saint george for england-第27节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Now；〃　Walter　said；　〃I　will　go　first；　at　any　rate　for　a　time。　　I　must　put　one　leg　through　the　loop；　and　sit；　as　it　were；　while　I　fasten　the　one　above；　as　I　shall　want　both　hands　for　the　work。　You　will　find　it　a　good　deal　easier　to　stand　with　your　foot　in　the　loop。　If　I　get　tired　I　will　fasten　another　loop　by　the　side　of　that　on　which　I　am　resting；　so　you　can　come　up　and　pass　me。　There　is　no　hurry。　It　ought　not　to　take　up　above　an　hour；　and　it　will　not　do　for　us　to　get　to　the　top　until　the　place　becomes　a　little　quiet。　Tonight　they　are　sure　to　be　drinking　and　feasting　over　their　victory　until　late。〃

They　now　set　to　work；　and　step　by　step　mounted　the　rope。　They　found　the　work　less　arduous　than　they　had　expected。　The　rope　was　dry；　and　the　strands　held　tightly　to　it。　　Two　or　three　times　they　changed　places；　resting　in　turn　from　the　work；　but　in　less　than　two　hours　from　the　time　they　made　the　first　loop　Walter's　head　and　shoulders　appeared　above　the　level　of　the　courtyard。　He　could　hear　sounds　of　shouting　and　singing　within　the　castle；　and　knew　that　a　great　feast　was　going　on。　Descending　a　step　or　two　he　held　parley　with　Ralph。

〃I　think；　perhaps；　it　will　be　better　to　sally　out　at　once。　　Everyone　is　intent　on　his　own　pleasure；　and　we　shall　have　no　difficulty　in　slipping　out　of　the　castle　unnoticed。　All　will　be　feasting　and　riot　in　the　town；　and　so　long　as　we　do　not　brush　against　any　one　so　that　they　may　feel　our　wet　garments　we　are　little　likely　to　be　noticed；　besides；　the　gates　of　the　town　will　stand　open　late；　for　people　from　the　villages　round　will　have　come　in　to　join　in　the　revels。〃

〃I　am　ready　to　try　it；　Master　Walter；〃　Ralph　replied；　〃for　I　ache　from　head　to　foot　with　holding　on　to　this　rope。　The　sooner　the　better；　say　I。〃

In　another　minute　both　stood　in　the　courtyard。　It　was　a　retired　spot；　and　none　were　passing。　Going　along　the　passage　they　issued　into　the　main　yard。　Here　great　fires　were　blazing；　and　groups　of　men　sat　round　them　drinking　and　shouting。　Many　lay　about　in　drunken　sleep。

〃Stay　where　you　are　in　the　shade；　Ralph。　You　had　best　lie　down　by　the　foot　of　the　wall。　Anyone　who　passes　will　think　that　you　are　in　a　drunken　sleep。　I　will　creep　forward　and　possess　myself　of　the　steel　caps　of　two　of　these　drunkards；　and　if　I　can　get　a　couple　of　cloaks　so　much　the　better。〃

There　was　no　difficulty　about　the　caps；　and　by　dint　of　unbuckling　the　cloaks　and　rolling　their　wearers　gently　over；　Walter　succeeded　at　last　in　obtaining　two　of　them。　He　also　picked　up　a　sword　for　Ralph　…　his　own　still　hung　in　its　sheath　…　and　then　he　joined　his　companion；　and　the　two　putting　on　the　steel　caps　and　cloaks　walked　quietly　to　the　gate。　There　were　none　on　guard；　and　they　issued　unmolested　into　the　town。　Here　all　was　revelry。　Bonfires　blazed　in　the　streets。　　Hogsheads　of　wine；　with　the　heads　knocked　out；　stood　before　many　of　the　houses　for　all　to　help　themselves　who　wished。　　Drunken　soldiers　reeled　along　shouting　snatches　of　songs；　and　the　burghers　in　the　highest　state　of　hilarity　thronged　the　ways。

〃First　of　all；　Ralph；　we　will　have　a　drink　of　wine；　for　I　am　chilled　to　the　bone。〃

〃Aye；　and　so　am　I；〃　Ralph　replied。　〃I　got　hot　enough　climbing　that　rope；　but　now　the　cold　has　got　hold　of　me　again；　and　my　teeth　are　chattering　in　my　head。〃

Picking　up　one　of　the　fallen　vessels　by　a　cask　they　dipped　it　in　and　took　a　long　draught　of　wine；　then；　turning　off　from　the　principal　streets；　they　made　their　way　by　quiet　lanes　down　to　one　of　the　gates。　To　their　dismay　they　found　that　this　was　closed。　The　French　commanders　knew　that　Sir　Walter　Manny　or　Salisbury　might　ere　this　be　pressing　forward　to　relieve　the　town；　and　that；　finding　that　it　had　fallen；　they　might　attempt　to　recapture　it　by　a　sudden　attack。　While　permitting　therefore　the　usual　licence；　after　a　successful　assault；　to　the　main　body　of　their　forces；　they　had　placed　a　certain　number　of　their　best　troops　on　the　walls；　giving　them　a　handsome　largess　to　make　up　for　their　loss　of　the　festivities。

At　first　Walter　and　his　friend　feared　that　their　retreat　was　cut　off　for　the　night；　but　several　other　people　presently　arrived；　and　the　officer　on　guard　said；　coming　out；　〃You　must　wait　a　while；　the　last　batch　have　only　just　gone；　and　I　cannot　keep　opening　and　closing　the　gate；　in　half　an　hour　I　will　let　you　out。

Before　that　time　elapsed　some　fifty　or　sixty　people；　anxious　to　return　to　their　villages；　gathered　round　the　gate。

〃Best　lay　aside　your　steel　cap；　Ralph；　before　we　join　them；〃　Walter　said。　〃In　the　dim　light　of　that　lamp　none　will　notice　that　we　have　head…gear；　but　if　it　were　to　glint　upon　the　steel　cap　the　officer　might　take　us　for　deserters　and　question　us　as　to　who　we　are。

Presently　the　officer　came　out　from　the　guard…room　again。　There　was　a　forward　movement　of　the　little　crowd；　and　Walter　and　Ralph　closed　in　to　their　midst。　The　gates　were　opened；　and　without　any　question　the　villagers　passed　out；　and　the　gates　were　shut　instantly　behind　them。

Walter　and　his　comrade　at　once　started　at　a　brisk　pace　and　walked　all　night　in　the　direction　of　Hennebon。　Their　clothes　soon　dried；　and　elated　at　their　escape　from　danger　they　struggled　on　briskly。　When　morning　broke　they　entered　a　wood；　and　lay　there　till　evening；　as　they　feared　to　continue　their　journey　lest　they　might　fall　into　the　hands　of　some　roving　band　of　French　horse。　They　were；　too；　dog…tired；　and　were　asleep　a　few　minutes　after　they　lay　down。　The　sun　was　setting　when　they　awoke；　and　as　soon　as　it　was　dark　they　resumed　their　journey。

〃I　don't　know　what　you　feel；　Master　Walter；　but　I　am　well…nigh　famished。　It　is　thirty…six　hours　since　I　swallowed　a　bit　of　food；　just　as　the　French　were　moving　to　the　attack。　　Hard　blows　I　don't　mind　…　I　have　been　used　to　it；　but　what　with　fighting；　and　being　in　the　water　for　five　or　six　hours；　and　climbing　up　that　endless　rope；　and　walking　all　night　on　an　empty　stomach；　it　does　not　suit　me　at　all。〃

〃I　feel　ravenous　too；　Ralph；　but　there　is　no　help　for　it。　　We　shall　eat　nothing　till　we　are　within　the　walls　of　Hennebon；　and　that　will　be　by　daylight　tomorrow　if　all　goes　well。　Draw　your　belt　an　inch　or　two　tighter；　it　will　help　to　keep　out　the　wolf。〃

They　kept　on　all　night；　and　in　the　morning　saw　to　their　delight　the　towers　of　Hennebon　in　the　distance。　It　was　well　that　it　was　no　further；　for　both　were　so　exhausted　from　want　of　food　that　they　could　with　difficulty　drag　their　legs　along。

Upon　entering　the　town　Walter　made　his　way　at　once　to　the　quarters　of　the　leader。　Sir　Walter　had　just　risen；　and　was　delighted　at　the　sight　of　his　esquire。

〃I　had　given　you　up　for　dead；〃　he　exclaimed。　〃By　what　miracle　could　you　have　escaped？　Are　you　alone？〃

〃I　have　with　me　only　my　faithful　follower　Ralph　Smith；　who　is　below；　but；　Sir　Walter；　for　mercy's　sake　order　that　some　food　be　placed　before　us；　or　we　shall　have　escaped　from　the　French　only　to　die　of　hunger　here。　We　have　tasted　nought　since　the　attack　on　Vannes　began。　Have　any　beside　us　escaped？〃

〃Lord　Stafford　contrived；　with　two　or　three　others；　to　cut　their　way　out　by　a　postern…gate；　bringing　with　them　Robert　of　Artois；　who　is　grievously　wounded。　　None　others；　save　you　and　your　man…at…arms；　have　made　their　way　here。〃

In　a　few　minutes　a　cold　capon；　several　manchets　of　bread；　and　a　stoop　of　wine　were　placed　before　Walter；　while　Ralph's　wants　were　attended　to　below。　　When　he　had　satisfied　his　hunger　the　young　esquire　related　his　adventures　to　Sir　Walter　and　several　other　knights　and　nobles；　who　had　by　this　time　gathered　in　the　room。

〃In　faith；　Master　Somers；　you　have　got　well　out　of　your　scrape；〃　Sir　Walter　exclaimed。　〃Had　I　been　in　your　place　I　should　assuredly　have　perished；　for　I　would　a　thousand　times　rather　meet　death　sword　in　hand；　than　drop　down　into　the　deep　hole　of　that　well。　And　your　brains　served　you　shrewdly　in　devising　a　method　of　escape。　What　say　you；　gentlemen？〃

All　present　joined　in　expressions　of　praise　at　the　lad's　coolness　and　presence　of　mind。

〃You　are　doing　well；　young　sir；〃　the　English　leader　went　on；　〃and　have　distinguished　yourself　on　each　occasion　on　which　we　have　been　engaged。　I　shall　be　proud　when　the　time　comes　to　bestow　upon　you　myself　the　order　of　knighthood　if　our　king　does　not　take　the　matter　off　my　hands。〃

A　little　later　Robert　of　Artois　died　of　his　wounds　and　disappointment　at　the　failure　of　his　hopes。

In　October　King　Edward　himself　set　sail　with　a　great　army；　and　landing　in　Brittany　early　in　November　marched　forward　through　the　country　and　soon　reduced　Ploermel；　Malestrail；　Redon；　and　the　rest　of　the　province　in　the　vicinity　of　Vannes；　and　then　laid　siege　to　that　town。　As　his　force　was　far　more　than　sufficient　for　the　siege；　the　Earls　of　Norfolk　and　Warwick　were　despatched　in　the　direction　of　Nantes　to　reconnoitre　the　country　and　clear　it　of　any　small　bodies　of　the　enemy　they　might　encounter。　In　the　meantime　Edward　opened　negotiations　with　many　of　the　Breton　lords；　who；　seeing　that　such　powerful　aid　had　arrived　for　the　cause　of　the　Countess　of　Montford；　were　easily　persuaded　to　change　sides。　Among　them　were　the　lords　of　Clisson；　Moheac；　Machecoul；　Retz；　and　many　others　of　less　importance。

The　Count　of　Valentinois；　who　commanded　the　garrison　of　Vannes；　supported　the　siege　with　great　c