sir nigel-第4节

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above　him　there　hovered　an　angel　of　grace　who　pointed　to　the　steep
and　narrow　track。　　How　could　one　doubt　these　things；　when　Pope　and
priest　and　scholar　and　King　were　all　united　in　believing　them；
with　no　single　voice　of　question　in　the　whole　wide　world？

Every　book　read；　every　picture　seen；　every　tale　heard　from　nurse
or　mother；　all　taught　the　same　lesson。　　And　as　a　man　traveled
through　the　world　his　faith　would　grow　the　firmer；　for　go　where　he
would　there　were　the　endless　shrines　of　the　saints；　each　with　its
holy　relic　in　the　center；　and　around　it　the　tradition　of　incessant
miracles；　with　stacks　of　deserted　crutches　and　silver　votive
hearts　to　prove　them。　　At　every　turn　he　was　made　to　feel　how　thin
was　the　veil；　and　how　easily　rent；　which　screened　him　from　the
awful　denizens　of　the　unseen　world。

Hence　the　wild　announcement　of　the　frightened　monk　seemed　terrible
rather　than　incredible　to　those　whom　he　addressed。　　　The　Abbot's
ruddy　face　paled　for　a　moment；　it　is　true；　but　he　plucked　the
crucifix　from　his　desk　and　rose　valiantly　to　his　feet。

〃Lead　me　to　him！〃　said　he。　　〃Show　me　the　foul　fiend　who　dares　to
lay　his　grip　upon　brethren　of　the　holy　house　of　Saint　Bernard！
Run　down　to　my　chaplain；　brother！　　Bid　him　bring　the　exorcist　with
him；　and　also　the　blessed　box　of　relics；　and　the　bones　of　Saint
James　from　under　the　altar！　　With　these　and　a　contrite　and　humble
heart　we　may　show　front　to　all　the　powers　of　darkness。〃

But　the　sacrist　was　of　a　more　critical　turn　of　mind。　　He　clutched
the　monk's　arm　with　a　grip　which　left　its　five　purple　spots　for
many　a　day　to　come。

〃Is　this　the　way　to　enter　the　Abbot's　own　chamber；　without　knock
or　reverence；　or　so　much　as　a　‘Pax　vobiscum'？〃　said　he　sternly。
〃You　were　wont　to　be　our　gentlest　novice；　of　lowly　carriage　in
chapter；　devout　in　psalmody　and　strict　in　the　cloister。　　Pull　your
wits　together　and　answer　me　straightly。　　In　what　form　has　the　foul
fiend　appeared；　and　how　has　he　done　this　grievous　scathe　to　our
brethren？　　Have　you　seen　him　with　your　own　eyes；　or　do　you　repeat
from　hearsay？　　Speak；　man；　or　you　stand　on　the　penance…stool　in
the　chapter…house　this　very　hour！〃

Thus　adjured；　the　frightened　monk　grew　calmer　in　his　bearing；
though　his　white　lips　and　his　startled　eyes；　with　the　gasping　of
his　breath；　told　of　his　inward　tremors。

〃If　it　please　you；　holy　father；　and　you；　reverend　sacrist；　it　came
about　in　this　way。　　James　the　subprior；　and　Brother　John　and　I　had
spent　our　day　from　sext　onward　on　Hankley；　cutting　bracken　for　the
cow…houses。　　We　were　coming　back　over　the　five…virgate　field；　and
the　holy　subprior　was　telling　us　a　saintly　tale　from　the　life　of
Saint　Gregory；　when　there　came　a　sudden　sound　like　a　rushing
torrent；　and　the　foul　fiend　sprang　over　the　high　wall　which　skirts
the　water…meadow　and　rushed　upon　us　with　the　speed　of　the　wind。
The　lay　brother　he　struck　to　the　ground　and　trampled　into　the
mire。　　Then；　seizing　the　good　subprior　in　his　teeth；　he　rushed
round　the　field；　swinging　him　as　though　he　were　a　fardel　of　old
clothes。

〃Amazed　at　such　a　sight；　I　stood　without　movement　and　had　said　a
credo　and　three　aves；　when　the　Devil　dropped　the　subprior　and
sprang　upon　me。　　With　the　help　of　Saint　Bernard　I　clambered　over
the　wall；　but　not　before　his　teeth　had　found　my　leg；　and　he　had
torn　away　the　whole　back　skirt　of　my　gown。〃　　As　he　spoke　he　turned
and　gave　corroboration　to　his　story　by　the　hanging　ruins　of　his
long　trailing　garment。

〃In　what　shape　then　did　Satan　appear？〃　the　Abbot　demanded。

〃As　a　great　yellow　horse；　holy　father　…　a　monster　horse；　with　eyes
of　fire　and　the　teeth　of　a　griffin。〃

〃A　yellow　horse！〃　　The　sacrist　glared　at　the　scared　monk。　　〃You
foolish　brother！　　How　will　you　behave　when　you　have　indeed　to　face
the　King　of　Terrors　himself　if　you　can　be　so　frightened　by　the
sight　of　a　yellow　horse？　　It　is　the　horse　of　Franklin　Aylward；　my
father；　which　has　been　distrained　by　us　because　he　owes　the　Abbey
fifty　good　shillings　and　can　never　hope　to　pay　it。　　Such　a　horse；
they　say；　is　not　to　be　found　betwixt　this　and　the　King's　stables
at　Windsor；　for　his　sire　was　a　Spanish　destrier；　and　his　dam　an
Arab　mare　of　the　very　breed　which　Saladin；　whose　soul　now　reeks　in
Hell；　kept　for　his　own　use；　and　even　it　has　been　said　under　the
shelter　of　his　own　tent。　　I　took　him　in　discharge　of　the　debt；　and
I　ordered　the　varlets　who　had　haltered　him　to　leave　him　alone　in
the　water…meadow；　for　I　have　heard　that　the　beast　has　indeed　a
most　evil　spirit；　and　has　killed　more　men　than　one。〃

〃It　was　an　ill　day　for　Waverley　that　you　brought　such　a　monster
within　its　bounds；〃　said　the　Abbot。　　〃If　the　subprior　and　Brother
John　be　indeed　dead；　then　it　would　seem　that　if　the　horse　be　not
the　Devil　he　is　at　least　the　Devil's　instrument。〃

〃Horse　or　Devil；　holy　father；　I　heard　him　shout　with　joy　as　he
trampled　upon　Brother　John；　and　had　you　seen　him　tossing　the
subprior　as　a　dog　shakes　a　rat　you　would　perchance　have　felt　even
as　I　did。〃

〃Come　then；〃　cried　the　Abbot；　〃let　us　see　with　our　own　eyes　what
evil　has　been　done。〃

And　the　three　monks　hurried　down　the　stair　which　led　to　the
cloisters。

They　had　no　sooner　descended　than　their　more　pressing　fears　were
set　at　rest；　for　at　that　very　moment；　limping；　disheveled　and
mud…stained；　the　two　sufferers　were　being　led　in　amid　a　crowd　of
sympathizing　brethren。　　Shouts　and　cries　from　outside　showed；
however；　that　some　further　drama　was　in　progress；　and　both　Abbot
and　sacrist　hastened　onward　as　fast　as　the　dignity　of　their　office
would　permit；　until　they　had　passed　the　gates　and　gained　the　wall
of　the　meadow。　　Looking　over　it；　a　remarkable　sight　presented
itself　to　their　eyes。

Fetlock　deep　in　the　lush　grass　there　stood　a　magnificent　horse；
such　a　horse　as　a　sculptor　or　a　soldier　might　thrill　to　see。　　His
color　was　a　light　chestnut；　with　mane　and　tail　of　a　more　tawny
tint。　　Seventeen　hands　high；　with　a　barrel　and　haunches　which
bespoke　tremendous　strength；　he　fined　down　to　the　most　delicate
lines　of　dainty　breed　in　neck　and　crest　and　shoulder。　　He　was
indeed　a　glorious　sight　as　he　stood　there；　his　beautiful　body
leaning　back　from　his　wide…spread　and　propped　fore　legs；　his　head
craned　high；　his　ears　erect；　his　mane　bristling；　his　red　nostrils
opening　and　shutting　with　wrath；　and　his　flashing　eyes　turning
from　side　to　side　in　haughty　menace　and　defiance。

Scattered　round　in　a　respectful　circle；　six　of　the　Abbey　lay
servants　and　foresters；　each　holding　a　halter；　were　creeping
toward　him。　　Every　now　and　then；　with　a　beautiful　toss　and　swerve
and　plunge；　the　great　creature　would　turn　upon　one　of　his　would…be
captors；　and　with　outstretched　head；　flying　mane　and　flashing
teeth；　would　chase　him　screaming　to　the　safety　of　the　wall；　while
the　others　would　close　swiftly　in　behind　and　cast　their　ropes　in
the　hope　of　catching　neck　or　leg；　but　only　in　their；　turn　to　be
chased　to　the　nearest　refuge。

Had　two　of　these　ropes　settled　upon　the　horse；　and　had　their
throwers　found　some　purchase　of　stump　or　boulder　by　which　they
could　hold　them；　then　the　man's　brain　might　have　won　its　wonted
victory　over　swiftness　and　strength。　　But　the　brains　were
themselves　at　fault　which　imagined　that　one　such　rope　would　serve
any　purpose　save　to　endanger　the　thrower。

Yet　so　it　was；　and　what　might　have　been　foreseen　occurred　at　the
very　moment　of　the　arrival　of　the　monks。　　The　horse；　having　chased
one　of　his　enemies　to　the　wall；　remained　so　long　snorting　his
contempt　over　the　coping　that　the　others　were　able　to　creep　upon
him　from　behind。　　Several　ropes　were　flung；　and　one　noose　settled
over　the　proud　crest　and　lost　itself　in　the　waving　mane。　　In　an
instant　the　creature　had　turned　and　the　men　were　flying　for　their
lives；　but　he　who　had　cast　the　rope　lingered；　uncertain　what　use
to　make　of　his　own　success。　　That　moment　of　doubt　was　fatal。　　With
a　yell　of　dismay；　the　man　saw　the　great　creature　rear　above　him。
Then　with　a　crash　the　fore　feet　fell　upon　him　and　dashed　him　to
the　ground。　　He　rose　screaming；　was　hurled　over　once　more；　and　lay
a　quivering；　bleeding　heap；　while　the　savage　horse；　the　most　cruel
and　terrible　in　its　anger　of　all　creatures　on　earth；　bit　and　shook
and　trampled　the　writhing　body。

A　loud　wail　of　horror　rose　from　the　lines　of　tonsured　heads　which
skirted　the　high　wall　…　a　wail　which　suddenly　died　away　into　a
long　hushed　silence；　broken　at　last　by　a　rapturous　cry　of
thanksgiving　and　of　joy。

On　the　road　which　led　to　the　old　dark　manor…house　upon　the　side　of
the　hill　a　youth　had　been　riding。　　His　mount　was　a　sorry　one；　a
weedy；　shambling；　long…haired　colt；　and　his　patched　tunic　of　faded
purple　with　stained　leather　belt　presented　no　very　smart
appearance；　yet　in　the　bearing　of　the　man；　in　the　poise　of　his
head；　in　his　easy　graceful　carriage；　and　in　the　bold　glance　of　his
large　blue　eyes；　there　was　that　stamp　of　distinction　and　of　breed
which　would　have　given　him　a　place　of　his　own　in　any　assembly。　　He
was　of　small　stature；　but　his　frame　was　singularly　elegant　and
graceful。　　His　face；　though　tanned　with　the　weather；　was　delicate
in　features　and　most　eager　and　alert　in　expression。　　A　thick
fringe　of　crisp　yellow　c