sir nigel-第48节

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hearing　the　cymbals　clashing　all　round　them；　for　in　this　way　the
Spaniards　held　themselves　together。　　Once　the　wild　music　came　from
above　their　very　prow；　and　so　warned　them　to　change　their　course。
Once　also　a　huge　vessel　loomed　for　an　instant　upon　their　quarter；
but　they　turned　two　points　away　from　her；　and　she　blurred　and
vanished。　　Soon　the　cymbals　were　but　a　distant　tinkling；　and　at
last　they　died　gradually　away。

〃It　is　none　too　soon；〃　said　the　old　shipman；　pointing　to　a
yellowish　tint　in　the　haze　above　them。　　〃See　yonder！　　It　is　the
sun　which　wins　through。　　It　will　be　here　anon。　　Ah！　　said　I　not
so？〃

A　sickly　sun；　no　larger　and　far　dimmer　than　the　moon；　had　indeed
shown　its　face；　with　cloud…wreaths　smoking　across　it。　　As　they
looked　up　it　waxed　larger　and　brighter　before　their　eyes　…　a
yellow　halo　spread　round　it；　one　ray　broke　through；　and　then　a
funnel　of　golden　light　poured　down　upon　them；　widening　swiftly　at
the　base。　　A　minute　later　they　were　sailing　on　a　clear　blue　sea
with　an　azure　cloud…flecked　sky　above　their　heads；　and　such　a
scene　beneath　it　as　each　of　them　would　carry　in　his　memory　while
memory　remained。

They　were　in　mid…channel。　　The　white　and　green　coasts　of　Picardy
and　of　Kent　lay　clear　upon　either　side　of　them。　　The　wide　channel
stretched　in　front；　deepening　from　the　light　blue　beneath　their
prow　to　purple　on　the　far　sky…line。　　Behind　them　was　that　thick
bank　of　cloud　from　which　they　had　just　burst。　　It　lay　like　a　gray
wall　from　east　to　west；　and　through　it　were　breaking　the　high
shadowy　forms　of　the　ships　of　Spain。　　Four　of　them　had　already
emerged；　their　red　bodies；　gilded　sides　and　painted　sails　shining
gloriously　in　the　evening　sun。　　Every　instant　a　fresh　golden　spot
grew　out　of　the　fog；　which　blazed　like　a　star　for　an　instant；　and
then　surged　forward　to　show　itself　as　the　brazen　beak　of　the　great
red　vessel　which　bore　it。　　Looking　back；　the　whole　bank　of　cloud
was　broken　by　the　widespread　line　of　noble　ships　which　were
bursting　through　it。　　The　Basilisk　lay　a　mile　or　more　in　front　of
them　and　two　miles　clear　of　their　wing。　　Five　miles　farther　off；
in　the　direction　of　the　French　coast；　two　other　small　ships　were
running　down　Channel。　　A　cry　of　joy　from　Robert　Knolles　and　a
hearty　prayer　of　gratitude　to　the　saints　from　the　old　shipman
hailed　them　as　their　missing　comrades；　the　cog　Thomas　and　the
Grace　Dieu。

But　fair　as　was　the　view　of　their　lost　friends；　and　wondrous　the
appearance　of　the　Spanish　ships；　it　was　not　on　those　that　the　eyes
of　the　men　of　the　Basilisk　were　chiefly　bent。　　A　greater　sight　lay
before　them…a　sight　which　brought　them　clustering　to　the
forecastle　with　eager　eyes　and　pointing　fingers。　　The　English
fleet　was　coming　forth　from　the　Winchelsea　Coast。　　Already　before
the　fog　lifted　a　fast　galleass　had　brought　the　news　down　Channel
that　the　Spanish　were　on　the　sea；　and　the　King's　fleet　was　under
way。　　Now　their　long　array　of　sails；　gay　with　the　coats　and　colors
of　the　towns　which　had　furnished　them；　lay　bright　against　the
Kentish　coast　from　Dungeness　Point　to　Rye。　　Nine　and　twenty　ships
were　there　from　Southampton；　Shoreham；　Winchelsea；　Hastings；　Rye；
Hythe；　Romney；　Folkestone；　Deal；　Dover　and　Sandwich。　　With　their
great　sails　slued　round　to　catch　the　wind　they　ran　out；　whilst　the
Spanish；　like　the　gallant　foes　that　they　have　ever　been；　turned
their　heads　landward　to　meet　them。　　With　flaunting　banners　and
painted　sails；　blaring　trumpets　and　clashing　cymbals；　the　two
glittering　fleets；　dipping　and　rising　on　the　long　Channel　swell；
drew　slowly　together。

King　Edward　had　been　lying　all　day　in　his　great　ship　the　Philippa；
a　mile　out　from　the　Camber　Sands；　waiting　for　the　coming　of　the
Spaniards。　　Above　the　huge　sail　which　bore　the　royal　arms　flew　the
red　cross　of　England。　　Along　the　bulwarks　were　shown　the　shields
of　forty　knights；　the　flower　of　English　chivalry；　and　as　many
pennons　floated　from　the　deck。　　The　high　ends　of　the　ship
glittered　with　the　weapons　of　the　men…at…arms；　and　the　waist　was
crammed　with　the　archers。　　From　time　to　time　a　crash　of　nakers　and
blare　of　trumpets　burst　from　the　royal　ship；　and　was　answered　by
her　great　neighbors；　the　Lion　on　which　the　Black　Prince　flew　his
flag；　the　Christopher　with　the　Earl　of　Suffolk；　the　Salle　du　Roi
of　Robert　of　Namur；　and　the　Grace　Marie　of　Sir　Thomas　Holland。
Farther　off　lay　the　White　Swan；　bearing　the　arms　of　Mowbray；　the
Palmer　of　Deal；　flying　the　Black　Head　of　Audley；　and　the　Kentish
man　under　the　Lord　Beauchamp。　　The　rest　lay；　anchored　but　ready；
at　the　mouth　of　Winchelsea　Creek。

The　King　sat　upon　a　keg　in　the　fore　part　of　his　ship；　with　little
John　of　Richmond；　who　was　no　more　than　a　schoolboy；　perched　upon
his　knee。　　Edward　was　clad　in　the　black　velvet　jacket　which　was
his　favorite　garb；　and　wore　a　small　brown…beaver　hat　with　a　white
plume　at　the　side。　　A　rich　cloak　of　fur　turned　up　with　miniver
drooped　from　his　shoulders。　　Behind　him　were　a　score　of　his
knights；　brilliant　in　silks　and　sarcenets；　some　seated　on　an
upturned　boat　and　some　swinging　their　legs　from　the　bulwark。

In　front　stood　John　Chandos　in　a　party…colored　jupon；　one　foot
raised　upon　the　anchor…stock；　picking　at　the　strings　of　his　guitar
and　singing　a　song　which　he　had　learned　at　Marienburg　when　last　he
helped　the　Teutonic　knights　against　the　heathen。　　The　King；　his
knights；　and　even　the　archers　in　the　waist　below　them；　laughed　at
the　merry　lilt　and　joined　lustily　in　the　chorus；　while　the　men　of
the　neighboring　ships　leaned　over　the　side　to　hearken　to　the　deep
chant　rolling　over　the　waters。

But　there　came　a　sudden　interruption　to　the　song。　　A　sharp；　harsh
shout　came　down　from　the　lookout　stationed　in　the　circular　top　at
the　end　of　the　mast。　　〃I　spy　a　sail…two　sails！〃　he　cried。

John　Bunce　the　King's　shipman　shaded　his　eyes　and　stared　at　the
long　fog…bank　which　shrouded　the　northern　channel。　　Chandos；　with
his　fingers　over　the　strings　of　his　guitar；　the　King；　the　knights；
all　gazed　in　the　same　direction。　　Two　small　dark　shapes　had　burst
forth；　and　then　after　some　minutes　a　third。

〃Surely　they　are　the　Spaniards？〃　said　the　King。

〃Nay；　sire；〃　the　seaman　answered；　〃the　Spaniards　are　greater　ships
and　are　painted　red。　　I　know　not　what　these　may　be。〃

〃But　I　could　hazard　a　guess！〃　cried　Chandos。　　〃Surely　they　are　the
three　ships　with　my　own　men　on　their　way　to　Brittany。〃

〃You　have　hit　it；　John；〃　said　the　King。　　〃But　look；　I　pray　you！
What　in　the　name　of　the　Virgin　is　that？〃

Four　brilliant　stars　of　flashing　light　had　shone　out　from
different　points　of　the　cloud…bank。　　The　neat　instant　as　many　tall
ships　had　swooped　forth　into　the　sunshine。　　A　fierce　shout　rang
from　the　King's　ship；　and　was　taken　up　all　down　the　line；　until
the　whole　coast　from　Dungeness　to　Winchelsea　echoed　the　warlike
greeting。　　The　King　sprang　up　with　a　joyous　face。

〃The　game　is　afoot；　my　friends！〃　said　he。　　〃Dress；　John！　　Dress；
Walter！　　Quick　all　of　you！　　Squires；　bring　the　harness！　　Let　each
tend　to　himself；　for　the　time　is　short。〃

A　strange　sight　it　was　to　see　these　forty　nobles　tearing　off　their
clothes　and　littering　the　deck　with　velvets　and　satins；　whilst　the
squire　of　each；　as　busy　as　an　ostler　before　a　race；　stooped　and
pulled　and　strained　and　riveted；　fastening　the　bassinets；　the
legpieces；　the　front　and　the　back　plates；　until　the　silken
courtier　had　become　the　man　of　steel。　　When　their　work　was
finished；　there　stood　a　stern　group　of　warriors　where　the　light
dandies　had　sung　and　jested　round　Sir　John's　guitar。　　Below　in
orderly　silence　the　archers　were　mustering　under　their　officers
and　taking　their　allotted　stations。　　A　dozen　had　swarmed　up　to
their　hazardous　post　in　the　little　tower　in　the　tops。

〃Bring　wine；　Nicholas！〃　cried　the　King。　　〃Gentlemen；　ere　you　close
your　visors　I　pray　you　to　take　a　last　rouse　with　me。　　You　will　be
dry　enough；　I　promise　you；　before　your　lips　are　free　once　more。
To　what　shall　we　drink；　John？〃

〃To　the　men　of　Spain；〃　said　Chandos；　his　sharp　face　peering　like　a
gaunt　bird　through　the　gap　in　his　helmet。　　〃May　their　hearts　be
stout　and　their　spirits　high　this　day！〃

〃Well　said；　John！〃　cried　the　King；　and　the　knights　laughed
joyously　as　they　drank。　　〃Now；　fair　sirs；　let　each　to　his　post！　　I
am　warden　here　on　the　forecastle。　　Do　you；　John；　take　charge　of
the　afterguard。　　Walter；　James；　William；　Fitzallan；　Goldesborough；
Reginald　…　you　will　stay　with　me！　　John；　you　may　pick　whom　you
will　and　the　others　will　bide　with　the　archers。　　Now　bear　straight
at　the　center；　master…shipman。　　Ere　yonder　sun　sets　we　will　bring
a　red　ship　back　as　a　gift　to　our　ladies；　or　never　look　upon　a
lady's　face　again。〃

The　art　of　sailing　into　a　wind　had　not　yet　been　invented；　nor　was
there　any　fore…and…aft　canvas；　save　for　small　headsails　with　which
a　vessel　could　be　turned。　　Hence　the　English　fleet　had　to　take　a
long　slant　down　channel　to　meet　their　enemies；　but　as　the
Spaniards　coming　before　the　wind　were　equally　anxious　to　engage
there　was　the　less　delay。　　With　stately　pomp　and　dignity；　the　two
great　fleets　approached。

It　chanced　that　one　fine　carack　had　outstripped　its　consorts　and
came　sweeping　along；　all　red　and　gold；　with