red eve-第4节

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he　shivered　and　turned　pale。

Dick　lifted　his　bow；　but　Hugh　knocked　the　arrow　aside　ere　he　could
loose　it。

〃To　those　who　talk　of　death；　death　often　draws　near；〃　replied
Clavering；　crossing　himself；　〃though　I　find　the　place　well　enough；
seeing　the　hour　and　season。〃

〃Do　youdo　you；　Sir　John？　Look　at　that　sky；　look　at　the　river　beneath
which　has　turned　to　blood。　Hark　to　the　howl　of　the　wind　in　the　reeds
and　the　cry　of　the　birds　we　cannot　see。　Ay；　and　look　at　our　shadows　on
the　snow。　Mine　lies　flat　by　a　great　hole；　and　yours　rising　against
yonder　bank　is　that　of　a　hooded　man　with　hollow　eyesDeath　himself　as
I　should　limn　him！　There；　it　is　gone！　What　a　fool　am　I；　or　how　strong
is　that　wine　of　yours！　Shall　we　be　going　also？〃

〃Nay；　here　comes　my　son　with　tidings。　Well；　Jack；　have　you　found　your
sister？〃　he　added；　addressing　a　dark　and　somewhat　saturnine　young　man
who　now　rode　up　to　them　from　over　the　crest　of　the　hollow。

〃No；　sir；　though　we　have　beat　the　marsh　through　and　through；　so　that
scarce　an　otter　could　have　escaped　us。　And　yet　she's　here；　for　Thomas
of　Kessland　caught　sight　of　her　red　cloak　among　the　reeds；　and　what's
more；　Hugh　de　Cressi　is　with　her；　and　Grey　Dick　too；　for　both　were
seen。〃

〃I　am　glad　there's　a　third；〃　said　Sir　John　drily；　〃though　God　save　me
from　his　arrows！　This　Grey　Dick；〃　he　added　to　the　Count；　〃is　a　wild；
homeless　half…wit　whom　they　call　Hugh　de　Cressi's　shadow；　but　the
finest　archer　in　Suffolk；　with　Norfolk　thrown　in；　one　who　can　put　a
shaft　through　every　button　on　your　doublet　at　fifty　pacesay；　and
bring　down　wild　geese　on　the　wing　twice　out　of　four　times；　for　I　have
seen　him　do　it　with　that　black　bow　of　his。〃

〃Indeed？　Then　I　should　like　to　see　him　shootat　somebody　else；〃
answered　Acour；　for　in　those　days　such　skill　was　of　interest　to　all
soldiers。　〃Kill　Hugh　de　Cressi　if　you　will；　friend；　but　spare　Grey
Dick；　he　might　be　useful。〃

〃Ay；　Sir　Edmund；〃　broke　in　the　young　man　furiously；　〃I'll　kill　him　if
I　can　catch　him；　the　dog　who　dares　to　bring　scandal　on　my　sister's
name。　Let　the　Saints　but　give　me　five　minutes　face　to　face　with　him
alone；　with　none　to　help　either　of　us；　and　I'll　beat　him　to　a　pulp；
and　hang　what's　left　of　him　upon　the　nearest　tree　to　be　a　warning　to
all　such　puppies。〃

〃I　note　the　challenge；〃　said　Sir　Edmund；　〃and　should　the　chance　come
my　way　will　keep　the　lists　for　you　with　pleasure；　since　whatever　this
Hugh　may　be　I　doubt　that　from　his　blood　he'll　prove　no　coward。　But；
young　sir；　you　must　catch　your　puppy　ere　you　hang　him；　and　if　he　is　in
this　marsh　he　must　have　gone　to　ground。〃

〃I　think　so；　too；　Sir　Edmund；　but；　if　so；　we'll　soon　start　the　badger。
Look　yonder。〃　And　he　pointed　to　smoke　rising　at　several　spots　half　a
mile　or　more　away。

〃What　have　you　done；　son？〃　asked　Sir　John　anxiously。

〃Fired　the　reeds；〃　he　said　with　a　savage　laugh；　〃and　set　men　to　watch
that　the　game　does　not　break　back。　Oh；　have　no　fear；　father！　Red　Eve
will　take　no　harm。　The　girl　ever　loved　fire。　Moreover；　if　she　is　there
she　will　run　to　the　water　before　it；　and　be　caught。〃

〃Fool；〃　thundered　Sir　John；　〃do　you　know　your　sister　so　little？　As
like　as　not　she'll　stay　and　burn；　and　then　I'll　lose　my　girl；　who；
when　all　is　said；　is　worth　ten　of　you！　Well；　what　is　done　cannot　be
undone；　but　if　death　comes　of　this　mad　trick　it　is　on　your　head；　not
mine！　To　the　bank；　and　watch　with　me；　Sir　Edmund；　for　we　can　do　no
more。〃



Ten　minutes　later；　and　the　fugitives　in　the　mound；　peeping　out　from
their　hole；　saw　clouds　of　smoke　floating　above　them。

〃You　should　have　let　me　shoot；　Master　Hugh；〃　said　Grey　Dick；　in　his
hard；　dry　whisper。　〃I'd　have　had　these　three；　at　least；　and　they'd
have　been　good　company　on　the　road　to　hell；　which　now　we　must　walk
alone。〃

〃Nay；〃　answered　Hugh　sternly；　〃I'll　murder　none；　though　they　strive　to
murder　us；　and　these　least　of　all；〃　and　he　glanced　at　Eve；　who　sat
staring　out　of　the　mouth　of　the　hole；　her　chin　resting　on　her　hand。
〃You　had　best　give　in；　sweetheart；〃　he　said　hoarsely。　〃Fire　is　worse
than　foes；　and　it　draws　near。〃

〃I　fear　it　less；〃　she　answered。　〃Moreover；　marriage　is　worse　than
eithersometimes。〃

Hugh　took　counsel　with　Grey　Dick。

〃This　place　will　burn　like　tinder；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　the　dry　reeds
which　grew　thickly　all　about　them；　and　to　the　masses　of　brushwood　and
other　rubbish　that　had　drifted　against　the　side　of　the　little　mound　in
times　of　flood。　〃If　the　fire　reaches　us　we　must　perish　of　flame；　or
smoke；　or　both。〃

〃Ay；〃　answered　Dick；　〃like　old　witch　Sarah　when　they　burned　her　in　her
house。　She　screeched　a　lot；　though　some　say　it　was　her　cat　that
screeched　and　she　died　mum。〃

〃If　we　could　get　into　the　water　now；　Dick？〃

He　shook　his　ash…hued　head。

〃The　pools　are　frozen。　Moreover；　as　well　die　of　heat　as　cold；　I　love
not　ice…water。〃

〃What　counsel；　then；　Dick？〃

〃You'll　not　take　the　best；　masterto　loose　my　bow　upon　them。　That
fine　fellow　did　well　to　be　afraid；　for　had　you　not　knocked　up　my　hand
there'd　be　an　arrow　sticking　in　his　throat　by　now。　He　was　right；　Death
walked　near　to　him。〃

〃It　must　not　be；　Dick；　unless　they　strike　first。　What　else？〃

〃Perchance；　when　the　smoke　begins　to　trouble　them；　which　it　must　soon；
they'll　move。　Then　we　will　run　for　the　river；　'tis　but　fifty　yards。
The　Lady　Eve　can　swim　like　a　duck；　and　so　can　you。　The　tide　has
turned；　and　will　bear　you　to　the　point；　and　I'll　hold　the　bank　against
any　who　try　to　follow；　and　take　my　chance。　What　say　you　of　that　plan；
lady？〃

〃That　it　is　good　as　another；　or　as　bad；〃　she　answered　indifferently。
〃Let's　bide　where　we　are　and　do　what　we　must　when　we　must。　Nay；　waste
no　more　breath；　Hugh。　I'll　not　yield　and　go　home　like　a　naughty　child
to　be　married。　It　was　you　who　snatched　away　Grey　Dick's　shaft；　not　I；
and　now　I'll　save　myself。〃

〃Red　Eve！that's　Red　Eve！〃　muttered　the　henchman；　with　a　dry　chuckle
of　admiration。　〃The　dead　trouble　neither　man　nor　woman。　Ah；　she　knows；
she　knows！〃

After　this　there　was　silence　for　a　while；　save　for　the　roar　of　the
fire　that　ever　drew　more　near。

Eve　held　her　cloak　pressed　against　her　mouth　to　filter　the　smoke；
which　grew　thick。

〃It　is　time　to　move；〃　said　Hugh；　coughing　as　he　spoke。　〃By　Heaven's
grace；　we　are　too　late！　Look！〃

As　he　spoke；　suddenly　in　the　broad　belt　of　reeds　which　lay　between
them　and　the　river　bank　fire　appeared　in　several　places；　caused
doubtless　by　the　flaming　flakes　which　the　strong　wind　had　carried　from
behind　the　mound。　Moreover；　these　new　fires；　burning　up　briskly　and
joining　themselves　together；　began　to　advance　toward　the　three　in　the
hole。

〃The　wind　has　turned；〃　said　Dick。　〃Now　it　is　fire；　or　water　if　you　can
get　there。　How　do　you　choose　to　die？〃　and　as　he　spoke　he　unstrung　his
bow　and　slipped　it　into　its　leathern　case。

〃Neither　one　way　nor　the　other；〃　answered　Eve。　〃Some　may　die　to…night；
but　we　shall　not。〃

Hugh　leapt　up　and　took　command。

〃Cover　your　faces　to　the　eyes；　and　run　for　it；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　go
first；　then　you；　Eve；　and　Dick　behind。　Make　for　the　point　and　leap
the　water　is　deep　there。〃

They　sprang　to　their　feet　and　forward　into　the　reeds。　When　they　were
almost　at　the　edge　of　the　fire　a　shout　told　them　that　they　had　been
seen。　Eve；　the　swift　of　foot；　outpaced　Hugh；　and　was　the　first　to　leap
into　that　circle　of　tall　flames。　She　was　through　it！　They　were　all
through　it；　scorched　but　unharmed。　Thirty　paces　away　was　the　little
point　of　land　where　nothing　grew；　for　the　spring　tides　washed　it；　that
jutted　out　into　the　waters　of　the　Blythe；　and；　perhaps　a　hundred　to
their　right；　the　Claverings　poured　down　on　them；　foot　and　horse
together。

Hugh　caught　his　foot　in　a　willow　root　and　fell。　Eve　and　Grey　Dick　sped
onward　unknowing。　They　reached　the　point　above　the　water；　turned；　and
saw。　Dick　slipped　his　bow　from　its　case；　strung　it；　and　set　an　arrow
on　the　string。　Hugh　had　gained　his　feet；　but　a　man　who　had　come　up
sprang；　and　cast　his　arms　about　him。　Hugh　threw　him　to　the　ground；　for
he　was　very　strong；　and　shook　himself　free。　Then　he　drew　the　short　and
heavy　sword　that　he　wore；　and；　shouting　out；　〃Make　way！〃　to　those　who
stood　between　him　and　the　little　promontory；　started　to　run　again。

These　opened　to　the　right　and　left　to　let　him　pass；　for　they　feared
the　look　in　his　eyes　and　the　steel　in　his　hand。　Only　young　John
Clavering；　who　had　leapt　from　his　horse；　would　not　budge。　As　Hugh
tried　to　push　past　him；　he　struck　him　in　the　face；　calling　out：

〃We　have　caught　the　de　Cressi　thief！　Take　him　and　hang　him！〃

At　the　insult　of　the　blow　and　words；　Hugh　stopped　dead　and　turned
quite　white；　whereupon　the　men；　thinking　that　he　was　afraid；　closed　in
upon　him。　Then　in　the　silence　the　harsh；　croaking　voice　of　Grey　Dick
was　heard　saying：

〃Sir　John　of　Clavering；　bid　your　people　let　my　master　go；　or　I　will
send　an　arrow　through　your　heart！〃　and　he　lifted　the　long　bow　and　drew
it。

Sir　John　muttered　something；　thinking　that　this　was　a　poor　way　to　die；
and　again　the　men　fell　back；　except　one　French　knight；　who；　perhaps；
did　not　catch　or　understand　his　words。

This　man　stretched　out　his　hand　to　seize　Hugh；　but　before　ever　it　fell
upon　his　shoulder　the　bow　twanged　and