men of iron-第9节

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〃Do　not　harm　him；　Blunt；〃　he　pleaded。　〃Bear　thou　in　mind　how　new…come　he　is　among　us。　He　knoweth　not　our　ways　as　yet。〃

〃Stand　thou　back；　Gascoyne；〃　said　Blunt；　harshly；　as　he　thrust　him　aside。　〃I　will　teach　him　our　ways　so　that　he　will　not　soon　forget　them。〃

Close　to　Myles's　feet　was　another　clog　like　that　one　which　Blunt　held。　He　snatched　it　up；　and　set　his　back　against　the　wall；　with　a　white　face　and　a　heart　beating　heavily　and　tumultuously；　but　with　courage　steeled　to　meet　the　coming　encounter。　There　was　a　hard；　grim　look　in　his　blue　eyes　that；　for　a　moment　perhaps；　quelled　the　elder　lad。　He　hesitated。　〃Tom！　Wat！　Ned！〃　he　called　to　the　other　bachelors；　〃come　hither；　and　lend　me　a　hand　with　this　knave。〃

〃An　ye　come　nigh　me；〃　panted　Myles；　〃I　will　brain　the　first　within　reach。〃

Then　Gascoyne　dodged　behind　the　others；　and；　without　being　seen；　slipped　out　of　the　room　for　help。

The　battle　that　followed　was　quick；　sharp；　and　short。　As　Blunt　strode　forward；　Myles　struck；　and　struck　with　might　and　main；　but　he　was　too　excited　to　deliver　his　blow　with　calculation。　Blunt　parried　it　with　the　clog　he　held；　and　the　next　instant；　dropping　his　weapon；　gripped　Myles　tight　about　the　body；　pinning　his　arms　to　his　sides。

Myles　also　dropped　the　clog　he　held；　and；　wrenching　out　his　right　arm　with　a　sudden　heave；　struck　Blunt　full　in　the　face；　and　then　with　another　blow　sent　him　staggering　back。　It　all　passed　in　an　instant；　the　next　the　three　other　bachelors　were　upon　him；　catching　him　by　the　body；　the　arms；　the　legs。　For　a　moment　or　two　they　swayed　and　stumbled　hither　and　thither；　and　then　down　they　fell　in　a　struggling　heap。

Myles　fought　like　a　wild…cat；　kicking；　struggling；　scratching；　striking　with　elbows　and　fists。　He　caught　one　of　the　three　by　his　collar；　and　tore　his　jacket　open　from　the　neck　to　the　waist；　he　drove　his　foot　into　the　pit　of　the　stomach　of　another；　and　knocked　him　breathless。　The　other　lads　not　in　the　fight　stood　upon　the　benches　and　the　beds　around；　but　such　was　the　awe　inspired　by　the　prestige　of　the　bachelors　that　not　one　of　them　dared　to　lend　hand　to　help　him；　and　so　Myles　fought　his　fierce　battle　alone。

But　four　to　one　were　odds　too　great；　and　though　Myles　struggled　as　fiercely　as　ever；　by…and…by　it　was　with　less　and　less　resistance。

Blunt　had　picked　up　the　clog　he　had　dropped　when　he　first　attacked　the　lad；　and　now　stood　over　the　struggling　heap；　white　with　rage；　the　blood　running　from　his　lip；　cut　and　puffed　where　Myles　had　struck　him；　and　murder　looking　out　from　his　face；　if　ever　it　looked　out　of　the　face　of　any　mortal　being。

〃Hold　him　a　little；〃　said　he；　fiercely；　〃and　I　will　still　him　for　you。〃

Even　yet　it　was　no　easy　matter　for　the　others　to　do　his　bidding；　but　presently　he　got　his　chance　and　struck　a　heavy；　cruel　blow　at　Myles's　head。　Myles　only　partly　warded　it　with　his　arm。　Hitherto　he　had　fought　in　silence；　now　he　gave　a　harsh　cry。

〃Holy　Saints！〃　cried　Edmund　Wilkes。　〃They　will　kill　him。〃

Blunt　struck　two　more　blows；　both　of　them　upon　the　body；　and　then　at　last　they　had　the　poor　boy　down；　with　his　face　upon　the　ground　and　his　arms　pinned　to　his　sides；　and　Blunt；　bracing　himself　for　the　stroke；　with　a　grin　of　rage　raised　a　heavy　clog　for　one　terrible　blow　that　should　finish　the　fight。



CHAPTER　9

〃How　now；　messieurs？〃　said　a　harsh　voice；　that　fell　upon　the　turmoil　like　a　thunder…clap；　and　there　stood　Sir　James　Lee。　Instantly　the　struggle　ceased；　and　the　combatants　scrambled　to　their　feet。

The　older　lads　stood　silent　before　their　chief；　but　Myles　was　deaf　and　blind　and　mad　with　passion；　he　knew　not　where　he　stood　or　what　he　said　or　did。　White　as　death；　he　stood　for　a　while　glaring　about　him；　catching　his　breath　convulsively。　Then　he　screamed　hoarsely。

〃Who　struck　me？　Who　struck　me　when　I　was　down？　I　will　have　his　blood　that　struck　me！〃　He　caught　sight　of　Blunt。　〃It　was　he　that　struck　me！〃　he　cried。　〃Thou　foul　traitor！　thou　coward！〃　and　thereupon　leaped　at　his　enemy　like　a　wild…cat。

〃Stop！〃　cried　Sir　James　Lee；　clutching　him　by　the　arm。

Myles　was　too　blinded　by　his　fury　to　see　who　it　was　that　held　him。　〃I　will　not　stop！〃　he　cried；　struggling　and　striking　at　the　knight。　〃Let　me　go！　I　will　have　his　life　that　struck　me　when　I　was　down！〃

The　next　moment　he　found　himself　pinned　close　against　the　wall；　and　then；　as　though　his　sight　came　back；　he　saw　the　grim　face　of　the　old　one…　eyed　knight　looking　into　his。

〃Dost　thou　know　who　I　am？〃　said　a　stern；　harsh　voice。

Instantly　Myles　ceased　struggling；　and　his　arms　fell　at　his　side。　〃Aye；〃　he　said；　in　a　gasping　voice；　〃I　know　thee。〃　He　swallowed　spasmodically　for　a　moment　or　two；　and　then；　in　the　sudden　revulsion　of　feeling；　burst　out　sobbing　convulsively。

Sir　James　marched　the　two　off　to　his　office；　he　himself　walking　between　them；　holding　an　arm　of　each；　the　other　lads　following　behind；　awe…struck　and　silent。　Entering　the　office；　Sir　James　shut　the　door　behind　him；　leaving　the　group　of　squires　clustered　outside　about　the　stone　steps；　speculating　in　whispers　as　to　what　would　be　the　outcome　of　the　matter。

After　Sir　James　had　seated　himself；　the　two　standing　facing　him；　he　regarded　them　for　a　while　in　silence。　〃How　now；　Walter　Blunt；〃　said　he　at　last；　〃what　is　to　do？〃

〃Why；　this；〃　said　Blunt；　wiping　his　bleeding　lip。　〃That　fellow；　Myles　Falworth；　hath　been　breeding　mutiny　and　revolt　ever　sin　he　came　hither　among　us；　and　because　he　was　thus　mutinous　I　would　punish　him　therefor。〃

〃In　that　thou　liest！〃　burst　out　Myles。　〃Never　have　I　been　mutinous　in　my　life。〃

〃Be　silent；　sir；〃　said　Sir　James；　sternly。　〃I　will　hear　thee　anon。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　with　his　lips　twitching　and　writhing；　〃I　will　not　be　silent。　I　am　friendless　here；　and　ye　are　all　against　me；　but　I　will　not　be　silent；　and　brook　to　have　lies　spoken　of　me。〃

Even　Blunt　stood　aghast　at　Myles's　boldness。　Never　had　he　heard　any　one　so　speak　to　Sir　James　before。　He　did　not　dare　for　the　moment　even　to　look　up。　Second　after　second　of　dead　stillness　passed；　while　Sir　James　sat　looking　at　Myles　with　a　stern；　terrifying　calmness　that　chilled　him　in　spite　of　the　heat　of　his　passion。

〃Sir；〃　said　the　old　man　at　last；　in　a　hard；　quiet　voice；　〃thou　dost　know　naught　of　rules　and　laws　of　such　a　place　as　this。　Nevertheless；　it　is　time　for　thee　to　learn　them。　So　I　will　tell　thee　now　that　if　thou　openest　thy　lips　to　say　only　one　single　word　more　except　at　my　bidding；　I　will　send　thee　to　the　black　vault　of　the　donjon　to　cool　thy　hot　spirits　on　bread　and　water　for　a　week。〃　There　was　something　in　the　measured　quietness　of　the　old　knight's　tone　that　quelled　Myles　utterly　and　entirely。　A　little　space　of　silence　followed。　〃Now；　then；　Blunt；〃　said　Sir　James；　turning　to　the　bachelor；　〃tell　me　all　the　ins　and　outs　of　this　business　without　any　more　underdealing。〃

This　time　Blunt's　story；　though　naturally　prejudiced　in　his　own　favor；　was　fairly　true。　Then　Myles　told　his　side　of　the　case；　the　old　knight　listening　attentively。

〃Why；　how　now；　Blunt；〃　said　Sir　James；　when　Myles　had　ended；　〃I　myself　gave　the　lads　leave　to　go　to　the　river　to　bathe。　Wherefore　shouldst　thou　forbid　one　of　them？〃

〃I　did　it　but　to　punish　this　fellow　for　his　mutiny；〃　said　the　bachelor。　〃Methought　we　at　their　head　were　to　have　oversight　concerning　them。〃

〃So　ye　are；〃　said　the　knight；　〃but　only　to　a　degree。　Ere　ye　take　it　upon　ye　to　gainsay　any　of　my　orders　or　permits；　come　ye　first　to　me。　Dost　thou　understand？〃

〃Aye；〃　answered　Blunt；　sullenly。

〃So　be　it；　and　now　get　thee　gone；〃　said　the　knight；　〃and　let　me　hear　no　more　of　beating　out　brains　with　wooden　clogs。　An　ye　fight　your　battles；　let　there　not　be　murder　in　them。　This　is　twice　that　the　like　hath　happed；　gin　I　hear　more　of　such　doings〃　He　did　utter　his　threat；　but　stopped　short；　and　fixed　his　one　eye　sternly　upon　the　head　squire。　〃Now　shake　hands；　and　be　ye　friends；〃　said　he；　abruptly。

Blunt　made　a　motion　to　obey；　but　Myles　put　his　hand　behind　him。

〃Nay；　I　shake　not　hands　with　any　one　who　struck　me　while　I　was　down。〃

〃So　be　it；〃　said　the　knight；　grimly。　〃Now　thou　mayst　go；　Blunt。　Thou；　Falworth；　stay；　I　would　bespeak　thee　further。〃

〃Tell　me；〃　said　he；　when　the　elder　lad　had　left　them；　〃why　wilt　thou　not　serve　these　bachelors　as　the　other　squires　do？　Such　is　the　custom　here。　Why　wilt　thou　not　obey　it？〃

〃Because；〃　said　Myles；　〃I　cannot　stomach　it；　and　they　shall　not　make　me　serve　them。　An　thou　bid　me　do　it；　sir；　I　will　do　it；　but　not　at　their　command。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　knight；　〃I　do　not　bid　thee　do　them　service。　That　lieth　with　thee；　to　render　or　not；　as　thou　seest　fit。　But　how　canst　thou　hope　to　fight　single…handed　against　the　commands　of　a　dozen　lads　all　older　and　mightier　than　thou？〃

〃I　know　not；〃　said　Myles；　〃but　were　they　an　hundred；　instead　of　thirteen；　they　should　not　make　me　serve　them。〃

〃Thou　art　a　fool！〃　said　the　old　knight；　smiling　faintly；　〃for　that　be'st　not　courage；　but　folly。　When　one　setteth　about　righting　a　wrong；　one　driveth　not　full　head　against　it；　for　in　so　doing　one　getteth　naught　but　hard　knocks。　Nay；　go　deftly　about　it；　and　then；　when　the　time　is　ripe；　strike　the　blow。　Now　our　beloved　King　Henry；　when　he　was　the　Earl　of　Derby；　what　could　he　have　gained　had　he　stood　so　against　the　old　K