The Armourer's Apprentice — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

Fc sternly. little blame to be found with one who casts ‘you shall bitterly repent these words. oath I have kept truly and firmly; ; but you have broken it.” Heart. — that—* were to be equal. Naess Enough !” MI AES eas igs “TH ARMOURER'S APPRENTICE, The “Tt have broken it!” roared the vie “By Heaven! if thou dost say “Tsay you have broken it!” cried Austria, “When we started on this expedition we What have you done? Declared yourself the head and leader of all, Why, royal France hath done ali he could to soothe quarrels. You have by your haughty tone made enemies of friends.” — “And if I have it hath been of such half- hearted friends as thou art, Austria. Kneel down as thou wilt, and kiss the feet of France. Make much of him, that he may cover thy faults. By the rood! I would sooner have the infidel Saladin as my ally than either of you. He hath courage, and would sooner die than deceive a friend.” eried Philip of France, haughtily. “Thou hast said enough. Ilenceforth we are not companions in arms, Farewell, Richard! I do forgive you the insult. For the sake of the cause - J will do that; but here I do deciare that the league is broken as between us for this moment. On your shoulders must rest the blame.” “On my shoulders?” replied King Richard, “Beit so: for, methinks, there is off the friendship of Philip of France. In doing it I have relieved myself of a secret foe, and the cause hath lost but a half- hearted friend.” Biting his lip at this bitter mas Kine ~ Philip turned upon his heel and strode away. For a moment Richard remained still watching him; then casting the standard which had caused this hot dispute at the feet of a French knight, he said— “There! Take the standard back to your royal master, and tell him it has laid as low as his honour—that I fling itfrom me as I do his friendship.” One look of defiance at the French knights and then Richard, taking his own standard from Stephen Sternhold, thrust the sharp point into the ground so that the banner stood proudly where that of France had lately waved. “There stands my banner,’ cried Richard, “and he who dares to remove it— be he king, or knight, or churl, I care not his life shall answer for it. Look to it well, forhere I yow it.” As he epolte he raised his hand to the €- sky as if to register the oath, and then Po strode back to his tent, followed by all his — Anighta, take the castle.” f vA - ‘ uy i ty Pa, <> ' re bs fe is £7 fee en is om P ae) ae 3. « = < a ~ <a For some time the iae pee up a nd down his tent, much in the same way a the lion paces ‘about his cage. Pate! ‘ And are all my hopes to be ruined by. traitors!” cried the king. “I would have staked my life upon the faith of France. O. But let them go. ‘I will not flinch. Alone, 7 4 the English shall beard the infidel, Saladnila and show the world that England’s brave sons know not fear. Bring me a cup of the Mb wine of Cyprus. We will not let France ~ see that she hath ruffled us. eS The witie was soon brought, and held | king having quafied it, happened to see ay our hero. “Come hither, Sir Stephen,” he wait , gently, “and tell me all about this false- — hearted traitor, Sir Bidulph de Boischene Rs He shall not escape me.’ ay Once more did Stephen relate the cruel net of treachery he had witnessed in the Sheik Mohamed Abu’s stronghold. oe “This must be seen to,” cried the king. “What would you have me do?” 3 “T think, sire, that the Sheik’s strong- 4 hold should be at once taken.” | 4 ac) “Good truth, Sir Stephen, so I think but that is far easier said than done, Ther nt me ¥ I dare not leave this camp. I have swé t& that I will be the first on the walls of Acre, and I will be.” if “There is one way I wean suggest, wg then I fear you would think me too Dre re- sumptuous,” a 4 . “Speak out, Sir Stephen, and fear not 2g We can never think ill of so bold a knight” “Then, sire, if you will entrust to leadership some fifty knights. and twice as” Me many bowmen, I will promise you that the | stronghold shall be most vigorously at- 3 tacked.” “Tell me your plans then,” asked the a king, much struck with Sir Septem daring. - ‘““To carry the palace by assault—to ones ane or to die!” cried Sir Stephen, passions ‘4 ately. “Be not so rash. That such treaché ry deserve, punishment we admit, but not - ry such a price as your life, and those of 80, many. gallant knights.” | ue, Sire, treason should be punished, i but that ts not the only cause to risk all to ‘ “Ha! And the other cause? Tut \ one nis never blush. Itisthelady Alice?” = = “T do not deny it, my lord. I love. the lady, and a castle must be strong indeed, that would keep me out.” ie “By my halidom you are right!” eri x the king, with a rough laugh, and after i Me usual habit burst into a song somethi ae as the following— a ae i ‘S.€ comic 900