sir nigel-第73节

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his　mailed　hand　upon　the　other's　steel…clad　thigh。　　They　were　old
battle…companions；　of　the　same　age　and　in　the　very　prime　of　life；
with　equal　fame　and　equal　experience　of　the　wars。　　Such　was　the
group　of　famous　English　soldiers　who　sat　their　horses　behind　the
Prince　and　waited　for　their　orders。

〃I　would　that　you　had　laid　hands　upon　him；〃　said　the　Prince
angrily；　continuing　his　conversation　with　Chandos；　〃and　yet；
perchance；　it　was　wiser　to　play　this　trick　and　make　them　think
that　we　were　retreating。〃

〃He　has　certainly　carried　the　tidings；〃　said　Chandos；　with　a
smile。　　〃No　sooner　had　the　wagons　started　than　I　saw　him　gallop
down　the　edge　of　the　wood。〃

〃It　was　well　thought　of；　John；〃　the　Prince　remarked；　〃for　it　would
indeed　be　great　comfort　if　we　could　turn　their　own　spy　against
them。　　Unless　they　advance　upon　us；　I　know　not　how　we　can　hold　out
another　day；　for　there　is　not　a　loaf　left　in　the　army；　and　yet　if
we　leave　this　position　where　shall　we　hope　to　find　such　another？〃

〃They　will　stoop；　fair　sir；　they　will　stoop　to　our　lure。　　Even　now
Robert　de　Duras　will　be　telling　them　that　the　wagons　are　on　the
move；　and　they　will　hasten　to　overtake　us　lest　we　pass　the　ford。
But　who　is　this；　who　rides　so　fast？　　Here　perchance　may　be
tidings。〃

A　horseman　had　spurred　up　to　the　knoll。　　He　sprang　from　the
saddle；　and　sank　on　one　knee　before　the　Prince。

〃How　now；　my　Lord　Audley；〃　said　Edward。　　〃　What　would　you　have？〃

〃Sir；〃　said　the　knight；　still　kneeling　with　bowed　head　before　his
leader；　〃I　have　a　boon　to　ask　of　you。〃

〃Nay；　James；　rise！　　Let　me　hear　what　I　can　do。〃

The　famous　knight　errant；　pattern　of　chivalry　for　all　time；　rose
and　turned　his　swarthy　face　and　dark　earnest　eyes　upon　his　master。
〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　ever　served　most　loyally　my　lord　your
father　and　yourself；　and　shall　continue　so　to　do　so　long　as　I　have
life。　　Dear　sir；　I　must　now　acquaint　you　that　formerly　I　made　a
vow　if　ever　I　should　be　in　any　battle　under　your　command　that　I
would　be　foremost　or　die　in　the　attempt。　　I　beg　therefore　that　you
will　graciously　permit　me　to　honorably　quit　my　place　among　the
others；　that　I　may　post　myself　in　such　wise　as　to　accomplish　my
vow。〃

The　Prince　smiled；　for　it　was　very　sure　that　vow　or　no　vow；
permission　or　no　permission；　Lord　James　Audley　would　still　be　in
the　van。　　〃Go；　James；〃　said　he；　shaking　his　hand；　〃and　God　grant
that　this　day　you　may　shine　in　valor　above　all　knights。　　But　hark；
John；　what　is　that？〃

Chandos　cast　up　his　fierce　nose　like　the　eagle　which　smells
slaughter　afar。　　〃Surely；　sir；　all　is　forming　even　as　we　had
planned　it。〃

》From　far　away　there　came　a　thunderous　shout。　　Then　another　and　yet
another。

〃See；　they　are　moving！〃　cried　the　Captal　de　Buch。

All　morning　they　had　watched　the　gleam　of　the　armed　squadrons　who
were　drawn　up　in　front　of　the　French　camp。　　Now　whilst　a　great
blare　of　trumpets　was　borne　to　their　ears；　the　distant　masses
flickered　and　twinkled　in　the　sunlight。

〃Yes；　yes；　they　are　moving！〃　cried　the　Prince。

〃They　are　moving！　　They　are　moving！〃　　Down　the　line　the　murmur
ran。　　And　then　with　a　sudden　impulse　the　archers　at　the　hedge
sprang　to　their　feet　and　the　knights　behind　them　waved　their
weapons　in　the　air；　while　one　tremendous　shout　of　warlike　joy
carried　their　defiance　to　the　approaching　enemy。　　Then　there　fell
such　a　silence　that　the　pawing　of　the　horses　or　the　jingle　of
their　harness　struck　loud　upon　the　ear；　until　amid　the　hush　there
rose　a　low　deep　roar　like　the　sound　of　the　tide　upon　the　beach；
ever　growing　and　deepening　as　the　host　of　France　drew　near。




XXVI。　　HOW　NIGEL　FOUND　HIS　THIRD　DEED


Four　archers　lay　behind　a　clump　of　bushes　ten　yards　in　front　of
the　thick　hedge　which　shielded　their　companions。　　Amid　the　long
line　of　bowmen　those　behind　them　were　their　own　company；　and　in
the　main　the　same　who　were　with　Knolles　in　Brittany。　　The　four　in
front　were　their　leaders：　old　Wat　of　Carlisle；　Ned　Widdington　the
red…headed　Dalesman；　the　bald　bowyer　Bartholomew；　and　Samkin
Alyward；　newly　rejoined　after　a　week's　absence。　　All　four　were
munching　bread　and　apples；　for　Aylward　had　brought　in　a　full
haversack　and　divided　them　freely　amongst　his　starving　comrades。
The　old　Borderer　and　the　Yorkshireman　were　gaunt　and　hollow…eyed
with　privation；　while　the　bowyer's　round　face　had　fallen　in　so
that　the　skin　hung　in　loose　pouches　under　his　eyes　and　beneath　his
jaws。

Behind　them　lines　of　haggard；　wolfish　men　glared　through　the
underwood；　silent　and　watchful　save　that　they　burst　into　a　fierce
yelp　of　welcome　when　Chandos　and　Nigel　galloped　up；　sprang　from
their　horses　and　took　their　station　beneath　them。　　All　along　the
green　fringe　of　bowmen　might　be　seen　the　steel…clad　figures　of
knights　and　squires　who　had　pushed　their　way　into　the　front　line
to　share　the　fortune　of　the　archers。

〃I　call　to　mind　that　I　once　shot　six　ends　with　a　Kentish　woldsman
at　Ashford　…　〃　began　the　Bowyer。

〃Nay；　nay；　we　have　heard　that　story！〃　said　old　Wat　impatiently。
〃Shut　thy　clap；　Bartholomew；　for　it　is　no　time　for　redeless
gossip！　　Walk　down　the　line；　I　pray　you；　and　see　if　there　be　no
frayed　string；　nor　broken　nock　nor　loosened　whipping　to　be
mended。〃

The　stout　bowyer　passed　down　the　fringe　of　bowmen；　amidst　a
running　fire　of　rough　wit。　　Here　and　there　a　bow　was　thrust　out　at
him　through　the　hedge　for　his　professional　advice。

〃Wax　your　heads！〃　he　kept　crying。　　〃Pass　down　the　wax…pot　and　wax
your　heads。　　A　waxed　arrow　will　pass　where　a　dry　will　be　held。
Tom　Beverley；　you　jack…fool！　　where　is　your　bracer…guard？　　Your
string　will　flay　your　arm　ere　you　reach　your　up…shot　this　day。
And　you；　Watkin；　draw　not　to　your　mouth；　as　is　your　wont；　but　to
your　shoulder。　　You　are　so　used　to　the　wine…pot　that　the　string
must　needs　follow　it。　　Nay；　stand　loose；　and　give　space　for　your
drawing　arms；　for　they　will　be　on　us　anon。〃

He　ran　back　and　joined　his　comrades　in　the　front；　who　had　now
risen　to　their　feet。　　Behind　them　a　half…mile　of　archers　stood
behind　the　hedge；　each　with　his　great　warbow　strung；　half　a　dozen
shafts　loose　behind　him；　and　eighteen　more　in　the　quiver　slung
across　his　front。　　With　arrow　on　string；　their　feet　firm…planted；
their　fierce　eager　faces　peering　through　the　branches；　they
awaited　the　coming　storm。

The　broad　flood　of　steel；　after　oozing　slowly　forward；　had　stopped
about　a　mile　from　the　English　front。　　The　greater　part　of　the　army
had　then　descended　from　their　horses；　while　a　crowd　of　varlets　and
hostlers　led　them　to　the　rear。　　The　French　formed　themselves　now
into　three　great　divisions；　which　shimmered　in　the　sun　like
silvery　pools；　reed…capped　with　many　a　thousand　of　banners　and
pennons。　　A　space　of　several　hundred　yards　divided　each。　　At　the
same　time　two　bodies　of　horsemen　formed　themselves　in　front。　　The
first　consisted　of　three　hundred　men　in　one　thick　column；　the
second　of　a　thousand；　riding　in　a　more　extended　line。

The　Prince　had　ridden　up　to　the　line　of　archers。　　He　was　in　dark
armor；　his　visor　open；　and　his　handsome　aquiline　face　all　glowing
with　spirit　and　martial　fire。　　The　bowmen　yelled　at　him；　and　he
waved　his　hands　to　them　as　a　huntsman　cheers　his　hounds。

〃Well；　John；　what　think　you　now？〃　he　asked。　　〃What　would　my　noble
father　not　give　to　be　by　our　side　this　day？　　Have　you　seen　that
they　have　left　their　horses？〃

〃Yes；　my　fair　lord；　they　have　learned　their　lesson；〃　said　Chandos。
〃Because　we　have　had　good　fortune　upon　our　feet　at　Crecy　and
elsewhere　they　think　that　they　have　found　the　trick　of　it。　　But　it
is　in　my　mind　that　it　is　very　different　to　stand　when　you　are
assailed；　as　we　have　done；　and　to　assail　others　when　you　must　drag
your　harness　for　a　mile　and　come　weary　to　the　fray。〃

〃You　speak　wisely；　John。　　But　these　horsemen　who　form　in　front　and
ride　slowly　towards　us；　what　make　you　of　them？〃

〃Doubtless　they　hope　to　cut　the　strings　of　our　bowmen　and　so　clear
a　way　for　the　others。　　But　they　are　indeed　a　chosen　band；　for　mark
you；　fair　sir；　are　not　those　the　colors　of　Clermont　upon　the　left；
and　of　d'Andreghen　upon　the　right；　so　that　both　marshals　ride　with
the　vanguard？〃

〃By　God's　soul；　John！〃　cried　the　Prince；　〃it　is　very　sure　that　you
can　see　more　with　one　eye　than　any　man　in　this　army　with　two。　　But
it　is　even　as　you　say。　　And　this　larger　band　behind？〃

〃They　should　be　Germans；　fair　sir；　by　the　fashion　of　their
harness。〃

The　two　bodies　of　horsemen　had　moved　slowly　over　the　plain；　with　a
space　of　nearly　a　quarter　of　a　mile　between　them。　　Now；　having
come　two　bowshots　from　the　hostile　line；　they　halted。　　All　that
they　could　see　of　the　English　was　the　long　hedge；　with　an
occasional　twinkle　of　steel　through　its　leafy　branches；　and　behind
that　the　spear…heads　of　the　men…at…arms　rising　from　amidst　the
brushwood　and　the　vines。　　A　lovely　autumn　countryside　with
changing　many…tinted　foliage　lay　stretched　before　them；　all　bathed
in　peaceful　sunshine；　and　nothing　save　those　flickering　fitful
gleams　to　tell　of　the　silent　and　lurking　enemy　who　barred　their
way。　　But　the　bold　spirit　of　the　French　cavaliers　rose　the　higher
to　the　danger。　　The　clamor　of　their　war…cries　filled　the　air；　and
they　tossed　their　pe