Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / Jan. 21, 1906, edition 1 / Page 16
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CHAELOTTE DAILY GITJLVEP, JAIOJAIlx U, 1. w J. . a-ii- - ;w iiiiil author ot VmVf Adventures - of Sherlock. Holmes,'' flSttid) In Scarlet," IeIlound of i S:l & l 1 V The 4Dashervmes,-?0eyond Th tqtKc. :Vfc?j- . r CHAPTER VII. '"..ir'Ay.tn'ov,.-;- -i How the Three' Ctowrwk Journeyed ThrOUgJl UK) wuwwntiipi . ;, At early dawn the country Inn wu all alive, tot it WW rare Indeed that an hour ot daylight would be wastea at a time when lighting wai fcarce and dear. Indeed, early a it was hen Dame EHsa began to tlrr It seemed that others could be earlier atut, for tho door wm ajar, and the learned. Student ot Cambridge had - taken himself off, with a mind which vas too intent upon the hlghthlng of antiquity to Stoop to consider the f ourpence which be owed I for - bed and board- It was the ehrill outcry " of the-landlady when ehe found her loss, and the clucking of the hens, swhlch had streamed In through the open door, that first broke In upon the ' clumbers of the tired wayfarers. . , One afoot it was hot long befors the. company began to disperse. A sleek mule with red trappings was - brought round from some neighboring ' shed for the physician, and he am ",bled away with much dignity upon , his . road to Southampton -The tooth drawer and the gleeman called for a cup of ismall ale apiece, and started -off together for Rlngwood fair, the old? Jongleur looking very yellow In the eye and swollen In the face after 7 Ms: overnight potations. The archer, tiowever, who had drunk more than , smy man In the room, was as merry as a grig, and having kissed the ma . trou and ehased the maid up the lad , s der onoe more, he went out to the brook, and came back with the wa ' ter dripping from his face and hair. , "Hola! my man of peace," he , cried to Alleyne. "whither are you bent this morning?" ,; ""To Mlnstead," quoth he. "My ;'. brother Simon Bdrlscon Is socman ' r . there, and I go to bide with htm for ' awhile. I prythee, let me have my . score, good dame." ("Score. Indeed!" cried she, stand- log with upraised hands in front 'tot the panel on which Alleyne "had worked the night before. "Say, f rather what It Is that I owe to thee. ' goo, youth. Aye, this Is indeed a " pled merlin, and with a leveret under ,Ae Its claws, as I am a living woman. Jy, the rood of Waltham! but thy " touch Is deft and dainty." fAnd see the red eye of It!" cried the maid, ; "Aye, and the open beak.' , J" And the ruffled wing," added Hor ' die John. ' . "By my hilt!" cried the archer, "It U the very bird ltlf." ' The young clerk flushed with pleas " ure at this chorus of praise, rude and - Indiscriminate Indeed, and yet so - much heartier and less grudging than "any which he had ever heard from ,tho critical brother Jerome, or the ' , uhort-spofcen Abbot There was, it . would seem, great kindness as well '' . 6s greet wickedness In this world, of i - which he had heard so little that was i good. His hostess would hear noth ing of his paying for bed or for ' ' board, while the archer and Hordle , ' ' John placed a hand upon either " shou der and led him off to the board, , ' where some smoking fish,' a dish of ' spinach, and a jug of milk were laid . out for their breakfast. ' 11 should not be surprised to learn, '" mop camarade," said the soldier, as he heaped a slice of fish upon Al- - leyne's trancholr of bread, "that you could read written things, since you '' t (ire so ready with your brushes and ptgmenta" - i "It would be a shame to the good brothers of Beautleu If I could not," ' he answered, "seeing that I have -' been their clerk this ten years back." - The bowman looked at him with great respect. "Think of that!" said " " he. "And you with not a hair to your - T face, and a skin like a girl. I can -' t shoot three hundred and fifty paces "-wtth my little popper there, and four hundred and twenty with the great . war-bow; yet I can make nothing of 1 "this, nor read my own name If you were to set '8am Aylward' up against ' ma. In the whole Company there was only one man who could read, and "(, he fell down a well at the taking of Vented our, which proves that the thing Is not suited to a soldier, though most needful to a clerk." ' "I can make some show at it." said big John; "though 1 was scarce long enough among the monks to catch the whole trick of It" "Here, then. Is something to try v upon," quoth the archer, pulling a ' square parchment from the inside of ; '".his tunic. It was tied securely with a , broad band of purple silk, and firmly , sealed at either end with a large red ; aeaU John pored long and earnestly ; ovr the Inscription, with his brows bent as one who bears up against great mental strain. "Not having read much of late," he '"aid, "I am loth to say too much about what this may be. Rome might - say one thing and some another, Just as one bowman loves the yew, and a jocund will not shoot save with the . : msa..- To me, by the length and the i look of It, I should Judge this to be a " ' yerse from one of the Psalms." ' ' The bowman shook his head. "It tf scarce likely," he said, "that Si - Claude lAtour should send me all the "'way across seas with nought more -' weighty than a psalm-verse. You' have clean overshot the butts this time, , moo camarade. Give it to the little ' one. X wUl wager my feather-bed that . ; he makes more sense of It." ."Why, its wrtttcn In the French , tongue," said Alleyne, "and in a right clerky hand. This Is how It runs: 'A ' le- moult puissant et moult honor able chevalier, Sir Nigel Irlng da - : Chrlstchurch, de son tree fidele amis v 8ir daode Latour, captains de la - Compagrile blanche, chatelain de Bis - ar, grand seigneur de Montcha , teau, vavaseur de le renomme, Qas- toa, Comte de Folx. tenant les droits de la haute justice, de la mlleu, et de la basse.' Which slgnliles In our speech: f-fTo. the very powerful and very honorabU knight, girKlget Lor lug of Chrtetchurch, from his very faithful friend ffir Claudt Latour. captain , of the White Company. - hittpiafn ot Biscar, grand lord ot isiscar,, grand lord of Montchateait and, vassal of the renowned Oaston, Count f Folx, who held the rights of the .high Justice, the middle and the bow." . " , -' 'S?"- "Look at that newt" cried the bow man In triumph,' "That . Is just what he would have said." r-s ; 5 -4- ' "l can see that it is even so," said J ihn, examining the parchment again. "IhoutM' I' scarce understand ' this liish. middle low. . . v ' By my MM yoo would Understand it if you were Jacques Bonhomme, at ijw justice means' that you may ?u if V " V; fleece Sum, .and the middle .thai you may torture him and the high that yon may him. .y That . Is about the truth of it. But this is the letter which I anv to take: and since the platter la . clean It ts time, that , we trussed Hp and were afoot, Too- eeme with. Me, mon gros Jean; and aa te you, -little ope,- where did you say that - you Journeyed f . - "To Mlnstead." - ' I ' "Ah, yea. I know this forest coun try well, though I was born myself In the Hundred of Easebourne, In - the Rape of Chichester, hard by the vil lage of Midhurst Tet I have not a word to say against the Hampton men, for there are no better comrades or truer archera In the whole .Com pany than some who learned to loose the strings In these very parti, We shall travel round with yon to Mln stead. lad, ' seeing that it la little out of our way." ," am ready,' said ADeyne, rtght pleased at the thought ot such com pany upon the road. "So am not I. I must store my plunder at this Inn, since the . hostess Is an honest woman. Holal ma cherie, I wish to 4eave with you my gold work, my velvet, 'my silk, my feather bed, my Incense ' boat,, my ewer, my naping linen, and all the rest of It. I take only the money In a linen bag. and the box of rose-colored sugar which Is a gift from my captain to the Lady Ixtrlng. Wilt guard my treasure for met" "It shall be put in the safest loft, good archer. Come when you may, you shall find it ready for you." "Now, there is a true rrienai" cried the bowman, taking her hand. There Is a bonne amle! English land and English women, say I, and French wine and plunder. I shall be back anon, mon ange. I am a lonely man, my sweeting, and I must settle some day when the wars are over and done. Mayhap you and I-. ' Ah, mechante, mechante! There Is la pe tite peeping from behind the door. Now, John, the sun is over tne trees; you must be brisker than this when the bugleman blows 'Bows and Bills: " "I have been waiting this time back." said Hordle John gruffly. "Then we must be off. Adieu, ma vie! The two llvres shall settle the score and buy some ribbons against the next kermesse. Do not forget Sam Aylward, for his heart shall ever be thine alone and thine, ma petite! So, marchons, and may 8t. Julian grant us as good quarters elsewhere!" The sun had risen over Ashurst and Denny woods, and was shining brightly, though the eastern wind had a sharp flavor to It, and the leaves were flickering thickly from the trees. In the High Street of Lynd hurst the wayfarers had to pick their way, for the little town was crowded with the guardsmen, grooms, and yoemen prickers who were attached to the King's hunt The King himself was staying at Castle Mai wood, nut several of his suite had been compell ed to seek such ' quarters as they might find 1b the wooden or wattle-and-dauh cottages of the village. Here and there a small escutcheon, peep ing from a glassless window, mark ed the night's lodging bf knight or baron. These coats-of-arms could be read, where a scroll would be mean ingless, and the bowman, like most men of his age, was well ' versed In the common symbols of heraldry. "There is the Saracen's head of Sir Bernard Brocas," quoth he. "I saw him last at the ruffle at Polctlers some ten years back, when he bore him self like a man. He 1s the master of the King's horse, and can sing a right Jovial stave, though In that he can not noma night to Sir John Chan doe, wbe Is first at the board or In the saddle. Three martlets on a field, axure, that must be one of the Lut trells. By the crescent upon It, It should be the second son of old Sir Hugh, who had a bolt through his ankle at the Intaklng of Romorantln, he having rushed Into the fray ere his squire had time to clasp hie sol leret to his greaver There too le the hackle which Is the old device of the De Brays. I have served under Sir Thomas De Bray, who waa as Jolty as a pie, and a lusty swordsman until he got too fat tor his harness," So the archer gossiped as the three wayfarers threaded their way among the stamping horses, the busy grooms ana tne knots of pages and squires who disputed over the merits of their masters horses ana deerhounds. As they passed the old church, which stood upon a mound at the left-hand side of the village street the door was flung open, and a stream- of worship pers wound down the sloping path, coming from the morning mass, all chattering like a cloud of Jays. Al leyne bent knee and doffed hat at the sight of the open door: but ere he had finished an ave his comrades were out of sight round the curve of the path, and be had to run to over take them." "What!" he said, "not one word of prayer before God's own open house? How can ye hope for His blessing upon the day?' "My friend." aald Hordle John. "I ve prayed so muoh during the last o months, not only during tne aay, but at matins, lauds' and the tike. when I could scarce keep my head upon my shoulders for nodding, that I feet that I have somewhat over prayed myself,? -'V":. "How can a man have too much religion?" 'cried Alleyne earnestly. "It la the one thing that avalletb. A man is but a beast as he lives from day to day, eating and drinking, breathing and sleeping. It Is only when he raises himself, and concerns himself with the Immortal spirit with in him, that he becomes In very truth a man. Bethink ye how sad a thing it would be that the blood of the Re deemer ahould be spilled to ne pur poseV-j; V '.. "H V; v,-V 'Bless the lad. If he doth not blush like any girl, and yet preach like the whole College of Cardinals," cried the archer. ! , ", . ',' , "In truth I blush that one so weak and so unworthy ss I should try to teach another - that which ha finds It so passing hard to follow himself." , "Prettily said, mon garcon. Touch lng that same slaying of the Redeem er. It was a bad business, A ' good padre la France read to us from a . scroll the whole truth of the matter. The soldiers came upon him. In the garden. In truth. , these Apostles of His may have been holy men, -but they were of no great account as men-at-arms, There was one. Indeed, Sir J peter, who smote put Uks a true man; - ' vAj vva- yv' v ;r y:;uv but, unless : he h ' belled, he did -but clip a varlet's ear, which was no very knightly - deed. By these ten anger bones! had I been there i with Black Simon of Norwich, and, but one score picked men of the Company, we had held them In play. Could we do no more, we had at least filled the false knight, Sir Judas, so full ot English arrows that he would curse the day that ever he came on such an errand," The young clerk smiled at his com panion's earnestness. ''Had He wish ed help," he said. "He could have summoned legions of archangels from heaven, so what need had He of your poor bow ' and arrow -, Besides, be think you of His own 'words that those who live by the sword shall perish by the sword." "And how could a man die better?" asked the archer. "If I had my wish, It would be to fall so -not, : mark you, in any mere . skirmish ; of the Company, but in a stricken field, with the great" Hon banner waving over us and the red oriflamme In front, amid the shouting of my fellows and the twanging ot the strings. But let It- be sword, lance, or bolt that strikes me down; for I should think it a shame to die from an iron ball from the fire crake or bombard or any such un soldiery weapon, which Is only fitted to scare babes with its foolish noise and smoke.' I have heard much even in the mi (At cloisters of these ne' w ana dreadful engines,'' quoth Afleyne. ,MW Is said, though I can scarce bring my self to believe it. that they will send a ball twice as far as a bowman can shoot his shaft, and with such force as to break through armor of proof." "True enough, my lad. But while the armorer Is thrusting in his devll's-dust and dropping big ban, ana ugnung ms flambeau, I can very easily loose six shafts, or eight maybe, so he hath no great vantage after all. Tet I will not deny that at the intaklng of a town It Is well to have good store of bom bards. I am told that at Calais they made dints in the wall that a man might put his head Into. But surely, comrades, some one who is grievously hurt hath passed along:, this road be fore us." " V All along the woodland track there did Indeed run a scattered straggling trail of blood-marks, sometimes In sin gle drops, and In other places , In broad, ruddy gouts, smudged over the dead leaves or crimsoning the white flint stones. "It must be a stricken deer," said John. "Nay, I am woodman enbugh to see that no deer hath passed this way this morning; and yet the blood la fresh. But hark to the sound!" They stood listening all three with sidelong heads. Through the silence of the great forest there came a swishing, whistling sound, mingled with the most dolorous groans, and the voice of a man raised In a high quaveftng kind of song. The comrades hurried on wards eagerly, and topping the brow of a small rising they saw upon the other side the source from which these strange noises arose. . A tall man, much stooped in the shoulders, was walking slowly with bended head and clasped hands In the centre of the path. He was dressed from head to foot In a long white linen cloth, and a high white cap with a red cross printed upon It His gown was turned back from the shoulders, and the flesh there waa a sight to make a man wince, for It waa all beaten to a pulp, and tne blood was soaking Into his gown and trickling down upon the ground. Behind him walked a smaller, man, with his hair touched with gray, who was clad in the same white garb. He Intoned a long whining rhyme in the French tongue, and at the end of every line he raised a thick cord, all Jagged with pellets of lead, and smote his compan ion across the shoulders until the blood spurted again. Even as the three wayfarers stared, however, there was a sudden change, for the smaller man, having finished his song, loosened his own gown and handed the scourge to the other, who took up the stave once more and lashed his companion with all the strength of his bare and sinewy arm. So, alternately heating and beaten, they made their dolorous way through the beautiful woods and under the amber arches of the fad ing beech trees, where the calm strength and majesty of Nature mlht serve to rebuke the foolish energies and misspent strivings cf mankind. Such a spectacle was new to Hordle John or to Alleyne Edrlcson; but the archer treated It light:?, as a com mon matter enough. "These are the Bearing Friars, otherwise called . the Flagellants," quoth he. "I marvel that ye should have come upon none of them before, for across the water they are as com mon aa gallybaggers. I have heard that there are no English among. mam, out mat tney are from France, iiaiy ana Bohemia. En avant, cam arades! that we may have speeoh witn tnem." As they came up to them, Al leyne could hear the doleful dirge which the beater was chanting, bring ing down his heavy whip at the end of each line, while the groans of the sufferer formed a sort of dismal cho rus. It waa in old French, and ran somewhat In this way: ; -,,-, Or avant, entre nous tous freree Batton nos charognes blen fort Kb remetnbraat la grant miser V IMou et sa . piteuse mort, Ovl tut prls en la gnt atnere ' Kt vendusat tin Is a tort XX bastu sa chair, vlege et dere Au nom do ce battens plus fort. Then at the end of the verse the scourge changed ' hands and the chanting began anew. " .. "Truly holy ; fathers, said ' the archer In French as they cam abreast of them, "you have beaten enough for to-day. The road la all spotted like a shambles at Martin mag. Why should ye mishandle your selves thus ?" -. . .A:?; "Cest pour os psches pour voe peches," they droned, looking at the travelers with sad lack-lustre eyes, and then . bent to their bloody, work once more without heed to the pray ers and persuasions which were ad dressed to them Finding all remon strance useless, the three comrades hastened on their way, leaving these strange travelers to their dreary task. "Mort Plenr cried the bowman, fthere la a bucketful or mora ot my blood over In Francs, hut it was ell spilled in hot fight, and I should think twice before I drew tt drop by drop as these friars era doing. By my hilt! our young one here is as white ! as a Picardy cheese. What Is amiss then, mon cher?" . I. , "it to nothing, , Alleyna lanswrl "My life has been too quiet, J am not ased to such eights." ' "Ma foil" the other cried, T have never yet seen a man who was 'so stout-of speech and yet so weak of heart," 5 m i ilr , .,;,,,,-. "Not so, ' friend."' quoth big John: 1t is , not weakness of heart, for X know the lad well, His heart Is as good as thine or. mine, but he hath more In his pate than ever you will carry under that" tin pot ot thine, and as a 'consequence he can see farther into things, so that they weigh upon him more." 1 "Surely, to any man It Is a sad sight," said Alleyne. "to see these ho:y men. , who :. have done no sin themselves, suffering so for the sins of others. Saints are they. If In this age any may merit so high a name." : "I count them not a fly," cried Hordle. John; "for who is the better for all their whipping and yowling? They are like other friars, I trow, when all Is done. Let them leave their backs alone, and beat the pride out Ot their hearts." "By the three kings! there is sooth In what you say," remarked the arch er. "Besides, methtnks if I were le bon Dieu. it would bring me little joy to see a poor devil, cutting the flesh off his bones; and I should . think that, he had but a small opinion of me, that' he should hope to please me ty such provost-marshal . work. ; No w my ,, -honld ,ook with mn ini more, loving eye upon a Jolly archer wnq never harmed a fallen foe and never feared a hale one." "Doubtless you mean no sin." said Alleyne. - "If your words are wild. It is not, for me to judge them. Can you not, see that there are other foes In this world besides Frenchmen, and as much glory to be gained In con quering them? Would It not be a proud day for knight or squire If he could overthrow seven adversaries In the lists? Tet here are we In the lists of life; and there come the seven black ' champions against us: Sir Pride, Sir Covetousnpss, Sir Lust, Sir Anger, Sir Gluttony. Sir Envy and Sir Sloth. Let a man lay those seven low,-and he shall have the prize of the day. from the hands of the fairest queen of beauty, even from the Virgin Mother herself. It is for this - that these men mortify their flesh, and to set us an example, who would -pamper ourselves overmuch. I say again that they are' God's own saints, and bow my head to them." "And bo you shall, mon petit," re plied the archer, "I have not heard a man speak better since old Dbm Ber trand died, who was at one time chaplain to the White Company. He was a very valiant man, but at the battle of Brlgnals he was spitted through the body by a Halnault man-at-arms. For this we had an excom munication read: against the man, when next we saw our holy father at Avignon: but as we had not his name, and knew nothing of him, save that he rode a dapple gray roussln, I have : feared sometimes that the blight may have settled upon the wrong man." "Tour company has been, then, to bow knee before our hply father, the Pope Urban, the prop and cen tre Of Christendom?" asked Alleyne. much Interested. "Perchance you have yourself set eyes upon his au gust face " "Twice I saw him." said the arch er. "He was a lean little rat of a man. with a scab on his chin. The first time we had five thousand crowns out of him, though he made ado about It. The second time we asked ten thousand, but It was three days before we could come to terms, and I am of opinion myself that we might have done better by plunder ing the palace. His chamberlain and cardinals came forth, as I remember. to ask whether we would take seven thousand crowns with his blessing and a plenary absolution, or the ten thousand with his solemn ban by bell, book and candle. We were all of one mind that It was best to have the ten thousand with the curse; but in some way they prevailed upon Sir John, so that we were blest and shriven against our will. Perchance It Is as well, for the company were In need of it about that time." The pious Alleyne waa deeply shocked by this reminiscence. Invol un tartly he glanced up and around to see if there were any trace of those opportune levin-flashes and thunder bolts which, in the "Acta Sancto rum," were wont so often to cut short the loose talk of the scoffer. The au tumn sun streamed doyn as brightly as ever, and the peaceful red path still wound In front ot them through the rustling, yeuow-tintea rarest. ture seemed to be too busy with her own concerns to heed the dignity of an outraged pontiff. Tet he felt a sense of weight and reproach within his breast, as though he had sinned himself in giving ear to such words. The teachings ot twenty years cried out against such license. It was not until he had thrown himself down be fore one of the many wayside crosses and had prayed from his neart noth for the archer and for himself,, that the dark cloud rolled back again from his spirit CHAPTER VIII. The Three Friends. His companions bad .. passed; on whilst he was at bis orisons;, but his young blood and the fresh morning air both Invited him to a scamper. His staff In on hand and his scrip In the other, with' springy step and floating locks, he ' raced along the forest path, as active and as graceful asa young deer. He had not far to gol however; 'for, "on "turning T-cor-nerVhe came on a roadside cottage with a wooden fence work around it, where stood big John and Alyward the bowman, ' staring : at - something within. As he came up with them, he saw that two little lad the one about nine years ot age and the other some what older, were standing on the plot In front of the cottage, each holding out a round stick. In their left hands, with their arms - stilt , and - straight from the shoulder, as silent and still aa two smalt statue. They were pret ty.' blue-eyed, yellow-haired lads, wet! made and sturdy, with bronaed skins, which spoke of a' wood lan d I tfe, . - ; .- "Htre are young chips from .an old bow stove?" cried the soldier In. great delight ; "This Is the, proper way to ratoe children. By my hlltt't could not have ' trained - them better bad I the ordering of it myself." -k What la tt then? " asked Hordle John, ."They stand very stiff, and X 1 trust that they have not been struck so, : "Nay,! they are training their left arms, that they may have a steady grasp of the" bow. So my own father trained me, and six days a week I held out' his walking-staff till my arm was heavy as lead. Hoi a, mes en fantst how long will you hold out?" "Until the sun is over ' the great lime tree, good master," the elder answerd. . .. , .', h ) ' v "What would ye be, IhenT Wood men? Verderere?" -v : H - "Nay, aoldiers," they cried' both together, fJ'.'" . . - -.t V. 1 , - "By the beard of my father! but ye re whelps of, the true breed. Why so keen, then, to be soldiers?" - "That we may fight the-, Scots," they answered. "Daddy wiir send us to fight the Scots." . v ''And why the Scots, ny- bretty lads? f We have ' seen French and Spanish galleys nb further away than Southampton, but I doubt that It will be some time - before the - Scots' find their way to these parts." w"- "Our business Is with the Scots," quoth the elder; "for it was the Scots who cut oft daddy's, string 'fingers and his thumbs." ,' 1 - "Aye, lads,, it was ' that? ; said : a deep voice . from , behind Alleyne'a shoulder. Looking round, the way farers, saw a gaunt big-boned man, with sunken cheeks and ' a sallow face, who had come up behind them. He held up his two hands as she spoke, , and showed that the thumbs and two first fingers had been torn away trom each of them. ! - , "Ma fol, camarade!" cried Ayl ward. "Who ' hath served thee in so shameful a fashion?' ' , " "It Is easy to see, friend, that you were born far from the marches of Scotland," fluoth the stranger, with a bitter smile. "North of - Humber there Is no man who would not know the handiwork of Devil Douglas, the black Lord Jamea" ' . "And how fell you Into his hands?" asked John'.' ,..r - , ' "I am a man of . the' north ' coun try, from the town - bf Beverly and the wapentake ; of r JIolderneas," he answered. "There was a - day when, from Trent to Tweed, there was no better marksman -'. than . Robin Heathcot . Tet as you see. he hath left me, as he hath left many-another poor border archer, with no grop for bill or bow. Tet the king hath given me a living here In the south lands, and please God these two lads of mine will pay off a debt that hath been owing "overlong.": What is the price of daddy's thumbs, bays?" . "Twenty Scottish lives," they an swered together. . . "And for the fingers " "Half a score." "When they can bend my war bow, and bring down a squirrel at a hundred paces, I send, them to take service under Johnny Copeland, the Lord of the Marches and Governor of Carlisle. By my soult I would give the rest 'Of my fingers to see the Douglas within - arrow-flight of them." " s , ; "May you live to see it," quoth the bowman. "And hark ye, mes en fan ts, take an old soldier's rede and lay your bodies to the bow, drawing from hip and thigh as much as from arm. Learn also, x pray you, to snoot with a dropping shaft'; for though a bowman may at times be called upon to shoot straight and fast, yet it Is more often , that be has to do with a town-guard behind a wall, or an arbalest ler with his mantlet raised. when you I cannot hope to do him scathe unless your snart ian. straight upon him from the clouds, I have not drawn string for two weeks, but I may be able to show ye how such shots, should be made." He loosened his long bow, klung hfls quiver- round to the front and then glanced keenly round for a fitting mark. There was a yellow ana with ered stump someway off, seen under the drooping branches of a lofty oak. The archer measured the distance with his eye; and then, drawing three shafts, he shot them with such speed that the first had not reached the mark ere the last was on the string. Each arrow passed high over the oak; and. ot the three, two stuck fair Into the stump; while the third, caught In some wandering puff of wind, waa driven a foot or two to one aide.. "Good," cried the north --country, man. "Hearken to htm. lads! He is I master bowman. Tour dad says amen tso Avery word he says." "By my hilt!" said Aylward.; "It I am to preach on bowmanshlp, the whole long, day would scarce give me time for my sermon. We have marks men in the company who will knotch with a shaft every crevice' and joint of a man-at-arm a harness, from the clasp of his bassinet to the 'hinge ot his greave. But, with your favor, friend, I must gather my - arrows again, for while a shaft costs a pen ny a poor man can scarce leave them sticking In wayside stum pa We must, then, on our road again, and I hope from my heart that you may train these two young goshawks here until they are ready for a cast even at such a quarry as you speak of." Leaving the thumbless archer and his brood, the wayfarers struck through the scattered huts of Emery Down, and out on to the broad roll ing heath covered deep in ferns and In heather, where droves of the half wild black forest pigs were rooting about amongst - the,-hlllockauThe woods about this point fall away to the left and the right; while the road curves upwards and the wind sweep keenly over the swelling uplands. The broad strips of bracken- glowed red and yellow against the . black peaty soil, and a queenly doe who graced among--' them - turned t- - her white front) and' her great question ing eyes towards the wayfarera Al leyne gased in admiration at the sup ple beauty of the creature; but the archer's fingers played with his quiv er, and hi eyes glistened with the fell instinct which urges a .man to slaughter. '. 'Z-jea. "Tete pleu!" be growled.' "were this France, or even iQulenne.' we should' have a fresh -haunch for our none-meat Law or. no law, I have a mind to lose a bolt at her." . 1 "I would break your stave across my knee first, cried Johnr laying his great hand upon the bow. "What! man. I am forest-born, and J know what comes-of it In our own town ahlp jt Hordle two have lost ' their eyes and one his skhx-f orthls -Tery thing. On my troth; X felt no great love when I first saw you but since then X have conceived over1 much re gard for you to wish to see the ver derer's flayer at work upon you.". It is, my trade to .'risk my skin.' growled the- archer: i but none the less he thrust his quiver over his hip again and turned his ,r face ' tor ; the west, f" k) y,'s:t- . AS they -advanced,' the path still tended upwards, running from heath Into copses of - holly and yew, and so back into - heath again. It was Joyful to hear the merry whistle of black birds as they, darted from one clump of greenery to the other. Now and again a peaty amber-colored stream rippled across their way, with ferny Over-grown - banks, where .the blue kingfisher flitted busily from side to nae, or inv gray- ana penwve neronj swollen with trout and dignity, stood ankle-d'-i-p eoi.i- - the r.-.T ,. Cl.ut- lering una i ,u 1 wood j.Ieons flapped thickly overhead, -while even and anon the measured tapping ot Nature's carpenter, the ' great 'greetf woodpecker, souml.'rt from ench 'wayside-grove. On either side, as the path -mounted, ' the Ions;', sweep of country broadened ; and expanded, sloping down on the one side through yellow forest and; brown moor to the aistant smoke of Lymington and th blue misty channel which lay along side the sky-line..' while to the north the .woods ' rolled away, grove toD- pllng grove, to where in the furthest aifltance thw white, spire of Salisbury stood out hard and clear against the cloudless sky. To AleynCt, whose Bays had .been spent in the low lying coast land the eager upland - air and the wide' free country-side 'gave a- sense Of life and of the joy ot living which made his- young blood tingle In his veins. Even, the heavy John was 'not unmoved by the beauty, of their road, while the - bowman whistled lustily or sang snafcheu of , French, love songs in a voice which might have scared the most stout-hearted . maid en that ever hearkened to serenade. "I have a liking for ; that north countryman," he remarked present ly. "He hath good power of hatred. Couldst- see by his cheek and eye that .he to as , bitter as verjuice. X varm to. a man who hath some, gall la hi llver.f - vl i -' - . Ah me!" sighed 'Alleyne "Would It not be better ft he had some love In his heart?" ,' ''.',.,,..,, -.' "I would not aay nay to that By my hilt!, 1 shall' never be said to be a traitor to the IitJtle king. Let a man love the' sex: Pasques Dieu! they are made , to be loved, -les petite, from whlmple down to shoe string! I am right glad, -mon garcon, to see that the good monks have trained thee so wisely and so well." '-,, - Nay, X meant not worldly love, but. rather that ' this heart should soften towards those who ; have wronged him." .- -' '.'.;'- - '? .".:", '-'r The archer shook s his v bead... "A man should love thosb" ot, his, 'own: breed," said ha. '"But It 1 not na ture that ? an Engllah-born ' man should love a Scot or a Frenchman. Ma foil you haver not seen a drove of Nlthsdale raiders ' on their : Galloway nags, or you would, not speak of lov ing them. X would as soon take BeeK zebub himself to my arms. X fear, mon -gar., that they have taught thee but badly at Beaulleu, for surely a bishop , knows, more of what, is right and what is III than an abbot can do, and X myself with these very eyes saw the bishop . of Lincoln 'hew Into a Scottish faobeler with a battle-axe, which was a passing strange way of Showing him that he loved him." Alleyne scarce saw his way to ar gue in the face of so decided aa opin ion on the part of a high dignitary of the Church. "You have borne arms against the Scow, then ?" he asked. "Why, man, X first loosed string In battle when I was but a lad, younger by two years than you, at Neville's cross, unaer tne ira . mow Dray. Later, I served under the Warden of Berwick, that very John Copeland of whom our friend spake, the same who held the King of Scots to ran 8om. Ma foil it is rough soldiering, and a good school for one who would learn to be hardy and war- wise, - - ' "I have heard that the Scots are good men of war, said Hordle John. - "For axemen an d for spearmen have not seen their . match." - the archer answered. "They can travel, too, with bag of meal and gridiron slung to their sword-bejt so that It is 111 to follow t'henx There are scant crops and few beeves In the border land; where a man must reap his grain with sickle In one fist and brown bill In the other. On the oth er hand, they are the sorriest arch' era that I have ever seen, and can' not -so much as aim with the arba lest to say nought) of the long-bow. Agalp, they are mostly poor folk, even the noble among them, so that there are few who can buy as good a brlgandine of chain-mall aa that which I am wearing, and that to ill for them to stand up against our own knights, who carry the price of five Scotch farm upon their chest and houldera, Man for man, witn equal weapons, they are- as - worthy and valiant men as could be zouna in the whole of Chrlstendonfcr 'And the French? asked Alleyne, to whom the archer's light gossip had all the relish that? the words of the man of action have for the recluse. "The French are also very worthy men. We have had great good fortune In France, and It hath led to much bobanee and camp-fire "talk. , but I have ever noticed that those who know the most have the least to say about It X have -seen Frenchmen fight' both In open-field. In the In- taking and the defending of towns or castiewicks, , in esoaiaaos, cami sadea, night forays, bushmenta, . sal- 11m ntitfxlla tnil Knlcntlv anAAr. runnings. : Their knights and Zsqulrev lad. are every whit as good as ourai and 'I could pick out a score of those who ride behind Du Guesciln who would hold the lists with sharpened lances against the best men In the army of England.' On the other hand, their common folk are so 'crushed down with gabelle. and poll-tax, and every manner of cursed tallage, that the spirit ha -passed tight out of them. It Is a- fool's plan Xa teach, a man to be a pur. In peace, and think that he will be a lion in war. Fleece them like Sheep and sheep they will remain. If the nobles had hot -"Con quered the poor folk It Is like enough that we should notf have conquered the-noblcs.", "-'. r--'- v -r -7- "But they must be sorry. folk to bow down to the - rich In such a fashion." - said .btx John. ."! .am but a poor commoner , of England ' . my self, and yet X know - something . of charters, liberties, .5 franchises,, usages, privileges, customs and ' the like. If these, be broken, then all men know that, it Is- time to- buy arrow-heads." "Aye. but the men ot the law are strong in France as well as the men tit war Ttv mv, hilt! X hold that a man has more to fear there from the ink pot of th one than from the Iron of the other.- There Is ever some cursed sheepskin In their strong boxes to prove Tbat the rich man should be richer' and 'the poor man poorer. It would scarce -pass .in J England, but they are quiet folk over the water.? ' "And what other nations have you seen in your travelsgood air?"rsked Alleyne Edrlcson. His young k mind hungered for plain facts of life, after the long course of speculation and of mysticism on which 1 he t.had : been trained. & itJ i y t , "lV, ! t h 1 'ft have' seen-. thOi low countryman In arms, and X hava nought to say against him. Heavy and slow., to he by -nature, and la not to be brought Into battle for the sake of a lady's eyelash or the twang of a minstrel' string, like the hooter blood ot the south. But ma foil, lay hand on his wool bales, ' or trifle with his ' velvet of Unices, and out buxxe every stout burgher, like bees from the tee-hole, ready to lay on as though It were his one business In life. By our ladyt . they have shown the - French at Courtral and elsewhere that they are b 3 dt'Ct 1.1 Vi S t -i k t . , in? it ... " "And the men of rnl.i?" " T.'hey too e.ro very hard. i. ... the more eo as. top Jiany hu; .red years they l ava ha I to 1 lit i.arl aeuinst the cursed followers bf - the tlack Usthound, who tiave pre -wd , upon them from the south, and'str.l. aa I understand, hold the fairer tiauf o the country. ' I bad a turn with! them upon the sea when they came 4 . over to Winchelsea and the good queen with her ladles eat upon the cliffs looking down at v, as If it hadi been Joust or tourney. By tny hilt I it was a sight that : was worth the see : - lng, . for all that was best In Enr- ' land was out on the water that day.- We went forth in. little ships and come back in great galleys for of vi fifty tall ships of Spain, - over two , score .flew tho Cross of 6t Georgo ers ; the sun had set But now, youngster,"! X have answered ; you freely,, and Jt v" trow It ts time that you answered me. ; Xet (things b plat and tlaln between ., 1 uer. X am a man who aboots etraJght , at his mark. You saw the things X had with me at yonder hostel; name which ' you will, save only the 'box of rose- " colored sugar which. X take to the Lady Lorlng, and you shall have It it ' : you will - but come nrlth tna to France," vrt', Ui ' .? 1 1 v.. m ' . i ' "Nay,- said Alleyne. "J would gladly; ; came with ye to France or where else v J'1 ys will. Just to list to your talk, and Z' I because, ye are" the only two friends :i that X have in the whola wide world 1 ' ' outside of the cloister; but Indeed, It ' may not. be,, for my duty Is towards my brother,, seeing Jhat - father' and ' " mother are dead, and he tny eider. Be- sides,' when ye talk of taking mo to 1 ,Z ' France, ye do not conceive how use- i1 less I should be to you, .seeing that' neither by training nor by nature am " X fitted for the wars, and there seems to be nought but strife in those., "; pacta" i- , v - "That comes from fool's talk," cried , the archer; "for being; a man of o.' learning myself, my tongue turns to blades and targets, even as mv band T does. Know then that for every parch-'' meni m Angiana there are twenty m . Franca. ; Fbr tnrr ' atarn"i ehrlne, carven screen, or what else h mignt please the ; eye ot a learned . olerk, there are a good hundred to our one. At the spoiling ot Carsosonn X nave seen, cnamDers stored with writ- : ing, though not one man In our com. ' 1 pany could read them. Again, in Arils ' ' and Ntones. and other, towns that X ' COUld name, thera are th. rramt nKA fV? ana zoruutces stilt standlns hvhlch ' wars built ot old by giant men who',ZZI , caansrrom toe south. Can I not see bv ' 4 your ongntenea eye now you would. love io mok upon these things? Come then with me, and. by these ten fin gerst - there to not one ' of tfhem wblnh you shall not see."- rx should Indeed love to look uoon them," Alleyne answered: ''but I have ' oome from Beaulleu for a purpose, i and I must be true to my service, even as thou art true to thine." . ' "Bethink you again mon ami.' quoth Aylward; "that you might ddl' much good yonder, since there , are three hundred men in the company. " V -and none who has ever a word of ' grace , for them, and yek the Virgin V, knows that there was never a set of -men who were in more need of If ' ' Slckerly the one duty may balance - 4 1 tho other. Tour brother hath done ' : without yovt this many a year, end as ' ! " I gather, he hath never walked as tr " am Beaulleu to see you during all that v ' time, so he cannot be In any ereat .' need of you." 'Besides." aald John, the Socman of Mlnstead to a by-word through the ' "' forest from Bramshaw Hill to Holm ealey Walk. He to a drunken,- brawl- ' lng, perilous' churl, as you may ftnd ' . ' to your cost"- '',' i- . . r "The mors reason that X should strive to mend him," quoth Alleyne. ' "There is no need to um tor my own wishes would draw me to - cirance, ana u would be m, Joy to me 1 ' ' I could go with you. But indeed and' indeed it cannot be, so here I take my ' leave of you, tor yonder square tow--er amongst the Areas noon th rtot must surely be the church of Mln- - stead, and I may reach it bv ii. ' path through the woods." --yeu. ooa be . with thee, ladr, Lhrhr' Vtoniat Alleyne to his. heart "I am quick to love, and quick to hate, and 'fore God X am loth to part" " , "Would It not ha wwli " m tAv. ' that we should wait here, and see " what manner of greeting you have from - your brother. You . may prove f - to be as welcome as the king's pur veyor to the village dame." v " , vay,' nay", he answered: Va mnar . ' not -bide for me, for where X go x5"! 1 stay." Tet It mav be aa waii that - .,- should know whither we go," aald the archer. '"We shall 3ow journey south through the woods until we -come , out. upon the., Christchurch , ' road, and so onwards, hoping .-tonight to reach the castle of Sir WU-' Ham Montacute, Earl bf Salisbury, ot which Sir Nigel Lorlng Is constable. There we i.shall bide, and It .to like enough that for a month or more you may find us there, ere we are : ; :',. ready for our vtoge back to France.' ' c It) was hard. Indeed for Alleyne to - break away from these two new but-; hearty, friends, and o strong was the combat between his conscience and" " his inclinations that ' he daVed 'not ' look round, lest his resolution should L slip away from him. It was not until . he was deep among the tree trunks - that he, cast a glance . backwards, when he found that he could stilt see, them' through the branches on the , road - above - him. The archer was standing with- folded, arms. - his bow : ' , Jutting, from over his shoulder. and V'' the, sua gleaming brightly upon his head-piece and the links of his chain' mail. Beside him stood his giant re- -. ; crult still clad in the ' home-spun ' and Ill-fitting garments of the-fuller ; of Lymlngton, witn arms - and legs shooting out of hi scanty garb. Even , as Alleyne watched them .they' turn- ' ; ed upon their heels and plodded oft " together upon their way.,. . ' ' rVt'Wo Be Continued.) i If You VanJ To Eiiy a Mi WAV t-tf at an. honest price, our figure will ' convince you that we ' sell the ,"bet-; ' ter .Pianos for less money than you: ' will find elseWherev'irwr.. V:" ' Cash or Installments. - (,", INVESTIGATE r . aiTioTit f.:iB!ccc:.:?:,7 111 "NrTryonV Phone tit. A t WAIiDG A51ES, . Blanager. ' Out-of-town mall orders for music will receive prompt attention, 'V 1 4s 4 'J V
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 21, 1906, edition 1
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