sir nigel-第57节

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call　upon　me　in　vain。　　I　pray　you；　Raoul；　to　use　your　wits；　for
mine　are　all　curdled　in　my　head。　　Tell　me　what　I　should　do　and　how
I　may　bring　him　help。〃

The　Frenchman　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃As　easy　to　get　a　lamb
unscathed　out　of　a　wolves'　lair　as　a　prisoner　safe　from　La
Brohiniere。　　Nay；　Nigel；　whither　do　you　go？　　Have　you　indeed　taken
leave　of　your　wits？〃

The　Squire　had　spurred　his　horse　down　the　hillside　and　never
halted　until　he　was　within　a　bowshot　of　the　gate。　　The　French
prisoner　followed　hard　behind　him；　with　a　buzz　of　reproaches　and
expostulations。

〃You　are　mad；　Nigel！〃　he。　　cried。　　〃What　do　you　hope　to　do　then？
Would　you　carry　the　castle　with　your　own　hands？　　Halt；　man；　halt；
in　the　name　of　the　Virgin！〃

But　Nigel　had　no　plan　in　his　head　and　only　obeyed　the　fevered
impulse　to　do　something　to　ease　his　thoughts。　　He　paced　his　horse
up　and　down；　waving　his　spear；　and　shouting　insults　and　challenges
to　the　garrison。　　Over　the　high　wall　a　hundred　jeering　faces
looked　down　upon　him。　　So　rash　and　wild　was　his　action　that　it
seemed　to　those　within　to　mean　some　trap；　so　the　drawbridge　was
still　held　high　and　none　ventured　forth　to　seize　him。　　A　few
long…range　arrows　pattered　on　the　rocks；　and　then　with　a　deep
booming　sound　a　huge　stone；　hurled　from　a　mangonel；　sang　over　the
head　of　the　two　Squires　and　crushed　into　splinters　amongst　the
boulders　behind　them。　　The　Frenchman　seized　Nigel's　bridle　and
forced　him　farther　from　the　gateway。

〃By　the　dear　Virgin！〃　he　cried；　〃I　care　not　to　have　those　pebbles
about　my　ears；　yet　I　cannot　go　back　alone；　so　it　is　very　clear；
my；　crazy　comrade；　that　you　must　come　also。　　Now　we　are　beyond
their　reach！　　But　see；　my　friend　Nigel；　who　are　those　who　crown
the　height？〃

The　sun　had　sunk　behind　the　western　ridge；　but　the　glowing　sky　was
fringed　at　its　lower　edge　by　a　score　of　ruddy　twinkling　points。　　A
body　of　horsemen　showed　hard　and　black　upon　the　bare　hill。　　Then
they　dipped　down　the　slope　into　the　valley；　whilst　a　band　of
footmen　followed　behind。

〃They　are　my　people；〃　cried　Nigel　joyously。　　〃Come；　my　friend；
hasten；　that　we　may　take　counsel　what　we　shall　do。〃

Sir　Robert　Knolles　rode　a　bowshot　in　front　of　his　men；　and　his
brow　was　as　black　as　night。　　Beside　him；　with　crestfallen　face；
his　horse　bleeding；　his　armor　dinted　and　soiled；　was　the
hot…headed　knight；　Sir　James　Astley。　　A　fierce　discussion　raged
between　them。

〃I　have　done　my　devoir　as　best　I　might；〃　said　Astley。　　〃Alone　I
had　ten　of　them　at　my　sword…point。　　I　know　not　how　I　have　lived　to
tell　it。〃

〃What　is　your　devoir　to　me？　　Where　are　my　thirty　bowmen？〃　cried
Knolles　in　bitter　wrath。　　〃Ten　lie　dead　upon　the　ground　and　twenty
are　worse　than　dead　in　yonder　castle。　　And　all　because　you　must
needs　show　all　men　how　bold　you　are；　and　ride　into　a　bushment　such
as　a　child　could　see。　　Alas　for　my　own　folly　that　ever　I　should
have　trusted　such　a　one　as　you　with　the　handling　of　men！〃

〃By　God；　Sir　Robert；　you　shall　answer　to　me　for　those　words！〃
cried　Astley　with　a　choking　voice。　　〃Never　has　a　man　dared　to
speak　to　me　as　you　have　done　this　day。〃

〃As　long　as　I　hold　the　King's　order　I　shall　be　master；　and　by　the
Lord　I　will　hang　you；　James；　on　a　near　tree　if　I　have　further
cause　of　offense！　　How　now；　Nigel？　　I　see　by　yonder　white　horse
that　you　at　least　have　not　failed　me。　　I　will　speak　with　you　anon。
Percy；　bring　up　your　men；　and　let　us　gather　round　this　castle；
for；　as　I　hope　for　my　soul's　salvation；　I　win　not　leave　it　until　I
have　my　archers；　or　the　head　of　him　who　holds　them。〃

That　night　the　English　lay　thick　round　the　fortress　of　La
Brohiniere　so　that　none　might　come　forth　from　it。　　But　if　none
could　come　forth　it　was　hard　to　see　how　any　could　win　their　way
in；　for　it　was　full　of　men；　the　walls　were　high　and　strong；　and　a
deep　dry　ditch　girt　it　round。　　But　the　hatred　and　fear　which　its
master　had　raised　over　the　whole　country…side　could　now　be　plainly
seen；　for　during　the　night　the　brushwood　men　and　the　villagers
came　in　from　all　parts　with　offers　of　such　help　as　they　could　give
for　the　intaking　of　the　castle。　　Knolles　set　them　cutting　bushes
and　tying　them　into　fagots。　　When　morning　came　he　rode　out　before
the　wall　and　he　held　counsel　with　his　knights　and　squires　as　to
how　he　should　enter　in。

〃By　noon；〃　said　he；　〃we　shall　have　so　many　fagots　that　we　may　make
our　way　over　the　ditch。　　Then　we　will　beat　in　the　gates　and　so　win
a　footing。〃

The　young　Frenchman　had　come　with　Nigel　to　the　conference；　and
now；　amid　the　silence　which　followed　the　leader's　proposal；　he
asked　if　he　might　be　heard。　　He　was　clad　in　the　brazen　armor　which
Nigel　had　taken　from　the　Red　Ferret。

〃It　may　be　that　it　is　not　for　me　to　join　in　your　counsel；〃　said
he；　〃seeing　that　I　am　a　prisoner　and　a　Frenchman。　　But　this　man　is
the　enemy　of　all；　and　we　of　France　owe　him　a　debt　even　as　you　do；
since　many　a　good　Frenchman　has　died　in　his　cellars。　　For　this
reason　I　crave　to　be　heard。〃

〃We　will　hear　you；〃　said　Knolles。

〃I　have　come　from　Evran　yesterday；〃　said　he。　　〃Sir　Henry
Spinnefort；　Sir　Peter　La　Roye　and　many　other　brave　knights　and
squires　lie　there；　with　a　good　company　of　men；　all　of　whom　would
very　gladly　join　with　you　to　destroy　this　butcher　and　his　castle；
for　it　is　well　known　amongst　us　that　his　deeds　are　neither　good
nor　fair。　　There　are　also　bombards　which　we　could　drag　over　the
hills；　and　so　beat　down　this　iron　gate。　　If　you　so　order　it　I　will
ride　to　Evran　and　bring　my　companions　back　with　me。〃

〃Indeed；　Robert；〃　said　Percy；　〃it　is　in　my　mind　that　this
Frenchman　speaks　very　wisely　and　well。〃

〃And　when　we　have　taken　the　castle　…　what　then？〃　asked　Knolles。

〃Then　you　could　go　upon　your　way；　fair　sir；　and　we　upon　ours。　　Or
if　it　please　you　better　you　could　draw　together　on　yonder　hill　and
we　on　this　one；　so　that　the　valley　lies　between　us。　　Then　if　any
cavalier　wished　to　advance　himself　or　to　shed　a　vow　and　exalt　his
lady；　an　opening　might　be　found　for　him。　　Surely　it　would　be　shame
if　so　many　brave　men　drew　together　and　no　small　deed　were　to　come
of　it。〃

Nigel　clasped　his　captive's　hand　to　show　his　admiration　and
esteem；　but　Knolles　shook　his　head。

〃Things　are　not　ordered　thus；　save　in　the　tales　of　the　minstrels；〃
said　he。　　〃I　have　no　wish　that　your　people　at　Evran　should　know
our　numbers　or　our　plans。　　I　am　not　in　this　land　for　knight
errantry；　but　I　am　here　to　make　head　against　the　King's　enemies。
Has　no　one　aught　else　to　say？〃

Percy　pointed　to　the　small　outlying　fortalice　upon　the　knoll；　on
which　also　flew　the　flag　of　the　bloody　head。　　〃This　smaller
castle；　Robert；　is　of　no　great　strength　and　cannot　hold　more　than
fifty　men。　　It　is　built；　as　I　conceive　it；　that　no　one　should
seize　the　high　ground　and　shoot　down　into　the　other。　　Why　should
we　not　turn　all　our　strength　upon　it；　since　it　is　the　weaker　of
the　twain？〃

But　again　the　young　leader　shook　his　head。　　〃If　I　should　take　it；〃
said　he；　〃I　am　still　no　nearer　to　my　desire；　nor　will　it　avail　me
in　getting　back　my　bowmen。　　It　may　cost　a　score　of　men；　and　what
profit　shall　I　have　from　it？　　Had　I　bombards；　I　might　place　them
on　yonder　hill；　but　having　none　it　is　of　little　use　to　me。〃

〃It　may　be；〃　said　Nigel；　〃that　they　have　scant　food　or　water；　and
so　must　come　forth　to　fight　us。〃

〃I　have　made　inquiry　of　the　peasants；〃　Knolles　answered；　〃and　they
are　of　one　mind　that　there　is　a　well　within　the　castle；　and　good
store　of　food。　　Nay；　gentlemen；　there　is　no　way　before　us　save　to
take　it　by　arms；　and　no　spot　where　we　can　attempt　it　save　through
the　great　gate。　　Soon　we　will　have　so　many　fagots　that　we　can　cast
them　down　into　the　ditch；　and　so　win　our　way　across。　　I　have
ordered　them　to　cut　a　pine…tree　on　the　hill　and　shear　the　branches
so　that　we　may　beat　down　the　gate　with　it。　　But　what　is　now　amiss；
and　why　do　they　run　forward　to　the　castle？〃

A　buzz　had　risen　from　the　soldiers　in　the　camp；　and　they　all
crowded　in　one　direction；　rushing　toward　the　castle　wall。　　The
knights　and　squires　rode　after　them；　and　when　in　view　of　the　main
gate；　the　cause　of　the　disturbance　lay　before　them。　　On　the　tower
above　the　portal　three　men　were　standing　in　the　garb　of　English
archers；　ropes　round　their　necks　and　their　hands　bound　behind
them。　　Their　comrades　surged　below　them　with　cries　of　recognition
and　of　pity。

〃It　is　Ambrose！〃　cried　one。　　〃Surely　it　is　Ambrose　of　Ingleton。〃

〃Yes；　in　truth；　I　see　his　yellow　hair。　　And　the　other；　him　with
the　beard；　it　is　Lockwood　of　Skipton。　　Alas　for　his　wife　who　keeps
the　booth　by　the　bridge…head　of　Ribble！　　I　wot　not　who　the　third
may　be。〃

〃It　is　little　Johnny　Alspaye；　the　youngest　man　in　the　company；〃
cried　old　Wat；　with　the　tears　running　down　his　cheeks；　〃'Twas　I
who　brought　him　from　his　home。　　Alas！　　Alas！　　Foul　fare　the　day
that　ever　I　coaxed　him　from　his　mother's　side　that　he　might　perish
in　a　far　land。〃

There　was　a　sudden　flourish　of　a　trumpet　and　the　drawbridge　fell。
Across　it　strode　a　portly　man　with　a　faded　herald's　coat。　　He
halted　warily　upon　the　farther　side　and　his　voice　boomed　like　a
drum。　　〃I　would　speak　with　your　leader。〃　he　cried。

Knolles　rode　forward。

〃Have　I　your　knightly　word　th