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meet； for man will be of small avail！〃
It proved that not only the seams had to be calked but that the
cog Thomas was out of fresh water。 The ships moored therefore
near the Isle of Brechou； where springs were to be found。 There
were no people upon this little patch； but over on the farther
island many figures could be seen watching them； and the twinkle
of steel from among them showed that they were armed men。 One
boat had ventured forth and taken a good look at them； but had
hurried back with the warning that they were too strong to be
touched。
Black Simon found Aylward seated under the poop with his back；
against Bartholomew the bowyer。 He was whistling merrily as he
carved a girl's face upon the horn of his bow。
〃My friend；〃 said Simon； 〃will you come ashore to…night … for I
have need of your help？〃
Aylward crowed lustily。 〃Will I come； Simon？ By my hilt； I shall
be right glad to put my foot on the good brown earth once more。
All my life I have trod it； and yet I would never have learned its
worth had I not journeyed in these cursed ships。 We will go on
shore together； Simon； and we will seek out the women； if there be
any there； for it seems a long year since I heard their gentle
voices； and my eyes are weary of such faces as Bartholomew's or
thine。〃
Simon's grim features relaxed into a smile。 〃The only face that
you will see ashore； Samkin； will bring you small comfort；〃 said
he； 〃and I warn you that this is no easy errand； but one which may
be neither sweet nor fair； for if these people take us our end
will be a cruel one。〃
〃By my hilt；〃 said Aylward； 〃I am with you； gossip； wherever you
may go！ Say no more； therefore； for I am weary of living like a
cony in a hole； and I shall be right glad to stand by you in your
venture。〃
That night； two hours after dark； a small boat put forth from the
Basilisk。 It contained Simon； Aylward and two seamen。 The
soldiers carried their swords； and Black Simon bore a brown
biscuit…bag over his shoulder。 Under his direction the rowers
skirted the dangerous surf which beat against the cliffs until
they came to a spot where an outlying reef formed a breakwater。
Within was a belt of calm water and a shallow cover with a sloping
beach。 Here the boat was dragged up and the seamen were ordered
to wait； while Simon and Aylward started on their errand。
With the assured air of a man who knows exactly where he is and
whither he is going； the man…at…arms began to clamber up a narrow
fern…lined cleft among the rocks。 It was no easy ascent in the
darkness； but Simon climbed on like an old dog hot upon a scent；
and the panting Aylward struggled after as best he might。 At last
they were at the summit and the archer threw himself down upon the
grass。
〃Nay； Simon； I have not enough breath to blow out a candle；〃 said
he。 〃Stint your haste for a minute； since we have a long night
before us。 Surely this man is a friend indeed； if you hasten so
to see him。〃
〃Such a friend；〃 Simon answered； 〃that I have often dreamed of our
next meeting。 Now before that moon has set it will have come。〃
〃Had it been a wench I could have understood it；〃 said Aylward。
〃By these ten finger…bones； if Mary of the mill or little Kate of
Compton had waited me on the brow of this cliff； I should have
come up it and never known it was there。 But surely I see houses
and hear voices over yonder in the shadow？〃
〃It is their town；〃 whispered Simon。 〃There are a hundred as
bloody…minded cutthroats as are to be found in Christendom beneath
those roofs。 Hark to that！〃
A fierce burst of laughter came out of the darkness； followed by a
long cry of pain。
〃All…hallows be with us！〃 cried Aylward。 〃What is that？〃
〃As like as not some poor devil has fallen into their clutches；
even as I did。 Come this way； Samkin； for there is a peat…cutting
where we may hide。 Aye； here it is； but deeper and broader than
of old。 Now follow me close； for if we keep within it we shall
find ourselves a stone cast off the King's house。〃
Together they crept along the dark cutting。 Suddenly Simon seized
Aylward by the shoulder and pushed him into the shadow of the
bank。 Crouching in the darkness； they heard footsteps and voices
upon the farther side of the trench。 Two men sauntered along it
and stopped almost at the very spot where the comrades were lying。
Aylward could see their dark figures outlined against the starry
sky。
〃Why should you scold； Jacques；〃 said one of them； speaking a
strange half…French； half…English lingo。 〃Le diable t'emporte for
a grumbling rascal。 You won a woman and I got nothing。 What more
would you have？〃
〃You will have your chance off the next ship； mon garcon； but mine
is passed。 A woman； it is true … an old peasant out of the
fields； with a face as yellow as a kite's claw。 But Gaston； who
threw a nine against my eight； got as fair a little Normandy lass
as ever your eyes have seen。 Curse the dice； I say！ And as to my
woman； I will sell her to you for a firkin of Gascony：'
〃I have no wine to spare； but I will give you a keg of apples；〃
said the other。 〃I had it out of the Peter and Paul； the Falmouth
boat that struck in Creux Bay。〃
〃Well； well your apples may be the worse for keeping； but so is
old Marie； and we can cry quits on that。 Come round and drink a
cup over the bargain。〃
They shuffled onward in the darkness。
〃Heard you ever such villainy？〃 cried Aylward； breathing fierce
and hard。 〃Did you hear them； Simon？ A woman for a keg of
apples！ And my heart's root is sad for the other one； the girl of
Normandy。 Surely we can land to…morrow and burn all these water…
rats out of their nest。〃
〃Nay； Sir Robert will not waste time or strength ere he reach
Brittany。〃
〃Sure I am that if my little master Squire Loring had the handling
of it； every woman on this island would be free ere another day
had passed。〃
〃I doubt it not；〃 said Simon。 〃He is one who makes an idol of
woman； after the manner of those crazy knight errants。 But Sir
Robert is a true soldier and hath only his purpose in view。〃
〃Simon；〃 said Aylward； 〃the light is not overgood and the place is
cramped for sword…play； but if you will step out into the open I
will teach you whether my master is a true soldier or not。〃
〃Tut； man！ you are as foolish yourself；〃 said Simon。 〃Here we are
with our work in hand； and yet you must needs fall out with me on
our way to it。 I say nothing against your master save that he
hath the way of his fellows who follow dreams and fancies。 But
Knolles looks neither to right nor left and walks forward to his
mark。 Now； let us on； for the time passes。〃
〃Simon； your words are neither good nor fair。 When we are back on
shipboard we will speak further of this matter。 Now lead on； I
pray you； and let us see some more of this ten…devil island。〃
For half a mile Simon led the way until they came to a large house
which stood by itself。 Peering at it from the edge of the
cutting； Aylward could see that it was made from the wreckage of
many vessels； for at each corner a prow was thrust out。 Lights
blazed within； and there came the sound of a strong voice singing
a gay song which was taken up by a dozen others in the chorus。
〃All is well； lad！〃 whispered Simon in great delight。 〃That is
the voice of the King。 It is the very song he used to sing。 'Les
deux filles de Pierre。' 'Fore God； my back tingles at the very
sound of it。 Here we will wait until his company take their
leave。〃
Hour after hour they crouched in the peat…cutting； listening to
the noisy songs of the revelers within； some French； some English；
and all growing fouler and less articulate as the night wore on。
Once a quarrel broke out and the clamor was like a cageful of wild
beasts at feeding…time。 Then a health was drunk and there was
much stamping and cheering。
Only once was the long vigil broken。 A woman came forth from the
house and walked up and down； with her face sunk upon her breast。
She was tall and slender； but her features could not be seen for a
wimple over her head。 Weary sadness could be read in her bowed
back and dragging steps。 Once only they saw her throw her two
hands up to Heaven as one who is beyond human aid。 Then she
passed slowly into the house again。 A moment later the door of
the hall was flung open； and a shouting stumbling throng came
crowding forth； with whoop and yell； into the silent night。
Linking arms and striking up a chorus； they marched past the
peat…cutting； their voices dwindling slowly away as they made for
their homes。
〃Now； Samkin； now！〃 cried Simon； and jumping out from the
hiding…place he made for the door。 It had not yet been fastened。
The two comrades sprang inside。 Then Simon drew the bolts so that
none might interrupt them。
A long table littered with flagons and beakers lay before them。
It was lit up by a line of torches； which flickered and smoked in
their iron sconces。 At the farther end a solitary man was seated。
His head rested upon his two hands； as if he were befuddled with
wine； but at the harsh sound of the snapping bolts he raised his
face and looked angrily around him。 It was a strange