Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-06

Nay, am a man OF peace" said
Aileyne Edricson. Besides have
other work TO do"
"Peste" growled the soldier, strik-
ing his hagon on the board until the
dishes danced again. What, In the
name Of the devil, hath come over the
folk2 Why sit ye all moping by the
hreside, like crows round a dead horse,
when there is mans work to be done
within a few short leagues of We? Out
upon you all, as set Of laggards and
hang-backs! By my hilt! / 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, have found a
man at last" shouted the bowman.
"And, fore God, you are a better man
than take you for IL you can lay me
on my back. For seven long years 1
have found no man in the Company
who could make my jerkin dusty"
1--WE have had enough bobance and
boasting," said Horde John, rising and
throwing off his doublet. 'T will show
you that there are better men left in
England than ever went thieving to
France"
"Pasques Dieu!" cried the archer,
loosening his jerkin. and cycling his
foeman over with the keen glance of
g. %
have only once before seen such a
body Of a man. BY your leave, my red
headed friend, I should be right sorry
to exchange buffets with you; and I
will allow that there is no man in the
Company who would pull against you
on a rope; so let that be salve to your
pride. On the other hand, I should
Judge that you have led life Of ease
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. "I never saw the face vet of q
man that I was afeard of. Come out
and we shall see who is the better
man."
"But the wager?"
II 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. 1t is that bis
body Of thine that am after. See now
have a French feather bed there
which I have been at pains to keel
these years back. I had 1t at the sack
ing of Issodun, and the king himself
hath not such bed. If you throw me
it is thine; but, If throw you, theI
-ou are under vow to serve the Whit
Company as long as we be enrolled"
"Then you may bid farewell to you
bed, soldier" roared Horde John.
May; I shall keep the bed, and
shall have you to France In spite o
your teeth, and you shall live to thanl
me for it. How shall it be. then, m.
infant? Collar and elbow, or close
lock, or catch how you cam"
ITO the devil with your tricks!" sal,
John, opening and shutting his grea
red hands. "Stand forth, and let m
clip thee"
"Shalt clip me as best you can, then,
quoth the archer, moving out into tn
open space, and keeping a most war
eye upon his opponent. He ha
thrown off his green Jerkin, and hi
CHEST WAS CONGE6u OIlly - a PAllh bAi
upon, or undershirt, cut low in tn
neck and sleeveless. Horde John wa
4 near stripped from his waist upward
= and his huge body, with his gres
E muscles swelling out like the gnarle
2 roots Of an oak, lowered high aboX
r the soldier. The other, howeve
though near a foot shorter, was a ma
e of great strength; I'd there was
gloss upon his white skin which We
K wanting in the heavier limbs of, IL
s renegade monk. He was quick on
d feet too, and skilled at the game:
J, that 1t was clear, from the poise
a head and shine Of eye, that he countt
the chances to be in his favor.
r would have been hard that nigh
h through the whole length of Englan
d to set up a finer pair in the face
r. each other
It Big John stood waiting in the cent
Is with a sullen, menac' & re, and
m red hair in bristle, while the arch
d paced lightly and swiftly to the rig
Is and the left with crooked knee al
t, hands advanced. Then with sudd
Is dash. so swift and fierce that the e
t. could scarce follow it, he flew in up
lr his man and locked h leg arou
M him. 1t was grip that between m
4: of equal strength would mean a IA
he hut Horde John tore him off from HI
IN as he might rat, and hurled hi
n: across the room, so that his ne
at cracked up against the wall.
ma foi!' cried the bowman, pas
We ing his fingers through his curls. y
tn were not far from the feather-h
ch then. mon gar"