The Armourer's Apprentice — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

A SO | mes . Stephen. dogs a lesson they shall not so easily forget. Never fear, Sir Stephen. grrows that the : j 7. we , 4 : 7 4 cs = ’ ae c. ¥ ff 4 s f 7 - 4 * a ‘ 7 i ~~ es aJ7 im . y in ae . there, so that it waved defiantly in the fresh air, | Loud were the shouts of the Saracens when they saw this act of bravery by their leader. “Begone!” he cried, sterniy, to the herald; “or I swear I will have you shot.” _ Waying his hand in defiance he leaped lightly back to the ramparts. “Forward, my men!” thundered Sir “We will teach these treacherous Keep the archers as much under cover as you can, Will, and let them drive these infidel dogs from the walls whilst we climb them!” | They shall learn what English archers can do with 4 tough yew bow and a cloth-yard shaft. Now, boys, do not waste an arrow. Draw behind your shields, and Jet them hear your twanging bowstrings sing their death songs.” : The next minute the archers had fixed their shields in the ground, and, crouchin down behind them, sent up such a cioud o Saracens were almost driven from the ramparts. Meanwhile, sword in hand, Sir Stephen led on the terrible assault. Trees were felled and their branches hackéd off, so that they were like poles. Two of them placed side by side, a few feet apart, had the branches nailed across them, so that in a little time they were eonverted into a ladder of huge dimensions and great strength. These, after a great struggle, were firmly fixed to the walls, in spite of the besieged showering down huge stones and discharg- ing arrows at their foes. | The gallant archers no sooner saw these ladders placed against the walls than they turned all their endeavours to keeping the Saracens back from the ladders, so that the ee and men-at-arms gained a foot- ing on theramparts. “St. George for England!” shouted Sir stephen as he darted up the ladder and leaped on the walls. “Allah, wllah Allah! Strike home for your country!” thundered back Sir Bidulph, as he led on his men to repulse the foe. Swords clashed, and shrieks and groans rent the air. The Saracens fought bravely, and with the greatest desperation; but all in yain. Slowly and steadily the English, with Sir Stephen always in the van, pressed back the foe until they had possession of a good part of the wall, Here they halted so that they might be ‘*uned by their comrades who were now ~ “THR ARMOURER'S APPRENTICE. = —™S < oN hands. He was at bay, and his bloodshot bX, : ~f . a ’ > ; j ’ vy ~ > “ % aha, ay : .¥ ; ‘Cor ae . ; s fe 7 f : ? P : ‘ Vv #4) ‘: 3 ‘ ; a 7 ; sie PA . 7 may : BR ye is ‘ie advancitig up the ramparts as fast as t ney “ Sir Hubert de Berg, take some fifty men with you!” cried Sir Stephen, “and press on to the right. I will advance te the left, Thus we sball clear the wells of these wretches.” ae ue Grinding his teeth with rage, his face covered with blood, Sir Bidulph stood near the banner which he had placed on the walls, grasping a ponderous battle-axe with both’ eyes fixed themselves with deadly hatred on Sir Stephen. of “Thy time has come, Sir Stephen,” ha thundered forth. “Think not that thou shalt reap the reward of this victory. Thus- do I crush all thy hopes.” eee He sprang forward, and raising the pon- derous axe above his head as easily as if 16 had been but a toy, aimed a fearful biow at our hero’s head, | we a Sir Stephen stepped back to avoid the weapon, but the knights behind him, not knowing his danger, prevented his entirely avoiding the blow. 30 He had just time to throw up his sword when the battle-axe fell. mae In an instant his sword was shivered into a hundred pieces; but the good weapon had saved his life, for it had caused the ax Qe to glance on one side, so that the srde and not the edge had fallen on Sir Stephen's” helmet, which had not cracked. Paes) So great was the force of the blow that Sir Stephen reeled, whilst Sir Bidulph, who. had imagined that the blow must be fat al, , and could not be avoided, had let the pon- derous weapon swing too heavily upon his arm, so that he could not controlit. Down went the axe, striking a block of stone with such force that the weapon was broken, and the massive granite splintered. at Both knights recovered themselves at the same time, and flew at each others throats. 2 eee Locked in each other’s embrace, a fearf struggle tool place, Ve eae They rocked hither and thither—now Sit Stephen would force his foe back, now his gigantic adversary would almost force him on his knees. es Seeing their leader thus engaged in fierce combat, the Saracens took fresh courage, and returned to the fight, engaging the English, so that the knights were left an disturbed. Wen They were now in acloselock, One musi go, but which ? Sa They were motionless enough now, for each knew that the slightest false move- ment might be fatal, so each one waited to entrap the cther. There they stood motion ; a * ECOMICHDOOKS. ~ | ft. ” : v! : . » , 4 ") Py £? ' 4 . “oh “| oy eat : = My -