The Armourer's Apprentice — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

, # And yet, believe me, i have done noth- ing to cause that hatred,” _ : _ “DoInot know it? HaveInot nursed you 3 a babe, watched you asa boy, and taught you how to shoot—made a man of you? You do aught to cause his hatred! Not it. Besides, you were always too fond of the _lady Alice to displease her father—if he be her father, which I doubt. I ask a thou- and pardons, Sir Stephen, for having thus touched a subject on which you have ordered me not to speak. The words slipped from my lips.” er : _ “Name it not, good friend. But to your history. Who else is treacherous to me ?” _ “Sir Ralph le Gros. Have you not ) noticed how affable he is to the men?” “yee Bs good truth, I have; and have also ‘long suspected him of tampering with Noe “Suspect! I have proofs!” said old Proof | - “7 mean that which I say. I have "proofs. This evening as J came on deck I What mean you?” demanded Ralph le Gros and several of the chief sai ors were watching her so intently that a they did not notice | was nearthem.” Te ihe go on. Why was not the ship Bs sported to me, I wonder?” __ Tt ought to have been reported, and _ Sir Ralph told me he had reported it.” ’ “He neverdid.” — BNA BARA a _ “Then that proves there is treason in 1b. Well, I saw signals were passing between ’ the ship and our captain. They evidently “understood each other. Then I saw gleams of armour, and I knew that it was a ship of war.” | ee aes What ship is that, Sir Ralph?’ said i: ce that he started and syore an ie How came you here ?’ he demanded. _ © What ship is that ?’ I replied. A ship from Malta. I will go and tell SirStephen. She will not keep us com- he ny. Signal her that we havenocommu- ion to make to her.” } ‘ Jhereupon the skipper made some 1s m—I know not what—and the por at once put up her helm and made of on i oe ake be v- , et, Pon - ; “But noreport was made to me? cried be Stephen. “There must be treachery han this.” + “ LO _ {ethoxy aa . ‘ ~ > Ms ay [here is. Sir Ralph went into your ™ ¥? 4 is jal | # 4 Pd a * a few minutes, said that you were so sleepy that you would not arouse to seo the ship. I believed it, for I know how exhausted you must have been, haying kept ‘ ee! M4 .* ? ‘ 3 a sawachip at some distance from us. Sir in, and when he returned, which he did A - FIERCE COMBAT. 93 watch so long. Still, I was suspicious— the crew of the stranger ship seemed to know Sir Ralph le Gros and some of our eople. At last it flashed across me that I ew the ship. I had seen it laying in the Thames. It was the Leopard, in which Lord de Courcy and his uncle Sir Bidulph escaped from England and carried off Alice.” “Tf this be true I'll have revenge,” said Sir Stephen, as he started to his feet. “Patience—patience! my lord,’ said Will. “ Having become convinced of this, I took the liberty of playing spy and — eavesdropper, and heard Le Gros speak to the captain of the ship. He promised him a large reward if he would do what he wanted—what that was I do not know; but it was against you, for he described you as a low-born churl, who had gained the king’s favour by traducing others. The smith was called in to prove this, and I heard him declare that.at least a dozen of the soldiers and sailors were ready to join against you. Still the captain held out, and declared that none of the officers would join, How the matter has ended I know not, for they broke off suddenly, declaring that they would talk further over it when the time was near, whatever that may mean,” | “ This must be seen to at once,” said Sir Stephen. “Quick! good Will, my arms. | See that all the men you can trust are armed—those of whom you are doubtiul must be watched. Come tome ajt. I see Sir Ralph le Gzos is there, and he shall ex- plain the meaning of all this. It shall be - done, and that at once. Sir Ralph le Gros had better look to himself.” | In afew minutes Will had carried out his master’s orders. - Buckling on his sword, Sir Stephen walked aft, where Sir Ralph was standing by the helm, “Thereis a fiercer storm than we have yet had coming up, Sir Stephen,” said Sir Ralph. “Marry come up! Sir Ralph, but I think you speaktruly. What ship was that you spoke to to-day ?” “Ship! I—that 1s—oh, yes! I remem- ber now. A Spanish ship.’ _“ OF war?” “No; a trader.” “Why did you not report herto me? I, as commander of this ship. should haye / been informed of it.” “ Perhaps so, but you were tired. The ship was of 20 consequence, she couid give us no news, and—” “Wasa snip of war. You say now, & Spanish vessel. You said then she was from Maita.” S COMIGDOOks co