sir nigel-第15部分

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found　themselves　as　they　rode　to　Guildford。

No　one；　as　it　chanced；　was　going　the　same　way　as　themselves；　but
they　met　one　large　drove　of　pilgrims　returning　from　their　journey
with　pictures　of　Saint　Thomas　and　snails'　shells　or　little　leaden
ampullae　in　their　hats　and　bundles　of　purchases　over　their
shoulders。　　They　were　a　grimy；　ragged；　travel…stained　crew；　the
men　walking；　the　women　borne　on　asses。　　Man　and　beast；　they　limped
along　as　if　it　would　be　a　glad　day　when　they　saw　their　homes　once
more。　　These　and　a　few　beggars　or　minstrels；　who　crouched　among
the　heather　on　either　side　of　the　track　in　the　hope　of　receiving
an　occasional　farthing　from　the　passer…by；　were　the　only　folk　they
met　until　they　had　reached　the　village　of　Puttenham。　　Already
there；　was　a　hot　sun　and　just　breeze　enough　to　send　the　dust
flying　down　the　road；　so　they　were　glad　to　clear　their　throats
with　a　glass　of　beer　at　the　ale…stake　in　the　village；　where　the
fair　alewife　gave　Nigel　a　cold　farewell　because　he　had　no
attentions　for　her；　and　Aylward　a　box　on　the　ear　because　he　had
too　many。

On　the　farther　side　of　Puttenham　the　road　runs　through　thick　woods
of　oak　and　beech；　with　a　tangled　undergrowth　of　fern　and　bramble。
Here　they　met　a　patrol　of　sergeants…at…arms；　tall　fellows；
well…mounted；　clad　in　studded…leather　caps　and　tunics；　with　lances
and　swords。　　They　walked　their　horses　slowly　on　the　shady　side　of
the　road；　and　stopped　as　the　travelers　came　up；　to　ask　if　they　had
been　molested　on　the　way。

〃Have　a　care；〃　they　added；　〃for　the　‘Wild　Man'　and　his　wife　are
out。　　Only　yesterday　they　slew　a　merchant　from　the　west　and　took　a
hundred　crowns。〃

〃His　wife；　you　say？〃

〃Yes；　she　is　ever　at　his　side；　and　has　saved　him　many　a　time；　for
if　he　has　the　strength　it　is　she　who　has　the　wit。　　I　hope　to　see
their　heads　together　upon　the　green　grass　one　of　these　mornings。〃

The　patrol　passed　downward　toward　Farnham；　and　so；　as　it　proved；
away　from　the　robbers；　who　had　doubtless　watched　them　closely　from
the　dense　brushwood　which　skirted　the　road。　　Coming　round　a　curve；
Nigel　and　Aylward　were　aware　of　a　tall　and　graceful　woman　who　sat；
wringing　her　hands　and　weeping　bitterly；　upon　the　bank　by　the　side
of　the　track。　　At　such　a　sight　of　beauty　in　distress　Nigel　pricked
Pommers　with　the　spur　and　in　three　bounds　was　at　the　side　of　the
unhappy　lady。

〃What　ails　you；　fair　dame？〃　he　asked。　　〃Is　there　any　small　matter
in　which　I　may　stand　your　friend；　or　is　it　possible　that　anyone
hath　so　hard　a　heart　as　to　do　you　an　injury。〃

She　rose　and　turned　upon　him　a　face　full　of　hope　and　entreaty。
〃Oh；　save　my　poor；　poor　father！〃　she　cried。　　〃Have　you　perchance
seen　the　way…wardens？　　They　passed　us；　and　I　fear　they　are　beyond
reach。〃

〃Yes；　they　have　ridden　onward；　but　we　may　serve　as　well。〃

〃Then　hasten；　hasten；　I　pray　you！　　Even　now　they　may　be　doing　him
to　death。　　They　have　dragged　him　into　yonder　grove　and　I　have
heard　his　voice　growing　ever　weaker　in　the　distance。　　Hasten；　I
implore　you！〃

Nigel　sprang　from　his　horse　and　tossed　the　rein　to　Aylward。

〃Nay；　let　us　go　together。　　How　many　robbers　were　there；　lady？〃

〃Two　stout　fellows。〃

〃Then　I　come　also。〃

〃Nay；　it　is　not　possible；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃The　wood　is　too　thick　for
horses；　and　we　cannot　leave　them　in　the　road。〃

〃I　will　guard　them；〃　cried　the　lady。

〃Pommers　is　not　so　easily　held。　　Do　you　bide　here；　Aylward；　until
you　hear　from　me。　　Stir　not；　I　command　you！〃　　So　saying；　Nigel；
with　the　light；　of　adventure　gleaming　in　his　joyous　eyes；　drew　his
sword　and　plunged　swiftly　into　the　forest。

Far　and　fast　he　ran；　from　glade　to　glade；　breaking　through　the
bushes；　springing　over　the　brambles；　light　as　a　young　deer；
peering　this　way　and　that；　straining　his　ears　for　a　sound；　and
catching　only　the　cry　of　the　wood…pigeons。　　Still　on　he　went；　with
the　constant　thought　of　the　weeping　woman　behind　and　of　the
captured　man　in　front。　　It　was　not　until　he　was　footsore　and　out
of　breath　that　he　stopped　with　his　hand　to　his　side；　and
considered　that　his　own　business　had　still　to　be　done；　and　that　it
was　time　once　more　that　he　should　seek　the　road　to　Guildford。

Meantime　Aylward　had　found　his　own　rough　means　of　consoling　the
woman　in　the　road；　who　stood　sobbing　with　her　face　against　the
side　of　Pommers'　saddle。

〃Nay；　weep　not；　my　pretty　one；〃　said　he。　　〃It　brings　the　tears　to
my　own　eyes　to　see　them　stream　from　thine。〃

〃Alas！　good　archer；　he　was　the　best　of　fathers；　so　gentle　and　so
kind！　　Had　you　but　known　him；　you　must　have　loved　him。〃

〃Tut；　tut！　　he　will　suffer　no　scathe。　　Squire　Nigel　will　bring　him
back　to　you　anon。〃

〃No；　no；　I　shall　never　see　him　more。　　Hold　me；　archer；　or　I　fall！〃

Aylward　pressed　his　ready　arm　round　the　supple　waist。　　The
fainting　woman　leaned　with　her　hand　upon　his　shoulder。　　Her　pale
face　looked　past　him；　and　it　was　some　new　light　in　her　eyes；　a
flash　of　expectancy；　of　triumph；　of　wicked　joy；　which　gave　him
sudden　warning　of　his　danger。

He　shook　her　off　and　sprang　to　one　side；　but　only　just　in　time　to
avoid　a　crashing　blow　from　a　great　club　in　the　hands　of　a　man　even
taller　and　stronger　than　himself。　　He　had　one　quick　vision　of
great　white　teeth　clenched　in　grim　ferocity；　a　wild　flying　beard
and　blazing　wild…beast　eyes。　　The　next　instant　he　had　closed；
ducking　his　head　beneath　another　swing　of　that　murderous　cudgel。

With　his　arms　round　the　robber's　burly　body　and　his　face　buried　in
his　bushy　beard；　Aylward　gasped　and　strained　and　heaved。　　Back　and
forward　in　the　dusty　road　the　two　men　stamped　and　staggered；　a
grim　wrestling…match；　with　life　for　the　prize。　　Twice　the　great
strength　of　the　outlaw　had　Aylward　nearly　down；　and　twice　with　his
greater　youth　and　skill　the　archer　restored　his　grip　and　his
balance。　　Then　at　last　his　turn　came。　　He　slipped　his　leg　behind
the　other's　knee；　and；　giving　a　mighty　wrench；　tore　him　across　it。
With　a　hoarse　shout　the　outlaw　toppled　backward　and　had　hardly
reached　the　ground　before　Aylward　had　his　knee　upon　his　chest　and
his　short　sword　deep　in　his　beard　and　pointed　to　his　throat。

〃By　these　ten　finger…bones！〃　he　gasped；　〃one　more　struggle　and　it
is　your　last！〃

The　man　lay　still　enough；　for　he　was　half…stunned　by　the　crashing
fall。　　Aylward　looked　round　him；　but　the　woman　had　disappeared。
At　the　first　blow　struck　she　had　vanished　into　the　forest。　　He
began　to　have　fears　for　his　master；　thinking　that　he　perhaps　had
been　lured　into　some　deathtrap；　but　his　forebodings　were　soon　at
rest；　for　Nigel　himself　came　hastening　down　the　road；　which　he　had
struck　some　distance　from　the　spot　where　he　left　it。

〃By　Saint　Paul！〃　he　cried；　〃who　is　this　man　on　whom　you　are
perched；　and　where　is　the　lady　who　has　honored　us　so　far　as　to
crave　our　help？　　Alas；　that　I　have　been　unable　to　find　her
father！〃

〃As　well　for　you；　fair　sir；〃　said　Aylward；　〃for　I　am　of　opinion
that　her　father　was　the　Devil。　　This　woman　is；　as　I　believe；　the
wife　of　the　‘Wild　Man　of　Puttenham；'　and　this　is　the　‘Wild　Man'
himself　who　set　upon　me　and　tried　to　brain　me　with　his　club。〃

The　outlaw；　who　had　opened　his　eyes；　looked　with　a　scowl　from　his
captor　to　the　new…comer。　　〃You　are　in　luck；　archer；〃　said　he；　〃for
I　have　come　to　grips　with　many　a　man；　but　I　cannot　call　to　mind
any　who　have　had　the　better　of　me。〃

〃You　have　indeed　the　grip　of　a　bear；〃　said　Aylward；　〃but　it　was　a
coward　deed　that　your　wife　should　hold　me　while　you　dashed　out　my
brains　with　a　stick。　　It　is　also　a　most　villainous　thing　to　lay　a
snare　for　wayfarers　by　asking　for　their　pity　and　assistance；　so
that　it　was　our　own　soft　hearts　which　brought　us　into　such　danger。
The　next　who　hath　real　need　of　our　help　may　suffer　for　your　sins。〃

〃When　the　hand　of　the　whole　world　is　against　you；〃　said　the　outlaw
in　a　surly　voice；　〃you　must　fight　as　best　you　can。〃

〃You　well　deserve　to　be　hanged；　if　only　because　you　have　brought
this　woman；　who　is　fair　and　gentle…spoken；　to　such　a　life；〃　said
Nigel。　　〃Let　us　tie　him　by　the　wrist　to　my　stirrup　leather；
Aylward；　and　we　will　lead　him　into　Guildford。〃

The　archer　drew　a　spare　bowstring　from　his　case　and　had　bound　the
prisoner　as　directed；　when　Nigel　gave　a　sudden　start　and　cry　of
alarm。

〃Holy　Mary！〃　he　cried。　　〃Where　is　the　saddle…bag？〃

It　had　been　cut　away　by　a　sharp　knife。　　Only　the　two　ends　of　strap
remained。　　Aylward　and　Nigel　stared　at　each　other　in　blank　dismay。
Then　the　young　Squire　shook　his　clenched　hands　and　pulled　at　his
yellow　curls　in　his　despair。

〃The　Lady　Ermyntrude's　bracelet！　　My　grandfather's　cup！〃　he　cried。
〃I　would　have　died　ere　I　lost　them！　　What　can　I　say　to　her？　　I
dare　not　return　until　I　have　found　them。　　Oh；　Aylward；　Aylward！
how　came　you　to　let　them　be　taken？〃

The　honest　archer　had　pushed　back　his　steel　cap　and　was　scratching
his　tangled　head。　　〃Nay；　I　know　nothing　of　it。　　You　never　said
that　there　was　aught　of　price　in　the　bag；　else　had　I　kept　a　better
eye　upon　it。　　Certes！　it　was　not　this　fellow　who　took　it；　since　I
have　never　had　my　hands　from　him。　　It　can　only　be　the　woman　who
fled　with　it　while　we　fought。〃

Nigel　stamped　about　the　road　in　his　perplexity。　　〃I　would　follow
her　to　the　world's　end　if　I　knew　where　I　could　find　her；　but　to
search　these　woods　for　her　is　to　look　for　a　mouse　in　a
wheat…field。　　Good　Saint　George；　thou　who　didst　overcome　the
Dragon；　I　pray　you　by　that　most　honorable　and　knightly　achievement
that　you　will　be　with　me　now！　　And　you　also；　great　Saint　Julian；
patron　of　all　wayfarers　in　distress！　　Two　candles　shall　burn
before　your　shrine　at　Godalming；　if　you　will　but　bring　me　back　my
saddle…bag。　　What　would　I　not　give　to　have　it　back？〃

〃Will　you　give　me　my　life？〃　asked　the　outlaw。　　〃Promise　that　I　go
free；　and　you　shall　have　it　back；　if　it　be　indeed　true　that　my
wife　has　taken　it。〃

〃Nay；　I　cannot　do　that；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃My　honor　would　surely　be
concerned；　since　my　loss　is　a　private　one；　but　it　would　be　to　the
public　scathe　that　you　should　go　free。　　By　Saint　Paul！　it　would　be
an　ungentle　deed　if　in　order　to　save　my　own　I　let　you　loose　upon
the　gear　of　a　hundred　others。〃

〃I　will　not　ask　you　to　let　me　loose；〃　said　the　〃Wild　Man。〃　　〃If
you　will　promise　that　my　life　be　spared　I　will