store of engines of
war and of men-at-arms. at weymouth and at portland they have
murdered and ravished. yesterday morning they were at cowes, and
we saw the smoke from the burning crofts. to-day they lie at
their ease near freshwater, and we fear much lest they come upon
us and do us a mischief."
"we cannot tarry," said sir nigel, riding towards the town, with
the mayor upon his left side; "the prince awaits us at bordeaux,
and we may not be behind the general muster. yet i will promise
you that on our way we shall find time to pass freshwater and to
prevail upon these rovers to leave you in peace."
"we are much beholden to you!" cried the mayor "but i cannot see,
my lord, how, without a war-ship, you may venture against these
men. with your archers, however, you might well hold the town
and do them great scath if they attempt to land."
"there is a very proper cog out yonder," said sir nigel, "it
would be a very strange thing if any ship were not a war-ship
when it had such men as these upon her decks. certes, we shall
do as i say, and that no later than this very day."
"my lord," said a rough-haired, dark-faced man, who walked by the
knight's other stirrup, with his head sloped to catch all that he
was saying. "by your leave, i have no doubt that you are skilled
in land fighting and the marshalling of lances, but, by my soul!
you will find it another thing upon the sea. i am the master-
shipman of this yellow cog, and my name is goodwin hawtayne. i
have sailed since i was as high as this staff, and i have fought
against these normans and against the genoese, as well as the
scotch, the bretons, the spanish, and the moors. i tell you,
sir, that my ship is over light and over frail for such work, and
it will but end in our having our throats cut, or being sold as
slaves to the barbary heathen."
"i also have experienced one or two gentle and honorable ventures
upon the sea," quoth sir nigel, "and i am right blithe to have so
fair a task before us. i think, good master-shipman, that you
and i may win great honor in this matter, and i can see very
readily that you are a brave and stout man."
"i like it not," said the other sturdily. "in god's name, i like
it not. and yet goodwin hawtayne is not the man to stand back
when his fellows are for pressing forward. by my soul! be it
sink or swim, i shall turn her beak into freshwater bay, and if
good master witherton, of southampton, like not my handling of
his ship then he may find another master-shipman."
they were close by the old north gate of the little town, and
alleyne, half turning in his saddle, looked back at the motley
crowd who followed. the bowmen and men-at-arms had broken their
ranks and were intermingled with the fishermen and citizens,
whose laughing faces and hearty gestures bespoke the weight of
care from which this welcome arrival had relieved them. here and
there among the moving throng of dark jerkins and of white
surcoats were scattered dashes of scarlet and blue, the whimples
or shawls of the women. aylward, with a fishing lass on either
arm, was vowing constancy alternately to her on the right and her
on the leit, while big john towered in the rear with a little
chubby maiden enthroned upon his great shoulder, her soft white
arm curled round his shining headpiece. so the throng moved on,
until at the very gate it was brought to a stand by a wondrously
fat man, who came darting forth from the town with rage in every
feature of his rubicund face.
"how now, sir mayor?" he roared, in a voice like a bull. "how
now, sir mayor? how of the clams and the scallops?"
"by our lady! my sweet sir oliver," cried the mayor. "i have had
so much to think of, with these wicked villains so close upon us,
that it had quite gone out of my head."
"words, words!" shouted the other furiously. "am i to be put off
with words? i say to you again, how of the clams and scallops?"
"my fair sir, you flatter me," cried the mayor. "i am a peaceful
trader, and i am not wont to be so shouted at upon so small a
matter."
"small!" shrieked the other. "small! clams and scallops! ask me
to your table to partake of the dainty of the town, and when i
come a barren welcome and a bare board! where is my spear-
bearer?"
"nay, sir oliver, sir oliver!" cried sir nigel, laughing.
let your anger be appeased, since instead of this dish you come
upon an old friend and comrade."
"by st. martin of tours!" shouted the fat knight, his wrath all
changed in an instant to joy, "if it is not my dear little game
rooster of the garonne. ah, my sweet coz, i am right glad to see
you. what days we have seen together!"
"aye, by my faith," cried sir nigel, with sparkling eyes, "we
have seen some valiant men, and we have shown our pennons in some
noble skirmishes. by st. pau
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