reared up, with eyes ablase with fear
‘at naw.
****? h,m lnto the earth
ind hate, and whirled its erect
- mSiL
- the “ke a na‘l into a door, rather than see
above the knight to smite nlm to
earth. He, however, blinking with puck jou do scath to each other.”
ered eyes, reached up hi< kerchief, and
** F5‘.re Ood* thia ,8 a »tranra way of
flicked the beast twice across the snout preaching peace.” cried Black Simon
with it. "Ah. saucy! saucy!" quoth he. i.K?U
?n<Lthe 8cath yourself, my
with gentle chiding; on which the bear, lusty friend, if you raise your great
uncertain and puxsled, dropped its fore cudgel to me. I had as lief have the
legs to earth again, and waddling back,; caa£jdrawhridge drop upon my pate.
was soon swathed in ropes by the bear An ‘TeU,1 me. Aylward.
Aylward. ” said
__ _ «..w.
Alleyne
ward and a crowd of peasants who had earnestly,
,------- with
with
hands
hands
outstretched
outstretched to
been in close pursuit. As they passed —
keep
the
pair
asunder,
“
what
is the
through the castle gate, John plucked cause of quarrel, that we may
see
at Aylward s sleeve, and the two fall whether
honorable settlement may 1 not
behind.
I must crave your pardon, comrade." be arrived at?”
said he bluntly. T was a fool not to
The bowman looked down at
know that a little rooster may be the feet and then up at the moon. “Pi
Same8t. 1 believe that this man is iu- bleau!” he cried, “the cause of qui
eed a leader whom we may follow. ’
rel? Why. mon petit, it was years ago J
CHAPTER VHI.
in Limousin, and how can I bear in €
Black was the mouth of Twynham mind what was the cause of it? Simon 8
Castle, though a pair of torches, burn there hath it at the end <>f his tongue." t
Copyrighted. 1894.By Harper 6-
“Not I, in troth," replied the other. t
ing at the further end of the gateway,
54.
V»*-*--*y
J3rottl<
east a red glare over the outer bailey, “I have had other things to think of. {,
and sent a dim ruddy flicker through There was some sort of bickering over
Synopsis of preceding chapters at end of this Installment
the rough-hewn arch, rising and tail dice, or wine, or was it a woman, cos?" n
CHAPTER VII.
ing with fitful brightness on the shields
” Basques Dieu! but you have nicked f|
MaudVT
’
winiL
n«
U
a
are
u
r,
^
ht
’
an
^
that
(
shoulder«
drew
into
tense
bunches
which
bore the red roses of the veteran it." cried Aylward.
“It was indeed n
» k, t"
might
not and
return
to brothers
Beaulieu 1 J!?« i
wl,?KS need clipping, which 1 the strain of the tug the stone
■ _isl„
yW.
“ hls
constable. As they passed over the about a woman; and the quarrel must c<
_
______
with
S ll!
Sis were to be set upon him If he , may leave in your hands when I am! wa* ____
*-—
• tug.
- * the stone gave drawbridge, Alleyne marked the gleam go forward, for I am still of the same I
_
«*
uiv
_ _ life
— an<
„ay from its bed with a gurgling suck of arms in the embrasures to right and 1 mind as before.”
title
iiiwed la. e upon Minstead land, then ’ ?one\ ior' in 80°th, this peaceful
yi
no* *------- life ana
’
came free in his hands. With a left, and they had scarce set foot upon
I b
■ iideed was Alleyne adrift upon earth j is not for me, and were it peaceful
not for
your I deep chested chuckle, as the archer 1 the
care
“What of the woman, then?” asked X'
■ North, south, east and west—he might gracious kindness and loving
causeway ere a hoarse blare burst
I hear that ▼ stepped forward to help in the throw-; from a bugle, and with screech the Simon. “May the murrain strike me if *ri
Ue
■ H.rn where he would, but all was equal could not abide It a week. vino-
lid ■ rt’anJ cheerless. The Abbot there is talk of warlike muster at Bor ing, Hordle John straightened himself, hinge and clank of chain, the ponder I can call to mind aught about her."
and hurled the rock well out into the ous bridge swung up into the air,
“It was I.a Blanche Rose, maid at y
for H sad ru led ten silver crowns In a let- deaux once more, and by St. Paul! it stream.
•
would be a new thing if the lions of
drawn by unseen hands. At the same the sign of the Trois Corbeaux at lJm-
rll
■ mce-b af and bld them away In the bot- England and the red pile of Chandos
"Good lack!” cried Sir Nigel, and instant the huge portcullis came rat oges. Bless her pretty heart! Why, £?
W
tuce , i,ls scrip, but that would be a
were to be seen in the field, and the “Good lack!” cried his lady, while John tling down from above, and shut off mon gar, I loved her.”
,*
Bd
‘nrry support for twelve long months. roses of Loring were not waving by stood laughing and wiping the caked the last fading light of day. Sir Nigel
“So did a many," quoth Simon. "I
U
? ? ii th.' darkness there was but tho their side.”
dirt from his fingers.
and
his
lady
walked
on
in
deep
talk,
call
her
to
mind
now.
On
the
very
T
’
1“ bright spot Of the sturdy comrades
“Now woe with me but I feared it!”
“I have felt his arms round my ribs," while a fat under-steward took charge day that we fo light over the little
*■
“lorn ho had left that evening; ir no cried she, with the color all struck said
the bowman, "and they crackle yet of the three comrades, nnd led them to hussy, she went off with Evan ap Rice. _p
f
M “ nH find "them again all would be from
her face. "I have noted your ab at the thought of it. This other com the buttery, where beef, bread, and a long-legged Welsh dagsman. They fo
H w. l'1 lie pushed on. therefore, now
sent mind, your kindling eye, your try- rade, fair Sir, Is a right learned clerk, drink were kept ever in readiness for have a hostel of their own now. some- ea
ing and riveting of old harness. Con- for all that he is so young, hight the wavfarer. After a hearty meal and where on the banks of Garonne, where ! ;
i king
and now
running.
, , I I I sider,
" ,
■ « Thi
forest
began
to shred out . Into
my sweet lord, that you have al- 1 Alleyne, the son of Edrlc, brother to a dip in the trough to wash the dust the landlord drinks so much of the
from them, they strolled forth into the
I
„;,,»red belts of trees, with gleam of ready won much honor, that we have the Socman of Minstead.”
■
id andI Stretch of pasture-land seen but little of each other, that you
“Young man,” quoth Sir Nigel stern bailey, where the bowman peered about liquor that there is little left for tlx» th
I between. Here and there by the way- bear upon your body the scars of over ly, "if you are of the same way of through the darkness at wall and at customers.”
“So ends our quarrel, then,” said th
M
'stood little knots of wattle-and- I twenty wounds received in I know not thought as your brother, you may not keep, with the car, ‘ng eyes of one who
“A ,
pass
portcullis
mine.” «jiwaru n«su- has seen something of sieges, and is Aylward, sheathing his sword.
way,
rair sir, of
” c..««
J»ub huts, with shock-haired laborers , how many bloody encounters."
M founglng by the doors and red-cheeked ,
fair be Sir,"
cried for
Aylward
“My lady, when our liege lord the ly, “Nay.
“I will
pledge
it that hasti-
they not lightly to be satisfied. To Alleyne Welsh dagsman, 1’ faith! C’ etalt mau- lv
will
ho
— •*-
*- this and to John, however. It appeared to be vals gout, ramarado. and the more so sn
■ IgUdren sprawling in tile roadway.
king at three-score years, and my Lord have "J no
thought
In .*
common;
for
■
By these Alleyne knew that he was Chandos, at three-score and ten, are very day his brother hath set his dogs I as great and as stout a fortress as when she had a jolly archer and a in
blithe and ready to lay lance in rest upon him, and driven him from his could be built by the hands of man.
lusty man-at-arms to choose from."
'v*
forest,
and for
"Is there an archer here hight Sam
England's cause, it would ill be- lands.”
Ml on
??.r. th«
‘foro very
no fringe
great of
way the from
Christ-
The old soldiers and llordle John to
| Aylward?” asked a gaunt man-at-arms, strode
off
together
In
all
good-fellow-
sa
;
seem
me
to
prate
of
service
done.
It
"And
are
you,
too,
of
the
White
Com-
I
E't;
up to them arcoss the court ship.
would be bitter shame to me, and also pany?” asked Sir Nigel. "Hast had clanking
Alleyne had turned to follow
i
; '5K era»* sa.■« to
you, since my fame Is yours, that I small experience of war, if I may judge yard.
them,
when
he
felt
a
touch
upon
his
’
“My name, friend!” quoth the bow shoulder, and found a young page by a; 1
should now hold back if a man s work by looks and bearing.”
"I would fain to France with my man.
<
M
rounding a corner, lie came upon h s is to be done. Besides, bethink you
“Then sure I have no need to tell his side.
■
comrades of the morning seated astrad- how low is our purse, with bailiff and friends here,” Alleyne answered: "but I
"The Lord Loring commands,” said flO1
mine," said the other.
IH
sir upon a fallen tree. They had a Hat reeve ever croaking of empty farms am a man of peace—a reader, exorcist, thee
the
boy.
“
that
you
will
follow
me
to
"By the rood! if it is not Black Simon
H
™ /before them, on which they ai- and wasting lands. Were it not for acolyte, and clerk."
the great chamber, and await him tir
“That need n^t hinder,” quoth Sir of Norwich!” cried Aylward. “A mon there.
”
■
ternately threw little square pieces of this constableship which the Earl of
camarade, a mon coeur! Ah, but
HI
bone, and were so Intent upon their oc- Salisbury hath bestowed upon us we Nigel. "It is well to have a learned coeur,
Up the broad steps Alleyne went, be
I
am
blithe
to
see
thee!
”
the
two
fell
could
scarce
uphold
the
state
which
is
clerk
in
every
troop.
By
St.
Paul!
M
"upatl.m that they never raised eye as
following
his boyish guide, until at the Wi
upon
each
other
nnd
hugged
like
bears.
■
he approached them. He observed with fitting to our degree. Therefore, my there are men so caitiff that they think
“And where from, old blood and folding oak doors the latter paused, lar
■
astonishment, ns he drew near, that he sweeting, there is the more need that I more of a scrivener’s pen that of their bones?"
asked
the
bowman.
and
ushered
him into the main hall of
should turn to where there is good pay lady’s smile, and do their devoir in
‘
"I am in service here. Tell me. com the rustle.
archer's bow was on John s bark, the to be earned and brave ransoms to be hopes that they may fill a line In a
On entering the room the clerk look- am
archer’s sword bv John's side, and tlie won.”
chronicle or make a tag to a jongleur’s rade, is It sooth tha* we shall have an
other
fling
at
these
Frenchmen?
It
is
'
ed round; but, seeing no. one, ho con- me
steel cap laid upon the tree-trunk be-
“Ah, iny dear lord,” quoth she, with romance. I remember well that, at the
rumored in the guard-rooms, and tlnucd to stand, his cap in his hand.
*
tW*Mort de’ma vie!” Aylward shouted, sad, weary eyes, “I thought that at siege of Retters, there w«s a little, so
that Sir Nigel will take the field once examining
'
with the greatest Interest gr<
last I had you to mine own self, even sleek, fat clerk of the name of Chaucer, more."
a chamber which was so different to wa
looking down at the dice. ‘Never had though your youth had been spent afar who was so apt at rondel, sirvente. or
is like enough, mon gar, as things 1 any to which he was accustomed.
k,n
I «ueh cursed luck. A murrain on the from my side. Yet my voice, as I know tonson, that no man dare give back a go. "It
”
Most interesting of all to Alleyne was th«
bones!
I have
not thrown
a good
main well, should speed you on to Klory and foot from the walls, lest he nnd It all
Hl
since I left
Navarre.
I am like
to reach
Now may the Lord be praised!” crlel ’ a small ebony table at his very side,
ti
renown, not hold you back when fame set down In his rhymes and «unit by the
other. "This very night will I set on
‘
Christchurch in mj ih rt
Then sud- Is to be won. Yet what can I say? for every underline and varlet in the camp,
which, by the side of a chess-board
denly glancing up, “Hola, by the sp'en- all men know that your valor needs the But, my soul’s bird, you hear me prate apart a golden ouche to be offered on 1 and the scattered chessmen, there lay knJ
as though all were decided, when I t*’e shrine of my name-saint, I have < an open manuscript written in a right
dor of heaven, here is our cher petit! curb and not the spur!”
’
“Fret not thyself, my heart’s dove, have not yet taken counsel either with pined for this, Aylward, as a young clerkly
hand, and set forth with brave
Now by my ten finger-bones! tills Is a
for
it
is
like
that
there
may
be
no
war
you or with my lady mother. Let us to maid pines for her lover.”
rare sight to mine eyes" He sprang up
flourishes and devices along the mar- ¡J‘
— "Art
Art so^set
so set on plunder, then? Is the gins. In vain Alleyne bethought him .
K
and threw his arms round Alleyne s waged, and we must await the news, the chamber, while these strangers find
■
neck, while John, no loss pleased, but But here are three strangers, and one, such fare as pantry and celler may purse so light that there is not enough of where he was and of those laws of **
for
a ---------
rouse? “ T have a bag at my belt, good breeding and decorum which
u ui
•-----
more backward and Saxon In his habits, as I tnke it, a soldier fresh from ser- furnish.”
H
stood grinning and bobbing by the vice. It is likely that he may give us
The three comrades dropped behind ramarade, and *■ you have but to put should restrain him; those colored can-
•
■
wayside, with Ills newly-won steel cap word of what is stirring over the and followed: Alyward
your fist into it for what you want. It itals and black even lines drew l.‘s
«.
”
lighter for having accomplished his was ever share and share between us.” hand down to them, as the loadstone .«rf
stuck wrong-side foremost upon ills water
T.ad’v Isoring, glancing up, saw In the mission, Alleyne full of wonderment at
M
tangle of red hair.
, .
"Nay, friend, it is not the French- draws the needle, until, almost before jn
■
"Hast come to stop?” cried the bow- fading light the three companions the humble bearing of so renowned a man’s gold, but tho Frenchman's
_____ ___ — - - blood he knew it, he was standing with the tau
■
man. patting Alleyne all over in bls de-
that I would have.
— ’ I should
*
* * not rest romance of Garin de Montglnne beforo
H
light. "Shall not get away from us
his eyes, so absorbed in its contents as |a (
to be completely oblivious of where he
«•
■
aB“iinwlsh no better." said Le, with a
was
and why he had come there.
huri
■
prlngllng In the eyes at tins hearty
He was brought back to himself, fatl
however, by a sudden little ripple of
“
■
^"WelFsald, lad!" cried big John. “We
quick feminine laughter. Aghast, he pup
S
three shall to the wars together, and
dropped the manuscript among the hob
S
the devil may fly away with the Abbot
chessmen and stared in bewilderment of
■
of Beaulieu! But your feet and hosen
round the room. It was as empty and ver;
■
are all besmudged. Hast been in the
as
still as ever. Again he stretched mil.
■
water?”
his hand out to the romance, and again roa<
■
"I have In good sooth, Alleyne ans-
came
that roguish burst of merriment, hav
|
wered, and then, as they journeyed on
He looked up at the celling, back at she
I
their way, he told them the man)
the closed door, and round at the stiff gl*t
I
things that had befallen him
.
folds of motionless tapestry. Of a sud- at i
I
"Hut you,” said Alleyne, "tnere havo
den, however, he caught a quick shim
I
been changes with you also. Where
mer from the corner of a high-backed mm
I
are bow and sword and cap—and wny
bancal in front of him, and, shifting a
I
so warlike, John?”
. . ,
,1
pace of two to the side, saw a white,
"It is a game which friend Aylward
slender hand, which held V mirror of
hath
a-teaclilng
me.’
„
i
polished silver in such a way that the
I
“And been
I found
him an of over-apt
pupil,
concealed observer could see without
na«
grumbled
the bowman.
"He hath .
being seen. Jle stood Irresolute, un-
afv
stripped me. But, by my hilt- >
certain whether to advance or to take
■*
must render them back to J“1;
n2?v
no notice; but, even as he hesitated
¿¡¡J
rade, lest you bring discredit
the mirror was whipped In, and a tall
aoo
mission, and I wllFpay you tor them (
and stately young lady swept out from
dew
at nrmorer’s prices.
behind the oaken screen, with a danc-
"Take them back, man, and..i'e?ct
Ing light of mischief in her eyes.
heed the pay.” said John.
I did but
Alleyne started with astonishment as
gin
wish to learn the feel.
.‘V-T; hung <
he recognized the very maiden who
At 1
I am like to have such trinkets hung I
had suffered from his brother’s vlo-
to my own girdle for some years t
lence In the forest. She no longer
»,,,
wore her gay riding-dress, however
war
1 ""Ma fol, he was born a fr5®thc“.'he (
but
was
attired
in
a
long
sweeping
•"<!
panion!” cried Aylward.
Ho hath the (
robe of black velvet of Bruges, with
JJJ
very trick of speech and turn ol
delicate tracery of white lace at neck
thought. I take them back then, and
and at wrist, scarce to be seen against
tmni
Indeed it
me. une“e1”t t J, Lr
i
the Ivory skin. Beautiful as rhe had
¡JJ’1
my yew-stave Upping against my eg-
|
seemed to him before, the lithe charm
*
It chanced on that very evening that
of her figure and the proud, free grace
<
Sir Nigel Coring, hav‘ng supped before
sunset, as was his custom, had taken
c
his dogs for »n evening breather. I "
W
russet-clad varlets. with loud hanoo
and cracking whips, walked thigh deep
i
amid the iwarm. guiding; controll ng
( (
and urging. Behind came Sir Mg«
himself, with Lady Loring upon m
arm, the pair
aire and
dately, as befitted both **’**L.a?t the < i
their condition. They paused at tn
brgi?eNi»el was a slight man of poor
stature, with soft ''’P'"» J/uat‘hli I L
gentle ways. So Shor . was he
wife, who was no ver/
breadth
had
the fingers.
better Of Hts sight having
been
of three
having^«
Injured In his early wars^by emptied
ful of lime which had been emptie
over him when he led the Earl or »al
•ILw *
£
expression
of face.
His age P a t had
of d ^
»
and-forty. but
the constant
arms, together with a. elea » durBnce lady
preserved his activity ai*uH1_tance he
“x
unimpaired, so that from a <11»" and
kn
seemed to have the slight irm«^. *ou
swift grace of a boy. H/i reHow tint ofter
ever, was tanned of a auu
.lch he draM
and the little pointed beardgray. d'En
wore was streaked and shot wi
a d
t
His features were small, aeim«®,
regular, with clear-cut curvlnj
and eyes which jutted fo
. and
as
the lids. His dress wqts Mmp^ b(iR w|(h
yet spruce. A gold embroldereu
fr
of knighthood encircled his lorns^
h
,
his arms, five roses gules on a
,,
argent, cunningly i?'„,eLr|ng upon
clasp. So stood Sir NigelI Lo J’^1Kht|y they
the bridge of Avon, and talked ug
with hie lady.
visages alone wnat
And, certes. had ‘h***’, min asked ,
been Been, and the 8tfa{|Seiy to belong u7.in.
which were the
name was bourn
to the bold warrior whose n of Eu.
tn<
loved by ‘be roughest^ «®'^ieJcted the b«l'o<
rope,
he
had
aiiurw».
d
iquare.
'
y
lad?s. Her face Y'iV’ani the eye.
with fierce thick brow .
to
,
fcu(
of one who w.s ac
The in h
It was ‘he age^of mat‘l“*f nunhnr, of ,.pa
deeds of Black
the Count"'’are HI
T-ady Salisbury, and of tn
thg publlc di(d ,
Montfort were still t before them. pr<)Ud.
mind. With such e«*">f»,fDa’ptain. had p . <=nr
the wives of the Englien^ £ateSi and nf Ba
become as WRr!Vte,,?,hfqr absence with che.te
ordered the castle In "j I)ne of veteran
Am
the prudence and dl"ciP”(>re th, Mont-
He
aeneschala Bight. ee Yf Twvnham. and man.
rt?«7%eyC? -^on^bn.« ‘ “AJ
If these puzzling
things, roughly
displayed in
Fresh Blood
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 S herlock
H olmes had to solve in his first
chronicled adventure
“ The Study in Scarlet ’’
A book which made CONAN DO YLE th« first
of detective writer« in tha world.
In Holmes’ next adventure, he was
confronted by tbe cabalistic image
In "The Sitfn of the Four”
f t_ g P
*
TT*
These two, the first and best
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ijlr. wj’ *
nf*. Glva
plunge«
”’
« m
Time
dame give LU
her ♦Im*
’^" „ther
■•Welt T know that m
bof , good
have given
' „y •hnu'lf,7« to’
have!-stick
^>|d U coming *n
know not what'th w
flnOt *?*2lrrlit
when vmmr
™o0 do not correct
•m «
, pn|i i
"bBthin I
budge
ra
Stoap’m
«falghl
w>rd p
«treartl