Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 02.pdf/326

Rh Then, as they sailed, did Turings take the bills; And two he gave to Freeman, who with joy Received them, nor by him to be outdone In knightly courtesy, he turned and gave Bills of exchange to Turings for the price. So the days passed, and the moon waxed and waned, And August days grew shorter, and the barge Yet sailed apace. But Freeman meanwhile sold To Lickbarrow of Liverpool his corn, The corn that lay within the vessel's hold, And sent his bills of lading, and assigned Them duly over, and Lickbarrow paid His price. But Freeman, ill at ease, and grave With many cares, and bearing now the pain Of former loss, was bankrupt. Turings heard And shuddered; his acceptances as yet Were not matured, and lost was this his wealth. Yet rallying, as becomes a noble knight, Wise in the tent as valiant in the field, He seized the bill of lading he retained, And sent it in hot haste to England's shore, To Liverpool, to Mason; and he said: "My hour of need is come; friend, be my friend In this my travail. Get ye down with speed To where the water beats upon the land, And oozes black by the far stretching quays, And where ye see the fair Endeavour lie, There haste ye. Take the corn she groaning bears— My corn it is—and sell it; yet unpaid Am I; and send the money ye acquire." And Mason, ever faithful to his charge Stayed not to question, did as Turings bid. Then said Sir Holmes, seeing in Mason's hand The bill of lading, "Sir, so let it be As ye would have it. I have done my deed Do ye what resteth." So he gave the corn, And Mason took, and sold it, in despite Of Lickbarrow, who, turning, strove and cried: "Wrong, bitter wrong and foul despite ye do, As though the land were kingless, or as though Rough Might ruled o'er us. Sirs, the corn was mine;