The Armourer's Apprentice — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

| ce -.{nlfil your threat. -- mere -_ gontrol over his horse ; | et said the king, “ and. deserve all that hie ee =, [*, a Sm@Qy fed (fatey MALS fo 5 oe yy Vy a) # : pels Ay he peek ¢ ‘7 fad? ay ‘Ss | a GG," 9 Fs =? rid 7 , a RE orgs ares tS - ; a ‘ ae : Sy ; , Ty | Ie ty dens ge Re 20 THE ARMOURER’S APPREN TIC. Le Rae on “What think you now of the smith’s arm?’ cried Sir Stephen, as he turned in z eat of his foe. “Do you think that it is to be laughed at? Turn, coward, and 9 ee ena shall not receive any,” thundered Sir Ralph, as he once more managed to get “thus do I repay the insults you have dared to offer me!” ‘Phere seemed almost no attempt now to euard ihe blows; the only endeavour of - the warriors was to make their horses Hound on one sidesoas to ayoid them. Inthis our hero had much the better _ ehance, being not only the lighter man, but alsc a more perfect horseman. : os: — He seemed to control the animal by a - touch; and pressure from the knee caused “it to bound one way, a touch of the spur another. As for the bridle he did not use at, but let it he idle upon his horse’s neck, while with his Jeft hand he would seize Sir Relph le Gros’s shield, and pushing it back used it almost as @ weapon against its owner. In vain did Sir Ralph wield his pon- derous battleaxe and deal blows to the - right and left. Sir Stephen’s coolness and = Fe endid hersemanship were a match for them all, so that he escaped without a scratch, whilst Sir Ralph le Gros was bleeding freely from many wounds. “Thou base-born varlet!” cried Le Gros, “I would sooner bear death than thy - insults,” and as he spoke he made a most furious blow at Sir Stephen. _ “¥ou t = Sons Sn { conquer in spite of all,” replied our hero, as he cast his left hand up and turned aside the blow, “Your doom is sealed.” Oe Catching Sir Ralph’s shie!d with one hand, he dragged it on one side; and with one blow from his sword felled him senseless to _ the ground, where he fell with a fearful crash, whilst his horse dashed wildly over _ the plain. Leaping from his horse, Stephen at once _ placed his foot on his fallen foe’s chest, and = Ponting ae ai his throat, called upon to yie ok Yield, Sir Ralph—yield thyself m prisoner, ‘holding ae life for me, or { will _- strike at once !” “Ffold—hold thy hand! I do confess es myself beaten, and hold myself at thy mercy. Spare my life and I may do thee some service.’ By this time all the nobles that had _-witnessed the combat came riding up “hou hast fought nobly, Sir Stet yhen,” ¥! ‘T have done for thee Heaven will always protect the mond « and just; in ee thereof news “A. _ I do not plead for a hath arrived, even at the fnostetde of h’ victory, whereby we learned the treachele 2 ry of the Lord de Courcy and his bls hearted uncle, Sir Bidulph de Boische ane Shame it is that such good mames shoulc d thus be stained with crime. The Lord de Courcy we have ever held in low estimation, and but that he was a favourite with our queen-mother would long since have checked his course of licence. What wilt you do with your prisoner?” wg “He hath confessed himself congue 6 I need no more,” replied our hero, + “Now, by our lady! thou art” ; hog! enerous,” cried Le Gros with seeming - ‘ankness. ‘“‘ But I can in some meas return your good will, and will do so Bi do confess that with the aid of Sir Bidulpt | the Lord de Courcy hath carried off the armourer’s daughter, and, if I judge rig shtly by this time she is Lady Courcy, hone L ‘ably ry wed by the Abbot of Leigh.” ; “Can this be true? If so all “hope om oD. earth to me hath fled!” cried Sir Step nen, ‘“‘T know not if it be accomplished ye but such was their purpose, and Sir Bidt : ph. is a man not easily to be baulked.” “This is part of a cruel scheme,” ctie da knight who had ridden close to the J cing. “Last night the Bishop of Rochester e1 to Leigh, and was at the abbey whe hese ruffians arrived with the maiden they had so crucily carried off. The bishop’ s peopl , learned the truth of the matter. and ps formed his grace, who boldly spoke im the lady’s defence. The elder rufiian claimed to be the Earl of Beauclerk.” me 3 “ How!” cried another. knight, spri forward, “dared he to use my name?” us Aye! my lord! moreover he did ele i the maiden as his daughter, whose rebellious conduct in refusing to wed the young Lord de Courcy, had compelled him ‘nto 0 this violence.” ie “Oh!” cried the Karl of Beauclerk, ¢ he shook his clenched hand towards the s ky “if Heaven but grant that I should meet this Sir Bidulph 1 wil make him ns me for this. “c “Nay,” said one of the barnos, “x stk proof have we of this. ‘‘ Mine,” said a man of noble prese nee clad in complete armour—armour we ch differed but little from the other } ie if save that on his cloak was worked soni ) Of the holy symbols, showing him Jer, 4 car priest. “I, the Bishop of Rocheste swear to it,” . “Most holy father,” eried King Ric na ‘it needs not thy word. Even here stanc Sir Ralph le Gros, who hath confessed > th truth of the matter.” ey ae “Nay, but the Abbot of Leigh shall answer to me for this hai nicbook e | 7 7 : = YA <€& HN om rp ‘ it .e 4 , ‘f ——y > ' 78 | f \ - Ime et 7 wh .. vi EOE