New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-25

the poop, and from that high station
they beat back their swarming enemies
But crossbow darts pelted and thudded /
among their ranks till third OF their .
number were stretched upon the planks-
Lined across the deck, they could hardly .
keep an unbroken front to the leaping, /
surging crowd who pressed upon them |
Another rush, or another after that, .
must assredly break them, for these /
dark men of Spain, hardened by an I
endless struggle with the Moors, were /
fierce and stubborn fighters.
But bark to this sudden roar upon the /
farther side Of theml Saint Georgel /
Saint Georgel y Knolles to the rescued
\ small craft had run alongside and /
sixty men had swarmed on the deck OF /
the Saint Iago Caught between two /
fires, the Spaniards wavered and broke. /
The fight became a massacre. Down /
from the poop sprang the Princes men. /
Up from the waist rushed the newcomers. /
There were five dreadful minutes of blows /
and screams and prayers, with struggling
figures clinging to the bulwarks and sullen
SplaShes into the water below. Then it was
over, and a crowd of weary, Overstrained
men leaned painting upon their weapons,
or Law breathless and exhausted upon the
deck of the captured CarraCk.
The Prince had pulled up his vizor
and lowered his beaver. He smiled
proudly as he gazed around him and
wiped his streaming face. Where is
the shipman'" he asked. Let him
| lead us against another ship"
NAY, sire, the shipman and all his
Il 7
de Mohun, a young knight of the West
Country, who carried the standard We
have lost our ship and the half of our fol-
lowing. | fear that we can fight no more
1T matters the less, since the day is
already ours" said the Prince, looking
over the sea. Ny noble fathers royal
banner flies upon yonder Spaniard.
Mowbray, Audley, Suffolk, Beauchamp,
Namur, Tracey, Stafford, Arundel, each
has his flag over a scarlet Carrack, even
as mine floats over this. See, Wonder
squadron is already far beyond our reach.
But surely we owe thanks to YOU who
came at So perilOuS a moment to our aid
Your face | have seen, and your coat
armor also, young sir, though | cannot lay
my tongue to your name. Let me know,
that | may thank YOU" He had turned
to Nigel, who stood flushed and JOYOUS at
the head of the boarders from the Basilisk
s. am but Squire, sire, and can claim
no thanks, for there is nothing that l
have done. Here is our leader"
The Princes eyes fell upon the shield
charged with the black raven and the
stern young face of him who bore it. Sir
Robert KnolleS," said he, ." l had thought
YOU were on your way to Brittany"
Il was so, sire, when had the fortune
to see this battle as | passed"
The Prince laughed. q" 1t would in
deed be to ask too much, Robert, that
YOU should keep on your course when
much honor was to be gathered so close
to you. But now pray YOU that you will
come back with us TO WinchelSea, for we'll
| know that my father would fam thank
YOU for what YOU have done this day"
But Robert knolleS shook his head
Il have your fathers command, sire,
and without his order | may not go
against it. Our people are hard-pressed
in Brittany, and it is not for me to linger
on the way. | pray you, sire, if you