men of iron-第7节

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But　that　very　sterling　independence　that　had　brought　Myles　so　creditably　through　this　adventure　was　certain　to　embroil　him　with　the　rude；　half…savage　lads　about　him；　some　of　whom；　especially　among　the　bachelors；　were　his　superiors　as　well　in　age　as　in　skill　and　training。　As　said　before；　the　bachelors　had　enforced　from　the　younger　boys　a　fagging　sort　of　attendance　on　their　various　personal　needs；　and　it　was　upon　this　point　that　Myles　first　came　to　grief。　As　it　chanced；　several　days　passed　before　any　demand　was　made　upon　him　for　service　to　the　heads　of　the　squirehood；　but　when　that　demand　was　made；　the　bachelors　were　very　quick　to　see　that　the　boy　who　was　bold　enough　to　speak　up　to　Sir　James　Lee　was　not　likely　to　be　a　willing　fag　for　them。

〃I　tell　thee；　Francis；〃　he　said；　as　Gascoyne　and　he　talked　over　the　matter　one　day〃I　tell　thee　I　will　never　serve　them。　Prithee；　what　shame　can　be　fouler　than　to　do　such　menial　service；　saving　for　one's　rightful　Lord？〃

〃Marry！〃　quoth　Gascoyne；　〃I　reason　not　of　shame　at　this　or　that。　All　I　know　is　that　others　serve　them　who　are　haply　as　good　and　maybe　better　than　I　be；　and　that　if　I　do　not　serve　them　I　get　knocked　i'　th'　head　therefore；　which　same　goeth　soothly　against　my　stomach。〃

〃I　judge　not　for　thee；〃　said　Myles。　〃Thou　art　used　to　these　castle　ways；　but　only　I　know　that　I　will　not　serve　them；　though　they　be　thirty　against　me　instead　of　thirteen。〃

〃Then　thou　art　a　fool；〃　said　Gascoyne；　dryly。

Now　in　this　matter　of　service　there　was　one　thing　above　all　others　that　stirred　Myles　Falworth's　ill…liking。　The　winter　before　he　had　come　to　Devlen；　Walter　Blunt；　who　was　somewhat　of　a　Sybarite　in　his　way；　and　who　had　a　repugnance　to　bathing　in　the　general　tank　in　the　open　armory　court　in　frosty　weather；　had　had　Dick　Carpenter　build　a　trough　in　the　corner　of　the　dormitory　for　the　use　of　the　bachelors；　and　every　morning　it　was　the　duty　of　two　of　the　younger　squires　to　bring　three　pails　of　water　to　fill　this　private　tank　for　the　use　of　the　head　esquires。　It　was　seeing　two　of　his　fellow…esquires　fetching　and　carrying　this　water　that　Myles　disliked　so　heartily；　and　every　morning　his　bile　was　stirred　anew　at　the　sight。

〃Sooner　would　I　die　than　yield　to　such　vile　service；〃　said　he。

He　did　not　know　how　soon　his　protestations　would　be　put　to　the　test。

One　nightit　was　a　week　or　two　after　Myles　had　come　to　DevlenBlunt　was　called　to　attend　the　Earl　at　livery。　The　livery　was　the　last　meal　of　the　day；　and　was　served　with　great　pomp　and　ceremony　about　nine　o'clock　at　night　to　the　head　of　the　house　as　he　lay　in　bed。　Curfew　had　not　yet　rung；　and　the　lads　in　the　squires'　quarters　were　still　wrestling　and　sparring　and　romping　boisterously　in　and　out　around　the　long　row　of　rude　cots　in　the　great　dormitory　as　they　made　ready　for　the　night。　Six　or　eight　flaring　links　in　wrought…iron　brackets　that　stood　out　from　the　wall　threw　a　great　ruddy　glare　through　the　barrack…like　room　a　light　of　all　others　to　romp　by。　Myles　and　Gascoyne　were　engaged　in　defending　the　passage…way　between　their　two　cots　against　the　attack　of　three　other　lads；　and　Myles　held　his　sheepskin　coverlet　rolled　up　into　a　ball　and　balanced　in　his　hand；　ready　for　launching　at　the　head　of　one　of　the　others　so　soon　as　it　should　rise　from　behind　the　shelter　of　a　cot。　Just　then　Walter　Blunt；　dressed　with　more　than　usual　care；　passed　by　on　his　way　to　the　Earl's　house。　He　stopped　for　a　moment　and　said；　〃Mayhaps　I　will　not　be　in　until　late　to…night。　Thou　and　Falworth；　Gascoyne；　may　fetch　water　to…morrow。

Then　he　was　gone。　Myles　stood　staring　after　his　retreating　figure　with　eyes　open　and　mouth　agape；　still　holding　the　ball　of　sheepskin　balanced　in　his　hand。　Gascoyne　burst　into　a　helpless　laugh　at　his　blank；　stupefied　face；　but　the　next　moment　he　laid　his　hand　on　his　friend's　shoulder。

〃Myles；〃　he　said；　〃thou　wilt　not　make　trouble；　wilt　thou？〃

Myles　made　no　answer。　He　flung　down　his　sheepskin　and　sat　him　gloomily　down　upon　the　side　of　the　cot。

〃I　said　that　I　would　sooner　die　than　fetch　water　for　them；〃　said　he。

〃Aye；　aye；〃　said　Gascoyne；　〃but　that　was　spoken　in　haste。〃

Myles　said　nothing；　but　shook　his　head。

But；　after　all；　circumstances　shape　themselves。　The　next　morning　when　he　rose　up　through　the　dark　waters　of　sleep　it　was　to　feel　some　one　shaking　him　violently　by　the　shoulder。

〃Come！〃　cried　Gascoyne；　as　Myles　opened　his　eyes〃come；　time　passeth；　and　we　are　late。〃

Myles；　bewildered　with　his　sudden　awakening；　and　still　fuddled　with　the　fumes　of　sleep；　huddled　into　his　doublet　and　hose；　hardly　knowing　what　he　was　doing；　tying　a　point　here　and　a　point　there；　and　slipping　his　feet　into　his　shoes。　Then　he　hurried　after　Gascoyne；　frowzy；　half…dressed；　and　even　yet　only　half…awake。　It　was　not　until　he　was　fairly　out　into　the　fresh　air　and　saw　Gascoyne　filling　the　three　leathern　buckets　at　the　tank；　that　he　fully　awakened　to　the　fact　that　he　was　actually　doing　that　hateful　service　for　the　bachelors　which　he　had　protested　he　would　sooner　die　than　render。

The　sun　was　just　rising；　gilding　the　crown　of　the　donjon…keep　with　a　flame　of　ruddy　light。　Below；　among　the　lesser　buildings；　the　day　was　still　gray　and　misty。　Only　an　occasional　noise　broke　the　silence　of　the　early　morning：　a　cough　from　one　of　the　rooms；　the　rattle　of　a　pot　or　a　pan；　stirred　by　some　sleepy　scullion；　the　clapping　of　a　door　or　a　shutter；　and　now　and　then　the　crowing　of　a　cock　back　of　the　long　row　of　stablesall　sounding　loud　and　startling　in　the　fresh　dewy　stillness。

〃Thou　hast　betrayed　me；〃　said　Myles；　harshly；　breaking　the　silence　at　last。　〃I　knew　not　what　I　was　doing；　or　else　I　would　never　have　come　hither。　Ne'theless；　even　though　I　be　come；　I　will　not　carry　the　water　for　them。〃

〃So　be　it；〃　said　Gascoyne；　tartly。　〃An　thou　canst　not　stomach　it；　let　be；　and　I　will　e'en　carry　all　three　myself。　It　will　make　me　two　journeys；　but；　thank　Heaven；　I　am　not　so　proud　as　to　wish　to　get　me　hard　knocks　for　naught。〃　So　saying；　he　picked　up　two　of　the　buckets　and　started　away　across　the　court　for　the　dormitory。

Then　Myles；　with　a　lowering　face；　snatched　up　the　third；　and；　hurrying　after；　gave　him　his　hand　with　the　extra　pail。　So　it　was　that　he　came　to　do　service；　after　all。

〃Why　tarried　ye　so　long？〃　said　one　of　the　older　bachelors；　roughly；　as　the　two　lads　emptied　the　water　into　the　wooden　trough。　He　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　cot；　blowzed　and　untrussed；　with　his　long　hair　tumbled　and　disordered。

His　dictatorial　tone　stung　Myles　to　fury。　〃We　tarried　no　longer　than　need　be；〃　answered　he；　savagely。　〃Have　we　wings　to　fly　withal　at　your　bidding？〃

He　spoke　so　loudly　that　all　in　the　room　heard　him；　the　younger　squires　who　were　dressing　stared　in　blank　amazement；　and　Blunt　sat　up　suddenly　in　his　cot。

〃Why；　how　now？〃　he　cried。　〃Answerest　thou　back　thy　betters　so　pertly；　sirrah？　By　my　soul；　I　have　a　mind　to　crack　thy　head　with　this　clog　for　thy　unruly　talk。〃

He　glared　at　Myles　as　he　spoke；　and　Myles　glared　back　again　with　right　good…will。　Matters　might　have　come　to　a　crisis；　only　that　Gascoyne　and　Wilkes　dragged　their　friend　away　before　he　had　opportunity　to　answer。

〃An　ill…conditioned　knave　as　ever　I　did　see；〃　growled　Blunt；　glaring　after　him。

〃Myles；　Myles；〃　said　Gascoyne；　almost　despairingly；　〃why　wilt　thou　breed　such　mischief　for　thyself？　Seest　thou　not　thou　hast　got　thee　the　ill…will　of　every　one　of　the　bachelors；　from　Wat　Blunt　to　Robin　de　Ramsey？〃

〃I　care　not；〃　said　Myles；　fiercely；　recurring　to　his　grievance。　〃Heard　ye　not　how　the　dogs　upbraided　me　before　the　whole　room？　That　Blunt　called　me　an　ill…conditioned　knave。〃

〃Marry！〃　said　Gascoyne；　laughing；　〃and　so　thou　art。〃

Thus　it　is　that　boldness　may　breed　one　enemies　as　well　as　gain　one　friends。　My　own　notion　is　that　one's　enemies　are　more　quick　to　act　than　one's　friends。



CHAPTER　8

Every　one　knows　the　disagreeable；　lurking　discomfort　that　follows　a　quarrela　discomfort　that　imbitters　the　very　taste　of　life　for　the　time　being。　Such　was　the　dull　distaste　that　Myles　felt　that　morning　after　what　had　passed　in　the　dormitory。　Every　one　in　the　proximity　of　such　an　open　quarrel　feels　a　reflected　constraint；　and　in　Myles's　mind　was　a　disagreeable　doubt　whether　that　constraint　meant　disapproval　of　him　or　of　his　late　enemies。

It　seemed　to　him　that　Gascoyne　added　the　last　bitter　twang　to　his　unpleasant　feelings　when；　half　an　hour　later；　they　marched　with　the　others　to　chapel。

〃Why　dost　thou　breed　such　trouble　for　thyself；　Myles？〃　said　he；　recurring　to　what　he　had　already　said。　〃Is　it　not　foolish　for　thee　to　come　hither　to　this　place；　and　then　not　submit　to　the　ways　thereof；　as　the　rest　of　us　do？〃

〃Thou　talkest　not　like　a　true　friend　to　chide　me　thus；〃　said　Myles；　sullenly；　and　he　withdrew　his　arm　from　his　friend's。

〃Marry；　come　up！〃　said　Gascoyne；　〃an　I　were　not　thy　friend；　I　would　let　thee　jog　thine　own　way。　It　aches　not　my　bones　to　have　thine　drubbed。〃

Just　then　they　entered　the　chapel；　and　words　that　might　have　led　to　a　quarrel　were　brought　to　a　close。

Myles　was　not　slow　to　see　that　he　had　the　ill　will　of　the　head　of　their　company。　That　morning　in　the　armory　he　had　occasion　to　ask　some　question　of　Blunt；　the　head　squire　stared　coldly　at　him　for　a　moment；　gave　him　a　short；　gruff　an