Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / Jan. 14, 1906, edition 1 / Page 13
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CIIATiLOTTE BHill-WEEKLY OBSEItVER, JANUARY 14, 1906. "- IT Author of "The;fl(dvemures of Sherlock Holmes," fl Study In Scarlet, . The Hound of ! '&7f The: DasItervIHes. Beyond ThevCity," c.V 7 rvf v -r; CHAPTER, V, How a Strange Company Gathered at . v , - r . - ...jvt :JL' night had "already fallen ana V the moon wai shining between" the ' raw or Taarireu.i aruunK ciouas. do - tore Alleyne Edrlcson, . footsore', and ; weary from the unwonted exercise, .fouad himself In front of the forest - Inn which ' etood upon the outskirts - of Lyndhurst The building- waa long izv? and low. standing back a little from v the road. "'With two flambeaux biasing , : on either aide of the-door 'as a.wei ' come to the traveler. From one win dow there thrust forth sa1 Ion pole ' 'vWlthTa bunch of greenery tied to the , end of It a sign that liquor' waa to be told within. As Alleyne walked up to It he perceived that It was-rude'.y i " zasnioned out of beam of wood; with , 'I twinKling lights all over (where- the slow from within ehone through the , chinks. . The.' roof waa poor.and thatched; but in strange contralto v- It there ran along under the eaves i i. - a line of wooden shields, most gor j gpeoualy painted with chevron bend, and ealtlre, and every heraldic de - . vice. . By the door a horse stood j tethered the ruddy glow beating Btrongly ; upon his brown head and " , patient- eyea while hi body, stood ;' back in the shadow. , - AUeyne stood still in the roadway ror a. few minutes reflecting upon v what he should do. It was, he knew, 7 pnly a few miles further to ilinstead, .- where his brother dwelt On the oth- ?'W,hand;.,he had never seen., this li" brother . sinfee childhood, and the : reporta which had come to his ears . . concerning him were seldom to hit advantagre. By all accounts he . was hard and bitter man. ' It might he an evil start to come to his door so late and claim the shelter ' , of his roof. Better' to sleep here Jit '' ' this inn, and then travel on to Mln- ' stead in the morning1. If his brother . would take him In, well and good. y - Ha would, bide with him for a time a&. nd do what he might to serve him. If, , on the ' other hand, , he ahould have ' hardened his heart against, htm, he could only go on his way and do the i -,,best he might by his skKl as a crafts , man arid a scrivener. At the' end of .' ! : year he would be tree to return to i - the cloisters, for such had been his ' father's bequest A monkish upbring , i ing.i one year in the world after the age of twenty, and then jt free selec tion one way or the other it was a strange course which had been mark ed out' for him. Such as it was, how ever, he had no choice but to follow v' it, and if he were to begin by making ' . a friend of his brother be had best wait untlf morning before be' knock v' ed at his dwelling. . Tha rude plank door was ajar, but ,v: as AUeyne approached It there came ' from, .within such .a gust . of." rough i 3 laughter and clatter of tongues that . - he- stood irresolute. upon the. threah '' ' oild. Summoning . courage, however, ' and. reflecting that it was; a public dwelling; ' in Which he had as much itvhfr as.-1 ttnv Atka (mat V. a - ... I it open ina sxeppea mio mo common ' r room. . , .Though it war an autumn evening , and somewhat warm, a huge fire of .Jieaped bCIets of wood erackled and ; sparkled , in a broad, open grate, ; -; aome of the smoke escapirig up a fi tf. rude chimney bub the greater part k Tolling out into the room so that the r '; air was thick with if and a man . " , coming from without could scarce v catch his breath. On this fire a great' -cauldron bubbled ana simmered, giv ing forth a rich and promising smell, v Geated round it were a doaen or so of ; ; folk, .of ai) aar and, conditions, who iaet up such a shout as Alleyne entr ed that he stood peering,- sit them s through the smoke, uncertain what ' this riotous greeting might portend. '. -'"A : rouse! - A rouse 1" cried '-one rough- looking fellow- In - a - tattered ' :, ; Jerkin. "One more round of mead or ' .' ale and the score tq the last comer.". vTls the law of the 'Pled Mer ; lln,'," shouted another. "'Ho, there, . 'Dame Eliza! Here is fresh custom come to the houses and not a drain for the company."-. - "I will take your orders, gentles; ikl wBl assuredly take your ' orders," the landlady answered, bustling . in ,.. with her hands full of leathern drink "... ing cups. "What is It that you drink. A then? Beer for the lads of the forest; - mead" for the gleeman, strong waters . v forthe, tinker, and wine for the rest. it is an old custom of the - house, 'young air. It' has been the us at the 'Pled Merlin' this many a year back - that the company should drink fovthe '- health of the last comer. Is It your pleasure to humor itf 'y- - 'Why, good dame," said Alleyne, - "I . would pot "offend the customs of. your house, but it Is only sooth, when . I say that my purse is a1 thin one s'.-tAs far as tyro pence will go, how ever X shall be right, glad to do my V part." - ' - ' , "Plainly said, and bravely spoken. 'my suckling friar," .roared .A' deep - voice, and a heavy hand fell. upon Al . leyne'a shoulder. Looking up, he -saw " T beside' hlni' his former cloister" com , paniortV the renegade monk, Hordle ohn, ' ' " "By the tthorn ot Glastonbury! Ill , ' days are cominr upori Beaulleu.'! said 1 he 'Here'- they hav got rid in one , day of the only 8wO men within their '-; walls-for I have had mine eves unon ithee' younfcsterAand t know ..that: for . all -thy baby face there It the making , of a man in ',thee. Then there is the - Abbot too, I am no Mend of his, nor ' he 4t mine; but he' has warm blood ,. In his veins. He is the. only man left among' them. The others, what . are y theyt- f - x ; v ' -1 't J,: "They are holy men, Alleyne an v awered gravely, - '-ffi , SftF e " ' "Holy men ? ' Holy cabbages! , Holy bean-podsr What do they, do but live , and suck In the sustenance and arrow . ' fat -t If that v be, boldness, I ' could . show you hogs In this forest who are 5 " nt to head the calendar. Think you it 'was for such a life, that '.thU good arm was fixed upon my shoulder, or . - that thead . placed -Atpon your neck? There Is work Jn the world, man, and ; It is not by hiding behind atone walls that we' shall, do it" 4 '!.' t - J-Why, then, did you Join tha broth , s era?, asked Alleyne'. , n ," "A-falr enough question;' but, It Is 'V as fairly answered. I Joined them be-' cause Margery Atspaye, of ' Bolder, '. married. OooKed. Thomas -i of Klng ,: wood, and left, a . certain 'John .. of , Hordle in the cold.- for that he waa a ' ranting, roving- b:ado- who ' was not t'o -be trussed In Wedlock, That was 1 why, -being fond' and- hot-hoaded, I left the world; and that Is why; hav 1 Jnir had time to tnke thoufrht, I am fight glad to find mj-Mlf back In it :B y fl. : C O N onee.more. Ill' betide 'the day that ever.''l toolc .off my. yoeman'a Jerkin to put ba the white, gown! vT. Whilst he was speaking , the land lady came in again, .searing a. hroaa Dlatter., unort which, stood - all tha beakers and flagons . charged . td 'the brim with the brown ale or the ruby wine. Behind her came a maid with a high' pile of Wooden plates, and- -a great sheaf-of spoons, one of which aha handed round to, each of the trays - Two of the company, who were dressed, In the--weather-stained green, doublet; - of foresters, lifted the- big pot : off the .Are, and- a third, , with a huge pewter ladle, served out a,1 por tion of steamfng pollops to - each guest Alleyne bore his share and his ale, mug away with him to a- retired trestle' in the corner, where he could su. in peace,' and" .watch the strange scene, which' was so different to those silent .and t weuordered meals to which he was accustomed. '; x . . The room was: not unlike a stable The low celling, smoke-blackened and dingy,' was' pierced -by several square trap doors with -rough-hewn ladders leading up to them.' The walls of ' bare un pain ted planks were studded altera and there with great wooden '.pins. placed , at . irregular . intervals ' and heights, ' from which , hung over-tun Ics, whips, bridles and saddles. Over the ' fireplace were suspended six or seven shields of .wood, with jcoats of arms rudely, daubed upon , them Which -showed by their varying de grees of smoklness and dirt that they had been placed there at different periods. There - was no furniture, save a single long dresser covered with coarse .crockery, and a number of wooden benches and trestles, the legs of which sank deeply inttfThe soft clay rfloor; while the only light save that of the fire, was furnished by three torches stuck in sockets on the wall, which flickered and crack led,, giving forth a strong resinous odor,-All this was-novel and strange to the' cloister-bred youth; .but most interesting ojt all, was the motely cir cles of guests who sat. eating their collops round the blase. They were a humble ' group of wayfarers, such as might have been found that night in any jnn through the length and breadth of England; but to him they represented that vague world against which he had been so frequently and so earnestly warned. It did not seem to him from what he could see of it te be such a very wicked place after all. . - . Three or four of the men round the Are 'were .evidently under-keepers and verderers from the forest sunburned and bearded, with the qulek restless eye and the lithe movements of the deer among which they lived. Close to . the ' corner of the chimney sat a middle-aged gleeman, clad in a faded garb o fNorwich cloth, the tunic of which was so outgrown that it did not fasten at' the neck and at the ' waist. ' His face was "swollen and coarse, and his ..watery protruding eyes spoae or a jire wnicn never wandered very far from the wine-pot. A gilt harp, blotched, with many stains and - with ; two of Its strings missing, was tucked under one of his arms, while with the other he scoop ed greedily at hi platter. Next to him sat two other men of About the same age, 'one., with a trimming of fur to his coat , which gave him a dignity which was evidently dearer to him than .his comfort, for he still drew It found htm in spite of the hot glare ot the faggots. The other, clad in a dirty russet suit with a long sweep ing -doubletn "had a .cunning, foxy face with keen, twinkling eyes and a peaky beard.: Next to him sat ' Hordle John, and beside - him three other rough unkempt fellows- with tangled beards and mtttd hair free labor era from the adjoining farms, where small patches of i freehold property had been suffered to remain scatter ed about in the heart of the royal demesne. . The company was com pleted by a peasant in a rude dress of undyed sheepskin, with the old-fashioned .gallhrasWrra about hi legs, and fryly. ' dressed . man with -striped cloak Jagged at the edges and parti colored hosen, who looked about him with high- disdain unon his face, and held a blue smelling flask to his nose With., one hand, while he brandished a busy spoon with the other. In the corner a very fat man was lying, all a-sprawl upon a truss. -snaring ster- torously. and evidently In the last stage -of drunkenness. - "That "is "Wat the limner," quoth tne landlady, sitting down beside Al leyne, and pointing with the ladle to the sleeping mftn. -'That is he who paints the 'slgns - and ' the tokens. Alack and' Alas . that, ever . I ahould have been fool enough to trust him. Now.' young man, what manner of a oira mould you suppose a pied mer Mn to .be rthst being the proper sign of my hostel r? ' - , . . "Why,"' said Alleyne,. "a merlin, la a oira or, the same form as an eagle or- afaioon.l can ' well remember that learned -"' brother. Bartholomew, Who ,1s 'deep' Inall' secrets of nature, pointed one out; to me as we walked together near Vinney Bldge'"r ,Y ' ' "A i falcon t or an eagle, ,3 quotha?. And. pied, this 1s" of two several col ors. , ,s any man- would say except this barrel' of -Itest. He came "' to me. look you, saying that tf I would fur nlsh 'him with a gallon of ale, where wfth strengthen himself , as ha worked, and also' the pigments and a board,' he would, paint for me ' a oblepled merlin "which I might hang along wfth - the " . blazonry over, my door.' C poor simpleC fool, gave him ttte'aV and all that he craved, leav ing him alone, because -he said" that a man's mind must be left untroubled when' he had great -worlc to-do. "When I came back, the gallon Jar was empty, and he lay as you see him,' with the board, In front of him with this sorry device,?. She raised up a panel which waa'.leanlng against the wall.'and s,howed a rude "painting. of a scrag gy and angular fowl, with very long legs and a spotted body. ., , , "Was that,'11 aheasked.. 'llke -.'tne bird , which thou hast seent" - , )f, AUeyne shook his .head, smiling. "7 - "So, nor apy1' other bird that ever wagg-ed. a feather, It is most like 'a p'ur:ed pullet which has died-of the spotted fever.. And scarlet tool What would the gentles Sir Nicholas - Boar hunter xiv Btr , Bernard ; Brocas, - of Roche Court, -say if they saw such a. thing--or, perhaps, even, the King's own,' Majesty himself,, who often has ridden past this .way, and who loves his falcons as he. loves hit sonsT - It woultL be the downfall of my bouse' 'The matter is not past mending,? (IWlfOX IE said Alleyne,' 71 pray you, ' good dame, to - give " roe ahose -three pig ment pots and the brush, and 1 shall try; whether.' I cannot better' this painting." - -. . - , - Dame Kiisa looked doubtfully ' at him, as though' fearing 'some other Stratagem, but, as he made no de mand, for ale,' she finally brought tha paints, and watched him as he smear ed on his background,, talking Hhe while about? the folk round the Are. , -"The four;' forest lads 'must be , Jog ging soon," she said. ".They bide At Emery Down: a1 ; mllff or .more , from here. Yeomen nclckers ' thev are. ' who Head0 to the King's , hunt The glee man is called J Floytlpg Will. He cornea from the north country,, but for many years ha -hath gone the round of the forest from Southamp ton to Chriatchurch. He drinks much and pays little; but- it .would make your ribs crackle to hear, him sing the 'Jest 'of Hendy Tobias.' , Mayhap he will si A It when the ale has '.warmed him." f.i y ' - i "Who are those next,-to hlni?" ask ed AUeyne. much interested.' "He of 'the fur mantle has a wise' and" rever ent face." t "He la a seller of pills and salves, very learned in humors, and rheums. f and fluxes, and all manner of - ail ments. He wears, as you perceive:, the vernlcle of Sainted Iuke, the first physician, upon1 his sleeve. May good' St Thomas of Kent grant that It may be long before either I or mine need his help! He is here to-night for her- bergage, as are the others except the foresters. His neighbor Is a tooth- drawer. That bag at his girdle is full of the teeth that he drew at Win chester fair. I warrant that there are more sound ones than sorry, for be Is quick at his work and a trine dim in the eye. The lusty man next ' him with the red head I have not seen before. The four on this Bide are all workers, three of them In the service of the bailiff of. Sir Baldwin Redvers, and the other, he with the sheepskin, is, as I hear, a villein from the mid lands who hath run from his master. His year and day are well-nigh up, when he will be a free man." "And the other?" asked Alleyne in a whisper. "He Is surely some very great man, for he looks as though he scorned those who were about him." The landlady looked at him in a motherly way and shook her head. "You have had no great truck with the world," she said, "or you would have learned, that it is the small men and not the great who hold their noses In the air. Look at those shields. Each of them is the device of some noble lord or gallant knight who hath slept under my roof at one time or another. Yet milder men or easier to please I have never seen; eating my bacon and drinking my wine with a merry face, and paying my score with some courteous word or Jest which waa dearer to me than my profit. Those are the true gentles. But your chap man or; your, bearward will swear inai inere is a. lime in tne, wnej ana water' m the- ale, and fling off at the last with a curse Instead of a bless lng. This youth is a scholar from Cambrig, where men are wont to be blown out by a little knowledge, and lose the use of their hands in learn (ng the laws ot the Romans. But I must away to lay down the beds. So may the saints keep you and prosper you In your undertaking!" Thus left to himself, AUeyne drew his panel of wood where the light of xne torcnes wouia striae run upon -u and worked away with all the pleas ure of the trained craftsman', listen ing the while to the-talk which went on round the fire. The peasant in the sheepskins, who had sat glum... and silent all evening, had been so heat ed by his-flagon of ale that he waa talking loudly . "fthd angrily with clenched hands arid flashing eyes. "Sir Humphrey Tennant of Ashby may till his own' fields for me, " he or led. "The castle S has thrown its shadow UDon the cottasre "over lonar. For three hundred years my folk have swiiiked and sweated, ? day In and day out t0 keep theiwtne on the lord's table and harness on the lords back. Let him take off his plates and delve himself, if delving must be done. "A proper spirit-s my -,' fair son!" said one of the free laborers. "I would that all men weraiOf f.thy way - of thinking." ; ) vtVV:-.;s tie wouia . nave soia me wun nis acres',' the other fcfied.&in , a i voice which "was ht4risswlnV4;'pa4afon. " 'The man, the woman and their Jit ter rso rah the words of the dotard bailiff. Never a bullock -on the farm was ' sold more lightly, .Hat he may wake some - black night-; to' find the flames licking about his ears for fire is a good friend to tha poor man, and I have seen a smoking heap of. ashes where over night there? stood Just such another castlewiok as Ashby." 'This is a tad of mettle!" shouted another of the laborers. ''He dares-to give tongue to what all..' men think. Are we not all from Adam's, loins, alt with flesh and blood, and with the same mouth that must' heeds have food and drink?; Where alf this dif ference, then v between - the ermine eloak and' the leathern tunic," if what they cover' is the aante?'Vr , . "Aye, JenklnV said another; "our foeman is under the stO and the. vestment as much as under the hel met and plate of proof. We ! have as much to tear from . the ' tonsure as from the hauberlcfitrlke at the noble and the priest shrieks, strike at priest and the noble lays Ms vhands upon glaive. They are twin thieves who live upon our labor.;" , rf ', '" w" "It would take a clever man to live upon thy labor, v Hugh t"-remarked one of the foresters, ."seeing that the half of thy tlma W 'spent in swilling mead at the' 'Pled Merlin.' it .''Better -that than stealing the deer that thou 'art placed' tp" guard like some folk'I know," -. i " .J ."If you dare open that 4' swine's mduth, -against me,"".' shouted the woodman, Vl'll'crop youif ears for you before Ihe hangman h the do ing of lt;-.thV, long-Jawed , Jack brain." i v n j, , A i,, .' 'Nay, gentles, gentlest" cried Dam, Eliza, in, a singsong needless 'voice, which - showed that :.: such - blckerfnirs were nightly things among her guests, "No brawling or : babbllng.v gentlest Take heed of. the good name : of the house," ," .. j--'-" ' "Besides, if if comes to the crop, ping of - ears, there . are other folk who may, say their say' ouoth the third laborer. ' "We- are all freemen, and ,1 trow that a' yoeman's rudgol is as good as a forester's knifes By St. AJDnalmX.it. wouid .be aaevll day if we had to bend to our master's ser vants ' as well as W our masters. "No. manv- is - my' master save'fthe King."- the woodman answered, "Who is there, save a false traitor, who would refuse to serve the. Eng lish kingT", "I know not about the English king. said the man Jenktn. ','What sort , of English king is It who cannot lay his tongue to a word of Ehgliahl You mind ; last year when he came down , to Matwood, with his inner, marshal and his outer -marshal his Justiciar, his seneschal, ' and his four and twenty guardsmen. - One noon tide' I was by .Franklin Swlnton's gate when up he rides with a yoeman pricker at his heels. 'Ouvre,' he cried, 'ouvre,' or some such word, making signs for me to-open the gatee; and then 'Mere! as though he were adrad of me, And you talk of an Eng lish king?" "I do not marvel at It." cried the Cambrig scholar, speaking In the high drawling voice which was' com mon among his class. "It is not a tongue for men of sweet . birth and delicate upbringing. It Is a foul, snort ing, snardling irfanner of speech. For myself, ! swear by the learned Poly carp that I have most ease with Hef brew, and after that perchance with Arabian." 1" "I will not hear a Word said against old King Ned," cried Hordle John In a voice like a bull. "What if he is fond of a bright eye and a saucy face. I know one of his subjects who could match him at that. If he cannot speak like an Englishman I trow that he can fight like an Englishman, and he was hammering at the gates ot Paris while alehouse topers were grutchlng and grumbling at home." This loud 'speech, coming from a man ;of so formidable an appear ance, somewhat daunted the disloyal party, and they fell Into a sullen si lence, which enabled Alleyne to hear something of the .talk which was go ing on in the further corner between the physician, the tooth-drawer and the gleeman. "A raw rat" the man of drugs was saying, "that Is what It Is. ever my. use to order for the -plague a raw rat with Its paunch cut open." "Might It not be broiled, most learned sir " asked the tooth-drawer. "A raw rat sounds a most sorry and cheerless dish." "Not to ba eaten," cried the physi cian, in high . disdain. "Why should any man eat such a thing?" "Why Indeed?" asked the gleeman, taking a long drain at his tankard. "It Is to be placed on the sore or swelling. For the rat, mark you, be ing a foul-living creature, hath a na tural drawing or affinity for all foul things, so that the noxious humors pass from the man into the Unclean beast" "Would that cure the black death, master?" asked Jenkln. "Aye, truly would.lt, my fair son." "Then I am right glad that there were nqne who knew of it. The black death la the best friend that ever the common folk had in England." "How that then?" asked Hordle John. "Why, friend, It Is easy to see that you have not worked with your hands or you would not need to ask. When half the folk In the country were dead It was then that the other half could pick and choose who they would work for, and for what wage. That Is why I say that the murrain was the best-friend thnt th hni fiir mrt had." "True, Jenkln," said another work man; "but it is not all good that Is brought by It either. We well know j that through It corn-land has been I turned into pasture, so that flocks of ! sheep with perchance a single shep herd wander now where once a hun dred men had work and wage." 'There Is no great harm, in that," remarked the tooth-drawer, ' "for the sheep give many folk their living. There is not only "the herd, but the shearer and brander, and" then the dresser, the curer, the dyer, the -fuller, the webster, the merchant and a score of othera" "If it come to that, said one of the foresters, "the tough meat of them wilt wear folks' teeth, "out and. there is a trade for the man who can draw them." - , A general laugh followed this sal ly at the dentist's expense In the midst of which the gleeman placed his battered harp upon his knee, and began to pick out a me'ody upon the frayed strings. . "Elbow room for- Floytingv Will!" cried the woodmen, "Twang us VA merry lilt." , "Aye, ' aye. the 'Lasses of Lancast er," one suggested. "Or 'St Simeon and the Dev!.' " "Or the 'Jest of Henry Tobias.' " To all these suggestions the Jon- gleur made no response, but sat with his eyes fixed abstractedly upon the celling, as one who calls words to his mind. Then, with" a sudden sweep across the strings, he broke out into a song so gross and so foul that ere he had finished a .verse the pure- minded lad sprang to hia feet with: the blood tingling in his face. ' "How can you sing1 such thlngat" he cried.,' "You, too, an old man , who should be an example to others' ; The wayfarers air cased" in the .tit- most . atonighroent at the : interrup tion. " , , , r ;ts - "By the holy Dicon of Ham Dole! our silent clerk has found his tongue," said one. of the woodmen, "What is amiss with the song then? How has it offended your' babyship.',' . , - ' "A milder and better mannered song hath never been heard within these; walls," cried ' another. ''What sort of talk Is this for s, publlo Inn?" 'Shall It be litany.; my good clerk?" shduted ,, 'third; I'or would ,' hymn be' good enough to aerreTr , ,' The Jongleur had, put ' down, his harp- In - high dudgeon, "Am I to be preached to by a child ? he cried. staring across at Alleyne With an in- named ana angry countenance. "is a Hairless 5 Infant - to raise bis' tongue against 'me, , when. I , have sunir in every fair from Tweed to Trent,, and naye twice been named aloud by the High Court, of the Minstrels at Bev erly? I, shall sing no more to-night"1. Nay, but you will so," said one of the laborera "HI, Dame Elisa. , bring a stoup of your best to Will to clear his throat Go forward with thy song, and ,if our girl-faced clerk does not love it he can take to the road, and go whenca he came' "Nay. but not too fast.' broka In tlordle John "There are two words iii this matter., It , max be that my little, comrade has been over quick In reproof, he having gone early Into the . cloisters and Seen little of.' the rough ways and words of the world. Yet there Js truth in what he says, for, as you know well, the eons was not of the, cleanest He shall stand by him, therefore, and he shall neither be put out on the oad. nor shall, his ears.be offended indoors." "-' '. "Indeed., your' -high, and v mighty grace,'" sneered, one of the yoement "have you in sooth so ordained?",, ,. "By the Vlrgla!", said a sedond, "I think that you . may both chance tq find yourselves, upon the road , before long.'- ,, i" ' -."'And sd belabored as to be-scarce able to crawl v, along it," cried a third. , vt"MNay, I shall go! I shall go!" said Alleyne hurriedly, as Hordle4, John began to slowly roll up his sleeve, and bare an arm like a leg of mutton. ','X would not have you brawl about me."', i :' "Hush! lad," he whispered, "I count them not a fly. They may find they have more tow on their distaff than they know how to spin. Stand thou tf. ear and give me space." ''' T Both the fnratera and . the lahor- fe'rs . had risen from thetr' bench, and Dame Eliza and the traveling doctor bad flung themselves 'between the two parties with soft words and Booth- Ing gestures, when the' door of the "Pled Merlin" was flung violently open, and the attention of the com pany was drawn from their own quarrel to the new-comer who had burst so uncermoniously upon them, r , - CHAPTER VI. HOW SAMK1N ALYWARD WAGER' tX .ED HIS FEATHER-BED. A He was a middle- slsed-man, of moat massive and . robust build, with ait arching chest and extraordinary breadth of shoulder. His shaven face was. as brown as a hazel nut, tanned and dried by the weather, with harsh well marked features, which were not Improved by a long white scar which stretched from the corner of his left nostril to the angle of the Jaw. His eyes were bright and searching, "with somethlig of. menace and of author ity, InV their quick glitter, and his mouth firm set and hard, as heflttea one who was wont to set his . face against danger. Astralght sword by his side .and a painted long bow jut ting over his shoulder proclaimed. his profession, wht e his scarred brigan dlhe of chain mail and his dinted steel: cap, showed that he was no hol iday soldier, but one who was even nowt fresh from .the wars. A white surcoat with the lion of St. George hr-red - upon the centre covered his broad -breast while a sprig of new plucked broom at the side of his headgear-gave a touch of gayety and grace fdi his grim, war-worn equip ment' HI!" he cried, blinking like an owl in the sudden glare. "Good even to1 you, comrades! Hola! a woman, by my soul!" and In an Instant he had clipped Dame Eliza round the waist and was kissing her violent ly. HJs eyes happening to wander upon the maid, however, he instant Inf confusion up one of the ladders, Iy abandoned the mistress and danc ed - Off after the other, who scurried and. dropped the heavy trap-door upon , her pursuer. He then turned back and saluted the landlady once more', with the utmost relish and sat isfaction. ''La petite Is frightened," said he. "Ah, ; o'est l'amour, l'amour! , Curse this, trick of French, which will "stick to my throat. I must wash it out with some good English ale. By my hilt! camaradea, there is no, drop . of French blood In my body, and I am a" true. English bowman, Samkln Ayl ward by name; and I tell .you, mes amis,', that It warms my vfery heart roots to set my feet bn the dear old land once more. When I came off the galley at Hythe, this Very day, I down 'on my bones, and I kissed the good brown earth, as I kiss the now w,ft be'le: fr u wa" ef ht 3on year" ,nc,? 1 had ,sen The vrT melj : of it seemed life to me. But where. are my six rascals? Hola, there! En avant!" At the order, six men, dressed as fnn drudges, marched solemn- r""'" a hugeybundle upon his head. They formed line, whtlo the soldier stood In ""front of them with stern eyes, checking off their several packages. "Number one a French feather bed H wlfh the two counterpanes of white sandell," said he. "Here, worthy sir," answered the first v of the bearers, laying a great package down In the corner. "Number two seven ells of red Turkey cloth and nine ells of cloth of gold. 'Put It .down by the other. Good dame, prythee give each of these men a bottrlne, of wine or a Jack pf ale. Three a full piece of white Genoan velvet with twelve ells of purple silk. Thou rascal, there Is dirt 'on the hem, Thou hast brushed it against some Wall, coquln!" :,'.'Ndt I, most worthy sir," cried the carrier, shrinking away from the fierce, eyes of the . bowman. ?t say yea. dogE By the three kings! I have seen a; man gasp out his last breath for less. Had you gone through the painUand unease hat t I have done to earn these things you would be at more care. I swear by my ten finger bones that there Is not one of them thnt hath not ennt Its weight In French blood! Four an Incense boat, a ewer of silver, a gold bucle'e and a cope worked in pearls, I found them, camarade, ' at the' Church of St Dennis in the harrying of Nar bonne. and I took them away with m lest they .'fall Into the hands -of the winked. Five cloak - of fur turned up with minever, a gold gob let with stand and -cover, and a box of rose colored sugar. See that you lay hem together. Six a box . of monies, three pounds of Limousine gold-work, s pair of boots, sliver tagged, and, 'lastly, a store of nap Ing l'nen. So, the tally is eompletet Here Is a groat apiece, and you may go." ,-. ' lt "Go In hither, worthy sir " asked one of the - carriers. "Whither t To the devM If ye will. What Is It to. me? Now, ma belle, to supper. A pair et cold capons, a mortess of brawn, or what you will, with a flask, or two of the right Gas cony.' I lhare' crowns In my pouch, my sweet' s.nd J man to spend them. Bring in wlnf while the food is dressing. Buvons, my brave ladsr you shall each empty a stoup with me." ! Here was' an offer , which the com pany Wan'-English Inn at that or any other -'date. ars. slow to refuse. The flagons . were'" regathered 1 and came ' back- iwlth the -. whW foam dripping ovef their -edge. Two Of the woodmen and three of the laborers drank their portions off hurriedly and trooped off together, for their homes were distant and,' tha hour - late. - The others, however. lrew - closer, leaving the; place of bonov to the. right of the gleeman to the free-handed new comer.' He - had thrown off his steel cap , and hi -brlgandlne, - and. 'had ptaced'therrt with his' sword, his quiver and his painted long bow, on Ihev lop ;or, nis .varied heap of plun der n the coner.,Now, with, hla thick and somewhat) -bowed legs suretcnea In front of? the blase,, his -green? Jerklri thrown open, and a great quart pot held in his corded fist- he looked the picture of comfort and of. good f eh lowship. His hard-set face bad soft ened and. the thick crop of crisp brown curls which bad been hidden by his helmet grew low upon his massive . neck. He might have been forty years of age, though, hard toil and harder pleasue had left their grim marks upon his features, Al leyne had ceased painting bis pied merlin, and sat, brush in hand, star. ing with open eyes at a type of man so strange and so unlike any wnora he had met ; Men had been good or had been bad In ' his catalogue, but here.- was a. man who waa fierce one Instant and aenCe the next with a curse on his Hps and a smile in bis eye. What was to be made of such a man as that? It chanced that the soldier looked up and saw the questioning glance which the vountr clerk threw UDOn him, He .raised his flagon and drank 1 to him, with a merry flash of his white teeth. "A toi, -mon garcon." he cried. "Hast surely never seen a man-at- arms, that thou sholdst stare so?" "I never have," said Alleyne frank ly, "though I have oft heard talk of their deeds." "By my hilt!" cried the other, "If you were to cross tha narrow sea you would find them as thick aa bees at a tee-hole. Couldst not shoot a bolt down any street of Bordeaux, I war rant, but you would pink archer. squire or knight There are more breastplates than gaberdines to be seen. I promise you." "And where got you all these pret ty things?" asked Hordle John, point ing at the heap in the corner. "Where there is as much more waiting for any brave lad to pick It up. Where a good man can always earn a good wage, and where he need look upon no man as his pay master, but Just reach hla hand out and help himself. Aye, It Is a goodly and proper life. And here I drink to mine old comrades, and the saints be with them! Arouse all together, mes enfants, under pain of my dis pleasure. To Sir Claude Latour and the White Company!" "Sir Charles Latour and the White Company!" shouted the travelers, draining off their goblets. "Well quaffed, mes braves! It Is for me to fill your cups again, since you have drained them to my dear lads of the white Jerkin. Hola! mon ange, bring wine and ale. How runs the old stave? We'll drink all together To the gray gooae feather And the land where the gray gooce flew.' He roared out the catch in a harsh, unmusical voice, and ended with a shout of laughter. "I trust that I am a better bowman than a minstrel," said he. "Methlnks I have some remem brance of the lilt." remarked the glee man, running his fingers over the strings. "Hoping that it will give thee no offence, most ho'.y sir" with a vicious snap at Alleyne "and with the kind permit of the company, will even venture upon It." Many a time in the after days Al leyne Edrlcson seemed to see that scene, for all that bo many which were stranger and more stirring were soon to crowd upon him. The fat, red-faced gleeman, the listening group, the archer with upraised fin ger beating In time to . the music, and the huge sprawling figure of Hordle John, all thrown into red light and black shadow by the flickering Are In the centre memory was to come often lovingly back to It At the time he was lost in admiration at the deft way in which the Jongeur disguised the loss of his two missing strings, and the lusty, hearty -fashion in which he trolled out his little ballad of the outland bowmen, which ran In some such fashion as this: What of the bow? The bow was made In England: Of true wood, of yew wood. The wood of Engllah bowi; 8o men who are free Love the old yew tree And the land where the yew tree grOwa What of the cord ? The cord wai made in England: A rough cord, a tough cord, A cord that bowmen love: Ho we'll drain our Jacks ... . To tha Engllih flax And the land where the hemp was wove. What of the ihaft? The ihaft wu cut In England: A long ihaft a itrong ihaft, Barbed and trim and true; So we'll drink all together T.i tha arrev ariMMS feathec And the land where the gray koom flew, I What of the men ? The men wero bred In England: The bowman the yeoman The ladt of dale and fell . Here'i to you and to you I To the hearts that are true And the land where the true hearts dwell. "Well sung, by my hilt!" shouted the archer in high delight "Many a night have I heard that song, both in the old war time and after In the days of the White Company, when Black Simon ot Norwich would lead the steve, and four nunared or tne best bowmen that ever drew string wnid wnn roaring; in unon the cho- rus. I nave seen oia jonn nwt wood, the same who has led half the Company Into Italy, stand laughing In his beard as he heard it. until his plates rattled again. But to go the full smack of It ye must yourselves be English bowmen, and be . far off upon an outland soli." , Whilst the song had beet singing Dame Eliza and the maid had placed a board across two trestles. And had laid upon' it the knife, the spoon, the salt, the tranohoir of bread, and fin ally the smoking1 dish, which held the savory supper. The archer settled himself to It like one who had known what it was to find good food scarce; but h's tongue, still went as merrily as his teeth. (- ' ' . ', . ' ., , , ' . "It passes me," he cried, "how all you lusty fellows ca bide scratching your backs at home when there are such doings over the seas. Look at me what hare I to do? It Is but the eye to the cord, the eord to the shaft and the shaft to tha mark.' There la the whole song of it. It Is but what you do yourselves for pleasure upon a Sunday evening; at the parish vil lage butts."' ' w "And the wagsT'" asked ft laborer. "Tou see what the -wage brings," he answered.."!, eat of the best and I drink deep, f treat my friend, and I ask no. friend to treat me. I elan a silk gown on my girl's back. Never a knlghfa lady shall ba better be trimraed and betrlnketed. How ot all that mon garcon? And how ot the heap ot trifles that you can see for yourselves lh yonder corner T . They ar .front ' tha South ' French, every one, upon whom I have been making war. By my hilt! , camrades. I think that I may let. my plunder speak for Itself." . .' s :. -. - -. - . , "It seems Indeel to, be a goodly service, said tne tootn-arawer.- . "Tete bleu! yes. Indeed. Then there Is the chance of a ransom. Why. look you, In , the affair at Brlznaia some four years back, when the com- panles : slew - James, of Boum. . put his army to the-sword. tli i scarce a man of ours who lut . count,' baron or knight. -I'eter I dale, who was but a'common r . try lout newly brought over, wiui i English fleaa-still hopping under ! doublet, . laid hla great hands A; i the Sleur Amaury da Chatonti' , who owns half JPicardy, and had fiv j thousand crowns out of him, with hi i horse and harness. Tie" true that a French wench took It all off Peter a i quick as the Frenchman paid it; but what then? By the twang pf string! it would be a bad thing: if money was not made to be "spent; and how bet ter than ;on woman eh, ma belle?" "It would indeed be a bad thing, if we had not our brave archers to bring wealth and kindly customs into the country," quoth' Dame Eliza, on . whom the soldier's free and open ways had made a deep Impression. . "A- toi. ma eherle!" said be, with his hand over his heart: "HolaJ there Is la petite peeping from behind the door. A toi. as si, . ma' petite! , - Mon , Dleu! but the lass has a gocd color!" "There Is on thin. 'fair air," said the Cambridge student. In his piping voice, "'which X would fain that you would make more clear. Aa I. under- stand it there was peace made at the town of Bretigny some six years back- Between our most gracious monarch and the King of the French, This be ing so. It seems most passing strange that you should talk so loudly ot war and of companies when there Is no , Huairei uciween mo j1 renin urn us. , "Meaning that I Me, said the' arch- . er, laying down his knife. . ;,S May heaven f orf end!" cried the . student hastily. "Magna est Veritas x sed rara, which means m tha Latin tongue that archers are all , honors able men. I come to you seeking knowledge, for it la my trade to learn." .1 T aom tiat - A . tice to that trade," quoth tha sol-f ' IVU M JK.fr V ,. 11 C,, . uicu, iur mer w no cnu over inn water but could answer what ton ask. Know then that though there may be peace between our own prov inces and the French, yet within tha marches of France there Is always war, for the country la much ulvld--ed against itself, and is furthermore harried by bands of flayers, skinners, v. tiraDacons, aravenus and the rest of f them. When every man's grip Is on. un nriKuuur b uiruai, una every nve-sous-piece of a baron Is marching with tuck of drum to fight whom he will, it would be a strange thing If five hundred brave English boys could iifv uy n tiring, . iivw uft,pir: John Hawkwood hath son a with tha East Angian lads and the Notting- Marquls of Montferrat to flght against ' score of us left, yet I trust that Z - may be able to bring some back with me to fill the ranks of the White 1 Company. By the tooth of Peteri . lt . muster many a Hamptonshlre man. wno would be ready to atrlke In un- , der the red flag- of St. George, and' the more so It Sir Nigel Lorlng, of Christchurch, should don (hauberk once more and take tha lead of ua." "Ah, you would Indeed be In luck then." ouoth a woodsmen: "for 'It is said that, setting aside the prince, : and mayhap good old Sir John Chan-r dos, there was not In the whole army a man of such tried courage." "It la sooth, every word of Iff the archer answered. "I have seen him with these two eyes in a stricken field, and . never did man , carry . him-' self better. Mon Dleu! yes, ye would not credit it to look at him, , or to , hearken to his . voice, but from -the '' sailing from Orwell down to the fo ray to Paris, and that is clear twen-'1' ty years, there was not a. skirmish. battle, but Sir Nigel was hi the heart : of "t. I. go now to cnristchurcn witn-, a letter to him .from Sir Oiaude La- ' tour to ask htm if he will take the:: place of Sir John Hawkwood; and- there is the more chance that he Will' If T hrlnff nna nr tvn lllrnlv man m.t- my neeis. vvnat say you, wooaman; will leave the bucks to loose ft shaft at a noble mark ?" wife and child at Emery Down," .1 quoth he; "I would not leave them for such a venture." ' You, then, young sir?" asked the ; archer. "Nay, I am a man of peace,' said . Alleyne Edrlcson. "Besides, X have'? other work to do." 1 iA' "Pestel!" growled the soldier,'; striking his flagon on tha board until the dishes danced again. "What In, the name of the devil, hath come over ; the folk? Why sit ye all moping by ' the fireplace, like crowds round a dead horse, when there is man's - work to be done within ft few short : -leagues of ye? Out upon you all. as x a set of laggards and hang-backs! By my hilt I believe that tne men of a England are an In France already, and that what Is left .behind are In sooth the women dress- ed up in their paltocka and hosen." "Archer," quoth Horaie - John, you have lied more than once and , more than twice; for which, and also ' because I see much In you to dislike X am sorely tempted to lay you upon your back. . 'v-'n By my hiiti then i nave xouna ft man at last!" shouted the bowman. "And, 'fore God, you sure a better man than I take you tor It you can lay me on my back, mon garcon. I have won the ram more times than there are toes to my feet and. for , seven long "years I have 'found no man In the Company who could make ' my jers.iw uuBiy. , . . "We have had enougn bobance and . boastlnc." said Hordl John, rlstnc and throwing off his doublet "I will ':. show you that there are better men left in England than ever went thieving to France." " , Pas Dleu!", ' cried the ' archer. loosening 'his Jerkin, and eyeing his foeman over with, the keen glance of one who is a Judge ot manhood. "I . have only once before aeon such, a body of ft man, By your leave, my red-headed friend, I should be right sorry to exchange buffets- with you: and X will allow that there Is no man in the " company - who would . pull agatnst you on ft rope; .so let that be a salve to your prided On, the other hand I should Judge- that you have led a life of ease" for von months f ' back, ' and that my muscle is harder 1 than your own. I am ready to wager upon myself agamst you It yon are not afeard." -. ' y m''v "Afeard. thod lurdenl". growled btsr John.- "X never saw , tha face yet ot the man that X was afeard Of. Come out, and we shall see who Is tha bet ter man. " , . 4 ; . i 'But tha wager r . '-- l have nought to wager. Come o for the love, and the lust of t thing." ...... "Nought to wager!" cried the t dter. "Why, you have that wl ! covet above all things. It is t'- t body of . thine that I am afu r. . now. mon garcon. 1 have a t r fen'ier-bed ther, hU I ' been at pains tr 1 ? 1' back. I had It at i . sodum, and the K, r 1 not such a bd. If y..i 1 Is thlae; but, it I V ;
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 14, 1906, edition 1
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