sendings in one day so like unto each other. Hah, said Baudoin, be
we wary though; they are going to shoot. And sure enough we saw a
line of bowmen in all the castles and even along, and a horn blew,
and then forth flew the shafts, but whither we knew not, for none
came anywhere anigh us; and Arthur laughed and said: A fair shot
into the clouds; but, by our Lady! if none shot better in our
country, I would bear no armour for their shafts. But we two were
confused and knew not what to think.

The great ship flew past us on the wind as the barge had done, but
when she was about half a mile aloof we saw her canvass fall to
shivering and her yards swaying round, and Arthur cried out: St.
Nicholas! the play beginneth again! she is coming about!

Even so it was, and presently she was bearing on us, and was ere long
so close aboard that we could see her every spar and rope, and her
folk all gathered to the windward, knights, sergeants, archers, and
mariners, to gaze at us and mock us; and huge and devilish laughter
arose from amongst them as she ploughed the water so close beside us,
that one might well-nigh have cast a morsel of bread aboard her; for
clear it was presently that she had no mind to run us down.

Spake Arthur then: There will be a fresh play presently, my mates,
but ye sit fast, for meseemeth this show is no more perilous than the
other, though it be bigger.

Scarce were the words out of his mouth, ere there was a stir amongst
the men gathered in the waist, and lo, amidst a knot of big and
fierce mariners, three women standing, pale, with flying hair, and
their hands bound behind them, and one was clad in gold and another