The Last of the Vikings

ble? swear? and discourse fustian w

al to the half-dozen of you here, my hearties! Some of you will have a cold bed in the damp grass to-night for your pains, or else my shafts will go mightily astray!" Then, sticking his thorn cudgel in his belt, he took his bow from his back and adjusted an arrow, and then he crept stealthily near to them. Raising his bow, he drew the arrow to its head; then he withdrew it. "My fingers," said he, "are in a hurry to make a cur of a Norman the less in the world. But where is the use in bagging one of their carrion carcasses and losing the game? To kill a Norman is a luxury; but I must rescue Ethel. Let me see whether my purpose cannot be served best by joining my wits to my weapons. There are three couples-two abreast; and Ethel is in charge of the centre one to the right. I can send a shaft in the nape of the last one's neck. That is one certain. Then there will be a stampede

id the stranger. "Do

just been wishing for a Saxon

I knew the wolf, having scented prey like that, would never drop the trail until he ran it down. I watched t

better as it is, for two of us will make a better fight of it than one. But enough of this; they are not two hundred yards ahead

matter as they followed

od when your footsteps arrested me. I knew it to be a risky venture, but I little expected any help

d carry the shaft, unless it were hit very squarely; and the odds are the other way i

an promise you they'll not dare to carry her to the camp; there is a lady there who rescued her before, and was desperate savage with the

it is better to wait awhile, and see

of everything. Here they dismounted, Pierre lifting Ethel down and carrying her into the house. The cloak was removed, and, lighting a torch, its flickering blaze made visible a two-roomed dwelling, rude and damp in its tenantless condition. The inner room was doorless, and the outer door was thrown back and dilapidated. The floors were of e

It is a weakness he has. The more fool he; for it spoils his chances of higher game. Well, that's a riddle you need not puzzle out. But my master is a knight renowned for valour, and for some other things not recommended by the worthy Order of Cistercians, or indeed any strict Orders of the pious gentry. That, of course, is

jargon was perfectly u

, and return soon with both eatables and drinkables; so make the best of a bad bargain for a little while. Come, men, let us cut the tail off this b

s of the big lubberly villain who leads the party," said Badger, raising his

aying his hand on him. "The gam

t the wise man when it is weighed. But as surely as the g

e next move? We must get to bus

thus get close on them if we move stealthily. I doubt not but we can brain the one outside

until Badger peered round the corner at the fellow on duty outside. Fortunately, h

ger, in a whisper to his companion

ility to the ground, whilst another spring quick as lightning landed him within grappling distance of the other Norman. He also, it is needless to say, was quite unprepared for any attack, and had barely time to spring to his feet and raise his arm to ward off Badger's first stroke,

g through the open door, and fled like a Will-o'-the-wisp across the open glade in a frantic effort to gain the shelter of the forest, whilst her rescuers followed full chase in her wake. Very quickly, h

he darkness of the forest, all unconscious that their footsteps had been dogged, and their

Pierre. "Now, I wonder what the Baron

pay or more plunder when I took service, I promise you; but his scurvy humours are even wo

u hear the clash of steel between us you need not be very much surprised, for my temper is none o

ooner, however, had he put his head within the tent than he gave a grunt of i

has brought you?" he bawled, with drunken incoherency;

your order, Baro

der? Who? What

me about the Saxon lady

at all the po

the

r. Have you go

dy could wish. Not a w

tleman, or a thief, I don't care which," giving a drunken chuckle. "Dri

blet and drained i

as though he could scarcely realise that it was really the bottom he gazed at.

e. Gone, too, into a stomach that must be a

round with soothing drau

will do for a hog like you, Pierre! Eh! Do you hear me? Swill will do

ers would speedily have become serious

with this Saxon-Ethe

ave you got her, scurvy villain? I s

e had, not a

not have such impudence from a scurvy trooper as I've taken lately. I'll teach you I'm a gentleman. Now m

assuming both a look

und with his weight upon it, to prevent his falling flat. The result was, his great weight forced it a foot into the ground, from which his utmost efforts failed to extricate it, Pierre, meanwhile, vanishing from the tent with a horse-laugh. Vigneau dropped into his seat and stared vacantly

ng, and if he be not in a pleasanter humour in the morning, and come down handsome for us, you will have to be led by another, I trow. Well, we'll finish