CHAPTER IV. HOW THE BAILIFF OF SOUTHAMPTON SLEW THE TWO MASTERLESS MEN.

lope,whenheheardasuddenscufflebehindhimandafeeblevoicebleatingforhelp.Lookinground,therewastheolddamedownupontheroadway,withherredwhimpleflyingonthebreeze,whilethetworogues,blackandwhite,stoopedoverher,wrestingawayfromherthepennyandsuchotherpoortriflesaswereworththetaking.Atthesightofherthinlimbsstrugglinginweakresistance,suchaglowoffierceangerpassedoverAlleyneassethisheadinawhirl.Droppinghisscrip,heboundedoverthestreamoncemore,andmadeforthetwovillains,withhisstaffwhirledoverhisshoulderandhisgrayeyesblazingwithfury. Therobbers,however,werenotdisposedtoleavetheirvictimuntiltheyhadworkedtheirwickedwilluponher.Theblackman,withthewoman'scrimsonscarftiedroundhisswarthyhead,stoodforwardinthecentreofthepath,withalongdull-coloredknifeinhishand,whiletheother,wavingaraggedcudgel,cursedatAlleyneanddaredhimtocomeon.Hisbloodwasfairlyaflame,however,andheneedednosuchchallenge.Dashingattheblackman,hesmoteathimwithsuchgoodwillthattheotherlethisknifetinkleintotheroadway,andhoppedhowlingtoasaferdistance.Thesecondrogue,however,madeofsternerstuff,rushedinupontheclerk,andclippedhimroundthewaistwithagriplikeabear,shoutingthewhiletohiscomradetocomeroundandstabhimintheback.Atthisthenegrotookheartofgrace,andpickinguphisdaggeragainhecamestealingwithprowlingstepandmurderouseye,whilethetwoswayedbackwardsandforwards,staggeringthiswayandthat.Intheverymidstofthescuffle,however,whilstAlleynebracedhimselftofeelthecoldbladebetweenhisshoulders,therecameasuddenscurryofhoofs,andtheblackmanyelledwithterrorandranforhislifethroughtheheather.Themanwiththebirth-mark,too,struggledtobreakaway,andAlleyneheardhisteethchatterandfelthislimbsgrowlimptohishand.Atthissignofcomingaidtheclerkheldonthetighter,andatlastwasabletopinhismandownandglancedbehindhimtoseewhereallthenoisewascomingfrom. Downtheslantingroadtherewasridingabig,burlyman,cladinatunicofpurplevelvetanddrivingagreatblackhorseashardasitcouldgallop.Heleanedwelloveritsneckasherode,andmadeaheavingwithhisshouldersateveryboundasthoughhewereliftingthesteedinsteadofitcarryinghim.IntherapidglanceAlleynesawthathehadwhitedoeskingloves,acurlingwhitefeatherinhisflatvelvetcap,andabroadgold,embroideredbaldricacrosshisbosom.Behindhimrodesixothers,twoandtwo,cladinsoberbrownjerkins,withthelongyellowstavesoftheirbowsthrustingoutfrombehindtheirrightshoulders.Downthehilltheythundered,overthebrookanduptothesceneofthecontest. “Hereisone!”saidtheleader,springingdownfromhisreekinghorse,andseizingthewhiteroguebytheedgeofhisjerkin.“Thisisoneofthem.Iknowhimbythatdevil'stouchuponhisbrow.Whereareyourcords,Peterkin?So!Bindhimhandandfoot.Hislasthourhascome.Andyou,youngman,whomayyoube?” “Iamaclerk,sir,travellingfromBeaulieu.” “Aclerk!”criedtheother.“ArtfromOxenfordorfromCambridge?Hastthoualetterfromthechancellorofthycollegegivingtheeapermittobeg?Letmeseethyletter.”Hehadastern,squareface,withbushysidewhiskersandaveryquestioningeye. “IamfromBeaulieuAbbey,andIhavenoneedtobeg,”saidAlleyne,whowasallofatremblenowthattherufflewasover. “Thebetterforthee,”theotheranswered.“DostknowwhoIam?” “No,sir,Idonot.” “Iamthelaw!”—noddinghisheadsolemnly.“IamthelawofEnglandandthemouthpieceofhismostgraciousandroyalmajesty,EdwardtheThird.” AlleyneloutedlowtotheKing'srepresentative.“Trulyyoucameingoodtime,honoredsir,”saidhe.“Amomentlaterandtheywouldhaveslainme.” “Butthereshouldbeanotherone,”criedthemaninthepurplecoat.“Thereshouldbeablackman.AshipmanwithSt.Anthony'sfire,andablackmanwhohadservedhimascook—thosearethepairthatweareinchaseof.” “Theblackmanfledovertothatside,”saidAlleyne,pointingtowardsthebarrow. “Hecouldnothavegonefar,sirbailiff,”criedoneofthearchers,unslinginghisbow.“Heisinhidingsomewhere,forheknewwell,blackpaynimasheis,thatourhorses'fourlegscouldoutstriphistwo.” “Thenweshallhavehim,”saidtheother.“Itshallneverbesaid,whilstIambailiffofSouthampton,thatanywaster,riever,draw-latchormurtherercamescathlessawayfrommeandmyposse.Leavethatroguelying.Nowstretchoutinline,mymerryones,witharrowonstring,andIshallshowyousuchsportasonlytheKingcangive.Youontheleft,Howett,andThomasofRedbridgeupontheright.So!Beathighandlowamongtheheathe