red eve-第42节

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muttered　Grey　Dick；　pausing　from　the　task　of　whetting　his　axe's　edge
with　a　little　stone　which　he　carried　in　his　pouch。　Then　he　replaced
the　axe　in　its　hanger；　and；　drawing　Hugh's　sword　from　its　sheath；
began　to　give　some　final　touches　to　its　razor　edge；　saying：　〃Father
Sir　Andrew　Arnold　blessed　it；　which　should　be　enough；　but　Milan　steel
is　hard　and　his　old　battle　blade　will　bite　none　the　worse　for　an　extra
sharpening。　Go　for　his　throat；　master；　go　for　his　throat；　the　mail　is
always　thinnest　there。〃

〃God　above　us；　what　a　grim　man！〃　exclaimed　Sir　Geoffrey；　and　so
thought　all　in　that　boat　and　in　those　around　them。　At　least　they
looked　at　Dick　askance　as　he　whetted　and　whetted；　and　then；　plucking
out　one　of　the　pale　hairs　from　his　head；　drew　it　along　the　edge　of　the
steel；　which　severed　it　in　twain。

〃There！　That'll　do；〃　said　Grey　Dick　cheerfully；　as　he　returned　the
long　sword　to　its　sheath；　〃and　God　help　this　Cattrina；　I　say；　for　he
comes　to　his　last　battle。　That　is；　unless　he　runs　away；〃　he　added
after　reflection。

Now　they　landed　and　were　received　by　heralds　blowing　trumpets；　and
conducted　through　a　great　multitude　of　people　with　much　pomp　and
ceremony　to　a　pavilion　which　had　been　pitched　for　them；　where　they
must　arm　and　make　ready。

This　then　they　did；　helped　or　hindered　by　bowing　squires　whose
language　they　could　not　understand。

At　length；　when　it　lacked　but　a　quarter　to　the　hour　of　nine；　David　Day
led　Hugh's　horse　into　the　wide　entrance　of　the　pavilion；　where　they
examined　its　armour；　bridle；　selle　and　trappings。

〃The　beast　sweats　already；〃　said　Hugh；　〃and　so　do　I；　who；　to　tell
truth；　dread　this　heat　more　than　Cattrina's　sword。　Pray　that　they　get
to　the　business　quickly；　or　I　shall　melt　like　butter　on　a　hot　plate。〃

Then　his　lance　was　given　to　him；　a　lance　that　was　sharp　and　strong。
When　they　had　been　tested　by　them　both；　Hugh　mounted　the　grey　and　at
the　agreed　signal　of　a　single　blast　upon　a　trumpet；　walked　it　slowly
from　the　pavilion；　Dick　going　at　his　side　on　foot。

At　their　coming　a　shout　went　up　from　the　assembled　thousands；　for　in
truth　it　seemed；　as　Sir　Geoffrey　had　said；　as　though　all　the　folk　in
Venice　were　gathered　on　that　place。　When　they　had　finished　shouting
the　people　began　to　criticise；　finding　much　in　the　appearance　of　this
pair　that　moved　their　ready　wit。　Indeed　there　was　little　show　about
them；　for　Hugh's　plain　armour；　which　lacked　all　ornament　or　inlay；　was
worn　with　war　and　travel；　and　his　horse　came　along　as　soberly　as　if　it
were　going　out　to　plough。　Nor　was　there　anything　fine　about　the
apparel　of　Grey　Dick；　who　wore　a　loose　chain　shirt　much　out　of　fashion
it　was　that　which　Sir　Andrew　had　given　to　Hughan　iron　cap　with
ear…pieces；　and　leather　buskins　on　his　legs。　In　his　hand　was　his　axe；
heavy　but　not　over　large；　at　his　side　hung　a　great　knife；　and　on　his
back　was　the　long　black　bow　and　a　quiver　of　arrows。

Thus　arrayed；　taking　no　heed　of　the　jests　and　chatter　of　the
multitude；　they　were　led　to　the　front　of　the　bedecked　timber　stand
which　they　had　seen　on　the　previous　night。　In　the　centre　of　this
stand；　occupying　a　kind　of　tribune；　sat　the　Doge　Dandolo　in　state；　and
with　him　many　nobles　and　captains；　while　to　right　and　left　the　whole
length　of　the　course；　for　the　stand　was　very　long；　were　packed　a
countless　number　of　the　best…born　men　and　women　in　Venice。　These；
however；　were　but　a　tithe　of　the　spectators；　who　encircled　the　Place
of　Arms　in　one　serried　horde　which　was　kept　back　by　a　line　of
soldiers。

Arriving　in　front　of　the　Doge's　tribune；　the　pair　halted　and　saluted
him；　whereon　he　and　his　escort　rose　and　saluted　them　in　turn。　Then
another　trumpet　blew　and　from　a　second　pavilion　at　the　other　end　of
the　course　appeared　Cattrina；　wearing　a　splendid　suit　of　white　armour；
damascened　in　gold；　with　a　silver　swan　upon　the　helm　and　a　swan
painted　on　his　shield。

〃Very　fine；　isn't　it？〃　said　Grey　Dick　to　his　master；　〃only　this　time　I
hope　he's　inside　the　steel。　Ask　to　see　his　face　before　you　fight；
master。〃

On　came　Cattrina　on　a　noble　black　horse；　which　pawed　and　caracoled
notwithstanding　the　heat；　while　after　him　strode　a　gigantic　figure
also　clad　from　top　to　toe　in　white　mail；　who　fiercely　brandished　a
long…handled　battle…axe。

〃Ambrosio！〃　said　Dick。　〃Now　I　ought　to　feel　as　much　afraid　as　though
that　fellow　wore　a　yellow　cap　and　fur　cape　and　pearls　like　another
warrior　whom　we　met　last　night。　Yet；　to　speak　the　truth；　I　believe　he
has　the　fainter　heart　of　the　two。　Also　if　he　swings　that　chopper　about
so　much　he'll　grow　tired。〃

To　the　multitude；　however；　the　gallant　appearance　of　this　pair；　whom
they　looked　on　as　the　champions　of　Venice　against　foreigners；　appealed
not　a　little。　Amidst　clapping　of　hands　and　〃/evvivas！/〃　they　advanced
to　the　Doge's　tribune　and　there　made　their　salutations；　which　the
Illustrious　acknowledged　as　he　had　those　of　the　Englishmen。

Then　the　heralds　intervened　and　again　all　the　articles　of　combat　were
read　and　translated；　although　to　these；　of　which　they　were　weary；　Hugh
and　Dick　listened　little。　Next　they　were　asked　if　they　had　any
objections　to　make　and　with　one　voice　answered；　〃None。〃　But　on　the
same　question　being　put　to　their　adversaries；　the　Swiss；　Ambrosio；
said　that　he　with　whom　he　must　fight　appeared　to　be　armed　with　a　bow；
which　was　against　the　articles。　Thereon　Dick　handed　the　bow　and　quiver
to　David；　bidding　him　guard　them　until　he　asked　for　them　again　as　he
would　his　own　life。　In　the　event　of　his　death；　however；　David　was　to
give　them　to　Sir　Hugh；　or　if　they　both　should　die；　to　his　own　master；
Sir　Geoffrey。　All　of　these　things　David　promised　to　do。

Next　followed　a　long　discussion　as　to　whether　the　four　of　them　were　to
fight　in　pairs；　Cattrina　and　Ambrosio　against　Hugh　and　Dick
simultaneously；　or　whether　Ambrosio　was　to　fight　alone　with　Dick；　and
Cattrina　with　Hugh。　Upon　Cattrina　and　Ambrosio　being　asked　their
wishes；　the　former　said　that　he　desired　to　fight　alone；　as　he　feared
lest　the　English　archer；　if　he　overcame　Ambrosio；　should　turn　on　him
also；　or　perhaps　hamstring　his　horse。

Then　the　Englishmen　were　asked　what　they　wished；　and　replied　that　they
did　not　care　how　it　was　arranged；　being　ready　to　fight　either　together
or　separately；　as　the　Doge　might　decree。

The　end　of　it　was　that　after　long　consultations　with　sundry　experts　in
such　matters；　the　Most　Illustrious　decided　that　the　Captains　Ambrosio
and　Richard　the　Archer　should　first　engage　on　foot；　and　when　that
business　was　settled　the　two　knights　should　take　their　place　in　the
arena。

So　the　end　of　it　was　that　more　than　half　an　hour　after　the　combat
should　have　begun；　Dick　and　the　gigantic　Ambrosio　found　themselves
standing　face　to　face　waiting　for　the　signal　to　engage；　the　Swiss
shouting　threats　and　defiance　and　Grey　Dick　grinning　and　watching　him
out　of　his　half…shut　eyes。

At　length　it　came　in　the　shape　of　a　single　blast　upon　a　trumpet。　Now
seeing　that　Dick　stood　quite　still；　not　even　raising　his　axe；　the
Swiss　advanced　and　struck　a　mighty　blow　at　him；　which　Dick　avoided　by
stepping　aside。　Recovering　himself；　again　Ambrosio　struck。　This　blow
Dick　caught　upon　his　shield；　then；　as　though　he　were　afraid；　began　to
retreat；　slowly　at　first；　but　afterward　faster　till　his　walk　broke
into　a　run。

At　this　sight　all　that　mighty　audience　set　up　a　hooting。　〃Coward！　Dog！
Pig　of　an　Englishman！〃　they　yelled；　and　the　louder　they　yelled　the
more　quickly　did　Grey　Dick　run；　till　at　last　even　Hugh　grew　puzzled
wondering　what　was　in　his　mind　and　hoping　that　he　would　change　it
soon。　So　the　audience　hooted；　and　Grey　Dick　ran　and　the　giant　Swiss
lumbered　along　after　him；　bellowing　triumphantly　and　brandishing　his
battle…axe；　which；　it　was　noted；　never　seemed　to　be　quite　long　enough
to　reach　his　flying　foe。

When　this　had　gone　on　for　two　or　three　minutes；　Grey　Dick　stumbled　and
fell。　The　Swiss；　who　was　following　fast；　likewise　tripped　and　fell
over　him　heavily；　whereon　the　multitude　shouted：

〃Foul　play！　A　dirty；　foreign　trick！〃

In　an　instant　Dick　was　up　again；　and　had　leapt　upon　the　prostrate
Swiss；　as　all　thought；　to　kill　him。　But　instead　the　only　thing　he　did
was　to　get　behind　him　and　kick　him　with　his　foot　until　he　also　rose。
Thereat　some　laughed；　but　others；　who　had　bets　upon　their　champion；
groaned。

Now　the　Swiss；　having　lost　his　shield　in　his　fall；　rushed　at　Dick；
grasping　his　axe　with　both　hands。　As　before；　the　Englishman　avoided
the　blow；　but　for　the　first　time　he　struck　back；　catching　the　giant　on
the　shoulder　though　not　very　heavily。　Then　with　a　shout　of　〃St。　George
and　England！〃　he　went　in　at　him。

Hither　and　thither　sprang　Dick；　now　out　of　reach　of　the　axe　of　the
Swiss　and　now　beneath　his　guard。　But　ever　as　he　sprang　he　delivered
blow　upon　blow；　each　harder　than　the　last；　till　there　appeared　scars
and　rents　in　the　fine　white　mail。　Soon　it　became　clear　that　the　great
Swiss　was　overmatched　and　spent。　He　breathed　heavily；　his　strokes　grew
wild；　he　over…balanced；　recovered　himself；　and　at　last　in　his　turn
began　to　fly　in　good　earnest。

Now　after　him　went　Dick；　battering　at　his　back；　but；　as　all　might　see；
with　the　flat　of　his　axe；　not　with　its　edge。　Yes；　he　wa