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Such was the vague whirling el's mind when at last the mists cleared away from it and he found himself weak but clear on the low couch in the corner turret Beside hi it over floor and sheets, was Aylward the archer His longbow leaned at the foot of the bed, and his steel cap was balanced on the top of it, while he hi in his shirt sleeves, fanned off the flies and scattered the fragrant herbs over his helpless master

"By my hilt!" he cried with a sudden shout, every tooth in his head gleain and all the saints for this blessed sight! I had not dared to go back to Tilford had I lost you Three weeks have you lain there and babbled like a babe, but now I see in your eyes that you are your own el feebly; "but it is shame and sorrow that I should lie here if there is work for ood Sir John that you are er, Aylward I can call toof small boats, was there not, and I chanced upon a ed handstrokes with him? He was my prisoner, was he not?"

"He was, fair sir"

"And where is he now?"

"Below in the castle"

A sel's pale face "I knohat I will do with him," said he

"I pray you to rest, fair sir," said Aylward anxiously "The King's own leech saw you this e was torn froood archer, I will not move But tell me what befell upon the boat?"

"There is little to tell, fair sir Had this Ferret not been his own squire and taken so long a time to don his harness it is likely that they would have had the better of us He did not reach the battle till his comrades were on their backs Him we took to the Marie Rose, because he was your man The others were of no worth, so we threw them into the sea"

"The quick and the dead?"

"Every ed his shoulders "I tried to save one boy," said he; "but Cock Badding would not have it, and he had Black Simon and the others at his back 'It is the custom of the Narrow Seas,' said they: 'To-day for them; to-morrow for us'--Then they tore hi over the side By my hilt! I have no love for the sea and its custoain when it has once borne land"