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cap and an ax over his shoulder。 There were ten other
hardy…looking fellows； all of them well armed； and there were
three who seemed to be boys。
〃Shall we try a shaft upon them？〃 asked Hugh Baddlesmere。 〃They
are well within our bowshot。〃
〃Only one of you can shoot at a time； for you have no footing；〃
said Badding。 〃With one foot in the prow and one over the thwart
you will get your stance。 Do what you may； and then we will close
in upon them。〃
The archer balanced himself in the rolling boat with the deftness
of a man who has been trained upon the sea； for he was born and
bred in the Cinque Ports。 Carefully he nocked his arrow； strongly
he drew it； steadily he loosed it； but the boat swooped at the
instant； and it buried itself in the waves。 The second passed
over the little ship； and the third struck in her black side。
Then in quick succession so quick that two shafts were often in
the air at the same instant … he discharged a dozen arrows； most
of which just cleared the bulwarks and dropped upon the deck。
There was a cry on the Frenchman； and the heads vanished from the
side。
〃Enough！〃 cried Badding。 〃One is down； and it may be two。 Close
in； close in； in God's name； before they rally！〃
He and the other bent to their oars； but at the same instant there
was a sharp zip in the air and a hard clear sound like a stone
striking a wall。 Baddlesmere clapped his hand to his head；
groaned and fell forward out of the boat； leaving a swirl of blood
upon the surface。 A moment later the same fierce hiss ended in a
loud wooden crash； and a short； thick crossbow…bolt was buried
deep in the side of their boat。
〃Close in； close in！〃 roared Badding； tugging at his oar。 〃Saint
George for England！ Saint Leonard for Winchelsea！ Close in！〃
But again that fatal crossbow twanged。 Dicon of Rye fell back
with a shaft through his shoulder。 〃God help me； I can no more！〃
said he。
Badding seized the oar from his hand； but it was only to sweep the
boat's head round and pull her back to the Marie Rose。 The attack
had failed。
〃What now； master…shipman？〃 cried Nigel。 〃What has befallen to
stop us？ Surely the matter does not end here？〃
〃Two down out of five；〃 said Badding； 〃and twelve at the least
against us。 The odds are too long； little master。 Let us at
least go back； fill up once more； and raise a mantelet against the
bolts； for they have an arbalist which shoots both straight and
hard。 But what we do we must do quickly； for the darkness falls
apace。〃
Their repulse had been hailed by wild yells of delight from the
Frenchmen； who danced with joy and waved their weapons madly over
their heads。 But before their rejoicings had finished they saw
the little boat creeping out once more from the shadow of the
Marie Rose； a great wooden screen in her bows to protect her from
the arrows。 Without a pause she came straight and fast for her
enemy。 The wounded archer had been put on board； and Aylward
would have had his place had Nigel been able to see him upon the
deck。 The third archer； Hal Masters； had sprung in； and one of
the seamen； Wat Finnis of Hythe。 With their hearts hardened to
conquer or to die； the five ran alongside the Frenchman and sprang
upon her deck。 At the same instant a great iron weight crashed
through the bottom of their skiff； and their feet had hardly left
her before she was gone。 There was no hope and no escape save
victory。
The crossbowman stood under the mast； his terrible weapon at his
shoulder； the steel string stretched taut； the heavy bolt shining
upon the nut。 One life at least he would claim out of this little
band。 Just for one instant too long did he dwell upon his aim；
shifting from the seaman to Cock Badding； whose formidable
appearance showed him to be the better prize。 In that second of
time Hal Masters' string twanged and his long arrow sped through
the arbalister's throat。 He dropped on the deck； with blood and
curses pouring from his mouth。
A moment later Nigel's sword and Badding's hammer had each claimed
a victim and driven back the rush of assailants。 The five were
safe upon the deck； but it was hard for them to keep a footing
there。 The French seamen； Bretons and Normans； were stout；
powerful fellows； armed with axes and swords； fierce fighters and
brave men。 They swarmed round the little band； attacking them
from all sides。 Black Simon felled the black…bearded French
Captain； and at the same instant was cut over the head and lay
with his scalp open upon the deck。 The seaman Wat of Hythe was
killed by a crashing blow from an ax。 Nigel was struck down； but
was up again like a flash； and drove his sword through the man who
had felled him。
But Badding； Masters the archer and he had been hustled back to
the bulwark and were barely holding their own from minute to
minute against the fierce crowd who assailed them； when an arrow
coming apparently from the sea struck the foremost Frenchman to
the heart。 A moment later a boat dashed up alongside and four
more men from the Marie Rose scrambled on to the blood…stained
deck。 With one fierce rush the remaining Frenchmen were struck
down or were seized by their assailants。 Nine prostrate men upon
the deck showed how fierce had been the attack； how desperate the
resistance。
Badding leaned panting upon his blood…clotted hammer。 〃By Saint
Leonard！〃 he cried； 〃 I thought that this little master had been
the death of us all。 God wot you were but just in time； and how
you came I know not。 This archer has had a hand in it； by the
look of him。〃
Aylward； still pale from his seasickness and dripping from head to
foot with water； had been the first man in the rescue party。
Nigel looked at him in amazement。 〃I sought you aboard the ship；
Aylward； but I could not lay eyes on you；〃 said he。
〃It was because I was in the water； fair sir； and by my hilt！ it
suits my stomach better than being on it；〃 he answered。 〃When you
first set forth I swam behind you； for I saw that the Frenchman's
boat hung by a rope； and I thought that while you kept him in play
I might gain it。 I had reached it when you were driven back； so I
hid behind it in the water and said my prayers as I have not said
them for many a day。 Then you came again； and no one had an eye
for me； so I clambered into it； cut the rope； took the oars which
I found there and brought her back for more men。〃
〃By Saint Paul！ you have acted very wisely and well；〃 said Nigel；
〃and I think that of all of us it is you who have won most honor
this day。 But of all these men dead and alive I see none who
resembles that Red Ferret whom my Lord Chandos has described and
who has worked such despite upon us in the past： It would indeed
be an evil chance if he has in spite of all our pains made his way
to France in some other boat。〃
〃That we shall soon find out；〃 said Badding。 〃Come with me and we
will search the ship from truck to keel ere he escapes us。〃
There was a scuttle at the base of the mast which led down into
the body of the vessel； and the Englishmen were approaching this
when a strange sight brought them to a stand。 A round brazen head
had appeared in the square dark opening。 An instant afterward a
pair of shining shoulders followed。 Then slowly the whole figure
of a man in complete plate…armor emerged on the deck。 In his
gauntleted hand he carried a heavy steel mace。 With this uplifted
he moved toward his enemies； silent save for the ponderous clank
of his footfall。 It was an inhuman； machine…like figure； menacing
and terrible； devoid of all expression； slow…moving； inexorable
and awesome。
A sudden wave of terror passed over the English seamen。 One of
them tried to pass and get behind the brazen man； but he was
pinned against the side by a quick movement and his brains dashed
out by a smashing blow from the heavy mace。 Wild panic seized the
others； and they rushed back to the boat。 Aylward strung an
arrow； but his bowstring was damp and the shaft rang loudly upon
the shining breast…plate and glanced off into the sea。 Masters
struck the brazen head with a sword； but the blade snapped without
injuring the helmet； and an instant later the bowman was stretched
senseless on the deck。 The seamen shrank from this terrible
silent creature and huddled in the stern； all the fight gone out
of them。
Again he raised his mace and was advancing on the helpless crowd
where the brave were encumbered and hampered by the weaklings；
when Nigel shook himself clear and bounded forward into the open；
his sword in his hand and a smile of welcome upon his lips。
The sun had set； and one long mauve gash across the western
Channel was closing swiftly into the dull grays of early night。
Above； a few stars began to faintly twinkle； yet the twilight was
still bright enough for an observer to see every detail of the
scene： the Marie Rose； dipping and rising on the long rollers
astern； the broad French boat with its white deck blotched with
blood and littered with bodies； the group of men in the stern；
some trying to advance and some seeking to escape … all a
confused； disorderly； struggling rabble。
Then betwixt them and the mast the