Page:A C Doyle - The White Company.djvu/195

Rh Norman pirate night Tête-noire, who, with a Genoan called Tito Caracci, commonly known as Spade-beard, hath been a mighty scourge upon these coasts. Indeed, my lord, they are very cruel and black-hearted men, graceless and ruthless, and if they should come to the ancient and powerful town of Lepe, then'

'Then good-bye to the ancient and powerful town of Lepe,' quoth Ford, whose lightness of tongue could at times rise above his awe of Sir Nigel.

The knight, however, was too much intent upon the matter in hand to give heed to the flippancy of his squire. 'Have you then cause,' he asked, 'to think that these men are about to venture an attempt upon you?'

'They have come in two great galleys,' answered the mayor, 'with two bank of oars on either side, and great store of engines of war and of men-at-arms. At Weymouth and at Portland they have murdered and ravished. Yesterday morning they were at Cowes, and we saw the smoke from the burning crofts. To-day they lie at their ease near Freshwater, and we fear much lest they come upon us and do us a mischief.'

'We cannot tarry,' said Sir Nigel, riding towards the town, with the mayor upon his left side; 'the Prince awaits us at Bordeaux, and we may not be behind the general muster. Yet I will promise you that on our way we shall find time to pass Freshwater and to prevail upon these rovers to leave you in peace.'

'We are much beholden to you!' cried the mayor. 'But I cannot see, my lord, how, without a war-ship, you may venture against these men. With your archers, however, you might well hold the town and do them great scath if they attempt to land.'

'There is a very proper cog out yonder,' said Sir Nigel; 'it would be a very strange thing if any ship were not a war ship when it had such men as these upon her decks. Certes, we shall do as I say, and that no later than this very day.'

'My lord,' said a rough-haired, dark-faced man, who