Tillamook headlight., September 06, 1906, Image 4

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“Ninell" cried Sir Staa» Cl
LXrdlui
Aylwaru tells me that
teu acure arrow» lett lu ‘
«J
aee! Urey are »mii.guq,V““* ¡3
aud cutltaM U»e,r »00»'^““
ru»h upou us.
ibsin
«Ml
make a retreat i
u<'t
“My soul will retrret rm-
Ursci
ened tUe uUle
«?J
uui, aud here 1 bide,
M
»UeuMUi to hr u „W u
"Aud so suy i'” -i.. a .
lUrowlu» his mace’
J
eaietilua It a«alu
lUe
«*1
Iv your arm», meu ■ “ t -
■SUout While ¿ou luuy uud
«
aud let us Hye or oie
““"«id
Thau uprose trom
“““•
ualaurtau valley a souad ¿e?
oeeu heard la thu.v uaro.
“ «*1
again, until ihe 3.
>«<*£ a,
uuild the rucks huo
ng
tuur huudrud whiter» aud
<
many returning sprlnM. DZ,
aud strong It thundered dusX“4 1
the Aeree battle-call or a w.rn “*
last stern welcome tu who 1,
with them in that worK^i,?
the stake !» death. Th^.^J
’’,h h” b’nd
’w’m."“ S,T XI<** "R“<! “• 1
<
auioug tbeiu. What la tills golden ban­
ner which wave» over the leXty
•‘It U the euaigu o£ the Knights of
Calatrava'' answered 1’el Ion.
"And the one upon the right?''
"It marks the Knights at Santiago aud
1 see by the banner that the grand mau­
ler rides al their bead."
"You are right, for 1 can also see
them. There is much Spanish blazonry
also if 1 could but read it. Don Diego,
you know the arms of your own country,
and who are they who have done us so
much honor?"
The Spanish prisoner looked with exul­
tant eyes upon the deep aud serried ranks
of bls countrymen.
“By Saint James” he said, “if ye fail
this day, ye fall by no mean hands for
the flower of the army of Castile ride
under the banner of Don Tello, with the
chivalry of Asturias, Toledo, Leon, Cor­
dova, Galicia and Seville and the knights
Copyrighted.
OPVriqhtecl 1894.
1894. By
Bv Harper
H,vwr 5- BroíneTS
BrotfteTS . <
W
of France and Aragon. If you will take
my rede, you will come to a composi­
CHAPTER XV.
their greyhounds behind them, in quest and rode quietly forth from his con­
tion with them, for they will give you
of
quail
or
leveret.
cealment
with
his
three
companions
such terms as you have given me.”
The Prince with his English and Gas-
The leaders sat amongst the box­ behind him, Alleyne leading his mas­
“Nay, by Saint Paul, it were pity if
eon army moved swiftly southward in
so many brave men, were drawn together
battle array and Sir Nigel having re­ wood, and took counsel together as to ter’s own steed by the bridle. So many
small
parties
of
French
and
Spanish
what
they
should
do;
while
from
be
­
and
no little deed of arms come of it. Ha!
cruited his ranks with the two hun­
William, they advance upon us, and by and thrice It sank away, wholn, *
dred members of the original White i low there surged up the buzz of voices, horse were sweeping hither and thither
the
shouting,
the
neighing
of
horses,
that the small band attracted little
my soul it is a sight worth coming over verberating amidst the era«. t L*11
Company, from the woods near Mont-
the seas to witness.”
set faces, the Company r.,S ,«
pezard, Joined the army and received and all the uproar of a great camp. notice, and making its way at a gentle
“
What
boots
it
to
wait?
”
said
Sir
trot
across
the
plain,
they
came
as
far
As he spoke the two wings of the Span­ storm of stones, and looke.1 .i.L“1"1*1
the honorable commission from the
“Let us ride down as the camp without challenge or
ish host, consisting of the Knights of thousands who sped swifti,“ ’ "’•I
Prince, to push ahead into Spain and William Felton, before
they discover hindrance.
upon their camp
On and on they pushed
Calatrava on the one side and of Santiago against them. Horse and ,W.P.
discover the location and strength of us.
”
past the endless lines of tents, amid
on the other , came swooping swiftly down set aside, but on foot, with
a
the Spanish and French army under
cried
the
Scottish
“And so say I,
the dense swarms of horsemen and of
the valley, while the main body followed tle-axe, their broad shield. Hun.
King Henry of Transtamare. The lit­
not know that there
more slowly behind. The vanguard halted of them the chivalry of
tle band wound through the passes of earl; for they do within thirty long footmen, until the huge royal pavilion
is
any
enemy
stretched
in
front
of
them.
They
were
a
long bow-shot from the hill, and with the attack.
Navarre and into the rugged land of leagues of them.”
close upon It when of a sudden there
waving spears and vaunting shouts chal­
Spain.
And now arose a struggi, M r,u _J
lenged their enemies to come forth, while
Bur- broke out a wild hubhub from a dis­
"For my part,” said
___ ___
__ ____
Sir ______
Simon
Sir Nigel had with him Sir William
two cavaliers, pricking forward from the so evenly sustained, that even
Felton, Sir Oliver Buttesthorn, stout ley, "I think that it is madness, for tant portion of the camp, with screams
war-cries and all the wild tumult
glittering ranks, walked their horses slow­ memory of It I. handed down .„.X
old Sir Simon Burley, the Scotch knight you cannot hope to rout this great ar­ and
battle. At the sound soldic-'’ /”une
ly between the two arrays with targets Calabrian mountaineers, and th, nSj
errant, the Earl of Angus, and Sir Rich­ my; and where are you to go and what of
rushing
from
their
tents,
knights
“Nay, my fair lord, say not so; for I braced and lances in rest like the chal­ their children a. the "Altura d, k»i3
ard Causton, all accounted among the are you to do when they have turned shouted loudly for their squires, and
know not whether your daughter loves
____ lengers in a tourney.
bravest knights in the army, together upon you?”
Where the men from aero«
“By Saint Paul!” cried Sir Nigel, with sos.
“Nay,” said Sir Nigel, "I have a plan there was mad turmoil on every hand me, and there Is no pledge between us.”
fought the great light wltT^hJ
with slxtv veteran men-at-arms, and
of
bewildered
men
and
plunging
horses.
Sir Nigel pondered for a few moments, his eye glowing like an ember, “these of the south. The last arrow w„ 3
three hundred and twenty archers. Spies by which we may attempt some
At the royal tent a crowd of gorgeous­ and then burst out a-laughlng. “By St. appear to be two very worthy and debo­
__
had been sent out in the morning, and small deed upon them, and yet, by the
shot, -nor could the slinger, hurl J
returned after night-fall to say that help of God, may be able to draw off ly dressed servants ran hither and Paul!” said he, “I know not why I should nair gentlemen. I do not call to mind stones, so close were friend and ft» J
the King of Spain was encamped some again; which, as Sir Simon Burley thither In helpless panic for the guard mix in the matter; for I have ever found when I have seen any people who seemed MJe to side stretched the thin Ila, J]
fourteen miles off in the direction of hath said, would be scarce possible in of soldiers who were stationed there that the Lady Maude vas very well able of so great a heart and so high of enter­
8h’
ghtly anned and qulrk-j
had already ridden off in the direc­ to look to her own affairs. Since first prise. We have our horses, Sir William:
Burgos, having with him twenty thou­ any other way.”
“How then, Sir Nigel?” asked sev­ tion of the alarm. A man-at-arms on she could stamp her little foot, she hath shall be not relieve them of any vow which while against it stormed and razJl
sand horse and forty-five thousand foot.
pressing throng of fiery SpanlardióJ
either side of the doorway were the ever been able to get that for which she they may have upon their souls?”
A dry-wood fire had been lit, and round eral voices.
Felton’s reply was to bound upon his gallant Bretons. The clink of
“We shall lie here all day; for amid sole protectors of the royal dwelling. craved; and if she set her heart on thee,
this the leaders crouched, the glare
sword-blades,
the dull thuddinx of 3
“I have come for the king,” whisper­ Alleyne, and thou O”
ç, I do not think charger, and to urge it down the slope,
beating upon their rugged faces, while this brushwood it is ill for them to see
that this Spanish king, with his three­ while Sir Nigel followed not three spear’s- blows, the panting and gaspini of 3
the hardy archers lounged and chatted us. Then when evening comes we shall ed Sir Nigel; “and. by Saint Paul’
and
wounded
men, all rose togethd
amid the tethered horses, while they sally out upon them and see if we may must back with us or I must bi^ score thousand men, could hold you apart. lengths behind him. It was a rugged a wild, long-drawn note, which J
Yet this I will say, that I would see you course, rocky and uneven, yet the two upwards to the ears of tbs
not gain some honorable advancement here.”
munched their scanty provisions.
Alleyne and Aylward sprang from their a full knight ere you go to my daughter knights, choosing their men, dashed on­ peasants who looked down from the?
“For my part,” said Sir Simon Bur- from them. We shall have nightfall
ley, I am of the opinion that we have to cover us when we draw off so that horses, and flew at the two sentries, who with words of love. I have ever said that wards at the top of their speed, while of the cliffs upon the swaying tun&3
already done that which we have come we may make our way back through were disarmed and beaten down in an in­ a brave lance should wed her; and, by ray the gallant Spaniards flew us swiftly to the battle beneath them. Back and!
The one to whom Feltou
for. For do we
now know where the mountains. I would station a stant by so furious and unexpected an at­ soul! Edricson, if God spore you, I think meet them.
reeled the leopard banner I
Sir Nigel dashed into the royal that you will acquit yourself well. But found himself opposed was a tall stripling ward
the king 1s, and how great a following score of archers here in the pass, with tack.
borne up the slope by the h ]
he hath, whlcl. was the end of our Jour­ all our pennons jutting forth from the tent, and was followed by Hordle John as enough of such trifles, for we have our with a stag’s head upon his shield, while weight of the onslaught, now ¡J
Sir
Nigel
’
s
man
was
broad
and
squat,
with
ney.”
rocks, and as many naklrs and drums soon as the horses had been secured. From work before us, and It will be time to
downwards again as Sir Nigel b 2
within came wild screamings and the clash speak of this matter when we see the plain steel harness, and a pink and white and
I
“True,” answered Sir William Felton, and bugles as we have with us, so that of
Black Simon, with their veteraij
torse bound round his helmet. The first
steel,
and
then
the
two
emerged
white
cliffs
of
England
once
more.
Go
to
once
those
who
follow
us
in
the
fading
“but I have come on this venture be­
more, their swords and forearms red- Sir William Felton, I pray you, and ask struck Felton on the target with such at-arins, flung themselves madly laJ
cause it is a long time since I have light, may think that the whole army dened
fray.
Alleyne, at his lord’s right J
with blood, while John bore over him to come hither, for it is time that force as to split it from side to side, but
broken a spear in war, and, certes, I of the prince Is upon them, and fear his shoulder
we w’ere marching. There is no pass at Sir William’s lance crashed through the found himself swept hither and thltM
the
senseless
body
of
a
to
go
further.
What
think
you
of
my
man
■hall not go back until I have run a
whose gray aurcoat, adorned with the lions
____ the further end of the valley, and it is a carnal! which shielded the Spaniard’s the desperate struggle, ex-hangiiw3
plan, Sir Simon?”
course with some cavalier of Spain.”
thrusts one instant with a Spanigli
“By my troth! I think very well of and towers of Castile, proclaimed him to perilous place should an enemy come upon throat, and he fell, screaming hoarsely, to Iler, and the next torn away by the]
”1 will not leave you, »Sir William,”
belong to the royal house. A crowd of us.”
the ground. Carried away by the heat and
It,
”
cried
the
prudent
old
commander.
returned Sir Simon Burley; "and yet. as
of men and dashed up against sonni
white-faced sewers and pages swarmed at
Alleyne delivered his message, and then madness of fight, the English knight never antagonist. To the right Sir Olfvsr.9
old soldier and one who hath seen Tf four hundred men must needs run their
heels, those behind pushing forwards,
drew rein, but charged straight on into the
much of war, T cannot but think that it a tilt against sixty thousand, I cannot while the foremost shrank back from the wandered forth from the camp, for his array of the Knights of Calatrava. Long ward, Hordle John, and the bowsJ
how they can do It better or more
inlnd was all in a whirl with this un-
is an ill thing for four hundred men see
tierce faces and reeking weapons of the expected news, and with hls talk with time the silent ranks upon the hill could the Company fought furiously
safely.”
to find themselves between an
Knights of Santiago, whoj
adventurers.
The
senseless
body
was
Sir Nigel. Sitting upon a rock, with his see a swirl .and eddy deep down in the monkish
“And so say I,” cried Felton, hearti­
of sixty thousand on the one side and
led up the hill by their prior—t gmtJ
ly. “But I wish the day were over, for thrown across the spare horse, the four burning brow resting upon his hands, he heart of the Spanish column, with a chested man, who wore a brown mJ
a broad river on the other.”
sprang
to
their
saddles,
and
away
they
___ quarrel.
___ ... circle of rearing chargers and flashing habit over his suit of mall. Threeiil
“Yet,” said Sir Richard Causton, "wo it will be an ill thing for us if they thundered with loose reins and busy spurs thought of his brother, of their
of the Lady Maude In her bedraggled rid­ blades. Here and there tossed the white he slew in three giant strokes, bnt|
cannot for the honor of England go chance to light upon us.”
through the swarming camp.
ing-dress,
of
the
gray
old
castle,
of
the plume of the English helmet, rising and Oliver flung his arms round him, aril
The words were scarce out of his
t>ack without a blow struck.”
But confusion and disorder still reigned proud pale face in the armory, and of the falling like the foam upon a wave, with
“Nor for the honor of Scotland, mouth when there came a clatter of among the Spaniards, for Sir William last fiery words with which she had sped the fierce gleam and sparkle ever circling tw’o, staggering and straining, reeledH
loose stones, the sharp clink of trotting
either,” cried the Earl of Angus.
Felton and his men had swept through him on his way. Then he was but a round it, until at last it had sunk from wards and fell, locked in each oil
“By Saint Paul! you have spoken hoofs, and a dark-faced cavalior, half their camp, leaving a long litter of the penniless, monk-bred lad, unknown and view, and another brave man had turned grasp, over the edge of the steep1
mounted
upon
a
white
horse,
burst
which flanked the hill. In vain hli ul
very well,” said Str Nigel, “and I have
dead and dying to mark their course. Un­ unfriended. Now he was himself Socman war to peace.
stormed and raved against the thlnB
always heard that there were very through the bushes and rode swiftly certain who were their attackers, and un­ of Minstead, the head of an old stock, and
Sir Nigel, meanwhile, had found a foe­ which marred their path; the proti]
worthy gentlemen among the Scots, down the valley from the end which able to tell their English enemies from the Lord of an estate which, if reduced man
worthy of his steel, for his opponent
and fine skirmishing to be had upon was farthest from the Spanish camp. their newly-arrived Breton allies, the from its former size, was still ample to I was none other than Sebastian Gomez, the Aylward and the great axe of John J
ed in the forefront of the battle andi
their border. Bethink you, Sir Simon, Lightly armed, with his vizor open and Spanish knights rode wildly hither and preserve the dignity of his family. Further, picked
lance of the monkish Knights of
that we have this news from the lips a hawk perched upon his left wrist thither in aimless fury. The mad tur-
.... he had become a man of experience was Santiago, who had won fame In a hun­ Jagged pieces of rock, hurled by 1
he
looked
about
him
with
the
careless
Of common spies, who can scarce tell
moil, the mixture of races, and the fading counted brave among men, had won the dred bloody combats with the Moors of strong arms of the bowmen, crashed■
of ‘ the
us as much
___
I'— enemy
____ w and
__* of - his air of a man who Is bent wholly upon light, were all in favor of the four who esteem and confidence of her father, and
___ Andalusia. So fierce was their meeting hurtled amid their ranks. Slowly 1
forces as the prince would wish to pleasure, and unconscious of the pos­ alone knew their own purpose among the above all, has been listened to by him that their spears shivered up to the very gave back down the hili, the archon j
sibility of danger. Suddenly, nowever,
boar.”
when
he
told
him
the
secret
of
his
love.
vast
uncertain
multitude.
Another
five
grasp, and the horses reared backwards hanging upon their skirts, with all
night
they led
their
horses, his eyes lit upon the fierce faces which minutes of wild galloping over the plain, As to the gaining of knighthood, in such until it seemed that they must crash down litter of writhing and twisted figurai
All
glared
out
at
him
from
the
brushwood.
■tumbling and groping through wild
and they were all back in their gorge, stirring times it was no great matter for upon their riders. Yet with consummate mark the course which they had trii
defiles and rugged alley«, following the With a cry of terror, he thrust his while their pursuers fell back before the a brave squire of gentle birth to aspire to horsemanship they both swung round in At the same instant the Welshmen J
spurs
into
his
horse
s
sides,
and
dash
­
guidance of a frightened peasant who ed for the narrow opening of the gorge. rolling of the English drums and blare that honor.
He would leave his bones a long curvet, and then plucking out their the left, led on by the Scotch earl, ■
was strapped by the wrist to Black Si­
of trumpets, which seemed to proclaim among these Spanish ravines, or_
he ______
would swords they lashed at each other like two charged out from among the rocks rii
mon’s stirrup-leather. With the early For a moment it seemed as though he that the whole army of the prince was do some deed which would call the eyes lusty smiths hammering upon their anvil. sheltered them, and by the fury of ■
would
have
reached
it,
n,
for
he
had
dawn they found themselves In a dark
to emerge from the mountain of men upon him.
The chargers spun round each others, bit­ outfall had driven the Spaniards In M
trampled over or dashed aside the ar- about
¡»asses.
ravine, with others sloping away from ichers
Alleyne was still seated on the rock, his ing and striking, while the two blades of them in headlong flight down thel]
who threw themselves In his
griefs
and
his
Joys
drifting
swiftly
over
lb on either side, and the bare brown way; but
wheeled and whizzed and circled in gleams In the centre only things seemed »1
”By my soul! Nigel,” cried Sir Oliver,
Hordle John seized him by
his mind like the shadow of clouds upon of dazzling light. Cut, parry, and thrust going ill with the defenders. Black M
crags rising in long bleak terraces all the foot in
his grasp of iron and “what have we here?”
round them.
“It is a prisoner whom I have taken, a sunlit meadow, when of a sudden he followed so swiftly upon each others that wasdown—dying, as he would wish toM
like a grim old wolf in its lair«
“If it please you, fair lord.” said dragged him from the saddle, while and in sooth, as he came from the royal became conscious of a low, deep sound the eye could not follow them, until at died,
'
two
others
caught
the
frightened
horse.
Black Simon, 'this man hath misled us,
tent and wears the royal arms upon his which came booming up to him through last coming thigh to thigh, they cast their 1 a ring of his slain around him. Twite]
"Ho,
ho!
”
roared
the
great
archer.
the
fog.
He
shouted
an
alarm
to
the
Nigel
had been overborne, and twice!
and since there Is no troe upon which "How many cows wilt buy my mother, Jupon, I trust thnt he is the King of
arms around each other and rolled off ,
camp.
we may hang him, It might t»e well If I set thee free?"
Spain.”
their saddles to the ground. The heavier leyne had fought over him until beri
to hurl him over yonder cliff."
“It is a great body of horse,” said Sir Spaniard threw himself upon his enemy, ! staggered to his feet once mora.
that bull's bellowing!” cried
‘“The King of Spain!” cried the
.... com-
The peasant, reading the soldier’s Sir “Hush
William Felton, “and they are riding very and pinning him down beneath him raised lay senseless, stunned by a blow frrij
Nigel impatiently. "Bring the man panions, crowding round in amazement.
meaning in his fierce eyes and harsh here. By St. Paul! it is not the first
swiftly
hitherwards.”
his sword to slay him, while a shout of | mace, and half of the men-afrarsi I
“Nay, Sir Nigel,“ said Felton, peering
accents dropped upon his knees, scream­ time that we have met; for, if I mis­ at the prisoner through the uncertain
The Company stood peering Into the triumph rose from the ranks of his count- ! littered upon the ground around bin. I
’s shield was broken, his crest ibR
lug loudly for mercy.
«lense fog wreath, amidst a silence so rymen. But the fatal blow never fell, for Nigel
light.
“I have twice seen Henry
,
“How comes it, <rog?" asker Sir Will­ take not, it is Don Diego Alvarez, who Transtamare, and certes this man in of profound that the dripping of the water even as his arm quivered before descend­ his armor cut and smashed, and th«M
no
iam Felton In Spanish. “Where is this was once at the prince s court.”
torn
from
bis helmet; yet he sprang«
from
the
rocks
and
the
breathing
of
the
way
resembles
him.
ing. the Spaniard gave a shudder, and
"It is indeed 1,” said the Spanish
camp to which you swore you would
“Who are you. fellow?” he added in horses grew loud upon the ear. Suddenly stiffening himself, rolled heavily over upon and thither with light foot and «I
knight, “I trust that 1 am now tne
hand,
engaging
two Bretons and a M
lead us?”
prisoner of some honorable knight or Spanish, “and how is It that you dare from out the sea of mist came the sound his side, with the blood gushing from his lard at the same Instant thrusting, «
“By the sweet Virgin! By the blessed gentleman.”
of a neigh, followed by a long blast of a arm-pit and from the silt of his vizor. Sir
to wear the arms of Castile?”
Mother of God!" cried the trembling
The prisoner was but recovering the bugle.
Nigel sprang to his feet with his bloody ing, dashing in, springing out—wblhj
“You are the prisoner of the man who consciousness which had been squeezed
peasant, “ I swear to you that in the
“It is a Spanish call, my fair lord,” said dagger m ills left hand and gazed down leyne still fought by his side, sten«
darkness I have myself lost the path, took you, Sir Diego," answered Sir Ni­ from him by the grip of Hordle John. Black Simon.
upon his adversary, but the fatal and with a handful of men the fierce 4
I------ "At the Instant, there rose the gel. "And I may tell you that better “If it please you,” he answered, “I and
• By my faith, said Sir Nigel, smiling, sudden stab in the vital spot, which the which surged up against them. Wj
men
than
either
you
or
I
have
found
scream of a hundred bugles, with the
nine others are the body-squires of the “we may promise them some sport ere Spaniard had exposed by raising his arm, would have fared ill with them badj
deep rolling of drums and the clashing themselves before now prisoners in king, and must ever wear his arms, so they sound the mort over us. But there had proved Instantly mortal. The Eng­ the archers from either side closed in J
the
hands
of
the
archers
of
England."
as to shield him from even such perils Is a hill in the center of the gorge upon lishman leaped upon his horse and made the flanks of the attackers, and FW
of cymbals, all sounding together In one
"What ransom, then, does he de­ as have threatened him this night. The which we might make our stand.”
deafening uproar. Knights and arch­
for the hill, at the very instant that a yell them very slowly and foot by foot R
mand?" asked the Spaniard.
king is at the tent of the brave Du Guesc-
ers sprang to arms, convince i
“I marked It yester night,” said Felton, of rage from a thousand voices and the the long slope, until they were od J
Big
John
scratched
his
red
head
and
lln, where he will sup to night. But I am “and no letter spot could be found for clang of a score of bugles announced the plain once more, where their fellow««
some great host was upon them; but
already rallying for a fresh ‘188aul^\l
the guide dropped upon his knees and grinned in high delight when the ques­ a calm Hero of Aragon. Don Sancho Pene- our purpose, for it is very steep at the Spanish onset.
tion was propounded to him. "Tell loaa, and, though 1 be no king. I am yet back. ’ ’
But terrible indeed was the cjJI
thanked Heaven for its mercies.
CHAPTER XVII.
which the last had been repelled. Oil
“We have found them caballeros!" him,” said he, "that I shall have ten ready to pay a Atting price for my ran­
The whole Company, leading their
cows
and
a
bull
too,
if
it
be
but
a
lit
­
som.
”
ha cried. This is their morning call.”
But the islanders were ready and eager three hundred and seventy men who]
horses, passed across to the small hill
As he spoke he scrambled down one tle one. Also a dress of blue sendall
By Saint Paul! I will not touch vour which loomed up from the mist. It was for the encounter.
With feet firmly held the crest, one hundred and se«
of the narrow ravines, and. climbing for mother and a red one for Joan; with gold.” cried Sir Nigel. “Go back to your indeed admirably designed for defence, for planted, their sleeves rolled back to give two were left standing, many of «
five
acres
of
pasture
land,
two
s.vli,
over a low ridge at the further end. he and a line new grindstone. Likewise master and give him greeting from Sir It sloped down in front, all Jagged and free play to their muscles, their long were sorely wounded and weak frofflj
of blood. Sir Oliver Buttesthorn,■
led then» Into a short valley with a
small house, with stalls for the cows Nigel Loring of Twynham Castle, telling boulder strewn, while it fell away behind yellow bow-staves in their left hands, and Richard Causton, Sir Simon Burlar.«
stream purling down the centre of it. a
him that I had hoped to make Ids letter in a sheer cliff of a hundred feet or more. their quivers slung to the front, they had
and
thirty
six
gallons
of
beer
lor
the
and a very thick growth of elder and thirsty weather.”
acquaintance this night, and that. If I On the summit was a small, uneven waited In the four-deep harrow formation Simon, Johnston, a hundred and «
box upon either side
Pushing their
have disordered his tent, it was but In plateau, with a stretch across of a hun- which gave strength to their array, and archers, and forty-seven niHO-at-tfri*J
“Tut, tut.” said Sir Nigel, laughing, iny eagerness to know so famed and cour­ dred paces, and a depth of half as much yet permitted every man to draw bis arrow fallen, while the pitiless hail of «R
way through the dense brushwood, they
"All
these
things
may
be had for mon- teous a knight. Spur on, comrades! for again.
was already whizzing and piplnf onceq
looked upon a scene which made their
freely without harm to those in front.
___ five we must cover many a league ere we can
hearts beat harder and their breath ey; and I think, Don Diego, that
“Unloose the horses,” said Sir Nigel,
On swept the Spaniards, over the level about their ears, throHtenlng et«y
thousand crowns is not too much
venture to **
* * Are
“
stant
to further reduce their noB«|
come faster.
light
or to loosen girth.
“Now order the_____
ranks, _____
and ......
fling wide iUX
the _ and up to the slope, ere they met the
so renowned a knight.”
Sir Nigel looked about him st WR
banners, for our souls are God's aud our blinding storm of the English arrows.
In front of them lay a broad plain,
“It shall b« duly paid him.”
CHAPTER
XVI.
tered
ranks,
and his face flushed w»j
watered by two winding streams and
Iwdies the king's, and our swords fot Down went the whole ranks in a whirl
“For some days we must keep
It was a cold, bleak morning In the be- Saint George and for England!”
of mad confusion, horses plunging and soldier’s pride.
covered with grass, stretching away to with
us; and * I ------
"
must crave leave
“By St. Paul!“ be cried, “1 hlW
ginning of March,
___ ____
_ .......
where, in the furthest distance, the to use your shield,
Sir Nigel had scarcely spoken when the kicking, bewildered men falling, rising
and ________
the mist __ was
drift-
your
___ _______ Ing In denet*
rolling clouds through the mist seemed to thin in the valley, and to staggering on or back, while ever new in many a little bickering, but n«v*
towers of Burgos bristled up against your horse. I have need of armor
it
this
day,
that
I would be more loth to hi* ««
the light blue morning sky. Over ell but it shall be duly returned to you. pas.sea of the Cantabrian mountains. The shred away into long ragged clouds which lines of horsemen came spurring through
this vast meadow there lay a great city Set guards, Aylward, with arrow on Company had passed the night in a shel­ trailed from the edges of the cliffs, and the gaps and urged their chargers up the than this. But you are wounded, AWJ
“
It
is nought,” answered hloJF
of tents—thousands upon thousands of string, at either end of the pass; for tered gully. Here and there, through the the sun broke through. It gleamed and fatal slope. All around him, Alleyne could
them, laid out in streets and squares it may happen that some other cava­ denste haze which surrounded them, there shimmered with dazzling brightness upon bear the stern, short orders of the master­ stanching the blood which drippw
like a well-ordered town. High silken liers inay visit us ere the time be loomed out huge pinnacles and Jutting the armor and headpieces of a vast body bowmen. while the air was filled with a sword-cut across his forehead^
“These g«*ntleinen of Spaia ***■
boulders of rock: while high above the of horsemen who stretched across the the keen twanging of the strings and the
pavilions or colored marquee«, »hoot­ come."
nee of vapor there towered
___ _______
ing up rrorn ainoua the crowd of mean­
up one gigantic barranca from one cliff to the other, and swish and patter of the shafts. Right most courteous and worthy peop«»
er dwellings, marked where the great
All day the hide band of English­ peak, with the pink glow of the early sun­ extended backwards until their rear-guard across the foot of the bill there bad that they are already forming to w®
lords and barons of l<eon and Castile men lay in the sheltered gorge, look- shine up<»n Its snow-capped head.
were far out upop the plain beyond. Line sprung up a long wall of struggling horses this debate with us. Form up the
displayed their standards, while over ing down upon the vast host of their
The itiup was loud with laughter and after line, and rank after rank, they and stricken men. which ever grew and two deep Instead of four. By »of
.
the white roofs, as far as eye could unconscious enemies. The sun had merriment, for a messenger had ridden In chocked the neck of the valley with a heightened as fresh squadrons poured on some very brave men have
reach, the waving of ancients, pavons. sunk behind a cloud-bank In the west from the prince with words of heart-stir­ long vista of tossing pennons, twinkling the attack. So for five long minutes the among us. Aylward, you are s
dier,
for
all
that
your
shoulder
htf
(
pensils, and banderoles, with flash of before Sir Nigel at last gave word that ring praise for what they had done, and lances, waving plumes and streaming gallant horsemen of Spain and of France
gold and glow of colors, proclaimed the men should resume their arms and with orders that they should still abide In banderoles, while the curvets and gam­ strove ever and again to force a pasrage felt accolade, nor your heels w
|
that all the chivalry of Iberia were have their horses ready. He had him­ the forefront of the army.
bades of ths chargers lent a constant mo­ until the low walling note of a bugle called srold spurs. Do you take
mustered In the plain beneath them. self thrown off his armor, and had
“The Lord Lowing erases your attend­ tion and shimmer to the glittering, many- them back, and they rode slowly out of right; I will hold the renter, aud J*
j
Far off, in the centre of the camp, a I dressed himself from head to foot In ance in his tent,” said a young archer tu colored mass. A yell of exultation, and a bow-shot, leaving their best and their Ix>rd of Angus, the left.”
”Ho! for Sir Samkin Aylww J
huge palace of red and white silk, the harness of the captured Spaniard. Alleyne.
forest of waving steel through the length bravest In the ghastly, blood-mottled heap
a rough voice among the r rcb«*>
with the royal arms of Castile waving
“Sir William." said ho. ‘It Is my opin-
Th»
foun,, the knight mted nnon and breadth of their column, announced behind them.
roar of laughter greeted tbefr new
from the summit, announced that the , Ion to attempt a small deed, and I ask
that they could at last see their entrapped
*
with his lrgs rrvaa*<l In front
“By my hilt!” said the old
gallant Henry lay there in the midst I you therefore that you will iead this of
him and « broad ribbon of parvhmrnt enemies, while the swelling notes of a
ch,r«ed them In never thought to lead a wing 1»
j
I outfall upon the camp For me. I will laid acroaa hla knrea. ov»r which h* w»a hundred bugles and drums, mixed with the front, the sllnX™
of his warrlora
found upon en field. Stand close, camarad*« j
clash of Moorish cymbals, broke forth Into either flank and n.»***^
As the English advonturere. peeping ride into their camp with my squire snd
out from behind their brushwood two archers T pray you to watch me, Up,11* Wltl> frvwnln* brow, and puracd a proud peal of martial triumph Strange the cliffs snd ^>ehh>«^'!^W, * JooMn» °P°n these finger-bones! we must pIV
A storm of rtlXX hmk* '’’’"J1"1'
screen, looked down upon this wondrous I and to ride forth when I am come
thia day.”
... SV
"It raaa» thia morning by th» prlnr»’, It was to these gallant and sparkling cava­
“Come hither, Alleyne.
d
liers of Spain to look upon this handful the defenders who
sight, they could see that the vast army among the tents. You will leave twen-
7
»aid hr. "and waa brought
"Tg
tn front of them was already afoot. The ' tv men behind here, and as we planned from England by Sir John Falllal»». who of men upon the hill. L e thin It»«« of bow­ upon the evposed
_np 0 ,,BW' walking bark to the edge
.
nff"r*4 » fair which formed the rear of
first pink light of the rising sun glit­ th’s morning, and you will ride back la n»w com» from Sussex."
men. thP knots of knights and men-at-arms mark to thel^MM
tered upon she steel caps and breast- | i here after you have ventured as far
archer was
the “And you. Norbury,” he con tins
Alleyn» turned to th. |»tt»r. and. as hla with armor rnMwt and discolored from long old
and
fell
dead
win.
’
T
’
n
r°"
the temple on Ing to the squire of Sir OMv«»
plates of dense massoz of slingers and n« *ee»*»s <-ood to you.**
»yea mated upon It. hla face turned pal* **2”r*-
learn that these were In­ teen of hto hoZl!
*. *"*"■
(If- also come here.”
d
crossbowmen, who drilled and marched
*T will do as yon order. Nigel: hut and a cry of surprise .nd grief barat from deed the soldierw whose fame and prow­ .t-.rm. were
The two squires hurried «crow
g
* th*
uis lipa.
In the spares which had been left ftt what Is that you propose to dor*
ess had been the camp-fire talk of everv
and
the
three
sto««!
ieeM®9
moment.
The
other.
1»
W
"
V
*
’
’*
same
their exercise.
A thouaaad columns
army In Christendom. Very still and silent
"Tou will see anon, and Indeed It Is
of smoko reeked up into the pure hut a trlfilnr matter.
fares tn the rocky ravine which lay •
they Stood, leaning upon their hows, »mid the deadlv hail
Alleyne, you I
fifty feet beneath them.
morning air whore the faggots were ”•<1? cotne with me and lead a spare np st him anxlonaly.
while their loaders took counsel together
piled
and
the
camp-kettles already horse hv fs* hefd*e
in front of them. No clang of bugle rose
T will have the ,
"The prince mnst hear
simmering. Tn the open plain, clouds ♦wo archers who rod* ~d»h ns through 1
i™* their stern rank, but tn the center
are with ua.” said the knji®-
nf light horse galloped and swooped France, for they are truatv men and 1 bretherP*
leopards of England, oa the
pn’'r «"kWr TV**1
er onfall we may withstand.
1
with swaying bodies and waving 1ave- of stout heart. T^et lh#>m ride behind j
right the ensign of their Company with
many and we are few. 90
j
the rme« of Ix»r1nr and on the left over
llns. after the fashion which the Rpan- us. and let them leave their bows here
must come when we can no '
Ujree score of Welsh bowmen, there float­
isb had adopted from their Moorish en­ among the bushes for It Is not my
lfne
across
the
bill
hl ,O! .a
r-n ed the red banner of Merlin with the red-
By Saint Paul'** nnon.
emies Al! along by the sedgy banks wish that they should know that we
brought ua we might hold the r .
•'“»M monrti him an "
hoar s heads of the But test horns. Grave­ plucking the patch fromTi**1 8,r
of the rivers long linos of pages led are Englishmen. Ray no word to any! I
that
I am now clearer
2 think I comes. Ree yonder horw*
ly and sedatelv they stood before the
their masters' chargers down to water, whom we may meet. end. If any apeak
among
the rorka beneath
kin that I bad npon e»rtb. Alaa’ slaa- 7*125 1°* siting for the oosiaaght Spanish knight
'
while the knights themselves lounged tn you. pass on as though you heard or
- iXd’hTe
“I see them my f«!r
«^4
F**,.^**
and slain. I fear ”f thefr foemen
In gayly-dreesed groups about the doors them not
“And aee jemder path which
fl
amldwt crime sod viotance.**
■ very worthy gentleman of
i the hill upon the further •
of their pavilions, or rode out. with
Ro saying, 91 r Nigel mounted tha
8,r
n«int courage, and remt ____ .
or good
♦ heir falcoM ufion their wrists and white horse of the Spanish cavalier.
wttb pncterM
down th* Talley, "tbera
valleyF’
appvar to b* wxo. T.ry worth, people i
“I nae It.”
t
1 t
s
I
Ê?
«
J
•■God be with thee, my honored lord,
and have thee in bis holy keeping. The
Ludy Goring hath asked me, the priest,
so set down in writing what hath befaiieu
at Twyuhum, and ail that concerns the
death ul thy ill neighbor the Socman of
Miuatead. l'’or when ye bad left US, thia
evil man gathered arouud him all outlaws,
villeins, and maslerleas meu. until they
were come to such a force that they siew
.nd scattered file kiug s meu who went
.gainst them. Then, coming forth from
,ue woods, they laid siege to thy castle,
,ud for two days they girt us in and shot
aard against us, with such numbers as
were a marvel to see. Yet the Lady Lor­
ing held the place stoutly, and on the
»ecoad day t»*
«ocman was slain—by
his own ii“'
a some think so that we
were de* .cd from their hands; for
which praise be to all the saints, and
more especially to the holy Anselm, upon
whose feast it came to pass. The Lady
Loring and the Lady Maude, thy fair
daughter, are in good health. May all
the saints preserve thee!”
“My fair lord,” said Alleyne, with a
flush on his weather-stained cheeks, “I
love your daughter, the Lady Maude; and,
unworthy as I am, I would give my
heart’s blood to serve her.”
“By St. Paul! Edricson,” said the
knight coldly, arching his eyebrows, “you
aim high in this
’ matter. Our blood is
very old.”
“And mine also is very old,” answered
the squire.
“And the Lady Maude Is our single
child. All our name and lands center upon
her.”
“Alas! that I should say It, but I also
am now the only Edricson.”
“And why have I not heard this from
you before, Alleyne? In sooth, I think
you have used me ill.”
Er.
x
“Ware you on these ine»*
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