sir nigel-第16节

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drumming　of　his　hoofs；　he　could　have　sung　and　shouted　with　the　joy
of　living。

Behind　him；　upon　the　little　brown　pony　which　had　been　Nigel's
former　mount；　rode　Samkin　Aylward　the　bowman；　who　had　taken　upon
himself　the　duties　of　personal　attendant　and　body…guard。　　His
great　shoulders　and　breadth　of　frame　seemed　dangerously　top…heavy
upon　the　tiny　steed；　but　he　ambled　along；　whistling　a　merry　lilt
and　as　lighthearted　as　his　master。　　There　was　no　countryman　who
had　not　a　nod　and　no　woman　who　had　not　a　smile　for　the　jovial
bowman；　who　rode　for　the　most　part　with　his　face　over　his
shoulder；　staring　at　the　last　petticoat　which　had　passed　him。
Once　only　he　met　with　a　harsher　greeting。　　It　was　from　a　tall；
white…headed；　red…faced　man　whom　they　met　upon　the　moor。

〃Good…morrow；　dear　father！〃　cried　Aylward。　　〃How　is　it　with　you　at
Crooksbury？　　And　how　are　the　new　black　cow　and　the　ewes　from　Alton
and　Mary　the　dairymaid　and　all　your　gear？〃

〃It　ill　becomes　you　to　ask；　you　ne'er…do…weel；〃　said　the　old　man。
〃You　have　angered　the　monks　of　Waverley；　whose　tenant　I　am；　and
they　would　drive　me　out　of　my　farm。　　Yet　there　are　three　more
years　to　run；　and　do　what　they　may　I　will　bide　till　then。　　But
little　did　I　think　that　I　should　lose　my　homestead　through　you；
Samkin；　and　big　as　you　are　I　would　knock　the　dust　out　of　that
green　jerkin。　　with　a　good　hazel　switch　if　I　had　you　at
Crooksbury。〃

〃Then　you　shall　do　it　to…morrow　morning；　good　father；　for　I　will
come　and　see　you　then。　　But　indeed　I　did　not　do　more　at　Waverley
than　you　would　have　done　yourself。　　Look　me　in　the　eye；　old
hothead；　and　tell　me　if　you　would　have　stood　by　while　the　last
Loring　…　look　at　him　as　he　rides　with　his　head　in　the　air　and　his
soul　in　the　clouds　…　was　shot　down　before　your　very　eyes　at　the
bidding　of　that　fat　monk！　　If　you　would；　then　I　disown　you　as　my
father。〃

〃Nay；　Samkin；　if　it　was　like　that；　then　perhaps　what　you　did　was
not　so　far　amiss。　　But　it　is　hard　to　lose　the　old　farm　when　my
heart　is　buried　deep　in　the　good　brown　soil。〃

〃Tut；　man！　　there　are　three　years　to　run；　and　what　may　not　happen
in　three　years？　　Before　that　time　I　shall　have　gone　to　the　wars；
and　when　I　have　opened　a　French　strong　box　or　two　you　can　buy　the
good　brown　soil　and　snap　your　fingers　at　Abbot　John　and　his
bailiffs。　　Am　I　not　as　proper　a　man　as　Tom　Withstaff　of　Churt？
And　yet　he　came　back　after　six　months　with　his　pockets　full　of
rose　nobles　and　a　French　wench　on　either　arm。〃

〃God　preserve　us　from　the　wenches；　Samkin！　　But　indeed　I　think
that　if　there　is　money　to　be　gathered　you　are　as　likely　to　get
your　fist　full　as　any　man　who　goes　to　the　war。　　But　hasten；　lad；
hasten！　　Already　your　young　master　is　over　the　brow。〃

Thus　admonished；　the　archer　waved　his　gauntleted　hand　to　his
father；　and　digging　his　heels　into　the　sides　of　his　little　pony
soon　drew　up　with　the　Squire。　　Nigel　glanced　over　his　shoulder　and
slackened　speed　until　the　pony's　head　was　up　to　his　saddle。

〃Have　I　not　heard；　archer；〃　said　he；　〃that　an　outlaw　has　been
loose　in　these　parts？〃

〃It　is　true；　fair　sir。　　He　was　villain　to　Sir　Peter　Mandeville；
but　he　broke　his　bonds　and　fled　into　the　forests。　　Men　call　him
the　‘Wild　Man　of　Puttenham。'〃

〃How　comes　it　that　he　has　not　been　hunted　down？　　If　the　man　be　a
draw…latch　and　a　robber　it　would　be　an　honorable　deed　to　clear　the
country　of　such　an　evil。〃

〃Twice　the　sergeants…at…arms　from　Guildford　have　come　out　against
him；　but　the　fox　has　many　earths；　and　it　would　puzzle　you　to　get
him　out　of　them。〃

〃By　Saint　Paul！　　were　my　errand　not　a　pressing　one　I　would　be
tempted　to　turn　aside　and　seek　him。　　Where　lives　he；　then？〃

〃There　is　a　great　morass　beyond　Puttenham；　and　across　it　there　are
caves　in　which　he　and　his　people　lurk。〃

〃His　people？　　He　hath　a　band？〃

〃There　are　several　with　him。〃

〃It　sounds　a　most　honorable　enterprise；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃When　the
King　hath　come　and　gone　we　will　spare　a　day　for　the　outlaws　of
Puttenham。　　I　fear　there　is　little　chance　for　us　to　see　them　on
this　journey。〃

〃They　prey　upon　the　pilgrims　who　pass　along　the　Winchester　Road；
and　they　are　well　loved　by　the　folk　in　these　parts；　for　they　rob
none　of　them　and　have　an　open　hand　for　all　who　will　help　them。〃

〃It　is　right　easy　to　have　an　open　hand　with　the　money　that　you
have　stolen；〃　said　Nigel；　〃but　I　fear　that　they　will　not　try　to
rob　two　men　with　swords　at　their　girdles　like　you　and　me；　so　we
shall　have　no　profit　from　them。〃

They　had　passed　over　the　wild　moors　and　had　come　down　now　into　the
main　road　by　which　the　pilgrims　from　the　west　of　England　made
their　way　to　the　national　shrine　at　Canterbury。　　It　passed　from
Winchester；　and　up　the　beautiful　valley　of　the　Itchen　until　it
reached　Farnham；　where　it　forked　into　two　branches；　one　of　which
ran　along　the　Hog's　Back；　while　the　second　wound　to　the　south　and
came　out　at　Saint　Catherine's　Hill　where　stands　the　Pilgrim
shrine；　a　gray　old　ruin　now；　but　once　so　august；　so　crowded　and　so
affluent。　　It　was　this　second　branch　upon　which　Nigel　and　Aylward
found　themselves　as　they　rode　to　Guildford。

No　one；　as　it　chanced；　was　going　the　same　way　as　themselves；　but
they　met　one　large　drove　of　pilgrims　returning　from　their　journey
with　pictures　of　Saint　Thomas　and　snails'　shells　or　little　leaden
ampullae　in　their　hats　and　bundles　of　purchases　over　their
shoulders。　　They　were　a　grimy；　ragged；　travel…stained　crew；　the
men　walking；　the　women　borne　on　asses。　　Man　and　beast；　they　limped
along　as　if　it　would　be　a　glad　day　when　they　saw　their　homes　once
more。　　These　and　a　few　beggars　or　minstrels；　who　crouched　among
the　heather　on　either　side　of　the　track　in　the　hope　of　receiving
an　occasional　farthing　from　the　passer…by；　were　the　only　folk　they
met　until　they　had　reached　the　village　of　Puttenham。　　Already
there；　was　a　hot　sun　and　just　breeze　enough　to　send　the　dust
flying　down　the　road；　so　they　were　glad　to　clear　their　throats
with　a　glass　of　beer　at　the　ale…stake　in　the　village；　where　the
fair　alewife　gave　Nigel　a　cold　farewell　because　he　had　no
attentions　for　her；　and　Aylward　a　box　on　the　ear　because　he　had
too　many。

On　the　farther　side　of　Puttenham　the　road　runs　through　thick　woods
of　oak　and　beech；　with　a　tangled　undergrowth　of　fern　and　bramble。
Here　they　met　a　patrol　of　sergeants…at…arms；　tall　fellows；
well…mounted；　clad　in　studded…leather　caps　and　tunics；　with　lances
and　swords。　　They　walked　their　horses　slowly　on　the　shady　side　of
the　road；　and　stopped　as　the　travelers　came　up；　to　ask　if　they　had
been　molested　on　the　way。

〃Have　a　care；〃　they　added；　〃for　the　‘Wild　Man'　and　his　wife　are
out。　　Only　yesterday　they　slew　a　merchant　from　the　west　and　took　a
hundred　crowns。〃

〃His　wife；　you　say？〃

〃Yes；　she　is　ever　at　his　side；　and　has　saved　him　many　a　time；　for
if　he　has　the　strength　it　is　she　who　has　the　wit。　　I　hope　to　see
their　heads　together　upon　the　green　grass　one　of　these　mornings。〃

The　patrol　passed　downward　toward　Farnham；　and　so；　as　it　proved；
away　from　the　robbers；　who　had　doubtless　watched　them　closely　from
the　dense　brushwood　which　skirted　the　road。　　Coming　round　a　curve；
Nigel　and　Aylward　were　aware　of　a　tall　and　graceful　woman　who　sat；
wringing　her　hands　and　weeping　bitterly；　upon　the　bank　by　the　side
of　the　track。　　At　such　a　sight　of　beauty　in　distress　Nigel　pricked
Pommers　with　the　spur　and　in　three　bounds　was　at　the　side　of　the
unhappy　lady。

〃What　ails　you；　fair　dame？〃　he　asked。　　〃Is　there　any　small　matter
in　which　I　may　stand　your　friend；　or　is　it　possible　that　anyone
hath　so　hard　a　heart　as　to　do　you　an　injury。〃

She　rose　and　turned　upon　him　a　face　full　of　hope　and　entreaty。
〃Oh；　save　my　poor；　poor　father！〃　she　cried。　　〃Have　you　perchance
seen　the　way…wardens？　　They　passed　us；　and　I　fear　they　are　beyond
reach。〃

〃Yes；　they　have　ridden　onward；　but　we　may　serve　as　well。〃

〃Then　hasten；　hasten；　I　pray　you！　　Even　now　they　may　be　doing　him
to　death。　　They　have　dragged　him　into　yonder　grove　and　I　have
heard　his　voice　growing　ever　weaker　in　the　distance。　　Hasten；　I
implore　you！〃

Nigel　sprang　from　his　horse　and　tossed　the　rein　to　Aylward。

〃Nay；　let　us　go　together。　　How　many　robbers　were　there；　lady？〃

〃Two　stout　fellows。〃

〃Then　I　come　also。〃

〃Nay；　it　is　not　possible；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃The　wood　is　too　thick　for
horses；　and　we　cannot　leave　them　in　the　road。〃

〃I　will　guard　them；〃　cried　the　lady。

〃Pommers　is　not　so　easily　held。　　Do　you　bide　here；　Aylward；　until
you　hear　from　me。　　Stir　not；　I　command　you！〃　　So　saying；　Nigel；
with　the　light；　of　adventure　gleaming　in　his　joyous　eyes；　drew　his
sword　and　plunged　swiftly　into　the　forest。

Far　and　fast　he　ran；　from　glade　to　glade；　breaking　through　the
bushes；　springing　over　the　brambles；　light　as　a　young　deer；
peering　this　way　and　that；　straining　his　ears　for　a　sound；　and
catching　only　the　cry　of　the　wood…pigeons。　　Still　on　he　went；　with
the　constant　thought　of　the　weeping　woman　behind　and　of　the
captured　man　in　front。　　It　was　not　until　he　was　footsore　and　out
of　breath　that　he　stopped　with　his　hand　to　his　side；　and
considered　that　his　own　business　had　still　to　be　done；　and　that　it
was　time　once　more　that　he　should　seek　the　road　to　G