the caged lion-第6节

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l　do　thine　heart　good　to　hew　down　a　minion　of　Albany。　　What　were　I　worth　could　I　not　strike　a　blow　against　so　foul　a　wrong　to　my　own　orphan　kindred？　　Brewster；　I'll　answer　it　to　thy　master。　　These　are　his　foes；　as　well　as　those　of　all　honest　men。　　Ha！　thou　art　as　glad　to　be　at　them　as　I　myself。'

By　this　time　he　had　exchanged　his　cap　for　a　steel　helmet；　and　was　assuming　the　command　as　his　natural　right；　as　he　placed　the　men　in　their　ambush　behind　the　knoll；　received　reports　from　those　he　had　set　to　watch；　and　concerted　the　signal　with　Halbert　and　his　own　followers。　　Malcolm　kept　by　him；　shivering　with　intense　excitement　and　eagerness；　and　thus　they　waited　till　the　horses'　hoofs　and　clank　of　armour　were　distinctly　audible。　　But　even　then　Sir　James；　with　outstretched　hand；　signed　his　followers　back；　and　kept　them　in　the　leash；　as　it　were；　until　the　troop　was　fairly　in　the　valley；　those　in　front　beginning　to　halt　to　give　their　horses　water。　　They　were；　in　effect；　riding　somewhat　carelessly；　and　with　the　ease　of　men　whose　feat　was　performed；　and　who　expected　no　more　opposition。　　Full　in　the　midst　was　Lilias；　entirely　muffled　and　pinioned　by　a　large　plaid　drawn　closely　round　her；　and　held　upon　the　front　of　the　saddle　of　a　large　tall　horse；　ridden　by　a　slender；　light…limbed；　wiry　groom；　whom　Malcolm　knew　as　Christopher　Hall；　a　retainer　of　the　Duke　of　Albany；　and　beside　him　rode　her　captor；　Sir　Walter　Stewart；　a　man　little　above　twenty；　but　with　a　bronzed；　hardened；　reckless　expression　that　made　him　look　much　older；　and　of　huge　height　and　giant　build。　Malcolm　knew　him　well；　and　regarded　him　with　unmitigated　horror　and　dread；　both　from　the　knowledge　of　his　ruffianly　violence　even　towards　his　father；　from　fear　of　his　intentions；　and　from　the　misery　that　his　brutal　jests；　scoffs；　and　practical　jokes　had　often　personally　inflicted：　　and　the　sight　of　his　sister　in　the　power　of　this　wicked　man　was　the　realization　of　all　his　worst　fears。　　But　ere　there　was　time　for　more　than　one　strong　pang　of　consternation　and　constitutional　terror；　Sir　James's　shout　of　'St。　Andrew　for　the　right！'　was　ringing　out；　echoed　by　all　the　fifteen　in　ambush　with　him；　as　simultaneously　they　leapt　forward。　　Malcolm；　among　the　first；　darting　with　one　spring；　as　it　were；　to　the　horse　where　his　sister　was　carried；　seized　the　bridle　with　his　left　hand；　and　flashing　his　sword　upon　the　ruffian　with　the　other；　shouted；　'Let　go；　villain；　give　me　my　sister！'　Hall's　first　impulse　was　to　push　his　horse　forward　so　as　to　trample　the　boy　down；　but　Malcolm's　hold　rendered　this　impossible；　besides；　there　was　the　shouting；　the　clang；　the　confusion　of　the　outburst　of　an　ambush　all　around　and　on　every　side；　and　before　the　man　could　free　his　hand　to　draw　his　weapon　he　necessarily　loosed　his　grasp　of　Lilias；　who；　half　springing；　half　falling；　came　to　the　ground；　almost　overthrowing　her　brother　in　her　descent；　but　just　saved　by　him　from　coming　down　prostrate。　　The　horse；　suddenly　released；　started　forward　with　its　rider　and　at　the　same　moment　Malcolm；　recovering　himself；　stood　with　his　sword　in　his　hand；　his　arm　round　his　sister's　waist；　assuring　her　that　she　was　safe；　and　himself　glowing　for　the　first　time　with　manly　exultation。　Had　he　not　saved　and　rescued　her　himself？

It　was　as　well；　however；　that　the　rescue　did　not　depend　on　his　sole　prowess。　　Indeed；　by　the　time　the　brother　and　sister　were　clinging　together　and　turning　to　look　round；　the　first　shock　was　over；　and　the　retainers　of　Albany；　probably　fancying　the　attack　made　by　a　much　larger　troop；　were　either　in　full　flight；　or　getting　decidedly　the　worst　in　their　encounters　with　their　assailants。

Sir　James　Stewart　had　at　the　first　onset　sprung　like　a　lion　upon　the　Master　of　Albany；　and　without　drawing　his　sword　had　grappled　with　him。　　'In　the　name　of　St。　Andrew　and　the　King；　yield　thy　prey；　thou　dastard；'　were　his　words　as　he　threw　his　arms　round　the　body　of　Sir　Walter；　and　exerted　his　full　strength　to　drag　him　from　his　horse。　The　young　giant　writhed；　struggled；　cursed；　raged；　he　had　not　space　to　draw　sword　or　even　dagger；　but　he　struck　furiously　with　his　gauntleted　hand；　strove　to　drive　his　horse　forward。　　The　struggle　like　that　of　Hercules　and　Antaeus；　so　desperate　and　mighty　was　the　strength　put　forth　on　either　side；　but　nothing　could　unclasp　the　iron　grip　of　those　sinewy　arms；　and　almost　as　soon　as　Malcolm　and　Lilias　had　eyes　to　see　what　was　passing；　Walter　Stewart　was　being　dragged　off　his　horse　by　that　tremendous　grapple；　and　the　next　moment　his　armour　rung　as　he　lay　prostrate　on　his　back　upon　the　ground。

His　conqueror　set　his　mailed　foot　upon　his　neck　lightly；　but　so　as　to　prevent　any　attempt　to　rise；　and　after　one　moment's　pause　to　gather　breath；　said　in　a　clear　deep　trumpet　voice；　'Walter　Stewart　of　Albany；　on　one　condition　I　grant　thee　thy　life。　　It　is　that　thou　take　the　most　solemn　oath　on　the　spot　that　no　spulzie　or　private　brawl　shall　henceforth　stain　that　hand　of　thine　while　thy　father　holds　the　power　in　Scotland。　　Take　that　oath；　thou　livest：　　refuse　it；　and'　He　held　up　the　deadly　little　dagger　called　the　misericorde。

'And　who　art　thou；　caitiff　land…louper；'　muttered　Walter；　'to　put　to　oath　knights　and　princes？'

The　knight　raised　the　visor　of　his　helmet。　　The　evening　sun　shone　resplendently　on　his　damasked　blue　armour　and　the　St。　Andrew's　cross　on　his　breast；　and　lighted　up　that　red　fire　that　lurked　in　his　eyes；　and　withal　the　calm　power　and　righteous　indignation　on　his　features　might　have　befitted　an　avenging　angel　wielding　the　lightning。

'Thou　wilt　know　me　when　we　meet　again；'　was　all　he　said；　and　for　the　very　calmness　of　the　voice　the　Master　of　Albany；　who　was　but　a　mere　commonplace　insolent　ruffian；　quailed　with　awe　and　terror　to　the　very　backbone。

'Loose　me；　and　I　will　swear；'　he　faintly　murmured。

Sir　James；　before　removing　his　foot；　unclasped　his　gorget；　and　undoing　a　chain；　held　up　a　jewel　shaped　like　a　St。　Andrew's　cross；　with　a　diamond　in　the　midst；　covering　a　fragmentary　relic。　　At　the　sight　Walter　Stewart's　eyes；　large　pale　ones；　dilated　as　if　with　increased　consternation；　the　sweat　started　on　his　forehead；　and　his　breath　came　in　shorter　gasps。　　Malcolm　and　Lilias；　standing　near；　likewise　felt　a　sense　of　strange　awe；　for　they　too　had　heard　of　this　relic；　a　supposed　fragment　of　St。　Andrew's　own　instrument　of　martyrdom；　which　had　belonged　to　St。　Margaret；　and　had　been　thought　a　palladium　to　the　royal　family　and　House　of　Stewart。

'Rise　on　thy　knees；'　said　Sir　James；　now　taking　away　his　foot；　'and　swear　upon　this。'

Walter；　completely　cowed　and　overawed；　rose　to　his　knees　at　his　victor's　command；　laid　his　hand　on　the　relic；　and　in　a　shaken；　almost　tremulous　voice；　repeated　the　words　of　the　oath　after　his　dictation：　'I；　Walter　Stewart；　Master　of　Albany；　hereby　swear　to　God　and　St。　Andrew；　to　fight　in　no　private　brawl；　to　spoil　no　man　nor　woman；　to　oppress　no　poor　man；　clerk；　widow；　maid；　or　orphan；　to　abstain　from　all　wrong　or　spulzie　from　this　hour　until　the　King　shall　come　again　in　peace。'

He　uttered　the　words；　and　kissed　the　jewel　that　was　tendered　to　him；　and　then　Sir　James　said；　in　the　same　cold　and　dignified　tone；　'Let　thine　oath　be　sacred；　or　beware。　　Now；　mount　and　go　thy　way；　but　take　heed　HOW　I　meet　thee　again。'

Sir　Walter's　horse　was　held　for　him　by　Brewster；　the　knight's　English　attendant；　and　without　another　word　he　flung　himself　into　the　saddle；　and　rode　away　to　join　such　of　his　followers　as　were　waiting　dispersed　at　a　safe　distance　to　mark　his　fate；　but　without　attempting　anything　for　his　assistance。

'Oh；　Sir！'　burst　forth　Malcolm；　but　then；　even　as　he　was　about　to　utter　his　thanks；　his　eye　sought　for　the　guardian　who　had　ever　been　his　mouthpiece；　and；　with　a　sudden　shriek　of　dismay；　he　cried；　'My　uncle！　where　is　he？　where　is　Sir　David？'

'Alack！　alack！'　cried　Lilias。　　'Oh；　brother；　I　saw　him　on　the　ground；　he　fell　before　my　horse。　　I　saw　no　more；　for　the　Master　held　me；　and　muffled　my　face。　　Oh；　let　us　back；　he　may　yet　live。'

'Yea；　let　us　back；'　said　Sir　James；　'if　we　may　yet　save　the　good　old　man。　　Those　villains　will　not　dare　to　follow；　or　if　they　do；　Nigel　Brewster；　you　understand　guarding　the　rear。'

'Sir；'　began　Lilias；　'how　can　we　thank'

'Not　at　all；　lady；'　replied　Sir　James；　smiling；　'you　will　do　better　to　take　your　seat；　I　fear　it　must　be　en　croupe；　for　we　can　scarce　dismount　one　of　your　guards。'

'She　shall　ride　behind　me；'　said　Malcolm；　in　a　more　alert　and　confident　voice　than　had　ever　been　heard　from　him　before。

'Ay；　right；'　said　Sir　James；　placing　a　kind　hand　on　his　shoulder；　'thou　hast　won　her　back　by　thine　own　exploit；　and　mayst　well　have　the　keeping　of　her。　　That　rush　on　the　caitiff　groom　was　well　and　shrewdly　done。'

And　for　all　Malcolm's　anxiety　for　his　uncle；　his　heart　had　never　given　such　a　leap　as　at　finding　himself　suddenly　raised　from　the　depressed　down…trodden　coward　into　something　like　manhood　and　self…　respect。

Lilias；　who；　like　most　damsels　of　her　time；　was　hardy　and　active；　saw　no　difficulties　in　the　mode　of　conveyance；　and；　so　soon　as　Malcolm　had　seated　himself　on　horseback；　she　placed　one　foot　upon　his　toe；　and　with　a　spring　of　her　own；　assisted　by　Sir　James's　well…practised　hand；　was　instantly　perched　on　the　crupper；　clas