the path of the king-第7节

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the　King's　law　runs　limpingly　in　the　fanlands。　I　counsel　that　a　picket　be　sent　forward　to　report　if　the　way　be　clear。　Every　churl　that　we　passed　on　the　road　will　have　sent　news　of　our　coming。〃

〃So　much　the　better；〃　said　Jehan。　〃Man；　I　come　not　as　a　thief　in　the　night。　This　is　a　daylight　business。　If　I　am　to　live　my　days　here　I　must　make　a　fair　conquest。〃

The　man　fell　back　sullenly；　and　there　were　anxious　faces　in　the　retinue　jogging　twenty　yards　behind。　But　no　care　sat　on　Jehan's　brow。　He　plucked　sprays　of　autumn　berries　and　tossed　and　caught　them；　he　sang　gently　to　himself　and　spoke　his　thoughts　to　his　horse。　Harm　could　not　come　to　him　when　air　and　scene　woke　in　his　heart　such　strange　familiarity。

A　last　turn　of　the　road　showed　Highstead　before　him；　two　furlongs　distant。　The　thatched　roof　of　the　hall　rose　out　of　a　cluster　of　shingled　huts　on　a　mound　defended　by　moat　and　palisade。　No　smoke　came　from　the　dwelling；　and　no　man　was　visible；　but　not　for　nothing　was　Jehan　named　the　Hunter。　He　was　aware　that　every　tuft　of　reed　and　scrog　of　wood　concealed　a　spear　or　a　bowman。　So　he　set　his　head　stiff　and　laughed；　and　hummed　a　bar　of　a　song　which　the　ferry…men　used　to　sing　on　Seine　side。　〃A　man　does　not　fight　to　win　his　home；〃　he　told　his　horse；　〃but　only　to　defend　it　when　he　has　won　it。　If　God　so　wills　I　shall　be　welcomed　with　open　gates：　otherwise　there　will　be　burying　ere　nightfall。〃

In　this　fashion　he　rode　steadfastly　toward　the　silent　burg。　Now　he　was　within　a　stone's　throw　of　it；　and　no　spear　had　been　launched；　now　he　was　before　the　massive　oaken　gate。　Suddenly　it　swung　open　and　a　man　came　out。　He　was　a　short；　square　fellow　who　limped；　and；　half　hidden　by　his　long　hair；　a　great　scar　showed　white　on　his　forehead。

〃In　whose　name？〃　he　asked　in　the　English　tongue。

〃In　the　name　of　our　lord　the　King　and　the　Earl　Ivo。〃

〃That　is　no　passport；〃　said　the　man。

〃In　my　own　name；　then；in　the　name　of　Jehan　the　Hunter。〃

The　man　took　two　steps　forward　and　laid　a　hand　on　the　off　stirrup。　Jehan　leaped　to　the　ground　and　kissed　him　on　both　cheeks。

〃We　have　met　before；　friend；〃　he　said；　and　he　took　between　his　palms　the　joined　hands　of　his　new　liege。

〃Two　years　back　on　the　night　of　Hastings；〃　said　the　man。　〃But　for　that　meeting；　my　lord；　you　had　tasted　twenty　arrows　betwixt　Highstead　and　the　forest。〃

Part　3

〃I　go　to　visit　my　neighbours；〃　said　Jehan　next　morning。

Arn　the　Steward　stared　at　his　master　with　a　puzzled　face。　〃You　will　get　a　dusty　welcome；〃　he　said。　〃There　is　but　the　Lady　Hilda　at　Galland；　and　her　brother　Aelward　is　still　at　odds　with　your　Duke。〃

Nevertheless　Jehan　rode　out　in　a　clear　dawn　of　St。　Luke's　summer；　leaving　a　wondering　man　behind　him；　and　he　rode　alone；　having　sent　back　his　men…at…arms　to　Ivo。　〃He　has　the　bold　heart；〃　said　Arn　to　himself。　〃If　there　be　many　French　like　him　there　will　assuredly　be　a　new　England。〃

At　Galland；　which　is　low　down　in　the　fen　country；　he　found　a　sullen　girl。　She　met　him　at　the　bridge　of　the　Galland　fen　and　her　grey　eyes　flashed　fire。　She　was　a　tall　maid；　very　fair　to　look　upon；　and　the　blue　tunic　which　she　wore　over　her　russet　gown　was　cunningly　embroidered。　Embroidered　too　with　gold　was　the　hood　which　confined　her　plaited　yellow　hair。

〃You　find　a　defenceless　house　and　a　woman　to　conquer；〃　she　railed。

〃Long　may　it　need　no　other　warder；〃　said　Jehan；　dismounting　and　looking　at　her　across　the　water。

〃The　fortune　of　war　has　given　me　a　home；　mistress。　I　would　dwell　in　amity　with　my　neighbours。〃

〃Amity！〃　she　cried　in　scorn。　〃You　will　get　none　from　me。　My　brother　Aelward　will　do　the　parleying。〃

〃So　be　it；〃　he　said。　〃Be　assured　I　will　never　cross　this　water　into　Galland　till　you　bid　me。〃

He　turned　and　rode　home；　and　for　a　month　was　busied　with　the　work　of　his　farms。　When　he　came　again　it　was　on　a　dark　day　in　November；　and　every　runnel　of　the　fens　was　swollen。　He　got　the　same　answer　from　the　girl；　and　with　it　a　warning　〃Aelward　and　his　men　wait　for　you　in　the　oakshaw；〃　she　told　him。　〃I　sent　word　to　them　when　the　thralls　brought　news　of　you。〃　And　her　pretty　face　was　hard　and　angry。

Jehan　laughed。　〃Now；　by　your　leave；　mistress；　I　will　wait　here　the　hour　or　two　till　nightfall。　I　am　Englishman　enough　to　know　that　your　folk　do　not　strike　in　the　dark。〃

He　returned　to　Highstead　unscathed；　and　a　week　later　came　a　message　from　Aelward。　〃Meet　me；〃　it　ran；　〃to…morrow　by　the　Danes'　barrow　at　noon；　and　we　will　know　whether　Englishman　or　Frenchman　is　to　bear　rule　in　this　land。〃

Jehan　donned　his　hauberk　and　girt　himself　with　his　long　sword。　〃There　will　be　hot　work　to…day　in　that　forest；〃　he　told　Arn；　who　was　busied　with　the　trussing　of　his　mail。

〃God　prosper　you；　master；〃　said　the　steward。　〃Frenchman　or　no；　you　are　such　a　man　as　I　love。　Beware　of　Aelward　and　his　downward　stroke；　for　he　has　the　strength　of　ten。〃

At　noon　by　the　Danes'　barrow　Jehan　met　a　young　tow…headed　giant；　who　spoke　with　the　back　of　his　throat　and　made　surly…response　to　the　other's　greeting。　It　was　a　blue　winter's　day；　with　rime　still　white　on　the　grass；　and　the　forest　was　very　still。　The　Saxon　had　the　shorter　sword　and　a　round　buckler；　Jehan　fought　only　with　his　blade。

At　the　first　bout　they　strove　with　steel；　and　were　ill…matched　at　that；　for　the　heavy　strength　of　the　fenman　was　futile　against　the　lithe　speed　of　the　hunter。　Jehan　ringed　him　in　circles　of　light；　and　the　famous　downward　stroke　was　expended　on　vacant　air。　He　played　with　him　till　he　breathed　heavily　like　a　cow；　and　then　by　a　sleight　of　hand　sent　his　sword　spinning　among　the　oak　mast。　The　young　giant　stood　sulkily　before　him；　unarmed；　deeply　shamed；　waiting　on　his　death；　but　with　no　fear　in　his　eyes。

Jehan　tossed　his　own　blade　to　the　ground；　and　stripped　off　his　hauberk。　〃We　have　fought　with　weapons；〃　he　said；　〃now　we　will　fight　in　the　ancient　way。〃

There　followed　a　very　different　contest。　Aelward　lost　his　shamefastness　and　his　slow　blood　fired　as　flesh　met　flesh　and　sinew　strained　against　sinew。　His　great　arms　crushed　the　Frenchman　till　the　ribs　cracked；　but　always　the　other　slipped　through　and　evaded　the　fatal　hug。　And　as　the　struggle　continued　Aelward's　heart　warmed　to　his　enemy。　When　their　swords　crossed　he　had　hated　him　like　death；　now　he　seemed　to　be　striving　with　a　kinsman。

Suddenly；　when　victory　looked　very　near；　he　found　the　earth　moving　from　beneath　him；　and　a　mountain　descended　on　his　skull。　When　he　blinked　himself　into　consciousness　again；　Jehan　was　laving　his　head　from　a　pool　in　an　oak…root。

〃I　will　teach　you　that　throw　some　…day；　friend；〃　he　was　saying。　〃Had　I　not　known　the　trick　of　it；　you　had　mauled　me　sadly。　I　had　liefer　grapple　with　a　bear。

Aelward　moistened　his　lips。　〃You　have　beat　me　fairly；　armed　and　weaponless；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　had　no　anger　in　it。

〃Talk　not　of　beating　between　neighbours；〃　was　the　answer。　〃We　have　played　together　and　I　have　had　the　luck　of　it。　It　will　be　your　turn　to　break　my　head　to…morrow。〃

〃Head　matters　little；〃　grumbled　Aelward。　〃Mine　has　stood　harder　dints。　But　you　have　broken　my　leg；　and　that　means　a　month　of　housekeeping。〃

Jehan　made　splints　of　ash　for　the　leg；　and　set　him　upon　his　horse；　and　in　this　wise　they　came　to　the　bridge　of　Galland　fen。　On　the　far　side　of　the　water　stood　the　Lady　Hilda。　He　halted　and　waited　on　her　bidding。　She　gazed　speechless　at　the　horse　whereon　sat　her　brother　with　a　clouted　scalp。

〃What　ails　you；　Frenchman？〃　said　Aelward。　〃It　is　but　a　half…grown　girl　of　my　father's　begetting。〃

〃I　have　vowed　not　to　pass　that　bridge　till　yonder　lady　bids　me。〃

〃Then　for　the　pity　of　Christ　bid　him；　sister。　He　and　I　are　warm　with　play　and　yearn　for　a　flagon。〃

In　this　manner　did　Jehan　first　enter　the　house　of　Galland；　whence　in　the　next　cowslip…time　he　carried　a　bride　to　Highstead。

The　months　passed　smoothly　in　the　house　on　the　knoll　above　the　fat　fen　pastures。　Jehan　forsook　his　woodcraft　for　the　work　of　byre　and　furrow　and　sheepfold；　and　the　yield　of　his　lands　grew　under　his　wardenship。　He　brought　heavy　French　cattle　to　improve　the　little　native　breed；　and　made　a　garden　of　fruit　trees　where　once　had　been　only　bent　and　sedge。　The　thralls　wrought　cheerfully　for　him；　for　he　was　a　kindly　master；　and　the　freemen　of　the　manor　had　no　complaint　against　one　who　did　impartial　justice　and　respected　their　slow　and　ancient　ways。　As　for　skill　in　hunting；　there　was　no　fellow　to　the　lord　of　Highstead　between　Trent　and　Thames。

Inside　the　homestead　the　Lady　Hilda　moved　happily；　a　wife　smiling　and　well　content。　She　had　won　more　than　a　husband；　it　seemed　she　had　made　a　convert；　for　daily　Jehan　grew　into　the　country…side　as　if　he　had　been　born　in　it。　Something　in　the　soft　woodland　air　and　the　sharper　tang　of　the　fens　and　the　sea　awoke　response　from　his　innermost　soul。　An　aching　affection　was　born　in　him　for　every　acre　of　his　little　heritage。　His　son；　dark　like　his　father；　who　made　his　first　diffident　pilgrimages　in　the　sunny　close　where　the　pigeons　cooed；　was　not　more　thirled　to　English　soil。

They　were　quiet　years　in　that　remote　place；　for　Aelward　over　at　Galland　had　made　his　peace　with　the　King。　But　when　the　little　Jehan　was　four　years　old　the　tides　of　war　lapped　again　to　the　forest　edges。　One　Hugo　of　Auchy；　who　had　had　a　usurer　to　his　father