The Armourer's Apprentice — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

_ # hold is her commander. from Marseilles. have kept my word and given ‘you 22 3 wished fist to wed Lord deCourcy. Iksow _ bo more, and, nowthat she has gone, cars not what hath become of her.” “ Doth this fellow speak truth?” whis- __ pered the king to Sir Stephen. “I know not, sire,” whispered our hero. Be “TI am in terrible doubt and difficulty.” “That the ship called the Leopard hath ap sailed with Sir Bidulph, De Courcy, and'the beautiful Alice there can be no doubt, therefore what would you do?” “Tollow them, sire—follow them, and wring the truth out of their hearts.” “And by my royal word you shall!” eried Richard. ‘Our ship, the Lion, is now near London-bridge. Thou shalt be her captain—her commander. She is ready manned, armed, and provi- sioned. Thou shalt ‘sail at once. Take with thee the smith as thy armourer, and Jet him beware how he disobeys thee, or by my kingly word no oak in England shall be as high as the tree on which I wil hang him.” “Sire! cried Ralph le Gros, “I pray you let me go with this gallant knight. 2 “And why? Did you not but a little time ago declare yourself his foe?” “Tis true; but did he not but now spare my life, and thereby bind me to - him for everin the bonds of gratitude. I _ know the ship the Leopard well and how she sails. Trust me as pilot to the Lion and I will promise that she shall overtake her foe.” “And wherefore would you do this?” demanded Richard, suspiciously. “Out of gratitude that my life is spared by this noble knight.” “ Be it so,” said the king. “Sir Hubert ) de Burg, carry these my orders to the master of our good ship Lion. See that she sails at once, and Sir Stephen Stern- Sir Ralph le Gros —-whom we have known as a gallant sailor—shall be the pilot. I shall join my brother, Philip of France, at Paris, and sail Farewell, Six Stephen; I start in life. Keep the sails of your shi filled, and may heaven prosper you. next we meet it will be in the Holy Land to meet the dread Saladin face to face, and wrench the Holy City from his grasp.” Shaking hands with our here, Kin xt Richard dashed away, followed ar his courtiers. THE ARMOURDES APPRENTICE. = 8 =, To her at once., | anxious for your ruin.” | sy CHAPTER VIII, A FIERCE COMBAT. j tides good ship Lion had been some week) i at sea, and had met with very rough weather. Neither was this the only hard- — ship which our hero had to contend ~ against. How he could not tell, but he ~ knew too well that a half mutinous feeling had sprung up amongst the crew and the ~ soldiers, which he found it most difficult to suppress even with the aid of nie stalwart friend, Will o’ the Bow. | It was a dark, cloudy night, the sea ran- heavily, and the wind blew violently, whilst the rumble of distant thunder, and c, q B the gleam of lightning to windward fore- ‘ ee the rapid approach of a storm. ~ a ir Stephen, wrapped in a boat cloak, E was seated amidships watching the sea, which seemed, like the lion, to be fashie is itself into a passion, when Will stepped up — to him, and, standing by his sae, sald— ‘It isa nasty night, captain. Methinks 3 | there is mischief in that sky.” “You're right, good Will. I do not like the looks of the night at all.” “Would that the clouds were the only things wherein I perceive mischief.” “What mean you? Speak out, good oe Will, and let me know your news.” » am) Will looked cautiously round to see that Sy no one was near, and then said— Sg “If you would have me speak out, Sir 4 Stephen, you must let me sit by your: side.” “That you may do and welcome, my old 4 comrade. But whyisthat necessary?” “So that I may whisper into your ear. a I care not for others to know what I say.” “Well, be it as you will. Now, wher have you so secret to tell me?” | “This, Sir Stephen. We must make for ~ the coast of Palestine as soon as we can, I sd tell you there is more danger in the shi % than in the sea. That rages openly, an a “e we can contend with it, seeing the dangers ~ aud knowing them: but how can we ig : str gle against black conspiracy?” a! have you heard anything fresh? What new troubles are upon us?” ‘‘Y have found out who are the traitors By who stur up the crew to mutiny,” ““And who are they?” demanded ‘Sir. Stephen, angrily. “It we know them we may check them.” | “T know not that. First, your ola master and his fiend apprentice Rip. They | do all they can against you. Marry come * up! old Robert Smith must hayea gooc 4 bf cause to hate you, or he would not be 80 Me ni S. corn , "Ba > ‘ _ . pe Sb ad Y ie >" a eel ™ Boal comic