CHAPTER XVI. HOW THE YELLOW COG FOUGHT THE TWO ROVER GALLEYS.

ynehadbeenawareofthevoiceofGoodwinHawtayne,themaster-shipman,withhisconstant“Halethebowline!Veerthesheet!”andstrangeitwastohimtoseehowswiftlytheblood-stainedsailorsturnedfromthestrifetotheropesandback.Nowthecog'sheadwasturnedFrancewards,andtheshipmanwalkedthedeck,apeacefulmaster-marineroncemore. “Thereissadscathdonetothecog,SirNigel,”saidhe.“Hereisaholeinthesidetwoellsacross,thesailsplitthroughthecentre,andthewoodasbareasafriar'spoll.Ingoodsooth,IknownotwhatIshallsaytoMasterWithertonwhenIseetheItchenoncemore.” “BySt.Paul!itwouldbeaverysorrythingifwesufferedyoutobetheworseofthisday'swork,”saidSirNigel.“Youshalltakethesegalleysbackwithyou,andMasterWithertonmaysellthem.Thenfromthemoneysheshalltakeasmuchasmaymakegoodthedamage,andtherestheshallkeepuntilourhome-coming,wheneverymanshallhavehisshare.AnimageofsilverfifteenincheshighIhavevowedtotheVirgin,tobeplacedinherchapelwithinthePriory,forthatshewaspleasedtoallowmetocomeuponthisSpade-beard,whoseemedtomefromwhatIhaveseenofhimtobeaverysprightlyandvaliantgentleman.Buthowfaresitwithyou,Edricson?” “Itisnothing,myfairlord,”saidAlleyne,whohadnowloosenedhisbassinet,whichwascrackedacrossbytheNorman'sblow.Evenashespoke,however,hisheadswirledround,andhefelltothedeckwiththebloodgushingfromhisnoseandmouth. “Hewillcometoanon,”saidtheknight,stoopingoverhimandpassinghisfingersthroughhishair.“Ihavelostoneveryvaliantandgentlesquirethisday.Icanillaffordtoloseanother.Howmanymenhavefallen?” “Ihaveprickedoffthetally,”saidAylward,whohadcomeaboardwithhislord.“TherearesevenoftheWinchestermen,elevenseamen,yoursquire,youngMasterTerlake,andninearchers.” “Andoftheothers?” “Theyarealldead—saveonlytheNormanknightwhostandsbehindyou.Whatwouldyouthatweshoulddowithhim?” “Hemusthangonhisownyard,”saidSirNigel.“Itwasmyvowandmustbedone.” Thepirateleaderhadstoodbythebulwarks,acordroundhisarms,andtwostoutarchersoneitherside.AtSirNigel'swordshestartedviolently,andhisswarthyfeaturesblanchedtoalividgray. “How,SirKnight?”hecriedinbrokenEnglish.“Queditesvous?Tohang,lemortduchien!Tohang!” “Itismyvow,”saidSirNigelshortly.“FromwhatIhear,youthoughtlittleenoughofhangingothers.” “Peasants,baseroturiers,”criedtheother.“Itistheirfittingdeath.MaisLeSeigneurd'Andelys,aveclesangdesroisdanssesveins!C'estincroyable!” SirNigelturneduponhisheel,whiletwoseamencastanooseoverthepirate'sneck.Atthetouchofthecordhesnappedthebondswhichboundhim,dashedoneofthearcherstothedeck,andseizingtheotherroundthewaistsprangwithhimintothesea. “Bymyhilt,heisgone!”criedAylward,rushingtotheside.“Theyhavesunktogetherlikeastone.” “Iamrightgladofit,”answeredSirNigel“forthoughitwasagainstmyvowtoloosehim,Ideemthathehascarriedhimselflikeaverygentleanddebonnairecavalier.”