Page:A C Doyle - The White Company.djvu/49

Rh find us; and we cannot wonder that you, who are new to tumbling, should be astounded, since many great barons, earls, marshals and knights, who have wandered as far as the Holy Land, are of one mind in saying that they have never seen a more noble or gracious performance. If you will be pleased to sit upon that stump, we will now continue our exercise.'

Alleyne sat down willingly as directed, with two great bundles on either side of him which contained the strollers' dresses—doublets of flame-coloured silk and girdles of leather, spangled with brass and tin. The jugglers were on their heads once more, bounding about with rigid necks, playing the while in perfect time and tune. It chanced that out of one of the bundles there stuck the end of what the clerk saw to be a cittern, so, drawing it forth, he tuned it up and twanged a harmony to the merry lilt which the dancers played. On that they dropped their own instruments, and putting their hands to the ground they hopped about faster and faster, ever shouting to him to play more briskly, until at last for very weariness all three had to stop.

'Well played, sweet poppet!' cried the younger. 'Hast a rare touch on the strings.'

'How knew you the tune?' asked the other.

'I knew it not. I did but follow the notes I heard.'

Both opened their eyes at this, and stared at Alleyne with as much amazement as he had shown at them.

'You have a fine trick of ear, then,' said one. 'We have long wished to meet such a man. Wilt join us and jog on to Ringwood? Thy duties shall be light, and thou shalt have twopence a day and meat for supper every night.'

'With as much beer as you can put away,' said the other, 'and a flask of Gascon wine on Sabbaths.'

'Nay, it may not be. I have other work to do. I have tarried with you over long,' quoth Alleyne, and resolutely set forth upon his journey once more. They ran behind him some little way, offering him first fourpence and then sixpence a day; but he only smiled and shook his head, until at last they fell away from him. Looking back, he saw that the