red eve-第36节

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seek　Sir　Geoffrey；　who　was　already　in　his　cabinet　engaged　upon　a
letter　to　King　Edward　descriptive　of　these　events　and　other　business。
But　when　they　were　out　of　the　room　he　said　that　he　must　have　fresh　air
or　he　would　faint；　which　was　not　strange；　seeing　that　heat　prevailed
on　this　night　in　Venice　of　an　intensity　unknown　there　at　this　season
of　the　year。

〃Whither　shall　we　go？〃　asked　Dick；　mopping　his　brow。　〃Guards　stand　at
the　door　and；　I　doubt；　will　not　let　us　pass。〃

〃I　wish　to　see　the　place　where　we　are　to　fight　to…morrow；〃　answered
Hugh；　〃so　as　to　form　my　judgment　of　it；　if　only　we　may　come　there。〃

At　this　moment　an　English　lad　of　Sir　Geoffrey's　household　chanced　to
pass　by；　having　come　to　ask　as　to　the　feeding　of　the　horse　which　Hugh
should　ride。　Dick　caught　him　by　the　arm　and　asked　whether　he　could　get
them　out　of　the　house　secretly；　so　that　the　Guards　would　not　see　them；
and　conduct　them　to　the　spot　called　the　Place　of　Arms；　where　they
understood　they　were　to　fight。

The　lad；　whose　name　was　David　Day；　replied　somewhat　doubtfully　that　he
could　do　so　by　a　back　door　near　the　kitchen；　and　guide　them　also；　but
that　they　must　protect　him　from　the　anger　of　Sir　Geoffrey。　This　Hugh
promised　to　do。　So　presently　they　started；　carrying　their　weapons；　but
wearing　no　mail　because　of　the　intense　heat；　although　Dick　reminded
his　master　how　they　had　been　told　that　they　should　not　venture　forth
without　body　armour。

〃I　have　a　sword　and　you　have　bow　and　axe；〃　answered　Hugh；　〃so　we'll
risk　it。　In　leather…lined　mail　we　should　surely　melt。〃

So　they　put　on　some　light　cloaks　made　of　black　silk；　with　hoods　to
them；　such　as　the　Venetians　wore　at　their　masques；　for　David　knew
where　these　were　to　be　found。　Slipping　out　quite　unobserved　by　the
kitchen　door　into　a　little　courtyard；　they　passed　into　an　unlighted
back　street　through　a　postern　gate　whereof　the　lad　had　the　key。　At　the
end　of　the　street　they　came　to　a　canal；　where　David；　who　talked
Italian　perfectly；　hailed　a　boat；　into　which　they　entered　without
exciting　remark。　For　this　sharp　youth　pointed　to　their　cloaks　and　told
the　boatman　that　they　were　gallants　engaged　upon　some　amorous
adventure。

On　they　rowed　down　the　silent　lanes　of　water；　through　the　slumbrous
city　of　palaces；　turning　here；　turning　there；　till　soon　they　lost　all
knowledge　of　the　direction　in　which　they　headed。　At　length　David
whispered　to　them　that　they　drew　near　the　place　where　they　must　land。
Everybody　seemed　to　speak　in　a　whisper　that　heavy　night；　even　the
folk；　generally　so　light　of　heart　and　quick　of　tongue；　who　sat　on　the
steps　or　beneath　the　porticoes　of　their　houses　gasping　for　air；　and
the　passers…by　on　the　/rivas/　or　footwalks　that　bordered　the　canals。
At　a　sign　from　David　the　boat　turned　inward　and　grated　against　the
steps　of　a　marble　quay。　He　paid　the　boatman；　who　seemed　to　have　no
energy　left　to　dispute　the　fare；　telling　him　in　the　same　low　voice
that　if　he　cared　to　wait　he　might　perhaps　row　them　back　within　an　hour
or　so。　Then　they　climbed　steps　and　entered　a　narrow　street　where　there
was　no　canal；　on　either　side　of　which　stood　tall　houses　or　dark
frowning　gateways。

Just　as　they　stepped　into　the　shadow　of　this　street　they　heard　the
prow　of　another　boat　grate　against　the　marble　steps　behind　them　and
caught　the　faint　sound　of　talk；　apparently　between　their　rower　and
others　in　the　second　boat。

〃Forward；　Sir　Hugh；〃　said　Day　a　little　nervously。　〃This　part　of　Venice
has　no　good　name；　for　many　wicked　deeds　are　done　here；　but　soon　we
shall　be　through　it。〃

So　they　stepped　out　briskly；　and　when　they　were　about　half…way　down
the　street　heard　other　steps　behind　them。　They　turned　and　looked　back
through　the　gloom；　whereon　the　sound　of　the　following　steps　died　away。
They　pushed　on　again；　and　so；　unless　the　echo　deceived　them；　did　those
quick；　stealthy　steps。　Then；　as　though　by　common　consent；　though　no
one　gave　the　word；　they　broke　into　a　run　and　gained　the　end　of　the
street；　which　they　now　saw　led　into　a　large　open　space　lit　by　the
light　of　the　great　moon；　that　broke　suddenly　through　the　veil　of　cloud
or　mist。　Again；　as　though　by　common　consent；　they　wheeled　round；　Hugh
drawing　his　sword；　and　perceived　emerging　from　the　street　six　or　seven
cloaked　fellows；　who；　on　catching　sight　of　the　flash　of　steel；　halted
and　melted　back　into　the　gloom。

〃Who　follow　us　so　fast？〃　asked　Hugh。

〃Thieves；　I　think；〃　answered　David；　even　more　nervously　than　before；
adding；　〃but　if　so；　we　are　safe　from　them　here。〃

〃Yes；　sure　enough；〃　said　Grey　Dick；　〃for　I　can　shoot　by　moonlight；〃
and；　drawing　the　black　bow　from　its　case；　which　he　threw　to　the　lad　to
carry；　he　strung　it；　after　which　they　saw　no　more　of　their　pursuers。

Having　waited　a　while；　they　began　to　examine　the　spot　where　they　found
themselves；　which　Day　told　them　was　that　Place　of　Arms　where　they　must
fight　on　the　morrow。　It　was　large　and　level；　having　been　used　as　a
drilling　ground　for　generations。　Perhaps　it　measured　four　hundred
yards　square；　and　almost　in　the　centre　of　it　rose　a　stand　of　painted
timber　roofed　with　canvas；　and　ornamented　with　gilded　flagstaffs；　from
which　hung　banners。　On　this　stand；　David　said；　the　Doge　and　nobles
would　take　their　seats　to　see　the　fray；　for　in　front　of　it　the
charging　knights　must　meet。

They　walked　up　and　down　the　course　taking　note　of　everything；　and
especially　of　how　the　sun　would　shine　upon　them　and　the　foothold　of
the　soil；　which　appeared　to　be　formed　of　fine；　trodden　sand。

〃I　ask　no　better　ground　to　fight　on；〃　said　Hugh　at　length；　〃though　it
is　strange　to　think；〃　he　added　with　a　sigh；　〃that　here　within　a　dozen
hours　or　so　two　men　must　bid　the　world　farewell。〃

〃Ay；〃　answered　Dick；　who　alone　seemed　untouched　by　the　melancholy　of
that　night。　〃Here　will　die　the　knave　with　three　names　and　the　big　fool
of　a　half…bred　Swiss；　and　descend　to　greet　their　ancestors　in　a　place
that　is　even　hotter　than　this　Venice；　with　but　a　sorry　tale　to　tell
them。　By　St。　George！　I　wish　it　were　nine　of　the　clock　to…morrow。〃

〃Brag　not；　Dick；〃　said　Hugh　with　a　sad　smile；　〃for　war　is　an　uncertain
game；　and　who　knows　which　of　us　will　be　talking　with　his　ancestors　and
praying　the　mercy　of　his　Maker　by　this　time　to…morrow　night？〃

Then；　having　learned　all　they　could；　they　walked　across　the　ground　to
the　quay　that　bordered　it　on　the　seaward　side。　Here；　as　they　guessed
from　the　stone　pillars　to　which　ships　were　made　fast；　was　one　of　the
harbours　of　Venice；　although　as　it　happened　none　lay　at　that　quay　this
night。　Yet；　as　they　looked　they　saw　one　coming　in；　watched　curiously
by　groups　of　men　gathered　on　the　wall。

〃Never　knew　I　vessel　make　harbour　in　such　a　fashion；〃　exclaimed　Dick
presently。　〃See！　she　sails　stern　first。〃

Hugh　studied　her　and　saw　that　she　was　a　great；　decked　galley　of　many
oars；　such　as　the　Venetians　used　in　trading　to　the　East；　high…bowed
and　pooped。　But　the　strange　thing　was　that　none　worked　these　oars；
which；　although　they　were　lashed；　swung　to　and　fro　aimlessly；　some　yet
whole　and　some　with　their　blades　broken　off　and　their　shafts　bundles
of　jagged　splinters。　Certain　sails　were　still　set　on　the　ship's　mast；
in　tatters　for　the　most　part；　though　a　few　remained　sound；　and　it　was
by　these　that　she　moved；　for　with　the　moonrise　a　faint　wind　had　sprung
up。　Lastly；　she　showed　no　light　at　peak　or　poop；　and　no　sound　of
officer's　command　or　of　boatswain's　whistle　came　from　her　deck。　Only
slowly　and　yet　as　though　of　set　purpose　she　drifted　in　toward　the
quay。

Those　who　watched　her；　sailors　such　as　ever　linger　about　harbours
seeking　their　bread　from　the　waters；　though　among　these　were　mingled
people　from　the　town　who　had　come　to　this　open　place　to　escape　the
heat；　began　to　talk　together　affrightedly；　but　always　in　the　dread
whisper　that　was　the　voice　of　this　fearful　knight。　Yes；　even　the
hoarse…throated　sailormen　whispered　like　a　dying　woman。

〃She's　no　ship；〃　said　one；　〃she's　the　wraith　of　a　ship。　When　I　was　a
lad　I　saw　such　a　craft　in　the　Indian　seas；　and　afterward　we　foundered；
and　I　and　the　cook's　mate　alone　were　saved。〃

〃Pshaw！〃　answered　another；　〃she's　a　ship　right　enough。　Look　at　the
weed　and　barnacles　on　her　sides　when　she　heaves。　Only　where　in
Christ's　name　are　her　crew？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　a　third；　〃and　how　could　she　win　through　all　the　secret
channels　without　a　pilot？〃

〃What　use　would　be　a　pilot；〃　said　a　fourth；　〃if　there　are　none　to　work
the　rudder　and　shift　the　sails？　Do　I　not　know；　who　am　of　the　trade？〃

〃At　least　she　is　coming　straight　to　the　quay；〃　exclaimed　a　fifth；
〃though　what　sends　her　Satan　alone　knows；　for　the　tide　is　slack　and
this　wind　would　scarce　move　a　sponge　boat。　Stand　by　with　the　hawser；
or　she'll　swing　round　and　stave　herself　against　the　pier。〃

So　they　talked；　and　all　the　while　the　great　galley　drifted　onward　with
a　slow；　majestic　motion；　her　decks　hid　in　shadow；　for　a　sail　cut　off
the　light　of　the　low　moon　from　them。　Presently；　too；　even　this　was
gone；　for　the　veil　of　cloud　crept　again　over　the　moon's　face；
obscuring　everything。

Then　of　a　sudden　a　meteor　blazed　out　in　the　sky；　such　a　meteor　as　no
living　man　had　ever　seen　in　Venice；　for　the　size　of　it　was　that　of　the
sun。　It