l! we have had great joys in

france."

"and sorrows also," quoth the other. "i have some sad memories

of the land. can you recall that which befell us at libourne?"

"nay, i cannot call to mind that we ever so much as drew sword at

the place."

"man, man," cried sir oliver, "your mind still runs on nought but

blades and bassinets. hast no space in thy frame for the softer

joys. ah, even now i can scarce speak of it unmoved. so noble a

pie, such tender pigeons, and sugar in the gravy instead of salt!

you were by my side that day, as were sir claude latour and the

lord of pommers."

"i remember it," said sir nigel, laughing, "and how you harried

the cook down the street, and spoke of setting fire to the inn.

by st. paul! most worthy mayor, my old friend is a perilous man,

and i rede you that you compose your difference with him on such

terms as you may."

"the clams and scallops shall be ready within the hour," the

mayor answered. "i had asked sir oliver buttesthorn to do my

humble board the honor to partake at it of the dainty upon which

we take some little pride, but in sooth this alarm of pirates

hath cast such a shadow on my wits that i am like one distrait.

but i trust, sir nigel, that you will also partake of none-meat

with me?"

"i have overmuch to do," sir nigel answered, "for we must be

aboard, horse and man, as early as we may. how many do you

muster, sir oliver?"

"three and forty. the forty are drunk, and the three are but

indifferent sober. i have them all safe upon the ship."

"they had best find their wits again, for i shall have work for

every man of them ere the sun set. it is my intention, if it

seems good to you, to try a venture against these norman and

genoese rovers."

"they carry caviare and certain very noble spices from the levant

aboard of ships from genoa," quoth sir oliver. "we may come to

great profit through the business. i pray you, master-shipman,

that when you go on board you pour a helmetful of sea-water over

any of my rogues whom you may see there."

leaving the lusty knight and the mayor of lepe, sir nigel led the

company straight down to the water's edge, where long lines of

flat lighters swiftly bore them to their vessel. horse after

horse was slung by main force up from the barges, and after

kicking and plunging in empty air was dropped into the deep waist

of the yellow cog, where rows of stalls stood ready for their

safe keeping. englishmen in those days were skilled and prompt

in such matters, for it was so not long before that edward had

embarked as many as fifty thousand men in the port of orwell,

with their horses and their baggage, all in the space of four-

and-twenty hours. so urgent was sir nigel on the shore, and so

prompt was goodwin hawtayne on the cog, that sir oliver

buttesthorn had scarce swallowed his last scallop ere the peal of

the trumpet and clang of nakir announced that all was ready and

the anchor drawn. in the last boat which left the shore the two

commanders sat together in the sheets, a strange contrast to one

another, while under the feet of the rowers was a litter of huge

stones which sir nigel had ordered to be carried to the cog.

these once aboard, the ship set her broad mainsail, purple in

color, and with a golden st. christopher bearing christ upon his

shoulder in the centre of it. the breeze blew, the sail bellied,

over heeled the portly vessel, and away she plunged through the

smooth blue rollers, amid the clang of the minstrels on her poop

and the shouting of the black crowd who fringed the yellow beach.

to the left lay the green island of wight, with its long, low,

curving hills peeping over each other's shoulders to the sky-

line; to the right the wooded hampshire coast as far as eye could

reach; above a steel-blue heaven, with a wintry sun shimmering

down upon them, and enough of frost to set the breath a-smoking.

"by st. paul!" said sir nigel gayly, as he stood upon the poop

and looked on either side of him, "it is a land which is very

well worth fighting for, and it were pity to go to france for

what may be had at home. did you not spy a crooked man upon the

beach?"

"nay, i spied nothing," grumbled sir oliver, "for i was hurried

down with a clam stuck in my gizzard and an untasted goblet of

cyprus on the board behind me."

"i saw him, my fair lord," said terlake, "an old man with one

shoulder higher than the other."

" 'tis a sign of good fortune," quoth sir nigel. "our path was

also crossed by a woman and by a priest, so all should be well

with us. what say you, edricson?"

"i cannot tell, my fair lord. the romans of old were a very wise

people, yet, certes, they placed their faith in such matters.

so, too, did the greeks, and divers other ancient peoples who

were famed for their learning. yet of the moderns there ar