sir nigel-第37节

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The　best　hound　will　run　at　fault　if　he　be　ill　laid　on；　and　the
best　hawk　will　fly　at　check　if　he　be　badly　loosed；　and　even　so　the
bravest　army　may　go　awry　if　it　be　ill　handled。　　There　are　not　in
Christendom　better　knights　and　squires　than　those　of　the　French；
and　yet　we　have　had　the　better　of　them；　for　in　our　Scottish　Wars
and　elsewhere　we　have　learned　more　of　this　same　mystery　of　which　I
speak。〃

〃And　wherein　lies　our　wisdom；　honored　sir？〃　asked　Nigel。　　〃I　also
would　fain　be　war…wise　and　learn　to　fight　with　my　wits　as　well　as
with　my　sword。〃

Chandos　shook　his　head　and　smiled。　　〃It　is　in　the　forest　and　on
the　down　that　you　learn　to　fly　the　hawk　and　loose　the　hound；〃　said
he。　　〃So　also　it　is　in　camp　and　on　the　field　that　the　mystery　of
war　can　be　learned。　　There　only　has　every　great　captain　come　to　be
its　master。　　To　start　he　must　have　a　cool　head；　quick　to　think；
soft　as　wax　before　his　purpose　is　formed；　hard　as　steel　when　once
he　sees　it　before　him。　　Ever　alert　he　must　be；　and　cautious　also；
but　with　judgment　to　turn　his　caution　into　rashness　where　a　large
gain　may　be　put　against　a　small　stake。　　An　eye　for　country　also；
for　the　trend　of　the　rivers；　the　slope　of　the　hills；　the　cover　of
the　woods；　and　the　light　green　of　the　bog…land。〃

Poor　Nigel；　who　had　trusted　to　his　lance　and　to　Pommers　to　break
his　path　to　glory；　stood　aghast　at　this　list　of　needs。　　〃Alas！〃　he
cried。　　〃How　am　I　to　gain　all　this？　　…　I；　who　could　scarce　learn
to　read　or　write　though　the　good　Father　Matthew　broke　a　hazel
stick　a　day　across　my　shoulders？　　〃

〃You　will　gain　it；　fair　son；　where　others　have　gained　it　before
you。　　You　have　that　which　is　the　first　thing　of　all；　a　heart　of
fire　from　which　other　colder　hearts　may　catch　a　spark。　　But　you
must　have　knowledge　also　of　that　which　warfare　has　taught　us　in
olden　times。　　We　know；　par　exemple；　that　horsemen　alone　cannot
hope　to　win　against　good　foot…soldiers。　　Has　it　not　been　tried　at
Courtrai；　at　Stirling；　and　again　under　my　own　eyes　at　Crecy；　where
the　chivalry　of　France　went　down　before　our　bowmen？〃

Nigel　stared　at　him；　with　a　perplexed　brow。　　〃Fair　sir；　my　heart
grows　heavy　as　I　hear　you。　　Do　you　then　say　that　our　chivalry　can
make　no　head　against　archers；　billmen　and　the　like？〃

〃Nay；　Nigel；　for　it　has　also　been　very　clearly　shown　that　the　best
foot…soldiers　unsupported　cannot　hold　their　own　against　the　mailed
horsemen。〃

〃To　whom　then　is　the　victory？〃　asked　Nigel。

〃To　him　who　can　mix　his　horse　and　foot；　using　each　to　strengthen
the　other。　　Apart　they　are　weak。　　Together　they　are　strong。　　The
archer　who　can　weaken　the　enemy's　line；　the　horseman　who　can　break
it　when　it　is　weakened；　as　was　done　at　Falkirk　and　Duplin；　there
is　the　secret　of　our　strength。　　Now　touching　this　same　battle　of
Falkirk；　I　pray　you　for　one　instant　to　give　it　your　attention。〃

With　his　whip　he　began　to　trace　a　plan　of　the　Scottish　battle　upon
the　dust；　and　Nigel　with　knitted　brows　was　trying　hard　to　muster
his　small　stock　of　brains　and　to　profit　by　the　lecture；　when　their
conversation　was　interrupted　by　a　strange　new　arrival。

It　was　a　very　stout　little　man；　wheezy　and　purple　with　haste；　who
scudded　down　the　rampart　as　if　he　were　blown　by　the　wind；　his
grizzled　hair　flying　and　his　long　black　gown　floating　behind　him。
He　was　clad　in　the　dress　of　a　respectable　citizen；　a　black　jerkin
trimmed　with　sable；　a　black…velvet　beaver　hat　and　a　white　feather。
At　the　sight　of　Chandos　he　gave　a　cry　of　joy　and　quickened　his
pace　so　that　when　he　did　at　last　reach　him　he　could　only　stand
gasping　and　waving　his　hands。

〃Give　yourself　time；　good　Master　Wintersole；　give　yourself　time！〃
said　Chandos　in　a　soothing　voice。

〃The　papers！〃　gasped　the　little　man。　　〃Oh；　my　Lord　Chandos；　the
papers　…　〃

〃What　of　the　papers；　my　worthy　sir？〃

〃I　swear　by　our　good　patron　Saint　Leonard；　it　is　no　fault　of　mine！
I　had　locked　them　in　my　coffer。　　But　the　lock　was　forced　and　the
coffer　rifled。〃

A　shadow　of　anger　passed　over　the　soldier's　keen　face。

〃How　now；　Master　Mayor？　　Pull　your　wits　together　and　do　not　stand
there　babbling　like　a　three…year　child。　　Do　you　say　that　some　one
hath　taken　the　papers？〃

〃It　is　sooth；　fair　sir！　　Thrice　I　have　been　Mayor　of　the　town；　and
fifteen　years　burgess　and　jurat；　but　never　once　has　any　public
matter　gone　awry　through　me。　　Only　last　month　there　came　an　order
from　Windsor　on　a　Tuesday　for　a　Friday　banquet；　a　thousand　soles；
four　thousand　plaice；　two　thousand　mackerel；　five　hundred　crabs；　a
thousand　lobsters；　five　thousand　whiting　…　〃

〃I　doubt　not；　Master　Mayor；　that　you　are　an　excellent　fishmonger；
but　the　matter　concerns　the　papers　I　gave　into　your　keeping。
Where　are　they？〃

〃Taken；　fair　sir…gone！〃

〃And　who　hath　dared　to　take　them？〃

〃Alas！　　I　know　not。　　It　was　but　for　as　long　as　you　would　say　an
angelus　that　I　left　the　chamber；　and　when　I　came　back　there　was
the　coffer；　broken　and　empty；　upon　my　table。〃

〃Do　you　suspect　no　one？〃

〃There　was　a　varlet　who　hath　come　with　the　last　few　days　into　my
employ。　　He　is　not　to　be　found；　and　I　have　sent　horsemen　along
both　the　Udimore　road　and　that　to　Rye；　that　they　may　seize　him。
By　the　help　of　Saint　Leonard　they　can　scarce　miss　him；　for　one　can
tell　him　a　bow…shot　off　by　his　hair。〃

〃Is　it　red？〃　asked　Chandos　eagerly。　　〃Is　it　fox…red；　and　the　man　a
small　man　pocked　with　sun…spots；　and　very　quick　in　his　movements？〃

〃It　is　the　man　himself。〃

Chandos　shook　his　clenched　hand　with　annoyance；　and　then　set　off
swiftly　down　the　street。

〃It　is　Peter　the　Red　Ferret　once　more！〃　said　he。　　〃I　knew　him　of
old　in　France；　where　he　has　done　us　more　harm　than　a　company　of
men…at…arms。　　He　speaks　English　as　he　speaks　French；　and　he　is　of
such　daring　and　cunning　that　nothing　is　secret　from　him。　　In　all
France　there　is　no　more　dangerous　man；　for　though　he　is　a
gentleman　of　blood　and　coat…armor　he　takes　the　part　of　a　spy；
because　it　hath　the　more　danger　and　therefore　the　more　honor。〃

〃But；　my　fair　lord；〃　cried　the　Mayor；　as　he　hurried　along；　keeping
pace　with　the　long　strides　of　the　soldier；　〃I　knew　that　you　warned
me　to　take　all　care　of　the　papers；　but　surely　there　was　no　matter
of　great　import　in　it？　　It　was　but　to　say　what　stores　were　to　be
sent　after　you　to　Calais？〃

〃Is　that　not　everything？〃　cried　Chandos　impatiently。　　〃Can　you　not
see；　oh　foolish　Master　Wintersole；　that　the　French　suspect　we　are
about　to　make　some　attempt　and　that　they　have　sent　Peter　the　Red
Ferret；　as　they　have　sent　him　many　times　before；　to　get　tidings　of
whither　we　are　bound？　　Now　that　he　knows　that　the　stores　are　for
Calais；　then　the　French　near　Calais　will　take　his　warning；　and　so
the　King's　whole　plan　come　to　nothing。〃

〃Then　he　will　fly　by　water。　　We　can　stop　him　yet。　　He　has　not　an
hour's　start。〃

〃It　may　be　that　a　boat　awaits　him　at　Rye　or　Hythe；　but　it　is　more
like　that　he　has　all　ready　to　depart　from　here。　　Ah；　see　yonder！
I'll　warrant　that　the　Red　Ferret　is　on　board！〃

Chandos　had　halted　in　front　of　his　inn；　and　now　he　pointed　down　to
the　outer　harbor；　which　lay　two　miles　off　across　the　green　plain。
It　was　connected　by　a　long　winding　canal　with　the　inner　dock　at
the　base　of　the　hill；　upon　which　the　town　was　built。　　Between　the
two　horns　formed　by　the　short　curving　piers　a　small　schooner　was
running　out　to　sea；　dipping　and　rising　before　a　sharp　southerly
breeze。

〃It　is　no　Winchelsea　boat；〃　said　the　Mayor。　　〃She　is　longer　and
broader　in　the　beam　than　ours。〃

〃Horses！　　bring　horses！〃　cried　Chandos。　　〃Come；　Nigel；　let　us　go
further　into　the　matter。〃

A　busy　crowd　of　varlets；　archers；　and　men…at…arms　swarmed　round
the　gateway　of　the　〃Sign　of　the　Broom　Pod；〃　singing；　shouting；　and
jostling　in　rough　good…fellowship。　　The　sight　of　the　tall　thin
figure　of　Chandos　brought　order　amongst　them；　and　a　few　minutes
later　the　horses　were　ready　and　saddled。　　A　breakneck　ride　down　a
steep　declivity；　and　then　a　gallop　of　two　miles　over　the　sedgy
plain　carried　them　to　the　outer　harbor。　　A　dozen　vessels　were
lying　there；　ready　to　start　for　Bordeaux　or　Rochelle；　and　the　quay
was　thick　with　sailors；　laborers　and　townsmen　and　heaped　with
wine…barrels　and　wool…packs。

〃Who　is　warden　here？〃　asked　Chandos；　springing　from　his　horse。

〃Badding！　　Where　is　Cock　Badding？　　Badding　is　warden！〃　shouted　the
crowd。

A　moment　later　a　short　swarthy　man；　bull…necked　and　deep…chested；
pushed　through　the　people。　　He　was　clad　in　rough　russet　wool　with
a　scarlet　cloth　tied　round　his　black　curly　head。　　His　sleeves　were
rolled　up　to　his　shoulders；　and　his　brown　arms；　all　stained　with
grease　and　tar；　were　like　two　thick　gnarled　branches　from　an　oaken
stump。　　His　savage　brown　face　was　fierce　and　frowning；　and　was
split　from　chin　to　temple　with　the　long　white　wale　of　an
ill…healed　wound。

〃How　now；　gentles；　will　you　never　wait　your　turn？〃　he　rumbled　in　a
deep　angry　voice。　　〃Can　you　not　see　that　we　are　warping　the　Rose
of　Guienne　into　midstream　for　the　ebb…tide？　　Is　this　a　time　to
break　in　upon　us？　　Your　goods　will　go　aboard　in　due　season；　I
promise　you；　so　ride　back　into　the　town　and　find　such　pleasure　as
you　may；　while　I　and　my　mates　do　our　work　without　let　or
hindrance。〃

〃It　is　th