The Armourer's Apprentice — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ret = ‘ eal +. » “b 5 Vainly they tried to beat him back. They disputed every inch of the ground with a | logged courage worthy of a oetter cause. ‘But Stephen fought with the madness oi love. One after the other fell nnder his fatel sword until the last turned to fly to the boat; but perceiving that the knights and sailors had pushed off, leaving the others to their fate, he turned quickly round, - and threw himself at Stephen’s feei, plead- _ ing in the most piteous manner for mercy. _™ Mercy, thou hound!” cried Stephen. “What mercy dost thou deserve at my hands? None. But I will spare thy iifeif thou wilt at once tell me what ship is that, and who are the knights on board of her?” “The Lord de Courcy and Sir Bidulph de Boischene, and their followers. ‘The ship is the pe heaton of Normandy, and is com- manded by one Captain Brissof. To-night they sail for the East.” : “Knough !” cried Stephen, as he sprang past the man. @“ I spare you now, but beware how you cross my path again.” By the time he had reached the water- side the boat containing the knights and their fair prisoner had reached the ship, and he hea the mortification of seeing the now insensible Alice lifted aboard. Then the soldiers and sailors leaped into the ship, the boat was hoisted up, the sails shaker 5y+ _ and in a few minutes the orswy of the ship was Cleaving the Vater onits way down tne river. Purswit was useless—more, impossible; so Stephen hurried back to the spot where he had left the body of George Wynyard. He found a company of the King’s Archers round it, and the next moment he was arrested for the murder of George. Vainly did he plead his innocence, and relate the deed of violence he had witnessed. He had come up with his sword stained with blood, had confessed that he had killed the man whose body had been found, and also that he had slain the other men, and x _ therefore hs was obliged to submit himself @ prisoner to the King’s Archers. CHAPTER IV. WHAT BECAME OF ALICE—HER GREAT DANGER AND UNEXPECTED RESCUR. y EAVING Stephen in custody of the jy King’s Archers, we must now accom- pany Alice down the river. She was well treated by all on board, and the Lord de - Courcy and his uncle, Sir Bidulph, did all he could to quiet her alarm. Bit in yain. ' ~* THE ARMOURER’S APPRENTICE — ae : wept, she implored to be ‘released. Wy ion — ews = ¢ a , | = _ 4 ‘ P rei eo i an aX ie" , ‘ Ck aed : : Ares) We” © , Pa od . . : - di Po ~ J - d sof 7 , a a 4 7 } ‘| Ade \ 7 * 4 j a a ?* o “4 a : ~é y + ‘ ye ’ J ai *rf 7: ny Me, mf . o- F ih ; r - 8 e é A < 4 e, * 5 . ‘_ = P , . 4 y + . . { 7 f ee 4 - - * ee 4, a . : 7 e 7 | She even tried threats, buf nothing moved At last the vessel had arrived opposite the — village of Leigh, in Essex, there she was — hove-to, and a boat lowered, into wea Alice was taken by Sir Bidulph and De — Courcy, who, to soothe her fears, had pro- — mised that she would be conveyed toanonele vent, where she should be well treated and afterwards returned to her home. ae The boat touched the shore, and Alice was _ lifted out and placed on the back of a ~ mule, which some men had brought down, — evidently expecting the prisoner. Sir Bidulph and his nephew walked ateachside — of her, and some of his men fully armed followed, so that rescue or escape seemed ~ impossible. Pie imbing a steep hill they came to a monastery, into which they were admitted © at once, proving to the terrified Alice that — her arrival had beer expected. No sooner 3 had the iron doors of the monastery closed S | behind her than De Courcy threw off all disguise, and, as he led her into the rhapel e, a" sk . . = * aw ?. a Sys ‘ Farr Alice, thou must Trenars to become _ my bride. Usng have I loyed thee, and from the first time I saw thes swore that — thou shouldst never wed anyone but me. I am young, rich, and poweriul; therefore i) I pray thee to forget Master Stephen, the armourer’s apprentice (who by this time, I pT doubt not, is in the hands of justice forthe murder of Master George Wynyard), and smile upon me. Resistance is useless. My uncle is the abbot of this monastery. In an hour thou wilt be my wife; no poweron pie can sath 7 hae eu Yes!” cried Alice, proudly, as springing from his side she drew forth the dapped which Stephen had given her, “this will : release me from the greatest tyrant the — earth can produce. It will place me before the throne of true justice, and there J shall ‘s call for vengeance on my persecutors.” “Alice, Alica! be not rash,” cried De OUrCy: an seers jest. Put up that $ agger, an romise that no hy shall befall you. 1» | 2 ant | “‘ Hist 1” said his uncle, as he approached — him, “we are betrayed. The Bishop of Rochester is in the monastery.” el “What is to be done?” demanded De Courcy, in the same low tone. Bee “ Let the priests take her to the vaults — and there leave her. I have arranged the — rest with my brother the abbot,” replied Sir Bidulph. “Quick, for there is not a moment _ to be Jost.” A “Fair Alice, I did but t ou,” said De Courcy ; “ but since I find iia may pee xy 15 So hateful to you J will presume no longer | ey, 3. \ 4 ” ; ‘ * 1 * r * + Ny r « . 4 _ , po a) *. ,, a + j & ' a J - com | | me | J 7 i hae . : 4 ~~.» - >» . ‘ | 900 cS Cc “com