Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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BeaUtjeu. At ('arly dawn they passed -:ssthev broad, slIugi sh, i reed-girt tin--nn horse's. aind bgai.- in t he lint ferry barges-and so journeyed oil through the fresh morning air past Ex l)bry to Lepe. Topping the heathy down, an-y caie of a sudden full in sigit of the (.d seaport.?. Some way out from the town a line of pessoners. ernyers. and ot;her small craft were roiling lazily on the gentle swell. Further out still lay. a gr-at merchant ship, high-ended. deep waisted. painted of a canary yellow. an-l towerin;, above the fishing boats like a sw:an anong ducklings. "Bv S-. Paul:" said the knight. "our good merchant of Southhamnpton hath not played us false, for methinks I can see our ship down yonder. Ile said that she would be of great size and of a yellow shade." ">y -7 hilt, yes:" muttered Aylward: she is yelior as a kite's claw, and would entry as tuany men as there are pips in a "It is well," remarked Terlake: "for inethinks, Lay fair lord, that we are not he only ones who are waiting a passage to Gascony. Mine eye catches at times a flash and sparkle from among yonder houses which assuredly never came from shipman's jacket or the gaberdine of a burgher." "I can also see it." said Alleyne. shad ing his eyes with his hand. "And I can see men-at-arms in yonder boats which ply betwixt the vessel and the shore. But methinks that we are very welcome here, for already they come forth to meet us." A tumultuous crowd of fishermen. citi zens, and women had indeed swarmed out from the northern gate. approached them up the side of the moor, waving their hands and danin with joy, as though a great fear had been rolled back from their minds. At their head rode a very large and solemn man with a long chin and drooping lip. le wore a fur tippet round his neck and a heavy gold chain over it, with a medallion which dangled in front of him. "Welcome, most puissant and noble lord!" he cried. dloflng his bonnet. "You see in ine the mayor and chief magistrate of the ancient and powerful town of Lepe. I bid you very heartily welcome, and the more so as you are come at a moment when we are sore put to it for defence." "Ha'" cried Sir Nigel, pricking up his ears. "Yes, my lord, for the town being very ancient, and the walls as old as the town, it follows that they are very ancient too. ut there is a certain villianous and blood thirsty Norman pirate knight Tete-noire. who, with a Genoan called Tito Caraeci. commonly known as Spade-beard, hath been a mighty scourge upon thse coasts. Indeed, my lord, they are very cruel and black-hearted men. grac'cles and ruthless. They have come tn two great galleys, with two banks of oars on! either side, and great store of engines of war and of men-at-arns. At Weynouth and at Portland they have murdered and ravished. Yesterday morning they were at Cowes, and we saw the smoke from the burning crofts. To-day they lie at their ease near Freshwater, and we fear much lest they come upon us and do us a mis chief." "We cannot tarry." said Sir Nigel. riding toward the town, with the mayor upon his left sid-; "the Prince awaits us at Bordeaux, and we may not be behind the general muster. Yet I will promise you that on our way we shall find time to 'pass Ereshwater and to prevail upon these rovers to leave you in peace. "We are much beholden to- you. (tied the mayor. "But I cannot see, my -id, how. without a warship. you may ve:lTure against these inen. With yaur archers, however. you might wvell hold the tjovn and do them great scath if they attempt to land." "There is a very proper cog out yon der." said Sir Nigel: "it wotuld be a very strange thing if any ship were not a war ship when it had such men as these twitn her decks. Certes, wve shall do as I say and that no later than this very da.". -'My lord," said a rou.:h-haired, dak faced man, who walked by the km ht I other stirrup, with hi, head slo1I to catch all that he was saying. Thy your leave. I have no doubt that you are skilld ia land fighting and the marshalling of iances, but, by my soul1 you will fin" it another thing upon the sea. I am ma-t siplman of this . ellow cog. and my .name is Goodlwin Hawtayne. I have saxle since I was as high as this staff, and I have fought against these Normans a::d against the Genoese, as well as the Scotch, the Bretons, the Spanish. an? th~e Moors. I tell you. sir, that my ship is over-light and over-frail for sttch work. and it will but end in our having our throats cut, or being sold as slaves to the Barbary heathen." "I also have experienced one or two gentle and honorable ventures upon the sea."~ quoth Sir Nigel, "and I am ng~ht blithe to have so fair a task before i!s. I think, good master-shipman, .that you and I may wvin great honor in this matter. ar 4. I can see very readily that you are j irave and stout man." "I like it nor," said the other stur dily. "Ini God's name, I like it not:1 And yet Goodwin Hawtayne is not the man to stand back wvhen his fellows are for pressing forward. By my soul: be it sink or swim, I shall turn her beak into Freshwater Bay. and if good Master Witherton of Southampton like not my handling of his ship, then he may find another ma:ster." The throntg tmoved on. until at the very gate it was brought to a stand by. a wvondlrouisly stot man, who came darting forth from the towvn with rage in every feature of his rubicund face. "How now. Sir Mayor?' he roared, in a voice like a bull. "Iowv nowM, Sir Mayor? How of the clams and the scallops?'" , 'By our L ady. ry sweet Sir Oliver. cried the teayor. "I have had1 so mu ch to think of, with thos' wicked villians. so close upon us, that it had ouite gone out of my head.. . "Nay. Sir Oliver, Sir Oliver!l' cried Sir Nigel, lautghint. "Let your anger he appease, since instead of this dish you conme upon an old friend and comradie." "By St. Malrtin of Tours!"' shouted the far knight. his ~ wrath all changed in an instant to joy, "if tt is not my dear little game rooster of the Garonne. Ah, my sweet coz. I am right glad to see von. What days we have seen together." "The 'Ntas and seallops shall be ready within the hour." tihe mayor answered. "I had asked Si. Oiiver Buttosthxorn. to do my humble hoard the honor to partake at it'of the dainty upon wh-ien .we take~ some little pride. hut in sooth this alarm of pirates hath cast such a shadowv on my wit that I am like one distrait. Uu' i trust. Sir Ni"el thg yo . awill : .so pr take of nne-:ne t th me" . "I hav.' ov,'r-muche~ to do-"~ Sir Nxmol answer'r -for we "amst Ibe aboard. horse 'nd muan. as ea"lv ai we. may. IHow many" do yo mus'er. "'i Oliver. . "T'hrre eam"fortv. "Th-fr-y.' T shi! 1mvy' work fer was lun bymai foce n fro-rn iiia Tre.'ni 't-r kcin and hl an'n' .. Lne.- -,ir w- lrned mhe th(or-r'n!A stcxh ofv theylow co, whaer'serows'. nas sinc rendvi fore hei sfeo keeig Englishmen in those days were skilled and prompt in such matters. for it was ,it , g bfor.- that Elwr h:ad ei embarked as many as fifty thousand men in the port of Orwell. with their horses and their baggace. all in the space of four-a-nd twenty hours. So urgent was Sir Nigel on the shore. and so prompt was Goodwin llawtayne on the cog. that Sir Oliver Buttesthorn had scarce swallowed his last scallop ere the peal of trumpet and eniag of naker announced that all was ready and the anchor drawn. In the last beat which left the shore the two com mianders sat together ia the sheets. a; strane contrast to one another, while under the feet of the rowers was a litte: of hu.:e stoues which Sir Nigel hau erdered to be carried to the co. The's once aboard. the ship set h-'r broad main sail. the breeze blew. the sails bellied. over heeled the portly vessel, and away she plunged througi the smooth, blue rollers. "*By St. Paul said Sir Nigel gayly, as lie stood upon the poop and looked on either side of him. *it is a land which is very well worth fi-.I:iim for-'.l it were pity to go to France for what may be had at home. You may bring my harness from below," lie continued. to his squires. "aud also, I pray yotu. bring up Sir Oliver's and we shall don it here. Ye may then see to your own gear: for this day you w ill. I hope. make a very honorable en tranc"- into the 1ield of chivalry and prove yourselves to be very worthy and valiant squires. And now. Sir Oliver. as to our dispositions: would it please you that I should order them or will you' "You. my cockerel, you! By Our Lady : I am no chicken, but I cannot claim to hnow as much of war as the squire of Sir Walter Manny. Settle the matter to your own liking." "You shall fly your pennon upon the feie-part. then, and I upon the poop. For foreguard I shall give you your own forty men, with two-score archers. Two score men. with my own men-at-arms and squires, will serve as a )oop-guard. Teni arckers, witlr thirty shipmen. under the master. may hold the waist. while ten lie aloft wvith stones and arbalests." Meanwhile there had been bustle and preparation in all parts of the great ves sel. The archers stood in groups about the decks. new-stringing their bows and testing that they were firm at the nocks. Among them moved Aylward and other of the older soldiers. with a few whispered words of precept and of warning there. - Stand to it, my hearts of gold !" said the old bowman. as ie passed from knot to knot. "By my hilt! we are in luck this journey. But it is time that we took our order, for methinks that between the Needle rocks and the Alum cliffs yonder I can catch a glimpse of the topmasts of the galleys. Hewett. Cook. Johnson. Cunningham. your men are of the poop uard. Thornbury. Walters, Hackett, Baddlesmere. you are with Sir Oliver on the forecastle. Simon. you bide with your lord's banner; but ten men must go forward." Quietly and promptly the men took their places. lying fiat upon their faces on the deck, for such was Sir Nizel's order. Near the prow was planted Sir Oliver's .,,ear, with his arms-a boar's head gulcs upon a field of gold. Close by the stern stood Black Simon with the, penon of 'he hos fLriv^nte as ah ned te S o mN > m t j .:ir edr.- Godi Hatye to atin hous eyf upr somties at ath evoein thel Sotadten glanciners aira :en buwl semen wih heir thertillero "Pas the wists"braced ti ig, swords omaetsadl-adtoas tor drandhs ow-sq!ing util, an mye trumpeter hala sund. It would be well that we should eem to be a merchant-ship from South mton and appear to flee from them." --We shall see them anon." saidl the uster-shipman. "Iha isaid I not so?! 'here they lie, the water-snakes, in Freshwater Bay ; and mark the reek of moke from yonder point, where they have een at their devil's wvork. See how their hallops ptill from the land: They have een us and called their men aboard. ow they draw upon the anchor. See hem lik'e ants upon the forecastle: hey stoop and heave like handy ship nei. But, my fair lord, these are no iefs. I dotubt but we have taken in and more than we can do. Each of hese ships is a galeas, and of the; argest and swiftest make." "I would I had yottr eyes." said Sir Niel, blinking at the pirate galleys. ~They seem very gallant ships. and 1 rust that we shall have much pleasance from otur meetinr with them. It would e well to pass tile word that we should aiter give or take quarter this day.~ The yeilow cog had now shot out from the narrow waters of the Solent. and was luning and rolling on the long heave of the ouent channel. The wind blew freshly~ from the east, with a very keen de to it ; and the great sail bellied ondly out. hying the vessel over until the water hissedl beneath her lee bul arks. Broad 2. A ungainly. she floun-: ered from wave to wave. dlippinig her round hows deoep into the blue rollers, ad sending the white flakes of foam in spatter over har decks. On her hr~ oard nuarter lay the two (lark gatlleys. chich hiad already hoisted sail and were hooinr out from Freshwater Bay in wift pursuit. their doul" line of oars givina them a vantage whic(h couldl not fail to bring them tup with any vessel hich trusted to sails alone. H-iah and u:' th'' Englishi cog : lon. black, and swift the pirate galleys, like two fierce en wolves which have seen a lordly d tunsuspecting stag wvalk past t heir "Sniwe turn. myt fair lord, or shall e "'rry en?" asked the maister-shipmant. oome' hthind him with n'dous eyes. "D.we most carry en. and plhay the n of th' hellss mnorch-~t." " yt our pennos? Thmxv willso ht w'' hav\e two knhts with us." .-o it wvou'ld not lhe to a kni-ht's honor or "oodl nemfl to lower he~ nen-non. ..' th.-m he. ni t h -' will think that we nrc a win!o shid fir Gasiony. or that we iar lth" woo!-hnl" of som'e mercer of rh. Rmploe. Ma fi h ut they are very gosha-wks on a heron. Is there not some symboi or device upon their sails?" -That on the right." said Edricson, "appears to have the head of an Ethiop upon it." "'Tis the badge of Tete-noire the Norman," cried a seaman-mariner. "I have seen it before. when he harried us at Winchelsea. lie is a wondrous large and strong man, with no ruth for man, woman or beast. They say that he hath the strength of six; and, certes, he hata the crimes of six upon his soul." "By St. Paul!" said Sir Nigel, "what is that upon the other galleyY' "It is the red cross of Genoa. This Spade-beard is a very noted captain, au it is his boast that ther2 are no seamen and So archers in the world who can compare with those who serve the Doge Boccanegra." "That we shall prove," said Goodwin Ilawtayne. "They will lay us aboard on either quarter. my lord." cried the master. "See how they stretch out from eaca other: The Norman hath a mangonel or a trabuch upon the forecastle. See. th.y bend to the levers! They are about to Icose it." "Aylward." cried the knight. "pick your three trustiest archers, and see if you can rot do something to hinder their aim. Methinks they are within long arrow flight." "Seventeen score paces," said the archer, running his eye backward and forward. "iy my ten finger-bones! it would be a strange thing if we could noLi notch a mark at that distance. Here, Watkin, of Sowley. Arnold. Lon Williams, let us show the rogues that they have English bowmen to deal with." The three archers named stood at the further end of the poop, balancing them selves with feet widely spread and bows diawn, until the heads of the cloth-yard arrows were level with the centre of thz stave. "You are the surer, Watkin," said Aylward. standing by them with shaft upon string. "Do you take tht rogue with the red coif. You two bring down the man with the head-piece; and I will hold myself ready if you miss. Ma foi! they are about to loose her. Shoot. mes garcons, or you will be too late." The throng of pirates had cleared away from the great wooden catapult. leaving two of their number to discharge it. One in a scarlet cap bent over it. steady ing the jagged rock which was balanced on the spoon-shaped end of the long wooden lever. The- other held the loop of the rope which would re lease the catch and send the un wieldly missile hurtling through the air. So for an instant they stood. show ing'hard and clear against the white sail behind them. The next, redcap had fallen across the stone with an arrow between his ribs: and the other, struck in the lg and in the throat, was writhing and splut tering upon the ground. As he toppled backward he had loosed the spring, and the huge beam of wood, swinging round with tremendous force, cast the corpse of his comrade so close to the English ship that its mangled and distorted limbs grazed her very stern. As to the stone, it glanced off obliquely and fell midway between the vessels. A roar of cheering and of laughter broke from the rough archers and seamen at the sight, answered lo. PIRATE'S ARM SLOWLY. BACK by a yell of rage from their pursuers. "Lie low." cried Aylward, motioning with his left hand. "They will learn wisdom. They are bringing forward shield and mantlet. We shall have some pebbles about our ears ere ln. The three v-essels had been sweeping swiftly westward, the &g still well to the front, although the galleys wvere hawing in upon either quarter. To the left was a hard sky-line unbroken by a sail. Alleyne stood by the tiller. looking backwards, the fresh wind full in his teeth. "What was thatY' he asked, as a hiss ing. sharp-drawn voice seemed to whisper in his ear. The steer-sman smiled. and pointed with his foot to wvhere a short. heavy cross-bow quarrel stuck quiverin~t in the boards. At the same instant th->~ man tumbled forward upon his knees. and lay lifeless upon the deck. the blood stained feather, of a secontd bolt jutting out from his hack. As Alleyne stooped to raise him, the air seemed to be alive with the sharp zip)-zip of the bolts, and he could hear themi pattering on the deck like apples at a tree-shaking. "Keep them in play. Aylwvard, with ten of your men." said Sir Nigel. "And let ten of Sir Oliver's bowmen do as much for the Genoese. I have no mind as yet to show them how~ much they havye to fear from us." Thei ma~ster-shipmanii looked at the knight withi a troubled fa'ce. "They keep their distance from us."' said he. "Our archery is over-good, and thev vill not close. "l think I may. trick them."' the knight answeredl cheerfully. andi passedl his ordler to the archers. instantly five of them threw up their hands and fell prostrate upon the deck. "They still hold aloof !" cried Ilaw tane. "TPhen down with two more!" shouted their leader, "That will do. Ma foi! but they come to our lure like chicks to the fowler. To your arms, men. As he spoke a roar of voices and a roll of drums came from either galley, and the water was lashed into spray by the hurried heat of a hundred oars. Down h" pirates swooped. Tn heavy einster~s ther hung upon the forenstle all readv for a spring-faces white, faces bronwn. fac-es yellow. iwl Non black: fair Norsemnen. swarthy m-mn., fierce rover-s from -the Levant 'ud fiery Moors from th'e PRrhary Ritfs. of all lutes and countries, and miarkc'1 o,.lv hv the common stamP of a wild tho-st foroeitv. Rnsping-un on either i3 Iih oars trailing to save them from nnping. ther noured in a living torrent '"ithi horrid yell and shrill whoop upon tIhn merehentman. Rut wilder yet was the cry. and shrillor al the scream, when there roco un from the shadow of the cog's silent bulwarks the long lines of the English bowmen. nnd the arrows w.hizzed in a deadly sleet mong the unprepared masses upon the piate der-ks. One moment Alleyne saw the galley's poop crowved with rushing figures. waving: ar, exultan frcs;- the next it was a bloot-smeared sliamibles. with bodies piled three deep Uponi each otiher, the living cowering behind the dead j shelter thetselves from that suql storm-blast of death. (n either side the seamen whom Sir Nigel had chosen for the purpose had cast their anchors over the sides of the galleys. k'ore and aft tiie archers had cleared the galleys' decks. but from either side the rovers had poured duown into the waist. wvnere the seatneu and bowmen were pushed bacK and so mingled with their toes that it was impossible tor their comrades above to <iraw string to lielp theim. It was a wild chaos n nere axe anl sword rose and fell, wihile :nghsnmeni, Norman and Italian staggered ani ree-i>1 on a deck which was cunibered with bodies and sippery with ulood. The giant Tete-noIre. towering above his fellows and clad from head to toot in plate of proof, led on his boarders, swinging a huge mace with which he struck to the deck every man who opposed him. O1n the otler side, Spade-beard. a dwarf in height. but of great breadth of shoulder and le:igth of a rm, hade z a road almost to the mast, vith three score Genoese min-at-aris close at his heels. But help was close at Ii S:Sr Oliver Buttesthorn vith his men-at-arms ha-l swarmed down from the forecastle. while Sir Nigel, with his three squires, Black Simon. Aylvard. Ilordle .oh. and ;L score more, sprang down from the poo) and hurled themselves into the thickest of the tight. Alleynm. as in duty bound, kept his eyes ever on his lord mad pressed forward close at his heels. Oft(- had Ia heard of Sir Nigel's prowess and skill with all knightly weapons. but all the tales that had reached his ears fell far Aort of the real quickness and coolness of the man. It was as if the dlevil wasl in him. for lie sprang here and sprang I there, now thrusting anl now cutting. catching blows on his shield, turning them with his blade, stooping iiunder the swing of an axe, springing over the sweep of a svord, so swift and so erratic that the man who braced himself for a blow at him might find him six paces off ere h, could bring it down. Three pirates had fallen before him, and he had wounded Spade-beard in the neck, when the Nor man giant sprang at him from the side with a slashing blow from his deadly mace. Sir Nigel stooped to avoid it. and at the same instant turned a thrust frc i the Genoese swordsman, but. his foot slipping in a pool of blood, he fell heavily to the deck. Alleyne sprang in front of the Norman, but his sword was shattered and he hiimself beaten to the deck by a second blow from the ponderous weapon. Ere the pirate chief could repeat it. how ever, Ilordle John's iron grip fell upon his wrist, and lie found that for once he was in the hands of a stronger maa than himself. Then came in truth a battle of giants, such as is seldom witnessed. Iercely the Norman strove to disengage his weapon, cursing anrrily, in Fre -h at being thwarted by such an unlo for antagonist. But Ilordle John, with a bull's bellow, bending his great muscles to the unwonted task, forced the huge pirate's sword arm slowly down and back ward. Terribly the Norman struggled, hurling his whole weight against his op ponent in an endeavor to break the vice like grip which held him. Back and forth they tlung and surged, until, with a quick movement, .-ordle John put forth a fierce effort. twisting and forcing farther back tle Norman's arme until with a sharp crack, like a breakin, stave, it turned limp in his grasp and the mace dropped from the nerveless fingers. In vain lie tried to pluck it with the other hand. Back and back still the Saxon bent him until, with aroar of pain and of fury. the giant clanged his full Lngth upon the boards, while the glimmer of a knife before the bars of his helmet warned him that short ' would be his; shrift if he moved. Cowed and disheartened by the loss of their leader, the Normans had given back id were now str'eamning ov'er the bul arks on to their own galley, dropping a dozen at a time, oin to her deck, But the fight had taken a new and a strange turn upon tile other side. Spade eard and his men had given slowly hack, hard pressed by Sir Nigel. Aylwardl. Black 'Simon, and the poop-guard. Foot by foot the Italian had retreaited. his a'mor running blood at every joint, his shield split, his crest shorn, his voice fallen away to a mere gaing~i and croak ing. Yet he faced his foemen with daunt less courage. dashing in. springing back, sure-footed. steady-hantded, with a shim-; nering poin~t which seemed to nmenace three at once. Beaten back on to the deck of his own vessel, and closely fol lowved by a dozen Eniglishmen. he dis engaged ih ise'lf frotm them, ran swiftly down the deck. spranig back into the cog once more. cut the rope which held the anchor. aind was back in an instant amiong his crossbowmen. At the same time the Genoese sailors thrtust wvith their oars against the side of the cog. and a rapiidhy widening rift appeared between the twvo vessels. "By St. George !" cried Ford, "we are ent offT from Sir NigeL." "lHe is lost." gasp)ed Terlake. "Come. let us sprinlg for it." The two youths jumped with all their strenigth to reach the departing galley. Ford's feet reached the edge of the bulwarks, and] his band lutching a rope he swung himiself on board. Ter'lake fell short. crashed in among the oars. and( bounlded off ito the' sea. Alleynie. staggering to the side, was aout to hurl1 himself after him. but I lordle JTohn's heavy hand dragged him back by the airdle. Trhe vessels were indeed so far apart now that the Getnoese cotl use the full sweep of their oars and draw away raphidly frotm the cog. . "Look !Look : but it is a noble fight " shouted big John. elappinlr his hands. "They' have cleared the poop. and they spring into the waist. Well struck, my l rh d :'ell struck, A ylward ! See too, Ilack Simon, how lie storms among the sipmten !But this Spade-beard is a allant warrior. .d3y Hleavetn, Sir Nigel is down!" cried th(e squire. "Tp"roared .Tohn. "It w. but a feint. Hie bears hlim back. Hie drives him to the side. Ah. by Our Lady, his sword is thiroieh hin' The death of the Genoese leader did indeed brinr the resistaince to an end. .mid ai thundler of chleerinr from cor an11I front galleys the forked p 'anon fluttered upon)1 thet forecastle, andi the galley, sweep ing routnd. came slowly back. The two knirhts had cami aboartd the cog. the shipiman walked the deck, a pr -fil neaster-marinor' once more. "There is sad . ath done to the oe. Sir Niacl." saidi he. "He-re is a hole ini the side of two ells aeron. the sail silit through the cent'-r, and the wood as bar as a frinrI's po11. "By St. Paul: it would be0 a very sorriy thing' if we s'iffereid vou to be the worse for tis any's work." said Sir Nirel. "PBut how~ fares it with you. Edrieson? '-Tt is nothin". myt faiir lo'-d."' sni'] Alleno. whlo had nov loosened lis hnt'-d r.4t. whi,hl was5 or:ekod neross liy thi Norm-mn's blow. T' -er ni ho spoke. how ver'. hi-: hona dswviirle' r'o'nd. nod he fell ti the deck with the blood gtishing from 1ijst-ose :i'l imoutth. "TI.' will comte to anon," said the kight. stoonin- over him and nassing his finzers thro'n'h his hatir. 'I hnve lost one verv valiant and rontle sqirP thic dny. How many men bav" fallen? I haive nrieked off the tally." said A vlward. "There are seven of the Wi~n chester men, eleven seamen, your souiire yong Master Terlake. and nine archers." "And of the otlers: "They are all dtad-sav, the oiU.an knilight who standis behuinid you. What wvould you that we should do with ham?" He must hang on his own yard."* said Sir Nigel. *It was iy vow and must be done." -Ilow, Sir Knight?" h cried in broken Eglish. "What do you say *-to hang Llt death of at dug. Ito hang? -It is my vol." saiid Sir Nigel shortly. "rtoI wnat - iwar. yout tlouigLt 1i' enough of hanging others." "Ieasanits. base roturiers:' cried the other. -It is their litting death. But to hong-the Seigitur 'Andelys-a mana with the blood of kings in his veins-ir is incredible." Sir -u-l turned upon hi: - hel, while two seanien east a noose over the pirate's neck. At the touch of die cord he snapped the bonds which bound hint. dashed one of the archers to the deck. and, seizing tihe other round the waist. sprang with him into the sea. "By my hilt. he is gone:" cried Ayl ward, rushing to the sil.d. *They have sunk tot.eiher liae a s:a. "I am right glad of it." answered Sir Nigel; "for tEou.h it w.as against iml vow to loose hiim, I deemi that he has carried himself like a very gentle ani debonnaire cavalier." It was on tl iornihg of Friday. the eight-and-twentieti day of November. two days before the feast of St. Andrew. that the cog and her two prisoners. afti r running before a northeasterly wind, and a weary taeking up the Gironde and the! Garonne, dio pped anchor at last ini front of the nolL city of 'Bordtaux. With wonder ant athniration. Alleyne. leaning I over the bulwarks. gazed at the forest of masts, the swarm of boats darting hither and thither oii the bosom of the broad. curving st ream. and the _iray. eresecent shaped city which stretched ,vith many a tower anad minaret along the western shore. Never had he in his quiet life seen so 'great a town. nor was there in the whole of England. save London alone, one which might match it in size or in wealth. "I . trust. Aylward." said Sir Nigel, coming upon deck, -that the men are ready for the land. Go tell them that the boats will be for theni within the hour." The archer- raised his hand in salute, and hastened forward. In tile meantime Sir Oliver had followed his brother knight, and the two paced the poop to g(ther. 'Once more. Sir Oliver." said Sir Nigel, looking shoreward with sparkling eyes. "do we find ourselves at the gate of honor, the door which hath so often led us to all that is knightiy and worthy. There lies the prince-s batnner. and it would be well that we haste ashore,.and pay our obeisance to him. The horses both of knights and squires were speedily lovered into a broad lighter, and reached the shore almost as soon as their masters. Sir Nicel bent his knee devoutly as he put foot oi land, and taking a small black patch from his bosom he bound it tightly over his left ee. "May the blessed George and the memn ry of my sweet lady-love raise high in mnt heart :- quoth he. "And as a token I vow that I will not take this patch from mine eye until I haive seen something of this country of Spain. and done such a small deed as it lies in me to do. And this I swear upon t-he cross of my sword and upon the glove of my lady." War. which had wrought evil upon so many fair cities around. had brought ought but good to this one. As her French sisters decayed she increased. for ere, from north, and from east, and from sou1th. came the plunder to be sold and the ransom money to be spent. In front of the minster and abbty of .t. Andrew's was a large square with priests. soliers. women, friars, and Mrghers. who made it their common enter for sightseeing and gossip. Amid the knots of noisy and gesticulating townsfolk, many small parties of mornted k~nights and squires threaded their way toward the prince's quarters, where the muge iron-clamped doors were thrown nuck to show that he held audience vithin. The two knights were deep in talk. when Alleyne became aware of a re markable individual who was walking 'ondl the room in their direction. As h-I 'assed1 each knot of cavaliers every head turned to look after himn. and it was evi lent, from the bows and respectful salu What Does \. be( you Such A bool In Holmes' next adventure, h confronted by the cabalistie i in "The Sign of the Fo These two. the Erst and best of the Sh~ ng. bound elegantly in a single big volt k Bros.' regular $1.50 linen imperial cait 50 C Here is a chance to get two of the mos niost beaut-iully printed and bound editio: FREE WiI1H THIS BOOL Ce Be sure and use. this Cohupon, sending 50 H A RPEIR & BR~OS.; Fran Samc........ -.. ... . ---------. --' Street......... T-nr, ..................... tatiois on :ll side. hat te in \hich he eXcil ed s Inot due mereiy t his strango personal appearance. lie vas tall and I- strai.n:t as a h . thou'h of a great age. for his hair, wie C uirled from umder his biack veit ca) io lm:inienance. was as white as th- ntr. il(n .nowi Yet. fronm the swin; o: --ride and springr of his step, it was e Iw:t! i had not yet lost the fir, and m-tIvity of his youth. His ierce hawv - like fae wI; clean shaveu like that 0- a iest. sae for a lIn thin wisp of white5 m Ii, I. Th it 1w iald bzei handsomJ i b.. e.I:siV judred from his bigh aiin. and clear-cut clin: but hisA feal ares hit bea so distorted by the Ss :mdt * s1-ars of oldl wounds. and by Lt: lss of on- ee wleh had been torn 1: h soc k. tlint there was little left to rem ial n of the dashing young kliOiht who 11 ha eein lifty years ago the fairest :1s well as the boldest of the English chiv::lry-Cindos, the stainless knight. the wise councillor, the valiant v.arrior. "Ia. my little heart of gold:" he cried. dartin; forward suddenly and throwing his arms round Sir Nigel. -I heard that you were here, and have been seeking .ou." *My fair and dear lord." said the knight. returning the warrior's embrace. "I have indeed come back to you. for wlhre else shall I go that I may learn to be a .,entle and a hardy knight'f" "By niy troth." said Chandos with a smile. -it is very fitting that we should ho conpanions. Nigel, for since you have tied up one of your eyes. and I have had the mischance to lose one of mine, we have but a pair betveeu us. Ab. Sir Oliver! vou were on the blind side of me and I saw you not. So saying, he led the way to the inner chamber. the two companions treading e-ise at his hee!s. and nodding to right ard left as they cau;:ht sight of familiar faces among the crowd. (To be Continued Nzet Week.) Synopsis of Prec'eding Cnaoters. The scenes of th- stry nre laid in i: : ili rentury. Hordle John. of -he Ci-terc:r. . . nt.s from the Abbey f Ieaujieut. guhty of erta erous charzes briutht a;rmint hi i by a uilv if tie mTois. Aztier of the lay-br-tl-ren. Aheyeni yd ric-li.takes his departure In ace-riane.: bi. father's w l. osignatling that he s.outal. when i he beenmc 21.,-.) for h for ene year to cl.( for bj:r. sel hi tfu:n - cailliii. in sadnesi h- r'- tu vit i. brother. the Swnmian ol Mistra-i. 1ie-e reipt tk;on 1iter s~ vey At tiirht Alle-yt.- .e a re nd-si.t iom. vhre Ie teets H-rd'e Jo..n,. and Sainkit Ay: rd. an Eniish archerjust back fri the Fierte. *ara. Allyne finds i is brother in Mitend w eil';ipaa i irg with : b.-nutiftu Idamse!. He res '-). rt her- by ga iningrthe semn's enmity.T era e. -r:.g that he int-d to j in hi. comprm i. :. iit church. "ho-- rw-li- ir~irgi,lenae-r. tr- :i;y witsout t.iil imt hern me. ie r tej i-rsI. m pan iannal tev joi::rr. ev t-.,sir Ni::vrf , h Pe o :- 0 Ing thle reno-:ne i unightri. H(rdl!--.14 br.-is ni.::lh vex$ d at bi- nz-pa r--n.t bod ih w e:.kne- h e:kztI e chaf rts iemind vhen they rsve an aInre w th a bear. Here Alleven :eets Lis c. mtanbin C1 the wt'ods. whon ns i- the dSuhr s r ir eh The white coir,any .ans Twy-lhnni Ca-'l'. At. i-yne tiii the lady atale of hi- lov- ftr her. She gives Lint n1o p: 1it, htt #--e 1 im a retn veil to carry with him to the wars as a love tikcu. To Whom Does Taft Refer:? Secretary Taft said of a certain domineering statesman: "IIe fills me with dread. They quail before him. They can't call their souls their own in his presenec. Altogether, he makes me think of a waiter I once met in the West. "In a small Western town, many years ago, I put up at the Palace Hotel. "Thete was no water nor towels in my room, and I rang. "There wa-s no reply. "I rang again. "Still no reply. "And again and again and yet again I rang, and Laully a waiter appeared. "This waiter was a robust man of stern and forbidding aspect. "Did you ring?' he said in a rumbllintg bass voice. "'I did.' I answered. "'Well. don't do it again.' said the waiter. with a menacing scowl, as he withdrew." Pr~fMzustard, i-Iaveri~?~r claims that Ben Franklin's maxims in, "Poor Richard's Almanac" are largely. Quotations from classical authors. A hot corzroversy is expected to ensue. This Mean? U 1 these puzzling Sthirigs, roughly displayed in Frecsh Blood >n the k'all of a house tre a great crime had n committed, stared in the face, could you lain their meaning? was the problem which SHERLOCK IOLMIES had to SOIVC ifl his firSt chrOnic~cd adventure l'he Study in Scarlet " < which miade CONAN DOYLE the first f detective writers in the world. -ti mage ur " erlock Hol novel-, :'3 paiges (4 readi LEme int 11bmin.ated cloth borardi (Harper lont), senft Tptpaid with this coupon for E TS t intensetv irleerestintg of adventures in a 1 fr just one -third pric.. and-some, coipper phloto-engzravuire of riock folmaes, ;rintted on hevaviest neled paper, suitable for fra'mintg. cedns in S amps, Coin or Mtoy Or(:er. kim Suare,- N. Y. City.