Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18
SUNDAY MAGAZINE 70, FEBRUARY IS. 1906

yer and others taking the part of the
North Countryman. Ared-headed Dales-
man snatched up sword, but was fe1led
by a blow from the fist of his neighbor.
Instantly, with buzz like swarm of
angry hornets, the boWmen were out on
the deck; but ere a blow was struck
Knolles was amongst them with granite
face and eyes of fire.
Stand apart, / sayl l will warrant
you enough fighting to cool your blood
ere you see England once more. Loring,
Hawthorn, cut any man down who
raises his hand. Have you aught to say,
you fox-haired. rascal?" He thrust his
face within two inches of that of the red
man who had first seized his sword i
The fellow shrank back, cowed from his
fierce eyes. ." Now stint your noise, all
of you, and stretch your long ear. Trum-
peter, blow once morel"
A bug1e call had been sounded every
quarter of an hour SO as to keep in touch
with the other two vessels who were
invisible in the fog Now the high clear
note rang out once more, the call of
fierce sea-creature to its mates, but no
answer came back from the thick wall
which pent them in. Again and again
they called, and again and again with
bated breath they waited for an answer
where is the shipman?" asked
Knolles. What is your name, fellow? Do
you dare call yourself master mariner"
My name is Nat Dennis, fair sir, -
said the gray bearded old seaman. 1t is
thirty years since first | showed my cartel
and blew trumpet for crew at the water
gate of Southampton. If any man may
call himself master mariner, it is surely |. "
Where are our two ships?"
Nay, sir, who can say in this fog2"
Fellow, it was your place to hold
them together
Il have but the eyes God gave me, fair
sir, and they cannot see through cloud. "
Had it been fair, l, who am soldier,
could have kept them in company.
Since it was foul, we looked to you, who
are called mariner, to do So You
have not done it. You have lost two of
my ships ere the venture is begun"
Nay, fair sir, pray you to consider"
Enough words!" said Knolles sternly
Words will not give me back my two
hundred men. Unless l find them before
/ / come to Saint a1o, swear by Saint
] w lLIld VI M pun IlltC IL VIII NC dIl evil
day for you! Enoughl Go forth and
do what you may!"
For five hours with light breeze
behind them they lurched through the
heavy fog, the cold rain still mating
their boards and shining on their faces
Sometimes they could see circle of
tossing water for bow-shot or so in
each direction, and then the wreaths
would crawl in upon them once more and
bank them thickly round. They had
long ceased to blow the trumpet for
their missing comrades, but had hopes
when clear weather came to find them
still in sight. By the shipman's reckon
ing they were now about midway be-
tween the two shores.
Nigel was leaning against the bu1warks,
his thoughts away in the dingle at Cos
ford and out on the heather-clad slopes
of Hindland, when something struck his
ear. 1t was a thin clear ciang of metal,
pealing out high above the dull nurmur
of the sea, the creak of the boom and
the flap of the sail. He listened, and
again it was borne to his ear.
Hark, my lordl" said he to Sir Rob