Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 19, 2025
"I have seen the boy, Robin-a-dale," said Nevil. The other inclined his head. "Captain Powell told me as much an hour ago, and also that by some slip my poor knave slept not, as I had meant he should, but babbled of old things which have wellnigh turned his wits.
Overhead innumerable stars, between heaven and earth incalculable swarms of luminous insects, from the soil a heavy exhalation as of musk, here arid places, there cacti like columns, like candelabra, like dark writhing fingers thrust from the teeming earth; Robin-a-dale liked not the place, wondered what dangerous errand his master was upon, but since he as greatly feared as greatly loved the man he served, cared not to ask.
Presently came the big tears to his eyes, he swallowed hard, and ended by burying his head in the folds of the visitor's riding-cloak. "Where is your master, Robin-a-dale?" Arden demanded. The boy, now red and shamefaced because of his wet lashes, stood up, and squaring himself, looked before him with winking eyes, nor would answer until he could speak without a quaver.
Behind him came Robin-a-dale, slipped beneath his outstretched arm, then with head thrown back and wild defiant eyes faced the little throng of adventurers. "He's mad!" he shrilled. "My master's mad! He says strange things but don't you mind them, gentles.... Oh! Sir John Nevil, don't you mind them " "Robin!" said Ferne, and the boy was silent.
Or did he leave thee here but now to search for simples?" Robin-a-dale looked from one to the other, great eyes shining in a thin, brown face. "Three years," he said, "three years since we crept away from Ferne House in a ship that was called that was called that was called the Sea Wraith. But no trumpets sounded, and there was no throng to shout farewell. Why was that?
Between these two, master and boy, knave and knight, there was at times so strange a comprehension that Robin-a-dale was scarcely startled to find that his thoughts had been read. "Ay, Robin," said Ferne, smiling, "other and stranger waters than those of Father Thames! And yet I know not.
Before the water could touch his lips he also saw the mark one night had set upon him, and drew back with a slight start from his image in the pool; then, after a moment, bent again and drank his fill. When Robin-a-dale had also quenched his thirst the two left the forest, and together dragged the cockboat down the sand and launched it over the gentle surf.
Finally he went over to Robin-a-dale, asleep upon a pallet, and shaking him awake, bade the lad to follow him but make no noise. To the sentinels at the great door, in the square, at the edge of the town, he gave the word of the night, and so issued with the boy from the huddle of flat-roofed houses, overhung by palm-trees, to the open plain.
Here, half the night, chin in one hand, the other hanging below his booted knee, he brooded over the now glowing, now ashen chimney logs; yet Robin-a-dale, who believed in Master Arden, and very mightily in visions as beautiful as that which had been vouchsafed to him going through the orchard that eventide, felt as light a heart as if no shadowy ship awaited in the little port down by the little town, whose people either cursed or looked askance.
Robin-a-dale straightened himself and began to sing, with bravado, a fierce red in his cheeks, and his young voice high and clear: "Now list to me, ladies, and list to me, gentles; I've a story for your ears of a false, false knight, Whom England held in honor, but he treasured Spain so dearly That he sold into her hands his comrades in fight.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking