Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Lake County examiner. (Lakeview, Lake County, Or.) 1880-1915 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 1906)
Beaulieu. At rnrly dawn they passed across the broad. sliiKKlah, reed-girt stream men, horses, and bngnngp in the flat ferry bantes unci no journeyert on inrouffn me irwn morning sir i r tuirr to Low. Toiuint the heathy down, tbey enme of a sudden full in Bight of the old seaport, home way out iron, me town a line of pciwoners, creyers, and other small rraft wer rolling inuiy on the gentle swell. Further out still lay Itreat merrhnnt shin, high-ended, deep waiided, painted of a canary yellow, an. I towering above the fibbing boats like a wan anions duckling. "By St Taul!" said the knight, "our food mcrrhnnt of Southhampton bath not Dlayed us false, for methioks I can ace our ship down yonder. He said that sh would be of great site and of a yellow shade. "B a? hilt, yes!" muttered Aylward "she la yellow as a kite's claw, and would catry as many men as there are pips in a pomegranate. "It la well," remarked Terlake; "for methiuks, tuy fair lord, that we are not the only ones who are waiting a passage to Uascony. Mine eye catches at times a flash and sparkle from among yonder bouses which assuredly never came from sbipman's jacket or the gaberdine of a burgher. "I can also see It," said Alleyne. sbad tag bis eyes with bis band. "And 1 can see men-at-arms in yonder boats which Ply betwixt the vessel and the shore. Hut roethinks that we are very welcome here, for already they come forth to meet us. A tumultuous crowd of fishermen, citi zens, and women bad indeed swarmed out from the northern gate, approached them up the side of the moor, waving their bands auu dancing with Joy, as tbouch a great fear had been rolled back from their minds. At their bead rode a very large and solemn man with a long chin and drooping lip. He wore a fur tippet round bis neck and a heavy gold chain over it, with a medallion which dangled in front of him. "Welcome, most puissant and noble lord !" be cried, doffing his bonnet "You see la me the mayor aud 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." IIa !" cried Sir Nigel, pricking up his cars. "Ves, my lord, for the town being very ancient, and the wails as old as the town, it follows that they are very ancient too. But there Is a certain vllllanous and blood thirsty Norman pirate knight Tete-noire, who, with a Genoan called Tito Caracci. commonly known as Spade-beard, hath been a mighty scourge upon these coasts. Indeed, my lord, they are very cruel and black-hearted men, graceless and ruthless. They have come in two great galleys, with two banks of oars on either side, and great store of engines of war and of men-at-arms. At Weymouth and at Portland they have murdered and ravished. Yesterday morning they were at Cowea, 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 side; "the Prince awaita 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 Freshwater and to prevail upon these rovers to leave you in peace." "We are much beholden to you !" a led the mayor. "But I cannot see, my lord, how, without a warship, you may venture against these men. With your archers, however, you might well hold the town and do them great scath if they attempt to land. "There is a very proper cog out yon der," said Sir Nigel ; "it would be a very strange thing if any ship were not a war chip when it bad such men as these upon ber decks. Certes, we shall do as I say, and that no later than this very day." "My lord," said a rough-haired, dark faced man, who walked by the knight's other Btirrup, with his head sloped to catch all that he was saying, "by your leave, I have no doubt that you are skilled la land fighting and the marshalling of lances, but, by my soul! you will find it another thing upon the sea. I am master Khipman of this yellow cog, and my name is Goodwin Hawtayne. I have sailed since I was as high as this staff, and I have fought against these Norman and against the Genoese, as well as the Scotch, the Bretons, the Spanish, ana the Moors. I tell you. sir, that my hi i nver-lizht and over-frail for such work. and it will but end in our bavins our throats cut, or being sold as slaves to the Barbary heathen." "I also have experienced one or two gentle and honorable ventures upon th! sea," quoth Sir Nigel, "and I am right blithe to have so fair a task before us. I think, good master-shipman, that yo'j and I may win great honor in this matter, and I can see very readily that you are a brave and stout man." "I like it not," said the other stur dily. "In God's name, I like it not! And yet Goodwin Hawtayne is not the man to stand back when bis follows 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 be may find another master." The throng moved on, until at the very gate it was brought to a stand by a wondrously stout man, who came darting forth from the town with rage in every feature of bis rubicund face. "How now. Sir Mayor?" he roared, in a voice like a bull. "How now, Sir Mayor? How of the clams and the scallops?" "By our Lady, my sweet Sir Oliver, cried the mayor, "I have had so much to think of, with these wicked villians, so close upon us, that it had quite gone out of my bead." "Nay, Sir Oliver, Sir Oliver!" cried Sir Nigel, laughing. "Iet your arnjer be appeased, since instead of this dish you come upon an old friend and comrade.' "By St. Martin of Tours !" shouted the fat knight, bis wrath nil changed in an instant to joy, "if it is not my dear little game rooster of the Garonne. Ah. my sweet coz. I am right glad to see you. What days we have seen together." "The clams and scallops shall be ready within the hour," the mayor answered. "I bad asked Sir Oliver Huttestborn to do my humble board the honor to partake at it of the dainty upou which we take some little pride, but in sooth this alarm of pirateB hath cast such shadow on my wits that I am like one distr.iit. But I trust. Sir Nigel, that you will i so pur take of none-meat with me?" "I have over-much to do, Sir Nigel answered, "for we must be alioiird, horse and man, bb early as we may. How uianv do you muster, Sir Oliver?" "Tbree-und-forty. "Tliree-aud-forty. I shall nine work for every man of them ere the sun set. It Is my intention, ir It seems K1 to you, to try a venture ugulust these Normuu .ud Genoese rovers." CHAPTER XII. Lenvlng the lusty knight and the Mayor of Lepe, Sir Nii?el led the Gomimny straight down to the water's edire. where long lines of flat lighters swiftly bore tbeia to their vessel. Horse after horse was slung by main force up from the barges, and after kicking and iduneing in emptv air w" drowned fito the deee valst of the yellow cog, where rows of stalls stood ready for their safe keeping. Knglishmon In those days wre skilled and prompt in such mutters, for it was not long hetore that K'lwurtl had emlmraed an many as fifty thousand men In the port of Orwell, with their horses and their baggage, all in the apace of four-and-twenty hours. So urgent was Sir Nigel on the shore, and so prompt was Goodwin Hawtayne on the cog. that Sir Oliver Button! horn had scarce swallowed his Inst scallop era the peal of trumpet and clang of linker announced that all was ready and the anchor drawn. In the last boat which left the shore the two com manders sat together iu the sheets, a strange contrast to one auother, while under the feet of the rowers was a litter of huge stones which Sir Nii'l had ordered to be carried to the cog, Theso once aboard, the ship set her broad main sail, the breete blew, the sails bellied, over heeled the portly vessel, and away she plunged through the smooth, blue rollers. "By St. Taul!" said Sir Nigel gayly. ad he stood upon the poop and looked on either aide of him, "it is a laud which is very well worth lighting for. nnl it were pity to go to France for what may be had at home. You may bring my harnes fioni below," he continued, to his squires. and also. I pray you.bring urt Sir Olivers and we shall don it here. Ye may then see to your own gear ; for this d:iy you will, I hope, make a very honorable en trance iuto the field 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 ijkily l l am no chicken, but I cannot claim to know as much of war as the squire of Sir Walter Manny. Settle the matter to your own liking. "You shall lly your pennon npon the foie-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 poop-guard. Ten archers, with thirty shipmen, under th-.? master, may hold the waist, while ten lie aloft with 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 (be old bowman, as he passed from kno to knot "By my hilt! we are in luck this journey. But it is time that we took our order, for methinks that between th Needle rocks and the Alum cliffs yonder I can catch a glimpse of the topmasts of the galleys, Hewett Cook, Johnson. Cunningham, your moo are of the poop guard. Thornbury, Walters, Hacketl, 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, lyin? flat uKn their faces on the deck, for such was Sir Nigel's order. Near the prow was planted Sir Oliver's spear, with his arms a boar's head gules uron a field of gold. Close by the stern stood Black Simon with the pennon of HORDLE JOHN FORCED THE HUGE the bouse of Loring. In the waist gatb- eied the Southampton mariners, hairy and burly men, with their jerkins thrown off, their waists braced tight, swords, mallets, and pole-axes in their hands. Their leader, Goodwin Hawtayne, stood upon the poop and talked with Sir Nigel, casting his eye up sometimes at the swelling sail, and then glancing back at the two seamen who held the tiller. "Bass the word," said Sir Nisei, "that no man shall stand to arms or draw bis bow-string until my trumpeter shall sound. It would be well that we should seem to be a merchant-ship from South ampton and appear to tiee from them." "We shall see them anon," said the master-shipman. "Ha! said I not so? There they lie, the water-snakes, in Freshwater Bay ; and mark the reek of smoke from yonder point, where they have been at their devil's work. See how their shallops pull from the land! They have seen us and called their men aboard. Now they draw upon the anchor. See them like acts upon the forecastle! They stoop and heave like bandy ship men. But, my fair lord, these are uo niefs. I doubt but we have taken in hand more than we can do. Each of these ships is a galeas, and of the largest and swiftest make." "I would I hiid your eyes," said Sir Nigel, blinking at the pirate galleys. "They seem very gallant bliips, and 1 trust that we shall have much pleasanee from our meeting with them. It would be well to pass the word that we should wither give or take quarter this day." The yellow cog bad now shot out from the narrow wuters of the Soleut, and was plunging ami rolling on the long heave ot the open channel. The wind blew freshly from the east, with a very keen ede to it; and the great sail bellied roundly out, laying the vessel over until the water hissed beneath her lee bul warks. Broad i. i ungainly, she floun dered from wave to wave, dipping her round bows di-ep into the blue rollers, and sending the white flakes of foam iu a spatter over her decks. On her lar board quarter lay the two dark galleys, which had already hoisted sail nnd were shooting out from Freshwater Bay in swift pursuit, their double line of oars giving them a vantage which could not fail to bring them up with any vessel which trusted to sails alone. High and bluff the English cog; long, black, and swift the pirate galleys, like two fierce lean wolves which have seen a lordly and unsuspecting stag walk past their lair. "Shall wp turn, my fair lord, or shall we enrry on?" asked the master-shipman. looklnir behind him with anxious eyes. "Nay, we must carry on, and play the pnrt of the helrileas tnereh''"t." "But your pennons? Th"V will Bee that w have two knights with us." "Yet It would not Iip to a knltrhr's honor or good name to lower h's pennon. Let them be. and thev will think that we are a wine ship for Gascony. or that we bear the wool-bales of some mercer of the Staple. Ma fol J but they re vr swift! They swoop upon us like tw goshawks on a heron. Is there not some symbol or device iion their sails" "That on the right," wild KdrlcNou, "appears to have the bead of an Uthtop UKll It." 'lis the badge of Tete-notra the Norman," cried a seaman-manner. "1 have seen it before, when he hafrled us at Wiui'hclsca. He ia a wondrous large aud strong man, with uo ruth for man, woman or beast. They say that be batn the strength of sis; aud, certes, he hatu the crimes of six upon his soul. "Br St Paul J" said Sir NigeJ, "wbat is that upon the other galley Y" "It is the red cross of Genoa. This Spade-beard is a very noted captain, aud it la his iKmst mat mere are uo seamen aud uo archers in the world who cau compare with those who serve the Dog' Hocvauegra." "That we shall prove," Bald Goodwin llawta.vne. "They will lay us aboard on either ocarter. my lord, cried the master. "See how they stretch out from each other! The Norman hath a mangonel or a trabuch upon the forecastle. See. they bend to the levers! They are about to loose it. "Aylward." cried the knight, "pick tout three trustiest archers, aud ace if you can rot do something to hinder their aim. Methiuks they are within long arrow rtigtit. "Seventeen score paces," said the archer, running bis eye backward and forward. my ten finger-bones! it would be a strange thing if we could not notch a mark at that distance. Here, Watkin, of Sow Icy, Arnold, Ixng 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 jxwp, balancing them selves with feet widely spread and bows di awn, until the bends of the cloth-yard arrows were level with the centre of the stave. "You are the Biirer, Watkin." said Aylward. standing by them with shaft upou string. "lo you take the rogue with the red coif. You two bring down the man with the head-piece, and I will bold myself ready if you miss. Ma f oi ! they are about to loose her. Shoot, nies garcons, or you will b too late." The throng of pirates bad 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 jigged 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 tin wieldly missile hurtling through the nir. 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 betweeu his ribs: and the other, struck in the and in the throat was writhing and splut tering upon the ground. As he toppled backward he bad loosed the spring, and the huge beam of wood, swinging round with tremendous force, cast the corpse of his comrade so close to the r.nglish ship that its mangled aud distorted limbs grazed her very stern. As to the atone, 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 PIRATE'S ARM SLOWLY BACK. by a yell of rage from their pursuers. "Lie low," cried Aylward, motioning with bis left hand. "They will learn wisdom. They are bringing forward shield and mantlet We shall have some pebbles about our ears ere long."' The three vessels had been sweeping swiftly westward, the cog still well lo the front, although the galleys were diawing 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 that?" be asked, as a hiss ing, sharp-drawn voice seemed to whisper in his ear. The steersman soiiled, nnd liointed with his foot to where a short, heavy cross-bow quarrel stuck quivering in the boards. At the same instant tb-i man tumbled forward upon bis knees, and lay lifeless upon the deck, the blood stained feather, of a second bolt jutting out from his back. As Alleyne stooped to raise him, the nir seemed to be alive with the sharp zip-zip of the bolts, and he could hear them pattering on the deck like apples at a tree-shaking. "Keep them in play, Aylward, 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 us yet tt show them how much they have to fi-ar from us." The iijuster-HhlpniUD looked at the knight with a trouliled face. "They keep their distance from us," said be. "Our archery is over-good, and they will not close. "I think I may trick them," the knight uuswered cheerfully, uud passed his order to the archers, instantly live of them threw up their hands and fell prostrate upon the deck. "They still hold aloof!" cried Ilaw taynp. "Then 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 beat of a hundred oars. Down the pirates swooped. Tn heavy clusters thpy hung upon the forecastle ull ready for a spring faces white, faces brown, faces yellow, and f'ices black; fair Norsemen, swarthy Italians, fierce rovers from the Levant ood fierv Moors from the Barbary States, of all hues and countries, and marked solely by the common stamp of a wild beimt ferocity. Hasping up on either e, with oars trailing fo save them from sun opine, thev rionred In n llv'ng torrpnt with horrid yell and shrill whoop upon the merchnntmnn. But wilder yet was the cry, and shriller still the scream, when there rose un from the shadow of the cog's silent bulwarks the long lines of thp English bowmen, and the arrows whizzed In a deadly sleet iitming the unprepared masses upon the pirate de-Va. Dm moment Alleyne saw the eallev'g poon crowed with rushing figures, "avlng arms, exultant faces; the next it was a blood smeared shambles, with iHHliea piled turee deep iiihui phcIi other the llviug cowering behind the dead In Shelter themselves Iroiu that sudden storui-blast of death. On either sine the seamen whom Sir Nigel had chosen foi the purpose bad cant their anchors ovr the sides of the galleys. l ore and aft (lie archers bad cleurei the galleys' decks, but from either side the rovers had poured down into the vaist, where the seameu and bowmen were pushed buck and so mingled Willi their toes that It was impossible lor men comrades alsive to draw string to help tlieiu. It was a wild chaos where axe aul ord rose and lell, while buglishuicn, .Noiinan and Italian staggered and reeled on a deck which was cumbered with bodies aud slippery with blood. The giaut Tete-nolre. towering iioove ins teuows ami ciad Iroui bead to loot in plate t proof, led on his boarders. swinging a huge mace with which he struck to the deck every man who opposed him. Ou the other side, Spade-beurd, a dwarf iu height, but of great breadth of shoulder aud length of arm, had road almost to the mast, with three score Genoese men-at-arms close at his heel. But help was close at li S Oliver Biittesthorn with tils men-at-arms ha swarmed down from the forecnstle, while Sir Nigel, with his three squires. Black Mtnou, Ayiwurd, 1 tortile John, and score more, sprang down from the mkp and burled tticiusclvea iuto the thickest of the light. Alleyne, as In duty Isnnnl, kept his eves ever yii his lord and pressed forward close at bis heels. Often bad .' beard of Sir Nigel's prowess and skill with all knightly weapons, but all the tales that hail reached bis ears fell far short of the real quickness and coolness of the man. It was as if the devil was In him, for be sprang here and sprung there, now thrusting and now cutting. catching blows on his shield, turning them with his blade, stooping under the swing of an axe, springing over the sweep of a sword, so swift and so erratic that the man who braced himself for a blow at him might find him six paces off ere be could bring it down, three pirates hud fallen before him, and be had wounded Spade-beard In the neck, when the Noi nian giant sprang at him from the side with a slashing blow from bis deadly mace. Sir Nigel atooitcd to avoid it, aud at the same iustant turned n thrust fr the Genoese swordsman, but, bis fool flipping in a lssd of blood, he fell heavily to the deck. Alleyne sprung Iu front of the Norman, but Ins sword was shuttered and he himself beaten to the deck by a second blow from the iidcroua weapon. r.re the pirate chief could repeat It, how ever, llordle Johns iron gru fell uism his wrist, and be found that for once be was in the hands of a stronger mail than himself. Then came in truth a battle of giants, such as is seldom witnessed. Fiercely the Norman Btrove to diwtignge his wcaion. cursing angrily iu t retich at being thwarted by such au utilu for antagonist. But Hordle John, with a bull's bellow, bending his great muscles to the uuwoiited task, forced the huge pirate's sword arm slowly down and back ward. Terribly the Norman struggled, hurling his whole weight against bis o Mneut iu an endeavor to break the vice like grip which held him. Back and forth they flung and surged, until, with a quick movement, .ordle John put forth a tierce effort, twisting aud forcing farther back the Normau'a arm until with a sharp crack, like a breaking stave, it turned limp in his grasp and the mace droped from the nerveless lingers. In vain he tried to pluck it with the other band. Back and back still the Saxon Is'tit him until, with aroar of pain nnd of fury, the giant clanged his full b ngth iiihui the boards, while the glimmer of a knife before the bars of his helmet warned him that short would be bis shrift if be moved. Cowed and disheartened by the loss of their leader, the Norma us bad given back and were now streaming over the bul warks ou to their own galley, dropping a dozen at a time, on to her deck. But the light bad taken a new and a strange turn Un the other side. Spade beard and bis men hail given slowly bark, hard pn-ssed by Sir Nigel, Aylward. Black Simon, and the issip-guard. Foot by foot the Italian bad retreated, bis urmor running blood at every joint, bis shield split, bis crest shorn, his voice fallen away to u mere gasping and croak ing. Yet he faced his foemen with daunt less courage, dashing in. springing back. sure-footed, steady-handed, with a shim mering isiiut which seemed to menace three at once. Beaten back on to the deck of his own vessel, and closely fol lowed by a dozen Englishmen, be dis engaged himself from them, ran swiftly down the deck, sprang buck into the cog once more, cut the roie which held the anchor, and was back in an instant among bis crossbowmen. At the same time the Genoese sailors thrust with their oars against the side of the cog, and a rapidly widening rift apsured between the two vessels. "By St. George!" cried Ford, "we are cut off from Sir Nigel." "He is lost," gasped Terlake. "Come, let us spring for it." The two youths jumped with all their strength to reach the departing galley. Ford's feet reached the edge of the bulwarks, ami bis hand clutching a rope be swung himself on board. Terlake fell short, crashed in among the oars, and bounded off into the sea. Alleyne, staggering to the side, was about to hurl himself after him. but llordle John's heavy band dragged him back by the girdle. The vessels were indeed so iar apari now that the Genoese coul 1 use the full sweep of their oars and draw away rapidly from the cog. "Iook! Iok! but it is a noble fight! shouted big John, clapping bis hands. They have cleared the ioop, and tuey spring into the waist. Well struck, my Icrd! Well stru'k, A.viwaru: rtce too. Black Simon, how he storms among the shipmen! But this Spade-beard is a gallant warrior. "ily Heaven, Sir Nigel Is down!" cried the squire. Tn!" roared John. "It was but a feint He bears him back. lie drives him to the side. Ah. by Our iJidy, bis sword is throuuh birn ! The death of the Genoese leader did Indeed bring the resistance to an end. Amid n thunder of chcerine from "iif and from galleys the forked pennon fluttered upon the forecastle, and the galley, sweep ing round, came slowly back. The two kniiMits bad eome aboard the cog, the shipman walked the deck, a peaepful master-mnriner once more. J here is sad seatn done to tne col-, Sir Nigel," said be. "Here Is a hole Iu the side of two ells across, the sail split through the center, and the wood as bare as a friar's poll. "By St. Paul! It would he a very sorry thing if we suffered you to be the worse for this day's work." snld Sir Nigel. "But bow fares it with you, Edrleson?" "It is nothing, my fair bird." said Alleyne. who had now loosened his bassi net, which was cracked across by the Norman's blow. Even as he spoke, how ever, his bead swirled round, and he fell to the deck with the blood gushing from bis nose and mouth. lie will come to anon, said the knight, stooping over him and missing his fingers tlironeh his hair. "I have lost one very valiant nnd tfentle soulr this day. How many men have fcllei? I have pricked off the tally, said Avlward. "There are seven of the Win chester men, eleven seamen, your sonlre young Master Terlake, and nine archers." "And of Hie others?" "Tuey are all dead save Ihe Norman knight who stands behind you. What would you thai we should do with htuir" "Ha must bang on his own yard,' said Sir Nigel. "It was my vow and must be done," "llow, Mr Knight?" he cried In broken English. "What do you say? to bang- tin- death of a don. To Imiiur "It is my vow." said Sir Nigel shortly "From what I heHr, you thought lime uougu of hanging others. "Peasants, base rot urlers I" cried the other. "It la their lilting death. But lo hang the Seigneur 'Audclys a man with the bliHHl of king iu hi veins II is incredible." Sir .Mitel turned llHi h' heel, w hile two seamen cast a noose over the pirate uick. At the touch of the cord be snapped Ihe bonds which bound him dashed one of the archers to the deck aud, sculug the other round tho waist, sprang witu hi in into ibu sea. "By ui.v hilt, be Is gone!" cried Ay I ward, rushing to the side. "They have sunk together like a stone. "I am right glad of It." anawerod Sir Nigel k "fur though it was against my vow to loose hlni, 1 deem that he has carried himself like a very gentle and in iMiunalre cavalier. It was ou the morning of Friday, the rlght-aiid-twentieth day of November, two days before the feast of St. Andrew, that tlm cg and ber two prisoners, aftir running before a northeasterly wind, and a weary lucking up the Giroude and the Garonne, dropis-d anchor nt Inst In front of the noble city of Bordeaux. With wonder and admiration, Alleyne, leaning oxer the bulwarks, gaxed at the forest of uinsts, the swurin of IhhiIn darling till Her and thither on tho Ihisoiu of the broad. curving stream, and Ihe gray, crcsivtit-diapi-d city which stretched with many a tower ami minaret along the western shore. Never had he in his quiet life neeu so great a town, nor was there iu the whole of England, save Iic!n alone, one which might mulch it In Ue or iu wealth. I trust, Aylwurd." said Sir Nigel, coining iiMin di-ck, that the men are reaily for the laud. Go tell them that the iHtats will be fur them within Ihe hour, The archer ruist bis baud In salute, nnd hastened forward. In Ihe uieautlnie Sir Oliver had followed bis brother knight, nnd the two paced Ihe ihmiu to- gt ttier. "l)iie more. Sir Oliver, said Sir Nigel. looking shoreward with sparkling eyes. do we uud ourselves at the ante of honor, the door which bath so often led us to all that I knightly aud worthy. There lies the prince's banner, and It would he well that we haste ashore and pay our obeisance to him The horses both of knight and squire were speedily lowered Into a broad lighter, uud readied the shore almost as soon as their masters. Sir Nigel bent bis knee devoutly as he put foot ou land, and tuking a small black natch from bi bosom be bound it tightly over hi left eye. .May the blessed George and the mem ory of my sweet lady-love raise high in n bear! ! quoth be. "And a a token I vow that I will not take this patch from mine eye until I have seen something of this country of Spain, nod done such a small deed as it lies iu tun to do. And this I swear uiKin the cross of tuy Sword and iiHin the glove of my lady." War, which had wrought evil unon so many fair cities around, had brought ought but good to this one. A her French sister decayed she increased, for here, from north, and from east, and from south, came Ihe plunder to be sold and the ransom money lo be iqx-nt. In front of the minster and abbey of St. Andrew's was a large square with priests, soldiers, women, friars, and burghers, who made it their common center for sightseeing and gossip. Amid the knots of noisy and gesticulating townsfolk, many small parties of mounted knights and squires threaded their way toward the prince's ouurters. where the I huge lron-clamsd doors were thrown imck to show that be held audience within. The two knights were deep In talk, when Alleyne became aware of a re markable individual who was walking round the room iu their direction. A he passed each knot of cavaliers every bead turned to look after him, and it was evi dent, from tho bows uud respectful salu What Does 3 In Holmes' next adventure, he was confronted by the cabalistic image In "The Sitfn of the Four" These two. the first and best of the Sherlock Holmes novels, 800 panes of reud ing, bound elegantly in a single big volume in illuminuted cloth bourd (Harper & Bros.' regular $1.50 linen imperial edition), sent postpaid with thin coupon for SO Cents Here is a chance to get two of the most intensely Interesting of adventures In a most beautifully printed and bound edition for just one third price. FREE WITH THIS BOOK. Be sure and use this Coupon, sending 80 IIAHPliK & It ROM., Fraukllu K4uure, N. Y. City. iVaais 6frt Town Stat (M tations on all sides, that the Interest which he excited was not due merely to bis strange, ixuatiuul apMaratic. II was tall and a siriiUul as a lance, though of a great age. fr hi hair, which uirlcd from under hi biuca velvet cap ol maintenance, was a while as ihe new- fallen snow, let, from the swing of bis stride and spring of hi step, It was cleat that he bad not yet lost the lire and activity of bis youth. HI tierce hawk like face wa clean shaven like that of a pi lest, save for a long thin wisp of whits mustache. That he had been handsome might be easily Judged from his high aquiline nose and clear-cut chin; but his features hud been so distorted by the senin and scar of old wound, alls' by thn loss of one eye which had la-en toru f loin the socket, that there waa Utile left to remind one of (he dashing young knight who hud been llfty year ago Ihe fairest a Well a the boldest of 1 1 lCiigllnti blvslrrl'linnilos, the stateless knight, the wise councillor, ihe valiant warrior. "II. my little heart of gold !" lis cried, darting forward suddenly aud throwing bis arm round Sir Nigel, "I heard that you were here, aud nave been seeking you." "My fair and dear lord." said to knight, returning the warrior' embrai-e. "I have Indeed eouie back to you, for where else shall I go that 1 mat learu to be a gentle ami a hardy knight?" "By my troth." said Chandos with a smile, "11 Is very lilting that we should be companions, Nigel, for .luce you hit tied up one of your eyes, ami I liilve hoi the mischance lo lose one of mine, we have bill a pair between us. Ah. Sir Oliver! you were ou Ihe blind side of me and I saw you not. So saving, he led the war to the Inner chamber, ihe two companions treading close at hi heels, and nodding tn rlilit and left a they caught sight of familiar face among ihe crowd. ire Continue Ntft Weal.) Synopsis of Preceding Chapters. Th artM of Ul fnrr M 114 la lb IMS PMilSPT. lttll J.,ton. n( h etuvrtttan fcl,.,lr . Sr f M,n Oi A H if IWultou . (Hi 117 ut omUmin mtUmt cUrv. br,mvnl knln.l Mm b tiioutwr u i ItHH.hil Ai4l.r ui lb lay iMviMwfi. All M r-4t.lh bi itiwrtur In routtlalH llb bl fhlhMr'i will, riMltftiaUl.' thtb ftlt"IO. u b bim, ll go t"Ti li lur ih y t eh.., for dim eif hi ftttii,,. aui. in aaitr b u , wi i.i bfi4hr. tit Sta-man f MliiU. bt rvlO..M I.!,,. At ioht AUry ,tb, r.! alii in. Vhrr b niH Itonl) John, ftd Mibtft Arltl, 11 fcittfh,)! either J'i-1 lt-ll fr,rt Hi rinr. i All. iw Sua, iU br.shvr in Mli(il oltiirti ! llh brcullful flml. II rrtibr.Ibbr r'Amliitf lb n.-niita itmll)'. lb m.Hv. lrh bl b Ihtwtt. tft j' I bl IHMhl.Hll t fllll. vburrh. brt a'll- Sir ll. !, bin, lubma It tlftuul tMI" bim br . II rlnbl m tinl.it,n.t lb n,rn nir Sll. bom. Ilm, 4 In In rn ni anight. M'rll Jbr4 rnnrb ir4 t bl-i prnl b.Mlil, MtiKi but jMrktv bi.Mi bianntad whrallwi b n I.Amiir tilb bit br llr Allryn n bl nitnl4l f tit inI lutm b lt n I- lb itatHfttlvr nt Sir Mtfvl lb W hit l'wittt. tmrm tyttbm fm0. A. Ittmuwi tb !, W.u.l nt bl. f..r br bb tir. blm nr. ,,,., I.,, , I, Mm ra ll 1 wtrry wUb blm Iu lb r fc.btt. To Whom Docg Tutl Kcfcr? Si'cretnry Tnft anbl of a ccrtuln domineering statesman: "lie till me with drvnii. Thev quull Ircfoiv bltn. They cun't cull their souls their own In his presenct. Altogether, be makes me think of a waiter I oniv met In the West. "Ill h small Western town, many year uko, I put uj at thu Puliu-e Hotel. "Thcru was no water uor towels la my room, uml I rang. "Then was no rc.uy. "I rang again. "Still no reply, "And again uml again and vet n train I rang, and finally u waiter Hpa'urc.l. "litis winter was a robust man of stern and forbidding asicct. inn you ring'" ho said In a rumbling bass voice. "'I did.' I answered. "Well, don't do It again.' said tin waiter, with a menacing scowl, as be withdrew." Prof. Mustard, of Havcrford College, claims that Ben Franklin's maxims In Poor Richard's Almanac" are largely quotations from classical authors. A hot controversy la expected to ensue. This Mean? If these puzzling things, roughly displayed in a- V As ..tsssa. Fresh Mood upon the wall of a house where a great crime had been committed, stared you in the face, could you explain their meaning? Such was the problem which Smkklock Holmes had to solve in his first chronicled adventure The Study in Scarlet " book which made CON AN IOYLK tb first of detectlvs writers iu the world. A handsome, copper hotoenu;ravure of Hberloek Holmes, printed ou lieu vie, euuiuclcd puper, suitable for frauiluu. cents In humps, Cola or Money Order.