child christopher-第23节

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g；　and　beat　his　hand　on　his　thigh　till　the　armour　rattled　again；　and　then　he　cried　out：　　〃Lord　Gandolf；　Lord　Gandolf；　have　a　care；　I　bid　thee！　Where　wilt　thou　please　to　be　buried；　Lord？〃

Said　the　other：　　〃I　wot　not　what　thou　wilt　mean　by　thy　fooling；　rank　reiver。　　But　here　I　take　up　this　youngling's　glove；　and　on　his　head　be　his　fate！　Now　as　to　this　battle。　My　will　is；　that　we　two　champions　be　all　alone　and　afoot　on　the　eyot。　　How　say　ye？〃

〃Even　so　be　it；〃　said　Jack；　〃but　I　say　that　half　a　score　on　each　side　shall　be　standing　on　their　own　bank　to　see　the　play；　and　the　rest　of　the　host　come　no　nigher　than　now　we　are。〃

〃I　yea…say　it；〃　said　the　Baron；　〃and　now　do　thou；　rank　reiver；　go　back　to　thy　fellowship　and　tell　them　what　we　have　areded；　and　do　thou；　Oliver　Marson；　do　so　much　for　our　folk；　and　bid　them　wot　this；　that　if　any　of　them　break　the　troth；　he　shall　lose　nought　more　than　his　life　for　that　same。〃

Therewith　all　went　ashore　to　either　bank；　save　the　Baron　of　Brimside　and　Christopher。　And　the　Baron　laid　him　down　on　the　ground　and　fell　to　whistling　the　tune　of　a　merry　Yule　dance；　but　as　for　Christopher；　he　looked　on　his　foeman；　and　deemed　he　had　seldom　seen　so　big　and　stalwarth　a　man；　and　withal　he　was　of　ripe　age；　and　had　seen　some　forty　winters。　　Then　he　also　cast　himself　down　on　the　grass；　and　fell　into　a　kind　of　dream；　as　he　watched　a　pair　of　wagtails　that　came　chirping　up　from　the　sandy　spit　below　the　eyot；　till　suddenly　great　shouting　broke　out；　first　from　his　own　bent；　and　then　from　the　foemen's；　and　Christopher　knew　that　the　folk　on　either　side　had　just　heard　of　the　battle　that　was　to　be　on　the　holm。　　The　Baron　arose　at　the　sound　and　looked　to　his　own　men；　whence　were　now　coming　that　half…score　who　were　to　look　on　the　battle　from　the　bank；　but　Christopher　stirred　not；　but　lay　quietly　amongst　the　flowers　of　the　grass；　till　he　heard　the　splash　of　horse…hoofs　in　the　ford；　and　there　presently　was　come　Jack　of　the　Tofts　bearing　basnet　and　shield　for　his　lord。　　And　he　got　off　his　horse　and　spake　to　Christopher：　　〃If　I　may　not　fight　for　thee；　my　son　and　King；　yet　at　least　it　is　the　right　of　thine　Earl　to　play　the　squire　to　thee：　　but　a　word　before　thy　basnet　is　over　thine　ears；　the　man　yonder　is　well…nigh　a　giant　for　stature　and　strength；　yet　I　think　thou　mayest　deal　with　him；　and　be　none　the　sorer　when　thou　liest　down　to…night。　　To　be　short；　this　is　it：　when　thou　hast　got　a　stroke　in　upon　him；　and　he　falters；　then　give　him　no　time；　but　fly　at　him　in　thy　wild…cat　manner　and　show　what…like　thews　thou　hast　under　thy　smooth　skin；　now　thine　helm；　lad。　　So　art　thou　dight；　and　something　tells　me　thou　shalt　do　it　off　in　victory。〃



CHAPTER　　XXXI。

THE　BATTLE　ON　THE　HOLM。


So　when　Christopher　was　armed；　Jack　turned　about　speedily；　and　so　gat　him　back　through　the　ford　and　stood　there　on　the　bank　with　the　nine　other　folk　of　the　Tofts。　　And　by　this　time　was　Gandolf　of　Brimside　armed　also；　and　Oliver　Marson；　who　had　done　his　helm　on　him；　was　gone　to　his　side　of　the　river。

Drew　the　huge　man…at…arms　then　toward　Christopher；　but　his　sword　was　yet　in　the　sheath：　　Christopher　set　his　point　to　the　earth　and　abode　him；　and　the　Baron　spake：　〃Lad；　thou　art　fair　and　bold　both；　as　I　can　see　it；　and　Jack　of　the　Tofts　is　so　much　an　old　foe　of　mine　that　he　is　well…nigh　a　friend：　so　what　sayest　thou？　If　thou　wilt　yield　thee　straightway；　I　will　have　both　thine　head　and　the　outlaw's　with　me　to　King　Rolf；　but　yet　on　your　shoulders　and　ye　two　alive。　　Haps　will　go　as　haps　will；　and　it　maybe　that　ye　shall　both　live　for　another　battle；　and　grow　wiser；　and　mayhappen　abide　in　the　wood　with　the　reiver's　men。　　Hah？　What　sayest　thou？〃

Christopher　laughed　and　said：　　〃Wouldst　thou　pardon　one　who　is　not　yet　doomed；　Baron？　And　yet　thy　word　is　pleasant　to

us；　for　we　see　that　if　we　win　thee；　thou　shalt　be　good　liegeman　of　us。　　Now；　Baron；　sword　in　fist！〃

Gandolf　drew　his　sword；　muttering：　　〃Ah；　hah！　he　is　lordly　and　kingly　enough；　yet　may　this　learn　him　a　lesson。　　〃Indeed　the　blade　was　huge　and　brown　and　ancient；　and　sword　and　man　had　looked　a　very　terror　save　to　one　great…hearted。

But　Christopher　said：　　〃What　sayest　thou　now；　Baron；　shall　we　cast　down　our　shields　to　earth？　For　why　should　we　chop　into　wood　and　leather？〃

The　Baron　cast　down　his　shield；　and　said：　　〃Bold　are　thy　words；　lad；　if　thy　deeds　go　with　them；　it　may　be　better　for　thee　than　for　me。　　Now　keep　thee。〃

And　therewith　he　leapt　forward　and　swept　his　huge　sword　around；　but　Christopher　swerved　speedily　and　enough；　so　that　the　blade　touched　him　not；　and　the　huge　man　had　over…reached　himself；　and　ere　he　had　his　sword　well　under　sway　again；　Christopher　had　smitten　him　so　sharply　on　the　shoulder　that　the　mails　were　sundered　&　the　blood　ran；　and　withal　the　Baron　staggered　with　the　mere　weight　of　the　stroke。　　Then　Christopher　saw　his　time；　and　leapt　aloft　and　dealt　such　a　stroke　on　the　side　of　his　head；　that　the　Baron　tottered　yet　more；　but　now　was　he　taught　by　those　two　terrible　strokes；　and　he　gathered　all　his　heart　to　him；　and　all　the　might　of　his　thews；　and　leapt　aback　and　mastered　his　sword；　and　came　on　fierce　but　wary；　shouting　out　for　Brimside　and　the　King。

Christopher　cried　never　a　cry；　but　swung　his　sword　well　within　his　sway；　and　the　stroke　came　on　Gandolf's　fore…arm　and　brake　the　mails　and　wounded　him；　and　then　as　the　Baron　rushed　forward；　the　wary　lad　gat　his　blade　under　his　foeman's　nigh　the　hilts；　and　he　gave　it　a　wise　twist　and　forth　flew　the　ancient　iron　away　from　its　master。

Gandolf　seemed　to　heed　not　that　he　was　swordless；　but　gave　out　a　great　roar　and　rushed　at　Christopher　to　close　with　him；　and　the　well…knit　lad　gave　back　before　him　and　turned　from　side　to　side；　and　kept　the　sword…point　before　Gandolf's　eyes　ever；　till　suddenly；　as　the　Baron　was　running　his　fiercest；　he　made　a　mighty　sweep　at　his　right　leg；　since　he　had　no　more　to　fear　his　sword；　and　the　edge　fell　so　strong　and　true；　that　but　for　the　byrny…hose　he　had　smitten　the　limb　asunder；　and　even　as　it　was　it　made　him　agrievous　wound；　so　that　the　Lord　of　Brimside　fell　clattering　to　the　earth；　and　Christopher　bestrode　him　and　cried：　　〃How　sayest　thou；　champion；　is　it　enough？〃

〃Yea；　enough；　and　maybe　more；〃　said　the　Baron。　　〃Wilt　thou　smite　off　mine　head？　Or　what　wilt　thou？〃

Said　Christopher：　　〃Here　hath　been　enough　smiting；　meseemeth；　save　thy　lads　and　ours　have　a　mind　to　buckle　to；　and　lo　thou！　men　are　running　down　from　the　bents　towards　us　from　both　sides；　yet　not　in　any　warlike　manner　as　yet。　　Now；　Baron；　here　cometh　thy　grim　squire　that　I　heard　called　Oliver；　and　if　thou　wilt　keep　the　troth；　thou　shalt　bid　him　order　thy　men　so　that　they　fall　not　upon　us　till　the　battle　be　duly　pitched。　　Then　shalt　thou　be　borne　home；　since　thou　canst　not　go；　with　no　hindrance　from　us。〃

Now　was　Oliver　come　indeed；　and　the　other　nine　with　him；　and　on　the　other　side　was　come　Jack　of　the　Tofts　and　four　others。

Then　spake　the　Baron　of　Brimside：　　〃I　may　do　better　than　thou　biddest　me；　for　now　I　verily　trow　herein；　that　thou　art　the　son　of　Christopher　the　Old；　so　valiant　as　thou　art；　and　so　sad　a　smiter；　and　withal　that　thou　fearest　not　to　let　thy　foeman　live。　　So　hearken　all　ye；　and　thou　specially；　Oliver　Marson；　my　captain：　　I　am　now　become　the　man　of　my　lord　King　Christopher；　and　will　follow　him　whereso　he　will；　and　I　deem　that　will　presently　be　to　Oakenham；　and　the　King's　seat　there。　　Now　look　to　it　that　thou；　Oliver；　order　my　men　under　King　Christopher's　banner；　till　I　be　healed；　and　then　if　all　be　not　over；　I　shall　come　forth　myself；　shield　on　neck　and　spear　in　fist；　to　do　battle　for　my　liege　lord；　so　help　me　God　and　St。　James　of　the　Water！〃

Therewith　speech　failed　him　and　his　wit　therewith；　so　betwixt　them　they　unarmed　him　and　did　him　what　leechdom　they　might　do　there　and　then；　and　he　was　nowise　hurt　deadly：　　as　for　Child　Christopher；　he　had　no　scratch　of　steel　on　him。　And　Oliver　knelt　before　him　when　he　had　dight　his　own　lord；　and　swore　fealty　to　him　then　and　there；　and　so　departed；　to　order　the　folk　of　Brimside　and　tell　them　the　tidings；　and　swear　them　liege　men　of　King　Christopher。



CHAPTER　XXXII。

OF　GOLDILIND　AND　CHRISTOPHER。


Now　Jack　of　the　Tofts　said　a　word　to　one　of　his　men；　and　he　rode　straightway　up　into　the　field　under　the　wood；　and　spake　to　three　of　the　captains　of　the　folk；　and　they　ranked　a　hundred　of　the　men；　of　those　who　were　best　dight；　and　upraised　amongst　them　the　banner　of　Oakenrealm；　and　led　all　them　down　to　the　river　bank；　and　with　these　must　needs　go　Goldilind；　and　when　they　came　down　thither；　Christopher　and　Jack　were　there　on　the　bank　to　hail　them；　and　they　raised　a　great　shout　when　they　saw　their　King　and　their　Earl　standing　there；　and　the　shout　was　given　back　from　the　wood…side；　and　then　the　men　of　Brimside　took　it　up；　for　they　had　heard　the　bidding　of　their　Lord；　and　he　was　now　in　a　pavilion　which　they　had　raised　for　him　on　the　mead；　and　the　leeches　were　looking　to　his　hurts；　and　they　feared　him；　but　rather　loved　than　hated　him；　and　he　was　more　to　them　than　the　King　in　Oakenrealm　and　they　were　all　ready　to　do　his　will。

But　as　to　Goldilind；　her　mind　it　had　been；　as　she　was　going　down　the　meadow；　that　she　would　throw　herself　upon　Christopher's　bosom　and　lo