CHAPTER VI. HOW SAMKIN AYLWARD WAGERED HIS FEATHER-BED.

Hewasamiddle-sizedman,ofmostmassiveandrobustbuild,withanarchingchestandextraordinarybreadthofshoulder.Hisshavenfacewasasbrownasahazel-nut,tannedanddriedbytheweather,withharsh,well-markedfeatures,whichwerenotimprovedbyalongwhitescarwhichstretchedfromthecornerofhisleftnostriltotheangleofthejaw.Hiseyeswerebrightandsearching,withsomethingofmenaceandofauthorityintheirquickglitter,andhismouthwasfirm-setandhard,asbefittedonewhowaswonttosethisfaceagainstdanger.Astraightswordbyhissideandapaintedlong-bowjuttingoverhisshoulderproclaimedhisprofession,whilehisscarredbrigandineofchain-mailandhisdintedsteelcapshowedthathewasnoholidaysoldier,butonewhowasevennowfreshfromthewars.AwhitesurcoatwiththelionofSt.Georgeinreduponthecentrecoveredhisbroadbreast,whileasprigofnew-pluckedbroomatthesideofhishead-geargaveatouchofgayetyandgracetohisgrim,war-wornequipment. “Ha!”hecried,blinkinglikeanowlinthesuddenglare.“Goodeventoyou,comrades!Hola!awoman,bymysoul!”andinaninstanthehadclippedDameElizaroundthewaistandwaskissingherviolently.Hiseyehappeningtowanderuponthemaid,however,heinstantlyabandonedthemistressanddancedoffaftertheother,whoscurriedinconfusionuponeoftheladders,anddroppedtheheavytrap-dooruponherpursuer.Hethenturnedbackandsalutedthelandladyoncemorewiththeutmostrelishandsatisfaction. “Lapetiteisfrightened,”saidhe.“Ah,c'estl'amour,l'amour!CursethistrickofFrench,whichwillsticktomythroat.ImustwashitoutwithsomegoodEnglishale.Bymyhilt!camarades,thereisnodropofFrenchbloodinmybody,andIamatrueEnglishbowman,SamkinAylwardbynameandItellyou,mesamis,thatitwarmsmyveryheart-rootstosetmyfeetonthedearoldlandoncemore.WhenIcameoffthegalleyatHythe,thisveryday,Idownonmybones,andIkissedthegoodbrownearth,asIkisstheenow,mabelle,foritwaseightlongyearssinceIhadseenit.Theverysmellofitseemedlifetome.Butwherearemysixrascals?Hola,there!Enavant!” Attheorder,sixmen,dressedascommondrudges,marchedsolemnlyintotheroom,eachbearingahugebundleuponhishead.Theyformedinmilitaryline,whilethesoldierstoodinfrontofthemwithsterneyes,checkingofftheirseveralpackages. “Numberone—aFrenchfeather-bedwiththetwocounter-panesofwhitesendall,”saidhe. “Here,worthysir,”answeredthefirstofthebearers,layingagreatpackagedowninthecorner. “Numbertwo—sevenellsofredTurkeyclothandnineellsofclothofgold.Putitdownbytheother.Gooddame,Iprytheegiveeachofthesemenabottrineofwineorajackofale.Three—afullpieceofwhiteGenoanvelvetwithtwelveellsofpurplesilk.Thourascal,thereisdirtonthehem!Thouhastbrusheditagainstsomewall,coquin!” “NotI,mostworthysir,”criedthecarrier,shrinkingawayfromthefierceeyesofthebowman. “Isayyes,dog!Bythethreekings!Ihaveseenamangaspouthislastbreathforless.HadyougonethroughthepainanduneasethatIhavedonetoearnthesethingsyouwouldbeatmorecare.Iswearbymytenfinger-bonesthatthereisnotoneofthemthathathnotcostitsweightinFrenchblood!Four—anincense-boat,aewerofsilver,agoldbuckleandacopeworkedinpearls.Ifoundthem,camarades,attheChurchofSt.DenisintheharryingofNarbonne,andItookthemawaywithmelesttheyfallintothehandsofthewicked.Five—acloakoffurturnedupwithminever,agoldgobletwithstandandcover,andaboxofrose-coloredsugar.Seethatyoulaythemtogether.Six—aboxofmonies,threepoundsofLimousinegold-work,apairofboots,silvertagged,and,lastly,astoreofnapinglinen.So,thetallyiscomplete!Hereisagroatapiece,andyoumaygo.” “Gowhither,worthysir?”askedoneofthecarriers. “Whither?Tothedevilifyewill.Whatisittome?Now,mabelle,tosupper.Apairofcoldcapons,amortressofbrawn,orwhatyouwill,withaflaskortwooftherightGascony.Ihavecrownsinmypouch,mysweet,andImeantospendthem.Bringinwinewhilethefoodisdressing.Buvonsmybraveladsyoushalleachemptyastoupwithme.” HerewasanofferwhichthecompanyinanEnglishinnatthatoranyotherdateareslowtorefuse.Theflagonswerere-gatheredandcamebackwiththewhitefoamdrippingovertheiredges.Twoofthewoodmenandthreeofthelaborersdranktheirportionsoffhurriedlyandtroopedofftogether,fortheirhomesweredistantandthehourlate.Theothers,however,drewcloser,leavingthepla