sir nigel-第36节

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the　maiden　whom　he　had　left　behind　at　St。　Jean　…　the　same　whose
glove　dangled　from　his　helmet　…　had　observed　nothing　that　had
occurred。　　Hence；　all　that　met　his　eyes　was　a　noble　yellow　horse；
which　was　tethered　by　the　track；　and　a　small　young　man；　who
appeared　to　be　a　lunatic　since　he　had　undressed　hastily　in　the
heart　of　the　forest；　and　stood　now　with　an　eager　anxious　face　clad
in　his　underlinen　amid　the　scattered　debris　of　his　garments。　　Of
such　a　person　the　high　Lord　of　Pons　could　take　no　notice；　and　so
he　pursued　his　inexorable　way；　his　arrogant　eyes　looking　out　into
the　distance　and　his　thoughts　set　intently　upon　the　maiden　of　St。
Jean。　　He　was　dimly　aware　that　the　little　crazy　man　in　the
undershirt　ran　a　long　way　beside　him　in　his　stockings；　begging；
imploring　and　arguing。

〃Just　one　hour；　most　fair　sir；　just　one　hour　at　the　longest；　and　a
poor　Squire　of　England　shall　ever　hold　himself　your　debtor！　　Do
but　condescend　to　rein　your　horse　until　my　harness　comes　back　to
me！　　Will　you　not　stoop　to　show　me　some　small　deed　of　arms？　　I
implore　you；　fair　sir；　to　spare　me　a　little　of　your　time　and　a
handstroke　or　two　ere　you　go　upon　your　way！〃

Lord　de　Pons　motioned　impatiently　with　his　gauntleted　hand；　as　one
might　brush　away　an　importunate　fly；　but　when　at　last　Nigel　became
desperate　in　his　clamor　he　thrust　his　spurs　into　his　great
war…horse；　and　clashing　like　a　pair　of　cymbals　he　thundered　off
through　the　forest。　　So　he　rode　upon　his　majestic　way；　until　two
days　later　he　was　slain　by　Lord　Reginald　Cobham　in　a　field　near
Weybridge。

When　after　a　long　chase　Aylward　secured　the　spare　horse　and
brought　it　back；　he　found　his　master　seated　upon　a　fallen　tree；
his　face　buried　in　his　hands　and　his　mind　clouded　with　humiliation
and　grief。　　Nothing　was　said；　for　the　matter　was　beyond　words；　and
so　in　moody　silence　they　rode　upon　their　way。

But　soon　they　came　upon　a　scene　which　drew　Nigel's　thoughts　away
from　his　bitter　trouble；　for　in　front　of　them　there　rose　the
towers　of　a　great　building　with　a　small　gray　sloping　village
around　it；　and　they　learned　from　a　passing　hind　that　this　was　the
hamlet　and　Abbey　of　Battle。　　Together　they　drew　rein　upon　the　low
ridge　and　looked　down　into　that　valley　of　death　from　which　even
now　the　reek　of　blood　seems　to　rise。　　Down　beside　that　sinister
lake　and　amid　those　scattered　bushes　sprinkled　over　the　naked
flank　of　the　long　ridge　was　fought　that　long…drawn　struggle
betwixt　two　most　noble　foes　with　broad　England　as　the　prize　of
victory。　　Here；　up　and　down　the　low　hill；　hour　by　hour　the　grim
struggle　had　waxed　and　waned；　until　the　Saxon　army　had　died　where
it　stood；　King；　court；　house…carl　and　fyrdsman；　each　in　their
ranks　even　as　they　had　fought。　　And　now；　after　all　the　stress　and
toil；　the　tyranny；　the　savage　revolt；　the　fierce　suppression；　God
had　made　His　purpose　complete；　for　here　were　Nigel　the　Norman　and
Aylward　the　Saxon　with　good…fellowship　in　their　hearts　and　a
common　respect　in　their　minds；　with　the　same　banner　and　the　same
cause；　riding　forth　to　do　battle　for　their　old　mother　England。

And　now　the　long　ride　drew　to　an　end。　　In　front　of　them　was　the
blue　sea；　flecked　with　the　white　sails　of　ships。　　Once　more　the
road　passed　upward　from　the　heavy…wooded　plain　to　the　springy　turf
of　the　chalk　downs。　　Far　to　the　right　rose　the　grim　fortalice　of
Pevensey；　squat　and　powerful；　like　one　great　block　of　rugged
stone；　the　parapet　twinkling　with　steel　caps　and　crowned　by　the
royal　banner　of　England。　　A　flat　expanse　of　reeded　marshland　lay
before　them；　out　of　which　rose　a　single　wooded　hill；　crowned　with
towers；　with　a　bristle　of　masts　rising　out　of　the　green　plain　some
distance　to　the　south　of　it。　　Nigel　looked　at　it　with　his　hand
shading　his　eyes；　and　then　urged　Pommers　to　a　trot。　　The　town　was
Winchelsea；　and　there　amid　that　cluster　of　houses　on　the　hill　the
gallant　Chandos　must　be　awaiting　him。




XIV。　　HOW　NIGEL　CHASED　THE　RED　FERRET


They　passed　a　ferry；　wound　upward　by　a　curving　path；　and　then；
having　satisfied　a　guard　of　men…at…arms；　were　admitted　through　the
frowning　arch　of　the　Pipewell　Gate。　　There　waiting　for　them；　in
the　middle　of　the　east　street；　the　sun　gleaming　upon　his　lemon…
colored　beard；　and　puckering　his　single　eye；　stood　Chandos
himself；　his　legs　apart；　his　hands　behind　his　back；　and　a
welcoming　smile　upon　hiss　quaint　high…nosed　face。　　Behind　him　a
crowd　of　little　boys　were　gazing　with　reverent　eyes　at　the　famous
soldier。

〃Welcome；　Nigel！〃　said　he；　〃and　you　also；　good　archer！　　I　chanced
to　be　walking　on　the　city　wall；　and　I　thought　from　the　color　of
your　horse　that　it　was　indeed　you　upon　the　Udimore　Road。　　How　have
you　fared；　young　squire　errant？　　Have　you　held　bridges　or　rescued
damsels　or　slain　oppressors　on　your　way　from　Tilford？〃

〃Nay；　my　fair　lord；　I　have　accomplished　nothing；　but　I　once　had
hopes　…　〃　Nigel　flushed　at　the　remembrance。

〃I　will　give　you　more　than　hopes；　Nigel。　　I　will　put　you　where　you
can　dip　both　arms　to　the　elbow　into　danger　and　honor；　where　peril
will　sleep　with　you　at　night　and　rise　with　you　in　the　morning　and
the　very　air　you　breathe　be　laden　with　it。　　Are　you　ready　for
that；　young　sir？〃

〃I　can　but　pray；　fair　lord；　that　my　spirit　will　rise　to　it。〃

Chandos　smiled　his　approval　and　laid　his　thin　brown　hand　on　the
youth's　shoulder。　　〃Good！〃　said　he。　　〃It　is　the　mute　hound　which
bites　the　hardest。　　The　babbler　is　ever　the　hang…back。　　Bide　with
me　here；　Nigel；　and　walk　upon　the　ramparts。　　Archer；　do　you　lead
the　horses　to　the　‘Sign　of　the　Broom　Pod'　in　the　high　street；　and
tell　my　varlets　to　see　them　aboard　the　cog　Thomas　before
nightfall。　　We　sail　at　the　second　hour　after　curfew。　　Come　hither；
Nigel；　to　the　crest　of　the　corner　turret；　for　from　it　I　will　show
you　what　you　have　never　seen。〃

It　was　but　a　dim　and　distant　white　cloud　upon　the　blue　water　seen
far　off　over　the　Dungeness　Point；　and　yet　the　sight　of　it　flushed
the　young　Squire's　cheeks　and　sent　the　blood　hot　through　his
veins。　　It　was　the　fringe　of　France；　that　land　of　chivalry　and
glory；　the　stage　where　name　and　fame　were　to　be　won。　　With　burning
eyes　he　gazed　across　at　it；　his　heart　rejoicing　to　think　that　the
hour　was　at　hand　when　he　might　tread　that　sacred　soil。　　Then　his
gaze　crossed　the　immense　stretch　of　the　blue　sea；　dotted　over　with
the　sails　of　fishing…boats；　until　it　rested　upon　the　double　harbor
beneath　packed　with　vessels　of　every　size　and　shape；　from　the
pessoners　and　creyers　which　plied　up　and　down　the　coast　to　the
great　cogs　and　galleys　which　were　used　either　as　war…ships　or
merchantmen　as　the　occasion　served。　　One　of　them　was　at　that
instant　passing　out　to　sea；　a　huge　galleass；　with　trumpets　blowing
and　nakers　banging；　the　flag　of　Saint　George　flaunting　over　the
broad　purple　sail；　and　the　decks　sparkling　from　end　to　end　with
steel。　　Nigel　gave　a　cry　of　pleasure　at　the　splendor　of　the　sight。

〃Aye；　lad；〃　said　Chandos；　〃it　is　the　Trinity　of　Rye；　the　very　ship
on　which　I　fought　at　Sluys。　　Her　deck　ran　blood　from　stem　to　stern
that　day。　　But　turn　your　eyes　this　way；　I　beg　you；　and　tell　me　if
you　see　aught　strange　about　this　town。〃

Nigel　looked　down　at　the　noble　straight　street；　at　the　Roundel
Tower；　at　the　fine　church　of　Saint　Thomas；　and　the　other　fair
buildings　of　Winchelsea。　　〃It　is　all　new；〃　said　he　…　〃church；
castle；　houses；　all　are　new。〃

〃You　are　right；　fair　son。　　My　grandfather　can　call　to　mind　the
time　when　only　the　conies　lived　upon　this　rock。　　The　town　was　down
yonder　by　the　sea；　until　one　night　the　waves　rose　upon　it　and　not
a　house　was　left。　　See；　yonder　is　Rye；　huddling　also　on　a　hill；
the　two　towns　like　poor　sheep　when　the　waters　are　out。　　But　down
there　under　the　blue　water　and　below　the　Camber　Sand　lies　the　true
Winchelsea　…　tower；　cathedral；　walls　and　all；　even　as　my
grandfather　knew　it；　when　the　first　Edward　was　young　upon　the
throne。〃

For　an　hour　or　more　Chandos　paced　upon　the　ramparts　with　his　young
Squire　at　his　elbow　and　talked　to　him　of　his　duties　and　of　the
secrets　and　craft　of　warfare；　Nigel　drinking　in　and　storing　in　his
memory　every　word　from　so　revered　a　teacher。　　Many　a　time　in　after
life；　in　stress　and　in　danger；　he　strengthened　himself　by　the
memory　of　that　slow　walk　with　the　blue　sea　on　one　side　and　the
fair　town　on　the　other；　when　the　wise　soldier　and　noble…hearted
knight　poured　forth　his　precept　and　advice　as　the　master　workman
to　the　apprentice。

〃Perhaps；　fair　son；〃　said　he；　〃you　are　like　so　many　other　lads　who
ride　to　the　wars；　and　know　so　much　already　that　it　is　waste　of
breath　to　advise　them？〃

〃Nay；　my　fair　lord；　I　know　nothing　save　that　I　would　fain　do　my
duty　and　either　win　honorable　advancement　or　die　worshipful　on　the
field。〃

〃You　are　wise　to　be　humble；〃　said　Chandos；　〃for　indeed　he　who
knows　most　of　war　knows　best　that　there　is　much　to　learn。　　As
there　is　a　mystery　of　the　rivers　and　a　mystery　of　woodcraft；　even
so　there　is　a　mystery　of　warfare　by　which　battles　may　be　lost　and
gained；　for　all　nations　are　brave；　and　where　the　brave　meets　the
brave　it　is　he　who　is　crafty　and　war…wise　who　will　win　the　day。
The　best　hound　will　run　at　fault　if　he　be　ill　laid　on；　and　the
best　hawk　will