"Up!" roared John.
"It was but a feint.
He bears him back.
He drives him to the side.
Ah, by Our Lady, his sword is through him!
They cry for mercy.
Down goes the red cross, and up springs Simon with the scarlet roses!"
The death of the Genoese leader did indeed bring the resistance to an end.
Amid a thunder of cheering from cog and from galleys the forked pennon fluttered upon the forecastle, and the galley, sweeping round, came slowly back, as the slaves who rowed it learned the wishes of their new masters.
The two knights had come aboard the cog, and the grapplings having been thrown off, the three vessels now moved abreast through all the storm and rush of the fight Alleyne had been aware of the voice of Goodwin Hawtayne, the master-shipman, with his constant
"Hale the bowline! Veer the sheet!" and strange it was to him to see how swiftly the blood-stained sailors turned from the strife to the ropes and back.
Now the cog's head was turned Francewards, and the shipman walked the deck, a peaceful master-mariner once more.
There is sad scath done to the cog, Sir Nigel," said he.
"Here is a hole in the side two ells across, the sail split through the centre, and the wood as bare as a friar's poll.
In good sooth, I know not what I shall say to Master Witherton when I see the Itchen once more."
"By St. Paul! it would be a very sorry thing if we suffered you to be the worse of this day's work," said Sir Nigel.
"You shall take these galleys back with you, and Master Witherton may sell them. Then from the moneys he shall take as much as may make good the damage, and the rest he shall keep until our home- coming, when every man shall have his share.
An image of silver fifteen inches high I have vowed to the Virgin, to be placed in her chapel within the Priory, for that she was pleased to allow me to come upon this Spade-beard, who seemed to me from what I have seen of him to be a very sprightly and valiant gentleman.
But how fares it with you, Edricson?"
"It is nothing, my fair lord," said Alleyne, who had now loosened his bassinet, which was cracked across by the Norman's blow.
Even as he spoke, however, his head swirled round, and he fell to the deck with the blood gushing from his nose and mouth.
"He will come to anon," said the knight, stooping over him and passing his fingers through his hair.
"I have lost one very valiant and gentle squire this day.
I can ill afford to lose another.
How many men have fallen?"
"I have pricked off the tally," said Aylward, who had come aboard with his lord.
"There are seven of the Winchester men, eleven seamen, your squire, young Master Terlake, and nine archers."
"And of the others?"
"They are all dead--save only the Norman knight who stands behind you.
What would you that we should do with him?"
"He must hang on his own yard," said Sir Nigel.
"It was my vow and must be done."
The pirate leader had stood by the bulwarks, a cord round his arms, and two stout archers on either side.
At Sir Nigel's words he started violently, and his swarthy features blanched to a livid gray.
"How, Sir Knight?" he cried in broken English.
"Que ditesvous?
To hang, le mort du chien!
To hang!"
"It is my vow," said Sir Nigel shortly.
"From what I hear, you thought little enough of hanging others."
"Peasants, base roturiers," cried the other.
"It is their fitting death.
Mais Le Seigneur d'Andelys, avec le sang des rois dans ses veins! C'est incroyable!"
Sir Nigel turned upon his heel, while two seamen cast a noose over the pirate's neck.
At the touch of the cord he snapped the bonds which bound him, dashed one of the archers to the deck, and seizing the other round the waist sprang with him into the sea.
"By my hilt, he is gone!" cried Aylward, rushing to the side.
"They have sunk together like a stone."
"I am right glad of it," answered Sir Nigel; "for though it was against my vow to loose him, I deem that he has carried himself like a very gentle and debonnaire cavalier."
Chapter XVII.
HOW THE YELLOW COG CROSSED THE BAR OF GIRONDE.