The Armourer's Apprentice — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

“Did 1? J must have made B qasteke. _ IfI said 30 I must have ‘thoug® so at the time.” ST know what the ship was, and Bao --___ gailed in her,” said Stephen. ? crimes. - cm the ship was a merchant vessel. Se captain. . len to Sir Stephen what the ship was. -- would not be bribed, whi came readily (over would receive large peed _ “You know her? ” = ‘Yes: she was the ship the king com- --manded us to capture—the Leopard, of. _ London, with Sir Bidulpb de Boischene, De Courey, and their victim Alice.” “Tt is not so, | swear!” cried Sir Ralph ; Come hither, captain, and ex- et him know her intention.” ‘Sir Stephen saw as well as the darkness would let him that the captain and some dozen of the worst of the erew and soldiers ‘ Were creeping towards him, and at once | Knew they had agreed to the plot, and | 3 were about to seize and probably murder. him, and fling his body into the sea. They would then proclaim Le Gros their leader, cut down all thosg who opposed or who st those who rewards and promises of future welfare. Swiftly drawing his sword Sir Stephen upon Le Gros, and flung him upon the deck. “Villain!” he cried; I have discovered your treachery, and you shail receive the just punishment of all such dastardly What ho, there, Will o’ the Bow! _ Bring up our men, and let these rascals be shouted Sir Stephen. Re traitors 2 Mi cast into irons.” “To arms, men!” cried the captain, as he drew his sword. ‘“ We have borne this - fellow’s. rule too long. Cut him down! The Leopard will meet us, and joined to- _ gether we will become kings of the sea.” “Stand by me in the name of the king |” “Thus perish all As he spoke he cut the captain down, | ie fell, without a groan, lifeless upon the - deck, Tn an instant, led on by Will o’ the Song" a “gabe Cun = Ce . e Be : Bow, the loyal portion of the crew rushed _ forward, and a terrific struggle ensued, In the midst of the din cf conflict, the -_ elash of steel, the shrieks and cries of the wounded, the storm burst in all its fury. ~The black sky was rent asunder, and the pee livid lightning flashed continually, lighting up the whole terrible scene, and lending an additional horror to the foam-crested waves RS a they leaped and fell, threatening every _ moment to the little barque. nthe struggle Ralph le Gros had man- aged # Hdl his ieee and seizin _ ote ace ack against & mast, * ‘ought & the fury and wid yell of dixpai _- Badeenly he tered 8 wild-yell of chee ond then sou orth— "Look to yourse Sir Stephen Sternhold, tag “ ~. ; ‘THE ARMOURERS APPRENTICE, 4 me. Ask the -barque ran alongside had flung him on he mh | Leopard as she flew past the Lion, havi : ME Sh % r, ' The game is now mine, and vitterly « you answer for the wrongs you ha : The insult I received in bei: ee ‘ | thrown by a new-fledged knight shall washed away. See! yonder come Leopard to feast upon your flesh, _ Doane tt my men; assistance is near. ‘Down. witl i the base-born knave, Stephen Sternhok Wy, and long live Sir Bidulph the Boischene kes ) Sir Stephen, te his dismay, on looking up beheld 4 ete ship bearing down pon them in full saul | The deck of the vessel was eee ties armed men, who by them gestures were | foes. ‘The hostile barque was well managec and as her sails took the wind she leap ed over the foaming billows as if anxious ¢ | fall upon her prey. p ay ; “See yonder barque !” yelled ro Ralph, - “She hath my friends on board of her, Scon you will be our prisoner, and s L Q sold to the Saracens asa slave. fees A yield at once—ali of you! Lay down pal arms, my fine fellows, and you shall 1. rewarded. Resist longer and you shall b < z ; sold into slavery.” — ie és “ Felse hound! traitor slike to yours g and country!” cried Sir Stephen, “Thi oF ou to bribe these loyal fellows to dis-_ ononr? Be our iate what it may | shall not triumph.” oe - Once more he engaged the false knigl if in deadly strife, and at last, with one fierce blow, cleft his right shoulder open so that 5 he was powerless. The next instant he hac i seized him by the girdle, and as the hosti 2 SJ n Be 0. deck. at “Take thy friend, Sir Bidulph, z he cried a, as he fiew to the helm, and shunting it oy! made the Lion shver off so that t were atleast some half-dozen yards ree i‘ her and the Leopard. “ One day I will se a thee the-same, x a . The sudden sheering off of the vessel ¥ so unexpected that many of the Leopa crew who had sp forward to board’ Lion fell between the two ships an “whet ere ) drowned. Others, but only a few, actually reached the deck of the Lion, but only tot ae instantly cut down, for the “mutiny nad been crushed, the ringleaders killed, and those who had been the most ready to rebe al were cnly too anxious to return to the “_. y -& 5 i’ 3. a duty, and to show by their deeds theirs rr pentance for having been led away. A shout of bafiied rage rose rom th missed grappling, which they intended 5 have done, “ Archers to ths front!” cried Sir Steph “Look to the boys, Will, and see that t twang their. bows with force, an athat« Alm, sys Reme ember we fight, for ve 2 Bs comicbooks.< fom > 4 . 4 . ates 7 M > i tak \ “fs Z Ae ou ;