The Delta independent., 1906-07-06

Alleyne Edricson. Besides have
other work to do
'Peste!" growied the soldier. strik-
Ing his fagon on the board until the
dishes danced again. What. In the
name Of the devil. hath come over the
folk Why sit ye all moping by the
fireside. like crows round q dead horse,
when there Is mans work to be done
within few short leagues OF ye? Out
upon you all, as a set OF laggards and
hang backs! BY r. hilt! I 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 I see much In you to mis!ike.
am sorely tempted to lay you upon
your back"
by my hiit, then. have found n
man at last" shouted the bowman.
And, fore God. you are a better man
than take you for II yo, can lay me
on my back. For seven long years !
have found no man in the Company
who could make my jerkin dusty"
I'VE have had enough bobance and
honsting." said Horde John. rising and
throwing on his doublet. IT will show
-,ou thst there are better men left in
England than ever went thieving to
France"
"Pasques Dieu," cried the archer.
loosening his 1erkin. and eyeing his
foeman over with the keen glance of
one who Is Judge Of manhood. 1T
have only once before seen such a
body OF n man. BY your leave. my red
headed friend. I should he right sorrv
to exchange buffeta with you: and I
n hnr 10 M Vv1n l, he
Company who would pull against YOU
on a rope: so let that b n salve In your
! pride. On the other hand. I should
Judge that you have led n life of ease
for some months back. and that my
muscle is harder than your own. 7
am ready TO wager upon myself
against you. II you are not afeard."
| "Afeard. thou 1urden," growled big
John. II never saw the face yet OF a
man that was afeai OF. Come out.
and we shall see who Is the better
man."
"But the wager7"
"I have nought to wager. Come out
for the love and the lust Of the
thing"
"Nought to wager." cri d the soldier.
| covet above all things. II is that big
body OF thine that am after. See now.
I h We French feather bed there.
which I have been at pains to keep
these years back. had 1t at the sack.
ing Of Issodun. and the king himself
hath not such a bed. u you throw me.
1t Is thine; but. II throw you. then
.Ou are under vow to serve the White
Company as long as we be enrolled"
"Then you may bid farewell To your
bed, soldier" roared Horde John.
May; ! shall keep the bed. and !
shall have you TO France in spite OF
your teeth, and you shall live TO thank
i me for It. How shall II he. then. my
infant? Collar and elbow. or close
lock. or catch how you CAM"
ITO the devil with your tricks!" said
John. opening and shutting his great
red hands "stand forth. and let me
clip thee" :.
"shalt clip me as best you can. then"
quoth the archer. moving out into the
open space. and keeping a most wary
thrown of his green terkin, and his
chest was covered only (: . pink silk
jupon. or undershirt. cut low in the
neck and sleeveless. Horde John was
near stripped from his waist upward
and his huge body. with his srea, en-,
roots Of an oak. lowered high nbove
the soldier The other. however
though near foot shorter. wns man
of great strength: I'd there was q
gloss upon his white skin which was
wanting In the heavier limbs Of th'
renegade monk. He was quick on his
feet too. and skilled at the game: se
that II was clear. from the poise Of
head and shine Of eye. that he counted
the chances to be In his favor \
; would have been hard that night
| through the whole length Of England
to set w q inner pair In the race o.
ep~h other.
Rig John stood waiting in the centr'
with n aullen, menac' ana MI
J red hair in a bristle. white the arch"
paced lightly and swiftly 70 the righ
and the left with crooked knee an'
/, hands advanced. Ther with sudde,
do,h, 90 swift md he-ce I: at the ev'
. co,,j6 scarce follow II. hc few In upo'
mis- man and locked r leg aroun'
7 hjm. II was grin that between ,ne'
: of e1unI strength would mean f"I
. hut Horde John tore him OF from hin
! a. hc ,n,ght rat. and hurled MIN
: | across the room. 80 that his hea'
1 cro cited I'm against the wall
MA foi'" cried tn bowman. pass
. ting hir fingers through his curls. "vo'
\ were not far from the feather-be'
b then. mon gar"
Nothing daMntsd. ne approached h
. man once more: hut This time witt
Imore caution than before. With