sir nigel-第17节

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considered　that　his　own　business　had　still　to　be　done；　and　that　it
was　time　once　more　that　he　should　seek　the　road　to　Guildford。

Meantime　Aylward　had　found　his　own　rough　means　of　consoling　the
woman　in　the　road；　who　stood　sobbing　with　her　face　against　the
side　of　Pommers'　saddle。

〃Nay；　weep　not；　my　pretty　one；〃　said　he。　　〃It　brings　the　tears　to
my　own　eyes　to　see　them　stream　from　thine。〃

〃Alas！　good　archer；　he　was　the　best　of　fathers；　so　gentle　and　so
kind！　　Had　you　but　known　him；　you　must　have　loved　him。〃

〃Tut；　tut！　　he　will　suffer　no　scathe。　　Squire　Nigel　will　bring　him
back　to　you　anon。〃

〃No；　no；　I　shall　never　see　him　more。　　Hold　me；　archer；　or　I　fall！〃

Aylward　pressed　his　ready　arm　round　the　supple　waist。　　The
fainting　woman　leaned　with　her　hand　upon　his　shoulder。　　Her　pale
face　looked　past　him；　and　it　was　some　new　light　in　her　eyes；　a
flash　of　expectancy；　of　triumph；　of　wicked　joy；　which　gave　him
sudden　warning　of　his　danger。

He　shook　her　off　and　sprang　to　one　side；　but　only　just　in　time　to
avoid　a　crashing　blow　from　a　great　club　in　the　hands　of　a　man　even
taller　and　stronger　than　himself。　　He　had　one　quick　vision　of
great　white　teeth　clenched　in　grim　ferocity；　a　wild　flying　beard
and　blazing　wild…beast　eyes。　　The　next　instant　he　had　closed；
ducking　his　head　beneath　another　swing　of　that　murderous　cudgel。

With　his　arms　round　the　robber's　burly　body　and　his　face　buried　in
his　bushy　beard；　Aylward　gasped　and　strained　and　heaved。　　Back　and
forward　in　the　dusty　road　the　two　men　stamped　and　staggered；　a
grim　wrestling…match；　with　life　for　the　prize。　　Twice　the　great
strength　of　the　outlaw　had　Aylward　nearly　down；　and　twice　with　his
greater　youth　and　skill　the　archer　restored　his　grip　and　his
balance。　　Then　at　last　his　turn　came。　　He　slipped　his　leg　behind
the　other's　knee；　and；　giving　a　mighty　wrench；　tore　him　across　it。
With　a　hoarse　shout　the　outlaw　toppled　backward　and　had　hardly
reached　the　ground　before　Aylward　had　his　knee　upon　his　chest　and
his　short　sword　deep　in　his　beard　and　pointed　to　his　throat。

〃By　these　ten　finger…bones！〃　he　gasped；　〃one　more　struggle　and　it
is　your　last！〃

The　man　lay　still　enough；　for　he　was　half…stunned　by　the　crashing
fall。　　Aylward　looked　round　him；　but　the　woman　had　disappeared。
At　the　first　blow　struck　she　had　vanished　into　the　forest。　　He
began　to　have　fears　for　his　master；　thinking　that　he　perhaps　had
been　lured　into　some　deathtrap；　but　his　forebodings　were　soon　at
rest；　for　Nigel　himself　came　hastening　down　the　road；　which　he　had
struck　some　distance　from　the　spot　where　he　left　it。

〃By　Saint　Paul！〃　he　cried；　〃who　is　this　man　on　whom　you　are
perched；　and　where　is　the　lady　who　has　honored　us　so　far　as　to
crave　our　help？　　Alas；　that　I　have　been　unable　to　find　her
father！〃

〃As　well　for　you；　fair　sir；〃　said　Aylward；　〃for　I　am　of　opinion
that　her　father　was　the　Devil。　　This　woman　is；　as　I　believe；　the
wife　of　the　‘Wild　Man　of　Puttenham；'　and　this　is　the　‘Wild　Man'
himself　who　set　upon　me　and　tried　to　brain　me　with　his　club。〃

The　outlaw；　who　had　opened　his　eyes；　looked　with　a　scowl　from　his
captor　to　the　new…comer。　　〃You　are　in　luck；　archer；〃　said　he；　〃for
I　have　come　to　grips　with　many　a　man；　but　I　cannot　call　to　mind
any　who　have　had　the　better　of　me。〃

〃You　have　indeed　the　grip　of　a　bear；〃　said　Aylward；　〃but　it　was　a
coward　deed　that　your　wife　should　hold　me　while　you　dashed　out　my
brains　with　a　stick。　　It　is　also　a　most　villainous　thing　to　lay　a
snare　for　wayfarers　by　asking　for　their　pity　and　assistance；　so
that　it　was　our　own　soft　hearts　which　brought　us　into　such　danger。
The　next　who　hath　real　need　of　our　help　may　suffer　for　your　sins。〃

〃When　the　hand　of　the　whole　world　is　against　you；〃　said　the　outlaw
in　a　surly　voice；　〃you　must　fight　as　best　you　can。〃

〃You　well　deserve　to　be　hanged；　if　only　because　you　have　brought
this　woman；　who　is　fair　and　gentle…spoken；　to　such　a　life；〃　said
Nigel。　　〃Let　us　tie　him　by　the　wrist　to　my　stirrup　leather；
Aylward；　and　we　will　lead　him　into　Guildford。〃

The　archer　drew　a　spare　bowstring　from　his　case　and　had　bound　the
prisoner　as　directed；　when　Nigel　gave　a　sudden　start　and　cry　of
alarm。

〃Holy　Mary！〃　he　cried。　　〃Where　is　the　saddle…bag？〃

It　had　been　cut　away　by　a　sharp　knife。　　Only　the　two　ends　of　strap
remained。　　Aylward　and　Nigel　stared　at　each　other　in　blank　dismay。
Then　the　young　Squire　shook　his　clenched　hands　and　pulled　at　his
yellow　curls　in　his　despair。

〃The　Lady　Ermyntrude's　bracelet！　　My　grandfather's　cup！〃　he　cried。
〃I　would　have　died　ere　I　lost　them！　　What　can　I　say　to　her？　　I
dare　not　return　until　I　have　found　them。　　Oh；　Aylward；　Aylward！
how　came　you　to　let　them　be　taken？〃

The　honest　archer　had　pushed　back　his　steel　cap　and　was　scratching
his　tangled　head。　　〃Nay；　I　know　nothing　of　it。　　You　never　said
that　there　was　aught　of　price　in　the　bag；　else　had　I　kept　a　better
eye　upon　it。　　Certes！　it　was　not　this　fellow　who　took　it；　since　I
have　never　had　my　hands　from　him。　　It　can　only　be　the　woman　who
fled　with　it　while　we　fought。〃

Nigel　stamped　about　the　road　in　his　perplexity。　　〃I　would　follow
her　to　the　world's　end　if　I　knew　where　I　could　find　her；　but　to
search　these　woods　for　her　is　to　look　for　a　mouse　in　a
wheat…field。　　Good　Saint　George；　thou　who　didst　overcome　the
Dragon；　I　pray　you　by　that　most　honorable　and　knightly　achievement
that　you　will　be　with　me　now！　　And　you　also；　great　Saint　Julian；
patron　of　all　wayfarers　in　distress！　　Two　candles　shall　burn
before　your　shrine　at　Godalming；　if　you　will　but　bring　me　back　my
saddle…bag。　　What　would　I　not　give　to　have　it　back？〃

〃Will　you　give　me　my　life？〃　asked　the　outlaw。　　〃Promise　that　I　go
free；　and　you　shall　have　it　back；　if　it　be　indeed　true　that　my
wife　has　taken　it。〃

〃Nay；　I　cannot　do　that；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃My　honor　would　surely　be
concerned；　since　my　loss　is　a　private　one；　but　it　would　be　to　the
public　scathe　that　you　should　go　free。　　By　Saint　Paul！　it　would　be
an　ungentle　deed　if　in　order　to　save　my　own　I　let　you　loose　upon
the　gear　of　a　hundred　others。〃

〃I　will　not　ask　you　to　let　me　loose；〃　said　the　〃Wild　Man。〃　　〃If
you　will　promise　that　my　life　be　spared　I　will　restore　your　bag。〃

〃I　cannot　give　such　a　promise；　for　it　will　lie　with　the　Sheriff
and　reeves　of　Guildford。〃

〃Shall　I　have　your　word　in　my　favor？〃

〃That　I　could　promise　you；　if　you　will　give　back　the　bag；　though　I
know　not　how　far　my　word　may　avail。　　But　your　words　are　vain；　for
you　cannot　think　that　we　will　be　so　fond　as　to　let　you　go　in　the
hope　that　you　return？〃

〃I　would　not　ask　it；〃　said　the　〃Wild　Man；〃　〃for　I　can　get　your　bag
and　yet　never　stir　from　the　spot　where　I　stand。　　Have　I　your
promise　upon　your　honor　and　all　that　you　hold　dear　that　you　will
ask　for　grace？〃

〃You　have。〃

〃And　that　my　wife　shall　be　unharmed？〃

〃I　promise　it。〃

The　outlaw　laid　back　his　head　and　uttered　a　long　shrill　cry　like
the　howl　of　a　wolf。　　There　was　a　silent　pause；　and　then；　clear　and
shrill；　there　rose　the　same　cry　no　great　distance　away　in　the
forest。　　Again　the　〃Wild　Man〃　called；　and　again　his　mate　replied。
A　third　time　he　summoned；　as　the　deer　bells　to　the　doe　in　the
greenwood。　　Then　with　a　rustle　of　brushwood　and　snapping　of　twigs
the　woman　was　before　them　once　more；　tall；　pale；　graceful；
wonderful。　　She　glanced　neither　at　Aylward　nor　Nigel；　but　ran　to
the　side　of　her　husband。

〃Dear　and　sweet　lord；〃　she　cried；　〃I　trust　they　have　done　you　no
hurt。　　I　waited　by　the　old　ash；　and　my　heart　sank　when　you　came
not。〃

〃I　have　been　taken　at　last；　wife。〃

〃Oh；　cursed；　cursed　day！　　Let　him　go；　kind；　gentle　sirs；　do　not
take　him　from　me！〃

〃They　will　speak　for　me　at　Guildford；〃　said　the　〃　Wild　Man。〃　〃They
have　sworn　it。　　But　hand　them　first　the　bag　that　you　have　taken。〃

She　drew　it　out　from　under　her　loose　cloak。　　〃Here　it　is；　gentle
sir。　　Indeed　it　went　to　my　heart　to　take　it；　for　you　had　mercy
upon　me　in　my　trouble。　　But　now　I　am；　as　you　see；　in　real　and　very
sore　distress。　　Will　you　not　have　mercy　now？　　Take　ruth　on　us；
fair　sir！　　On　my　knees　I　beg　it　of　you；　most　gentle　and　kindly
Squire！〃

Nigel　had　clutched　his　bag；　and　right　glad　he　was　to　feel　that　the
treasures　were　all　safe　within　it。　　〃　My　proffer　is　given；〃　said
he。　　〃I　will　say　what　I　can；　but　the　issue　rests　with　others。　　I
pray　you　to　stand　up；　for　indeed　I　cannot　promise　more。〃

〃Then　I　must　be　content；〃　said　she；　rising；　with　a　composed　face。
〃I　have　prayed　you　to　take　ruth；　and　indeed　I　can　do　no　more；　but
ere　I　go　back　to　the　forest　I　would　rede　you　to　be　on　your　guard
lest　you　lose　your　bag　once　more。　　Wot　you　how　I　took　it；　archer？
Nay；　it　was　simple　enough；　and　may　happen　again；　so　I　make　it
clear　to　you。　　I　had　this　knife　in　my　sleeve；　and　though　it　is
small　it　is　very　sharp。　　I　slipped　it　down　like　this。　　Then　when　I
seemed　to　weep　with　my　face　against　the　saddle；　I　cut　down　like
this　…　〃

In　an　instant　she　had　shorn　through　the　stirrup　leather　which
bound　her　man；　and　he；　diving　under　the　belly　of　the　horse；　had
slipped　like　a　snake　into　the　brushwood。　　In　passing　he　had　struck
Pommers　from　beneath；　and　the　great　horse；　enraged　and　insulted；
was　rearing　high；　with　two　m