the path of the king-第8节

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ides　of　war　lapped　again　to　the　forest　edges。　One　Hugo　of　Auchy；　who　had　had　a　usurer　to　his　father　and　had　risen　in　an　iron　age　by　a　merciless　greed；　came　a…foraying　from　the　north　to　see　how　he　might　add　to　his　fortunes。　Men　called　him　the　Crane；　for　he　was　tall　and　lean　and　parchment…skinned；　and　to　his　banner　resorted　all　malcontents　and　broken　men。　He　sought　to　conduct　a　second　Conquest；　making　war　on　the　English　who　still　held　their　lands；　but　sparing　the　French　manors。　The　King's　justice　was　slow…footed；　and　the　King　was　far　away；　so　the　threatened　men；　banded　together　to　hold　their　own　by　their　own　might。

Aelward　brought　the　news　from　Galland　that　the　Crane　had　entered　their　borders。　The　good　Ivo　was　overseas；　busy　on　the　Brittany　marches；　and　there　was　no　ruler　in　Fenland。

〃You　he　will　spare；〃　Aelward　told　his　sister's　husband。　〃He　does　not　war　with　you　new…comers。　But　us　of　the　old　stock　he　claims　as　his　prey。　How　say　you；　Frenchman？　Will　you　reason　with　him？　Hereaways　we　are　peaceful　folk；　and　would　fain　get　on　with　our　harvest。〃

〃I　will　reason　with　him；〃　said　Jehan；　〃and　by　the　only　logic　that　such　carrion　understands。　I　am　by　your　side；　brother。　There　is　but　the　one　cause　for　all　us　countrymen。〃

But　that　afternoon　as　he　walked　abroad　in　his　cornlands　he　saw　a　portent。　A　heron　rose　out　of　the　shallows；　and　a　harrier…hawk　swooped　to　the　pounce；　but　the　long　bird　flopped　securely　into　the　western　sky；　and　the　hawk　dropped　at　his　feet；　dead　but　with　no　mark　of　a　wound。

〃Here　be　marvels；〃　said　Jehan；　and　with　that　there　came　on　him　the　foreknowledge　of　fate；　which　in　the　brave　heart　wakes　awe；　but　no　fear。　He　stood　silent　for　a　time　and　gazed　over　his　homelands。　The　bere　was　shaking　white　and　gold　in　the　light　evening　wind；　in　the　new　orchard　he　had　planted　the　apples　were　reddening；　from　the　edge　of　the　forest　land　rose　wreaths　of　smoke　where　the　thralls　were　busy　with　wood…clearing。　There　was　little　sound　in　the　air；　but　from　the　steading　came　the　happy　laughter　of　a　child。　Jehan　stood　very　still；　and　his　wistful　eyes　drank　the　peace　of　it。

〃Non　nobis；　Domine；〃　he　said；　for　a　priest　had　once　had　the　training　of　him。　〃But　I　leave　that　which　shall　not　die。〃

He　summoned　his　wife　and　told　her　of　the　coming　of　the　Crane。　From　a　finger　of　his　left　hand　he　took　the　thick　ring　of　gold　which　Ivo　had　marked　years　before　in　the　Wealden　hut。

〃I　have　a　notion　that　I　am　going　a　long　journey；〃　he　told　her。　〃If　I　do　not　return；　the　Lord　Ivo　will　confirm　the　little　lad　in　these　lands　of　ours。　But　to　you　and　for　his　sake　I　make　my　own　bequest。　Wear　this　ring　for　him　till　he　is　a　man；　and　then　bid　him　wear　it　as　his　father's　guerdon。　I　had　it　from　my　father；　who　had　it　from　his；　and　my　grandfather　told　me　the　tale　of　it。　In　his　grandsire's　day　it　was　a　mighty　armlet；　but　in　the　famine　years　it　was　melted　and　part　sold；　and　only　this　remains。　Some　one　of　us　far　back　was　a　king；　and　this　is　the　badge　of　a　king's　house。　There　comes　a　day；　little　one；　when　the　fruit　of　our　bodies　shall　possess　a　throne。　See　that　the　lad　be　royal　in　thought　and　deed；　as　he　is　royal　in　blood。〃

Next　morning　he　kissed　his　wife　and　fondled　his　little　son；　and　with　his　men　rode　northward；　his　eyes　wistful　but　his　mouth　smiling。

What　followed　was　for　generations　a　tale　among　humble　folk　in　England；　who　knew　nothing　of　the　deeds　of　the　King's　armies。　By　cottage　fires　they　wove　stories　about　it　and　made　simple　songs；　the　echo　of　which　may　still　be　traced　by　curious　scholars。　There　is　something　of　it　in　the　great　saga　of　Robin　Hood；　and　long　after　the　fens　were　drained　women　hushed　their　babies　with　snatches　about　the　Crane　and　the　Falcon；　and　fairy　tales　of　a　certain　John　of　the　Shaws；　who　became　one　with　Jack　the　Giant…killer　and　all　the　nursery　heroes。

Jehan　and　his　band　met　Aelward　at　the　appointed　rendezvous；　and　soon　were　joined　by　a　dozen　knots　of　lusty　yeomen；　who　fought　not　only　for　themselves　but　for　the　law　of　England　and　the　peace　of　the　new　king。　Of　the　little　force　Jehan　was　appointed　leader；　and　once　again　became　the　Hunter；　stalking　a　baser　quarry　than　wolf　or　boar。　For　the　Crane　and　his　rabble；　flushed　with　easy　conquest；　kept　ill　watch；　and　the　tongues　of　forest　running　down　to　the　fenland　made　a　good　hunting　ground　for　a　wary　forester。

Jehan's　pickets　found　Hugo　of　Auchy　by　the　Sheen　brook　and　brought　back　tidings。　Thereupon　a　subtle　plan　was　made。　By　day　and　night　the　invaders'　camp　was　kept　uneasy；　there　would　be　sudden　attacks；　which　died　down　after　a　few　blows；　stragglers　disappeared；　scouts　never　returned；　and　when　a　peasant　was　brought　in　and　forced　to　speak；　he　told　with　scared　face　a　tale　of　the　great　mustering　of　desperate　men　in　this　or　that　quarter。　The　Crane　was　a　hardy　fighter；　but　the　mystery　baffled　him；　and　he　became　cautious；　andafter　the　fashion　of　his　kind　credulous。　Bit　by　bit　Jehan　shepherded　him　into　the　trap　he　had　prepared。　He　had　but　one　man　to　the　enemy's　six；　and　must　drain　that　enemy's　strength　before　he　struck。　Meantime　the　little　steadings　went　up　in　flames；　but　with　every　blaze　seen　in　the　autumn　dusk　the　English　temper　grew　more　stubborn。　They　waited　confidently　on　the　reckoning。

It　came　on　a　bleak　morning　when　the　east　wind　blew　rain　and　fog　from　the　sea。　The　Crane　was　in　a　spit　of　open　woodland；　with　before　him　and　on　either　side　deep　fenland　with　paths　known　only　to　its　dwellers。　Then　Jehan　struck。　He　drove　his　enemy　to　the　point　of　the　dry　ground；　and　thrust　him　into　the　marshes。　Not　since　the　time　of　the　Danes　had　the　land　known　such　a　slaying。　The　refuse　of　France　and　the　traitor　English　who　had　joined　them　went　down　like　sheep　before　wolves。　When　the　Lord　Ivo　arrived　in　the　late　afternoon；　having　ridden　hot…speed　from　the　south　coast　when　he　got　the　tidings；　he　found　little　left　of　the　marauders　save　the　dead　on　the　land　and　the　scum　of　red　on　the　fen　pools。

Jehan　lay　by　a　clump　of　hazels；　the　blood　welling　from　an　axe…wound　in　the　neck。　His　face　was　ashen　with　the　oncoming　of　death；　but　he　smiled　as　he　looked　up　at　his　lord。

〃The　Crane　pecked　me；〃　he　said。　〃He　had　a　stout　bill；　if　a　black　heart。〃

Ivo　wept　aloud；　being　pitiful　as　he　was　brave。　He　would　have　scoured　the　country　for　a　priest。

〃Farewell；　old　comrade；〃　he　sobbed。　〃Give　greeting　to　Odo　in　Paradise；　and　keep　a　place　for　me　by　your　side。　I　will　nourish　your　son；　as　if　he　had　been　that　one　of　my　own　whom　Heaven　has　denied　me。　Tarry　a　little；　dear　heart；　and　the　Priest　of　Glede　will　be　here　to　shrive　you。〃

Through　the　thicket　there　crawled　a　mighty　figure；　his　yellow　hair　dabbled　in　blood；　and　his　breath　labouring　like　wind　in　a　threshing…floor。　He　lay　down　by　Jehan's　side；　and　with　a　last　effort　kissed　him　on　the　lips。

〃Priest！〃　cried　the　dying　Aelward。　〃What　need　is　there　of　priest　to　help　us　two　English　on　our　way　to　God？〃



CHAPTER　3。　THE　WIFE　OF　FLANDERS

From　the　bed　set　high　on　a　dais　came　eerie　spasms　of　laughter；　a　harsh　cackle　like　fowls　at　feeding　time。

〃Is　that　the　last　of　them；　Anton？〃　said　a　voice。

A　little　serving…man　with　an　apple…hued　face　bowed　in　reply。　He　bowed　with　difficulty；　for　in　his　arms　he　held　a　huge　grey　cat；　which　still　mewed　with　the　excitement　of　the　chase。　Rats　had　been　turned　loose　on　the　floor；　and　it　had　accounted　for　them　to　the　accompaniment　of　a　shrill　urging　from　the　bed。　Now　the　sport　was　over；　and　the　domestics　who　had　crowded　round　the　door　to　see　it　had　slipped　away；　leaving　only　Anton　and　the　cat。

〃Give　Tib　a　full　meal　of　offal；〃　came　the　order；　〃and　away　with　yourself。　Your　rats　are　a　weak　breed。　Get　me　the　stout　grey　monsters　like　Tuesday　se'ennight。〃

The　room　was　empty　now　save　for　two　figures　both　wearing　the　habit　of　the　religious。　Near　the　bed　sat　a　man　in　the　full　black　robe　and　hood　of　the　monks　of　Cluny。　He　warmed　plump　hands　at　the　brazier　and　seemed　at　ease　and　at　home。　By　the　door　stood　a　different　figure　in　the　shabby　clothes　of　a　parish　priest；　a　curate　from　the　kirk　of　St。　Martin's　who　had　been　a　scandalised　spectator　of　the　rat　hunt。　He　shuffled　his　feet　as　if　uncertain　of　his　next　stepa　thin；　pale　man　with　a　pinched　mouth　and　timid　earnest　eyes。

The　glance　from　the　bed　fell　on　him　〃What　will　the　fellow　be　at？〃　said　the　voice　testily。　〃He　stands　there　like　a　sow　about　to　litter；　and　stares　and　grunts。　Good　e'en　to　you；　friend。　When　you　are　wanted　you　will　be　sent　for　Jesu's　name；　what　have　I　done　to　have　that　howlet　glowering　at　me？〃

The　priest　at　the　words　crossed　himself　and　turned　to　go；　with　a　tinge　of　red　in　his　sallow　cheeks。　He　was　faithful　to　his　duties　and　had　come　to　console　a　death　bed；　though　he　was　well　aware　that　his　consolations　would　be　spurned。

As　he　left　there　came　again　the　eerie　laughter　from　the　bed。　〃Ugh；　I　am　weary　of　that　incomparable　holiness。　He　hovers　about　to　give　me　the　St。　John's　Cup；　and　would　fain　speed　my　passing。　But　I　do　not　die　yet；　good　father。　There's　life　still　in　the　old　wolf。〃

The　monk　in　a　bland　voice　spoke　some　Latin　to　the　effect　that　mortal　times　and　seasons　were　ordained　of　God。　The　other　stretched　out　a　skinny　hand　from　the　fur　coverings　and　rang　a　silver　bell。　When　Anton　appeared　she　gave　the　order　〃Bring　supper　for　the　reverend　father；〃　at　which　the　Cluniac's　face　mell