child christopher-第4节

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uld　come　with　him　and　bear　him　company　to　the　hall　doors；　then；　forsooth；　he　yea…said　the　coming。　　It　were　not　unmeet　that　some　shame　were　done　him。〃

〃Peace；　man！〃　said　Lord　Richard；　〃what　hath　this　to　do　with　thee？　Seest　thou　not　the　Lord　Marshal　here？〃　The　Lord　Rolf　sat　and　gazed　on　the　lad；　and　scowled　on　him；　but　Christopher　saw　therein　nought　but　the　face　of　a　great　lord　burdened　with　many　cares；　so　when　he　had　made　his　obeisance　he　stood　up　fearlessly　and　merrily　before　them。

Sooth　to　say；　he　was　full　fair　to　look　on：　　for　all　his　strength；　which；　as　ye　shall　hear；　was　mighty；　all　the　fashion　of　his　limbs　and　his　body　was　light　and　clean　done；　and　beauteous；　and　though　his　skin；　where　it　showed　naked；　was　all　tanned　with　the　summer；　it　was　fine　and　sleek　and　kindly；　every　deal　thereof：　　bright…eyed　and　round…cheeked　he　was；　with　full　lips　and　carven　chin；　and　his　hair　golden　brown　of　hue；　and　curling　crisp　about　the　blossoms　of　his　garland。

So　must　we　say　that　he　was　such　an　youngling　as　most　might　have　been　in　the　world；　had　not　man's　malice　been；　and　the　mischief　of　grudging　and　the　marring　of　grasping。

But　now　spake　Lord　Rolf：　　〃Sir　varlet；　they　tell　me　that　thou　art　a　mighty　hunter；　and　of　mickle　guile　in　woodcraft；　wilt　thou　then　hunt　somewhat　for　me；　and　bring　me　home　a　catch　seldom　seen？〃

〃Yea；　Lord　King；〃　said　Christopher；　〃I　will　at　least　do　my　best；　if　thou　but　tell　me　where　to　seek　the　quarry　and　when。〃

〃It　is　well；〃　said　the　Marshal；　〃and　to…morrow　my　squire；　whom　thou　seest　yonder；　and　who　hight　Simon；　shall　tell　thee　where　the　hunt　is　up；　and　thou　shalt　go　with　him。　　But　hearken！　thou　shalt　not　call　me　king；　for　to…day　there　is　no　king　in　Oakenrealm；　and　I　am　but　Marshal；　and　Earl　of　the　king　that　shall　be。〃

The　lad　fell　a…musing　for　a　minute；　and　then　he　said：　　〃Yea；　Lord　Marshal；　I　shall　do　thy　will：　　but　meseemeth　I　have　heard　some　tale　of　one　who　was　but　of　late　king　in　Oakenrealm：　　is　it　not　so；　Lord？〃

〃Stint　thy　talk；　young　man；〃　cried　the　Marshal　in　a　harsh　voice；　〃and　abide　to…morrow；　who　knoweth　who　shall　be　king；　and　whether　thou　or　I　shall　live　to　see　him。〃

But　as　he　spake　the　words　they　seemed　to　his　heart　like　a　foretelling　of　evil；　and　he　turned　pale　and　trembled；　and　said　to　Christopher：　　〃Come　hither；　lad；　I　will　give　thee　a　gift；　and　then　shalt　thou　depart　till　to…morrow。〃　　So　Christopher　drew　near　to　him；　and　the　Marshal　pulled　off　a　ring　from　his　finger　and　set　it　on　the　lad's；　and　said　to　him：　〃Now　depart　in　peace；〃　and　Christopher　bent　the　knee　to　him　and　thanked　him　for　the　gracious　gift　of　the　ruler　of　Oakenrealm；　and　then　went　his　ways　out　of　the　hall；　and　the　folk　without　gave　a　glad　cry　as　he　came　amongst　them。

But　by　then　he　was　come　to　the　door；　Lord　Rolf　looked　on　his　hand；　and　saw　that；　instead　of　giving　the　youngling　a　finger…ring　which　he　had　bought　of　a　merchant　for　a　price　of　five　bezants；　as　he　had　meant　to　do；　he　had　given　him　a　ring　which　the　old　King　had　had；　whereon　was　the　first　letter　of　his　name　（Christopher　to　wit）；　and　a　device　of　a　crowned　rose；　for　this　ring　was　a　signet　of　his。　　Wherefore　was　the　Marshal　once　more　sore　troubled；　and　he　arose；　and　was　half　minded　to　run　down　the　hall　after　Christopher；　but　he　refrained　him；　and　presently　smiled　to　himself；　and　then　fell　a…talking　to　Lord　Richard；　sweetly　and　pleasantly。

SO　wore　the　day　to　evening；　but；　ere　he　went　to　bed；　the　Lord　Rolf　had　a　privy　talk；　first　with　Lord　Richard；　and　after　with　his　squire　Simon。　　What　followed　of　that　talk　ye　may　hear　after。



CHAPTER　VII。

HOW　CHRISTOPHER　WENT　A　JOURNEY　INTO　THE　WILD…WOOD。


Next　morning　Christopher；　who　slept　in　the　little　hall　of　the　inner　court　of　the　Castle；　arose　betimes；　and　came　to　the　great　gate；　but；　for　as　early　as　he　was；　there　he　saw　the　squire　Simon　abiding　him；　standing　between　two　strong　horses；　to　him　he　gave　the　sele　of　the　day；　and　the　squire　greeted　him；　but　in　somewhat　surly　wise。　　Then　he　said　to　him：　　〃Well；　King　Christopher；　art　thou　ready　for　the　road？〃

〃Yea；　as　thou　seest；〃　said　the　youngling　smiling。　　For；　indeed；　he　had　breeches　now　beneath　his　shirt；　and　a　surcoat　of　green　woollen　over　it；　boots　of　deerskin　had　he　withal；　and　spurs　thereon：　　he　was　girt　with　a　short　sword；　and　had　a　quiver　of　arrows　at　his　back；　and　bare　a　great　bow　in　his　hand。

〃Yea；〃　quoth　Simon；　〃thou　deemest　thee　a　gay　swain　belike；　but　thou　lookest　likelier　for　a　deerstealer　than　a　rider；　thou；　hung　up　to　thy　shooting…gear。　　Deemest　thou　we　go　a…hunting　of　the　hind？〃

Quoth　Christopher：　　〃I　wot　not；　squire；　but　the　great　lord　who　lieth　sleeping　yonder；　hath　told　me　that　thou　shouldest　give　me　his　errand；　and　of　some　hunting　or　feat　of　wood…craft　he　spake。　　Moreover；　this　crooked　stick　can　drive　a　shaft　through　matters　harder　than　a　hind's　side。〃

Simon　looked　confused；　and　he　reddened　and　stammered　somewhat　as　he　answered：　〃Ah；　yea：　　so　it　was；　I　mind　me；　I　will　tell　thee　anon。〃

Said　Christopher：　　〃Withal；　squire；　if　we　are　wending　into　the　wood；　as　needs　we　must；　unless　we　ride　round　about　this　dale　in　a　ring　all　day；　dost　thou　deem　we　shall　go　at　a　gallop　many　a　mile？　Nay；　fair　sir；　the　horses　shall　wend　a　foot's　pace　oftenest；　and　we　shall　go　a…foot　not　unseldom　through　the　thickets。〃

Now　was　Simon　come　to　himself　again；　and　that　self　was　surly；　so　he　said：　　〃Ay；　ay；　little　King；　thou　deemest　thee　exceeding　wise　in　these　woods；　dost　thou　not？　and　forsooth；　thou　mayst　be。　　Yet　have　I　tidings　for　thee。〃

〃Yea；　and　what　be　they？〃　said　Christopher。

Simon　grinned：　　〃Even　these；〃　said　he；　〃that　Dr。　Knowall　was　no　man's　cousin　while　he　lived；　and　that　he　died　last　week。〃

Therewith　he　swung　himself　into　his　saddle；　and　Christopher　laughed　merrily　at　his　poor　gibe　and　mounted　in　like　wise。

Wherewithal　they　rode　their　ways　through　the　thorpe；　and　at　the　southern　end　thereof　Simon　drew　rein；　and　looked　on　Christopher　as　if　he　would　ask　him　something；　but　asked　not。　Then　said　Christopher：　　〃Whither　go　we　now？〃

Said　Simon：　　〃It　is　partly　for　thee　to　say：　　hearken；　I　am　bidden　first　to　ride　the　Redwater　Wood　with　thee：　　knowest　thou　that？〃

〃Yea；〃　said　the　lad；　〃full　well：　　but　which　way　shall　we　ride　it？　Wilt　thou　come　out　of　it　at　Redwater　Head；　or　Herne　Moss；　or　the　Long　Pools？〃

Said　Simon：　　〃We　shall　make　for　the　Long　Pools；　if　thou　canst　bring　me　there。〃

Christopher　laughed：　　〃Aha！〃　said　he；　〃then　am　I　some　faraway　cousin　of　Dr。　Knowall　when　the　whole　tale　is　told：　forsooth　I　can　lead　thee　thither；　but　tell　me；　what　shall　I　do　of　valiant　deeds　at　the　Long　Pools？　for　there　is　no　fire…drake　nor　effit；　nay；　nor　no　giant；　nor　guileful　dwarf；　nought　save　mallard　and　coot；　heron　and　bittern；　yea；　and　ague…shivers　to　boot。〃

Simon　looked　sourly　on　him　and　said：　　〃Thou　are　bidden　to　go　with　me；　young　man；　or　gainsay　the　Marshal。　　Art　thou　mighty　enough　thereto？　For　the　rest；　fear　not　but　that　the　deed　shall　come　to　thee　one　day。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Christopher；　〃it　is　all　one　to　me；　for　I　am　at　home　in　these　woods　and　wastes；　I　and　my　shafts。　　Tell　me　of　the　deeds　when　thou　wilt。〃　　But　indeed　he　longed　to　know　the　deed；　and　fretted　him　because　of　Simon's　surliness　and　closeness。　　Then　he　said：　　〃Well；　Squire　Simon；　let　us　to　the　road；　for　thou　shalt　know　that　to…night　we　must　needs　house　us　under　the　naked　heaven；　in　nowise　can　we　come　to　the　Long　Pools　before　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃Yea；　and　why　not？〃　said　the　squire；　〃I　have　lain　in　worse　places。〃

〃Wilt　thou　tell　me　thereof？〃　said　Christopher。

〃Mayhappen；〃　said　Simon；　〃if　to…morrow　comes　and　goes　for　both　of　us　twain。〃

So　they　rode　their　ways　through　the　wood；　and　baited　at　midday　with　what　Simon　bare　in　his　saddle…bags；　and　then　went　on　till　night　fell　on　them；　then　asked　Simon　how　long　they　were　from　the　Long　Pools；　and　Christopher　told　him　that　they　were　yet　short　of　them　some　fifteen　miles；　and　those　long　ones；　because　of　the　marish　grounds。　　So　they　tethered　their　horses　there　and　ate　their　supper；　and　lay　down　to　sleep　in　the　house　of　the　woods；　by　a　fire…side　which　they　lighted。

But　in　the　midnight　Christopher；　who　was　exceeding　fine…eared；　had　an　inkling　of　someone　moving　afoot　anigh　him；　and　he　awoke　therewith；　and　sprang　up；　his　drawn　short…sword　in　his　hand；　and　found　himself　face　to　face　with　Simon；　and　he　also　with　his　sword　drawn。　　Simon　sprang　aback；　but　held　up　his　sword…point；　and　Christopher；　not　yet　fully　awake；　cried　out：　　〃What　wouldst　thou？　What　is　it？〃

Simon　answered；　stammering　and　all　abashed：　　〃Didst　thou　not　hear　then？　it　wakened　me。〃

〃I　heard　nought；〃　said　Christopher；　〃what　was　it？〃

〃Horses　going　in　the　wood；〃　said　Simon

〃Ah；　yea；〃　said　Christopher；　〃it　will　have　been　the　wild　colts　and　the　mares；　they　harbour　about　these　marsh…land　parts。　　Go　to　sleep　again；　neighbour；　the　night　is　not　yet　half　worn；　but　I　will　watch　a　while。〃

Then　Simon　sheathed　his　sword；　and　turned　about　and　stood　uneasily　a　little　while；　and　then　cast　him　down　as　one　who　would　sleep　hastily；　but　slept　not　forsooth；　though　he　presently　made　semblance　of　it：　　as　for　Christopher；　he　drew　together　the　brands　of　the　fire；　and　sat　beside　it　with　his　blade　over　his　knees；　until　the　first　beginning　of　the　summer　dawn　was　in　the　sky；　then　he