and Of authority
in their quick glitter. and his mouth
was firm-set and hard, as befitted one
who was wont to set his face against
danger. A straight sword by his side
and painted long-bow jutting over
his shoulder proclaimed his profession,
while his SCARED brigandine Of chain
mail and his dinted steel cap showed
that he was no holiday soldier, but one
who was even now fresh from the
wars. A white surcoat, with the Lion
OF st. George In red upon the centre.
covered his broad breast, while a
sprig Of new-plucked broom at the
side Of his head-gear gave touch Of