child christopher-第22节

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〃What！〃　he　said；　〃that　I　might　have　to　thrust　myself　into　the　peril　of　snatching　thee　forth　again？〃　And　he　laughed　merrily。　　〃Nay；〃　said　he；　〃this　play　must　needs　begin　before　it　endeth；　and　by　Saint　Nicholas；　I　deem　that　to…day　it　beginneth　well。〃

But　she　put　her　hands　before　her　face；　and　her　shoulders　were　shaken　with　sobs。　　〃Alas！　sweetling；〃　said　he；　〃that　my　joy　should　be　thy　sorrow！　But；　I　pray　thee；　take　not　these　stout…hearts　for　runaways。　　And　Oh！　look；　look！〃

She　looked　up；　wondering　and　timorous；　but　all　about　her　the　men　sprang　up　and　shouted；　and　tossed　up　bill　and　sword；　and　the　echo　of　their　cries　came　back　from　the　bowmen　on　the　left；　and　Christopher's　sword　came　rattling　out　of　the　scabbard　and　went　gleaming　up　aloft。　　Then　words　came　into　the　cry　of　the　folk；　and　Goldilind　heard　it；　that　they　cried　〃Child　Christopher！　King　Christopher！〃　Then　over　her　head　came　a　sound　of　flapping　and　rending　as　the　evening　wind　beat　about　the　face　of　the　wood；　and　she　heard　folk　cry　about　her：　　〃The　banner；　the　banner！　Ho　for　the　Wood…wife　of　Oakenrealm！〃

Then　her　eyes　cleared　for　what　was　aloof　before　her；　and　she　saw　a　dark　mass　come　spreading　down　over　the　bent　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　and　glittering　points　and　broad　gleams　of　white　light　amidst　of　it；　and　noise　came　from　it；　and　she　knew　that　here　were　come　the　foemen。　　But　she　thought　to　herself　that　they　looked　not　so　many　after　all；　and　she　looked　at　the　great　and　deft　bodies　of　their　folk；　and　their　big…headed　spears　and　wide…bladed　glaves　and　bills；　and　strove　with　her　heart　and　refrained　her　fear；　and　thrust　back　the　image　which　had　arisen　before　her　of　Greenharbour　come　back　again；　and　she　lonely　and　naked　in　the　Least　Guard…chamber：　　and　she　stood　firm；　and　waved　her　hand　to　greet　the　folk。

And　lo！　there　was　Christopher　kneeling　before　her　and　kissing　her　hand；　and　great　shouts　arising　about　her　of　〃The　Lady　of　Oakenrealm！　The　Lady　of　Meadham！　For　the　Lady！　For　the　Lady！〃



CHAPTER　XXX。

OF　THE　FIELD　THAT　WAS　SET　IN　THE　HOLM　OF　HAZELDALE。


Now　thither　cometh　Jack　o'　the　Tofts；　and　spake　to　Christopher：　　〃See　thou；　ladLord　King；　I　should　say；　this　looketh　not　like　very　present　battle；　for　they　be　stayed　half　way　down　the　bent；　and　lo　thou；　some　half　score　are　coming　forth　from　the　throng　with　a　white　shield　raised　aloft。　　Do　we　in　likewise；　for　they　would　talk　with　us。〃

〃Shall　we　trust　them；　father？〃　said　Christopher。

〃Trust　them　we　may；　son；〃　said　Jack；　〃Gandolf　is　a　violent　man；　and　a　lifter　of　other　men's　goods；　but　I　deem　not　so　evil　of　him　as　that　he　would　bewray　troth。〃

So　then　they　let　do　a　white　cloth　over　a　shield　and　hoist　it　on　a　long　spear；　and　straightway　they　gat　to　horse；　Jack　of　the　Tofts；　and　Christopher；　and　Haward　of　Whiteacre；　and　Gilbert；　and　a　half　score　all　told；　and　they　rode　straight　down　to　the　ford；　which　was　just　below　the　tail　of　the　eyot　aforesaid；　and　as　they　went；　they　saw　the　going　of　the　others；　who　were　by　now　hard　on　the　waterside；　and　said　Jack：　　〃See　now；　King　Christopher；　he　who　rides　first　in　a　surcoat　of　his　arms　is　even　the　Baron；　the　black　bullet…headed　one；　and　the　next　to　him；　the　red…head；　is　his　squire　and　man；　Oliver　Marson；　a　stout　man；　but　fierce　and　grim…hearted。　　Lo　thou；　they　are　taking　the　water；　but　they　are　making　for　the　eyot　and　not　our　shore：　　son　mine；　this　will　mean　a　hazeled　field　in　the　long　run；　but　now　they　will　look　for　us　to　come　to　them　therein。　　Yea；　now　they　are　aland　and　have　pitched　their　white　shield。　　And　hearken；　that　is　their　horn；　blow　we　an　answer：　　ho；　noise！　set　thy　lips　to　the　brass。〃

So　then；　when　one　horn　had　done　its　song；　the　other　took　it　up；　and　all　men　of　both　hosts　knew　well　that　the　horns　blew　but　for　truce　and　parley。

Now　come　the　Toft…folk　to　the　ford；　and　take　the　water；　which　was　very　shallow　on　their　side；　and　when　they　come　up　on　to　the　eyot；　they　find　the　Baron　and　his　folk　off　their　horses；　and　lying　on　the　green　grass；　so　they　also　lighted　down　and　stood　and　hailed　the　new　comers。　　Then　uprose　the　Lord　Gandolf；　and　greeted　the　Toft…folk；　and　said：　　〃Jack　of　the　Tofts；　thou　ridest　many…manned　to…day。〃

〃Yea；　Lord；〃　said　Jack；　〃and　thou　also。　　What　is　thine　errand？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　Baron；　〃what　is　thine？　As　for　mine　host　here；　there　came　a　bird　to　Brimside　and　did　me　to　wit　that　I　should　be　like　to　need　a　throng　if　I　came　thy　way；　and　sooth　was　that。　　Come　now；　tell　us　what　is　toward；　thou　rank　reiver；　though　I　have　an　inkling　thereof；　for　if　this　were　a　mere　lifting；　thou　wouldst　not　sit　still　here　amidst　thy　friends　of　Hazeldale。〃

〃Lord；〃　said　Jack　o'　the　Tofts；　〃thou　shalt　hear　mine　errand；　and　then　give　heed　to　what　thou　wilt　do。　　Look　to　the　bent　under　the　wood；　and　tell　me；　dost　thou　see　the　blazon　of　the　banner　under　which　be　my　men？〃

〃That　can　I　not；〃　said　the　Lord　Gandolf；　〃but　I　have　seen　the　banner　of　Oakenrealm；　which　beareth　the　wood…woman　with　loins　garlanded　with　oak…leaves；　look　much　like　to　it　at　such　a　distance。〃

Said　Jack：　　〃It　is　not　ill　guessed。　　Yonder　banner　is　the　King's　banner；　and　beareth　on　it　the　woman　of　Oakenrealm　。〃

The　Lord　bent　his　brows　on　him；　and　said：　　〃Forsooth；　rank　reiver；　I　wotted　not　that　thou　hadst　King　Rolf　for　thy　guest。〃

Quoth　Jack　of　the　Tofts：　　〃Forsooth；　Lord；　no　such　guest　as　the　Earl　Marshal　Rolf　would　I　have　alive　in　my　poor　house。〃

〃Well；　Jack；〃　said　the　big　Lord；　grinning；　〃arede　me　the　riddle；　and　then　we　shall　see　what　is　to　be　done；　as　thou　sayest。〃

〃Lord；〃　said　Jack；　〃dost　thou　see　this　young　man　standing　by　me？〃

〃Yea；〃　said　the　other；　〃he　is　big　enough　that　I　may　see　him　better　than　thy　banner：　　if　he　but　make　old　bones；　as　is　scarce　like；　since　he　is　of　thy　flock；　he　shall　one　day　make　a　pretty　man；　he　is　a　gay　rider　now。　　What　else　is　he？〃

Quoth　Jack　of　the　Tofts：　　〃He　is　my　King　and　thy　King；　and　the　all…folk's　King；　and　the　King　of　Oakenrealm：　　and　now；　hearken　mine　errand：　　it　is　to　make　all　folk　name　him　King。〃

Said　the　Lord：　　〃This　minstrel's　tale　goes　with　the　song　the　bird　sang　to　me　this　morning；　and　therefore　am　I　here　throngingto　win　thy　head；　rank　reiver；　and　this　young　man's　head；　since　it　may　not　better　be；　and　let　the　others　go　free　for　this　time。　Hah！　what　sayest　thou？　and　thou；　youngling？　'Tis　but　the　stroke　of　a　sword；　since　thou　hast　fallen　into　my　hands；　and　not　into　the　hangman's　or　the　King's。〃

〃Thou　must　win　them　first；　Lord；〃　said　Jack　of　the　Tofts。　〃Therefore；　what　sayest　thou？　Where　shall　we　cast　down　the　white　shield　and　uprear　the　red？〃

〃Hot　art　thou；　head；　heart；　and　hand；　rank　reiver；〃　said　the　Lord；　〃bide　a　while。〃　　So　he　sat　silent　a　little；　then　he　said：　　〃Thou　seest；　Jack　of　the　Tofts；　that　now　thou　hast　thrust　the　torch　into　the　tow；　if　I　go　back　to　King　Rolf　without　the　heads　of　you　twain；　I　am　like　to　pay　for　it　with　mine　own。　　Therefore　hearken。　　If　we　buckle　together　in　fight　presently；　it　is　most　like　that　I　shall　come　to　my　above；　but　thou　art　so　wily　and　stout　that　it　is　not　unlike　that　thou；　and　perchance　this　luckless　youngling；　may　slip　through　my　fingers　into　the　wood；　and　then　it　will　avail　me　little　with　the　King　that　I　have　slain　a　few　score　nameless　wolf…heads。　　So；　look　you！　here　is　a　fair　field　hazelled　by　God；　let　us　two　use　it　to…day；　and　fight　to　the　death　here；　and　then　if　thou　win　me；　smite　off　my　head；　and　let　my　men　fight　it　out　afterwards；　as　best　they　may　without　me；　and　'tis　like　they　will　be　beaten　then。　　But　if　I　win　thee；　then　I　win　this　youngling　withal；　and　bear　back　both　heads　to　my　Lord　King；　after　I　have　scattered　thy　wolf…heads　and　slain　as　many　as　I　will；　which　shall　surely　befall；　if　thou　be　slain　first。〃

Then　cried　out　Jack　of　the　Tofts：　　〃Hail　to　thy　word；　stout…heart！　this　is　well　offered；　and　I　take　it　for　myself　and　my　Lord　King　here。〃　　And　all　that　stood　by　and　heard　gave　a　glad　sound　with　their　voices；　and　their　armour　rattled　and　rang　as　man　turned　to　man　to　praise　their　captains。

But　now　spake　Christopher：　　〃Lord　of　Brimside；　it　is　nought　wondrous　though　thou　set　me　aside　as　of　no　account；　whereas　thou　deemest　me　no　king　or　king's　kindred；　but　thou；　Lord　Earl；　who　wert　once　Jack　of　the　Tofts；　I　marvel　at　thee；　that　thou　hast　forgotten　thy　King　so　soon。　　Ye　twain　shall　now　wot　that　this　is　my　quarrel；　and　that　none　but　I　shall　take　this　battle　upon　him。

〃Thou　servant　of　Rolf；　the　traitor　and　murderer；　hearken！　I　say　that　I　am　King　of　Oakenrealm；　and　the　very　son　of　King　Christopher　the　Old；　and　that　will　I　maintain　with　my　body　against　every　gainsayer。　　Thou　Lord　of　Brimside；　wilt　thou　gainsay　it？　Then　I　say　thou　liest；　and　lo　here；　my　glove！〃　And　he　cast　it　down　before　the　Lord。

Again　was　there　good　rumour；　and　that　from　either　side　of　the　bystanders；　but　Jack　of　the　Tofts　stood　up　silent　and　stiff；　and　the　Baron　of　Brimside　laughed；　and　said：　　〃Well；　swain；　if　thou　art　weary　of　life；　so　let　it　be；　as　for　me；　but　how　sayest　thou；　Jack　of　the　Tofts？　Art　thou　content　to　give　thine　head　away　in　this　fashion；　whereas　thou　wottest　that　I　shall　presently　slay　this　king　of　thine？〃

Said　Jack：　　〃The　King　of　Oakenrealm　must　rule　me　as　well　as　others　of　his　liege…men：　he　must　fight　if　he　will；　and　be　slain　if　he　will。〃　　Then　suddenly　he　fell　a…laughing；