sir nigel-第33节

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I　love　you　dearly；　still　I　will　not　let　the　thought　of　you　stand
betwixt　me　and　honorable　achievement！〃

Her　face　shone　with　her　love　and　her　pride。　　〃I　also　make　my
oath；〃　said　she；　〃and　I　do　it　in　the　name　of　the　holy　Catharine
whose　shrine　is　hard　by。　　I　swear　that　I　will　hold　myself　for　you
until　these　three　deeds　be　done　and　we　meet　once　more；　also　that
if　…　which　may　dear　Christ　forfend！　you　fall　in　doing　them　then　I
shall　take　the　veil　in　Shalford　nunnery　and　look　upon　no　man's
face　again！　　Give　me　your　hand；　Nigel。〃

She　had　taken　a　little　bangle　of　gold　filigree　work　from　her　arm
and　fastened　it　upon　his　sunburnt　wrist；　reading　aloud　to　him　the
engraved　motto　in　old　French：　〃Fais　ce　que　dois；　adviegne　que
pourra　…　c'est　commande　au　chevalier。〃　　Then　for　one　moment　they
fell　into　each　other's　arms　and　with　kiss　upon　kiss；　a　loving　man
and　a　tender　woman；　they　swore　their　troth　to　each　other。　　But　the
old　knight　was　calling　impatiently　from　below　and　together　they
hurried　down　the　winding　path　to　where　the　horses　waited　under　the
sandy　bluff。

As　far　as　the　Shalford　crossing　Sir　John　rode　by　Nigel's　arm；　and
many　were　the　last　injunctions　which　he　gave　him　concerning
woodcraft；　and　great　his　anxiety　lest　he　confuse　a　spay　with　a
brocket；　or　either　with　a　hind。　　At　last　when　they　came　to　the
reedy　edge　of　the　Wey　the　old　knight　and　his　daughter　reined　up
their　horses。　　Nigel　looked　back　at　them　ere　he　entered　the　dark
Chantry　woods；　and　saw　them　still　gazing　after　him　and　waving
their　hands。　　Then　the　path　wound　amongst　the　trees　and　they　were
lost　to　sight；　but　long　afterwards　when　a　clearing　exposed　once
more　the　Shalford　meadows　Nigel　saw　that　the　old　man　upon　the　gray
cob　was　riding　slowly　toward　Saint　Catharine's　Hill；　but　that　the
girl　was　still　where　he　had　seen　her　last；　leaning　forward　in　her
saddle　and　straining　her　eyes　to　pierce　the　dark　forest　which
screened　her　lover　from　her　view。　　It　was　but　a　fleeting　glance
through　a　break　in　the　foliage；　and　yet　in　after　days　of　stress
and　toil　in　far　distant　lands　it　was　that　one　little　picture　…　the
green　meadow；　the　reeds；　the　slow　blue…winding　river；　and　the
eager　bending　graceful　figure　upon　the　white　horse　…　which　was　the
clearest　and　the　dearest　image　of　that　England　which　he　had　left
behind　him。

But　if　Nigel's　friends　had　learned　that　this　was　the　morning　of
his　leaving；　his　enemies　too　were　on　the　alert。　　The　two　comrades
had　just　emerged　from　the　Chantry　woods　and　were　beginning　the
ascent　of　that　curving　path　which　leads　upward　to　the　old　Chapel
of　the　Martyr　when　with　a　hiss　like　an　angry　snake　a　long　white
arrow　streaked　under　Pommers　and　struck　quivering　in　the　grassy
turf。　　A　second　whizzed　past　Nigel's　ear；　as　he　tried　to　turn；　but
Aylward　struck　the　great　war…horse　a　sharp　blow　over　the　haunches；
and　it　had　galloped　some　hundreds　of　yards　before　its　rider　could
pull　it　up。　　Aylward　followed　as　hard　as　he　could　ride；　bending
low　over　his　horse's　neck；　while　arrows　whizzed　all　around　him。

〃By　Saint　Paul！〃　said　Nigel；　tugging　at　his　bridle　and　white　with
anger；　〃they　shall　not　chase　me　across　the　country　as　though　I　was
a　frighted　doe。　　Archer；　how　dare　you　to　lash　my　horse　when　I
would　have　turned　and　ridden　in　upon　them？〃

〃It　is　well　that　I　did　so；〃　said　Aylward；　〃or　by　these　ten　finger…
bones！　our　journey　would　have　begun　and　ended　on　the　same　day。　　As
I　glanced　round　I　saw　a　dozen　of　them　at　the　least　amongst　the
brushwood。　　See　now　how　the　light　glimmers　upon　their　steel　caps
yonder　in　the　bracken　under　the　great　beech…tree。　　Nay；　I　pray
you；　my　fair　lord；　do　not　ride　forward。　　What　chance　has　a　man　in
the　open　against　all　these　who　lie　at　their　ease　in　the　underwood？
If　you　will　not　think　of　yourself；　then　consider　your　horse；　which
would　have　a　cloth…yard　shaft　feathered　in　its　hide　ere　it　could
reach　the　wood。〃

Nigel　chafed　in　impotent　anger。　　〃Am　I　to　be　shot　at　like　a
popinjay　at　a　fair；　by　any　reaver　or　outlaw　that　seeks　a　mark　for
his　bow？〃　he　cried。　　〃By　Saint　Paul！　Aylward；　I　will　put　on　my
harness　and　go　further　into　the　matter。　　Help　me　to　untruss；　I
pray　you！〃

〃Nay；　my　fair　lord；　I　will　not　help　you　to　your　own　downfall。　　It
is　a　match　with　cogged　dice　betwixt　a　horseman　on　the　moor　and
archers　amid　the　forest。　　But　these　men　are　no　outlaws；　or　they
would　not　dare　to　draw　their　bows　within　a　league　of　the　sheriff
of　Guildford。〃

〃Indeed；　Aylward；　I　think　that　you　speak　truth；〃　said　Nigel。〃　　It
may　be　that　these　are　the　men　of　Paul　de　la　Fosse　of　Shalford；
whom　I　have　giver；　little　cause　to　love　me。　　Ah！　there　is　indeed
the　very　man　himself。〃

They　sat　their　horses　with　their　backs　to　the　long　slope　which
leads　up　to　the　old　chapel　on　the　hill。　　In　front　of　them　was　the
dark　ragged　edge　of　the　wood；　with　a　sharp　twinkle　of　steel　here
and　there　in　its　shadows　which　spoke　of　these　lurking　foes。　　But
now　there　was　a　long　moot　upon　a　horn；　and　at　once　a　score　of
russet…clad　bowmen　ran　forward　from　amid　the　trees；　spreading　out
into　a　scattered　line　and　closing　swiftly　in　upon　the　travelers。
In　the　midst　of　them；　upon　a　great　gray　horse；　sat　a　small
misshapen　man；　waving　and　cheering　as　one　sets　hounds　on　a　badger；
turning　his　head　this　way　and　that　as　he　whooped　and　pointed；
urging　his　bowmen　onward　up　the　slope。

〃Draw　them　on；　my　fair　lord！　　Draw　them　on　until　we　have　them　out
on　the　down！〃　cried　Aylward；　his　eyes　shining　with　joy。　　〃Five
hundred　paces　more；　and　then　we　may　be　on　terms　with　them。　　Nay；
linger　not；　but　keep　them　always　just　clear　of　arrowshot　until　our
turn　has　come。〃

Nigel　shook　and　trembled　with　eagerness；　as　with　his　hand　on　his
sword…hilt　he　looked　at　the　line　of　eager　hurrying　men。　　But　it
flashed　through　his　mind　what　Chandos　had　said　of　the　cool　head
which　is　better　for　the　warrior　than　the　hot　heart。　　Aylward's
words　were　true　and　wise。　　He　turned　Pommers'　head　therefore；　and
amid　a　cry　of　derision　from　behind　them　the　comrades　trotted　over
the　down。　　The　bowmen　broke　into　a　run；　while　their　leader
screamed　and　waved　more　madly　than　before。　　Aylward　cast　many　a
glance　at　them　over　his　shoulder。

〃Yet　a　little　farther！　　Yet　a　little　farther　still！〃　he　muttered。
〃The　wind　is　towards　them　and　the　fools　have　forgot　that　I　can
overshoot　them　by　fifty　paces。　　Now；　my　good　lord；　I　pray　you　for
one　instant　to　hold　the　horses；　for　my　weapon　is　of　more　avail
this　day；　than　thine　can　be。　　They　may　make　sorry　cheer　ere　they
gain　the　shelter　of　the　wood　once　more。〃

He　had　sprung　from　his　horse；　and　with　a　downward　wrench　of　his
arm　and　a　push　with　his　knee　he　slipped　the　string　into　the　upper
nock　of　his　mighty　war…bow。　　Then　in　a　flash　he　notched　his　shaft
and　drew　it　to　the　pile；　his　keen　blue　eyes　glowing　fiercely
behind　it　from　under　his　knotted　brows。　　With　thick　legs　planted
sturdily　apart；　his　body　laid　to　the　bow；　his　left　arm　motionless
as　wood；　his　right　bunched　into　a　double　curve　of　swelling　muscles
as　he　stretched　the　white　well…waxed　string；　he　looked　so　keen　and
fierce　a　fighter　that　the　advancing　line　stopped　for　an　instant　at
the　sight　of　him。　　Two　or　three　loosed　off　their　arrows；　but　the
shafts　flew　heavily　against　the　head　wind；　and　snaked　along　the
hard　turf　some　score　of　paces　short　of　the　mark。　　One　only；　a
short　bandy…legged　man；　whose　squat　figure　spoke　of　enormous
muscular　strength；　ran　swiftly　in　and　then　drew　so　strong　a　bow
that　the　arrow　quivered　in　the　ground　at　Aylward's　very　feet。

〃It　is　Black　Will　of　Lynchmere；〃　said　the　bowman。　　〃Many　a　match
have　I　shot　with　him；　and　I　know　well　that　no　other　man　on　the
Surrey　marches　could　have　sped　such　a　shaft。　　I　trust　that　you　are
houseled　and　shriven；　Will；　for　I　have　known　you　so　long　that　I
would　not　have　your　damnation　upon　my　soul。〃

He　raised　his　bow　as　he　spoke；　and　the　string　twanged　with　a　rich
deep　musical　note。　　Aylward　leaned　upon　his　bow…stave　as　he　keenly
watched　the　long　swift　flight　of　his　shaft；　skimming　smoothly　down
the　wind。

〃On　him；　on　him！　　No；　over　him；　by　my　hilt！〃　he　cried。　　〃There　is
more　wind　than　I　had　thought。　　Nay；　nay；　friend；　now　that　I　have
the　length　of　you；　you　can　scarce　hope　to　loose　again。〃

Black　Will　had　notched　an　arrow　and　was　raising　his　bow　when
Aylward's　second　shaft　passed　through　the　shoulder　of　his　drawing
arm。　　With　a　shout　of　anger　and　pain　he　dropped　his　weapon；　and
dancing　in　his　fury　he　shook　his　fist　and　roared　curses　at　his
rival。

〃I　could　slay　him；　but　I　will　not；　for　good　bowmen　are　not　so
common；〃　said　Aylward。　　〃And　now；　fair　sir；　we　must　on；　for　they
are　spreading　round　on　either　side；　and　if　once　they　get　behind
us；　then　indeed　our　journey　has　come　to　a　sudden　end。　　But　ere　we
go　I　would　send　a　shaft　through　yonder　horseman　who　leads　them
on。〃

〃Nay；　Aylward；　I　pray　you　to　leave　him；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃Villain　as
he　is；　he　is　none　the　less　a　gentleman　of　coat…armor；　and　should
die　by　some　other　weapon　than　thine。〃

〃As　you　will；〃　said　Aylward；　with　a　clouded　brow。　　〃I　have　been
told　that　in　the　late　wars　many　a　French　prince　and　baron　has　not
been　too　proud　to　take　his　death　wound　from　an　English　yeoman's
shaft；　and　that　nobles　of　En