sir nigel-第32部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


fleas；　one　mile　south　of　the　hamlet　of　Mayfield。　　Aylward
scratched　vigorously　and　cursed　with　fervor。　　Nigel　lay　without
movement　or　sound。　　To　the　man　who　had　learned　the　old　rule　of
chivalry　there　were　no　small　ills　in　life。　　It　was　beneath　the
dignity　of　his　soul　to　stoop　to　observe　them。　　Cold　and　heat；
hunger　and　thirst；　such　things　did　not　exist　for　the　gentleman。
The　armor　of　his　soul　was　so　complete　that　it　was　proof　not　only
against　the　great　ills　of　life　but　even　against　the　small　ones；　so
the　flea…bitten　Nigel　lay　grimly　still　while　Aylward　writhed　upon
his　couch。

They　were　now　but　a　short　distance　from　their　destination；　but
they　had　hardly　started　on　their　journey　through　the　forest　next
morning；　when　an　adventure　befell　them　which　filled　Nigel　with　the
wildest　hopes。

Along　the　narrow　winding　path　between　the　great　oak　trees　there
rode　a　dark　sallow　man　in　a　scarlet　tabard　who　blew　so　loudly　upon
a　silver　trumpet　that　they　heard　the　clanging　call　long　before
they　set　eyes　on　him。　　Slowly　he　advanced；　pulling　up　every　fifty
paces　to　make　the　forest　ring　with　another　warlike　blast。　　The
comrades　rode　forward　to　meet　him。

〃I　pray　you；〃　said　Nigel；　〃to　tell　me　who　you　are　and　why　you　blow
upon　this　trumpet。〃

The　fellow　shook　his　head；　so　Nigel　repeated　the　question　in
French；　the　common　language　of　chivalry；　spoken　at　that　age　by
every　gentleman　in　Western　Europe。

The　man　put　his　lips　to　the　trumpet　and　blew　another　long　note
before　he　answered。　　〃I　am　Gaston　de　Castrier；〃　said　he；　〃the
humble　Squire　of　the　most　worthy　and　valiant　knight　Raoul　de
Tubiers；　de　Pestels；　de　Grimsard；　de　Mersac；　de　Leoy；　de　Bastanac；
who　also　writes　himself　Lord　of　Pons。　　It　is　his　order　that　I　ride
always　a　mile　in　front　of　him　to　prepare　all　to　receive　him；　and
he　desires　me　to　blow　upon　a　trumpet　not　out　of　vainglory；　but　out
of　greatness　of　spirit；　so　that　none　may　be　ignorant　of　his　coming
should　they　desire　to　encounter　him。〃

Nigel　sprang　from　his　horse　with　a　cry　of　joy；　and　began　to
unbutton　his　doublet。　　〃Quick；　Aylward；　quick！〃　he　said。　　〃He
comes；　a　knight　errant　comes！　　Was　there　ever　such　a　chance　of
worshipfully　winning　worship？　　Untruss　the　harness　whilst　I　loose
my　clothes！　　Good　sir；　I　beg　you　to　warn　your　noble　and　valiant
master　that　a　poor　Squire　of　England　would　implore　him　to　take
notice　of　him　and　to　do　some　small　deed　upon　him　as　he　passes。〃

But　already　the　Lord　of　Pons　had　come　in　sight。　　He　was　a　huge　man
upon　an　enormous　horse；　so　that　together　they　seemed　to　fill　up
the　whole　long　dark　archway　under　the　oaks。　　He　was　clad　in　full
armor　of　a　brazen　hue　with　only　his　face　exposed；　and　of　this　face
there　was　little　visible　save　a　pair　of　arrogant　eyes　and　a　great
black　beard；　which　flowed　through　the　open　vizor　and　down　over　his
breastplate。　　To　the　crest　of　his　helmet　was　tied　a　small　brown
glove；　nodding　and　swinging　above　him。　　He　bore　a　long　lance　with
a　red　square　banner　at　the　end；　charged　with　a　black　boar's　head；
and　the　same　symbol　was　engraved　upon　his　shield。　　Slowly　he　rode
through　the　forest；　ponderous；　menacing；　with　dull　thudding　of　his
charger's　hoofs　and　constant　clank　of　metal；　while　always　in　front
of　him　came　the　distant　peal　of　the　silver　trumpet　calling　all　men
to　admit　his　majesty　and　to　clear　his　path　ere　they　be　cleared
from　it。

Never　in　his　dreams　had　so　perfect　a　vision　come　to　cheer　Nigel's
heart；　and　as　he　struggled　with　his　clothes；　glancing　up
continually　at　this　wondrous　traveler；　he　pattered　forth　prayers
of　thanksgiving　to　the　good　Saint　Paul　who　had　shown　such　loving…
kindness　to　his　unworthy　servant　and　thrown　him　in　the　path　of　so
excellent　and　debonair　a　gentleman。

But　alas！　how　often　at　the　last　instant　the　cup　is　dashed　from　the
lips！　　This　joyful　chance　was　destined　to　change　suddenly　to
unexpected　and　grotesque　disaster　…　disaster　so　strange　and　so
complete　that　through　all　his　life　Nigel　flushed　crimson　when　he
thought　of　it。　　He　was　busily　stripping　his　hunting…costume；　and
with　feverish　haste　he　had　doffed　boots；　hat；　hose；　doublet　and
cloak；　so　that　nothing　remained　save　a　pink　jupon　and　pair　of
silken　drawers。　　At　the　same　time　Aylward　was　hastily　unbuckling
the　load　with　the　intention　of　handing　his　master　his　armor　piece
by　piece；　when　the　Squire　gave　one　last　challenging　peal　from　his
silver　trumpet　into　the　very　ear　of　the　spare　horse。

In　an　instant　it　had　taken　to　its　heels；　the　precious　armor　upon
its　back；　and　thundered　away　down　the　road　which　they　had
traversed。　　Aylward　jumped　upon　his　mare；　drove　his　prick　spurs
into　her　sides　and　galloped　after　the　runaway　as　hard　as　he　could
ride。　　Thus　it　came　about　that　in　an　instant　Nigel　was　shorn　of
all　his　little　dignity；　had　lost　his　two　horses；　his　attendant　and
his　outfit；　and　found　himself　a　lonely　and　unarmed　man　standing　in
his　shirt　and　drawers　upon　the　pathway　down　which　the　burly　figure
of　the　Lord　of　Pons　was　slowly　advancing。

The　knight　errant；　whose　mind　had　been　filled　by　the　thought　of
the　maiden　whom　he　had　left　behind　at　St。　Jean　…　the　same　whose
glove　dangled　from　his　helmet　…　had　observed　nothing　that　had
occurred。　　Hence；　all　that　met　his　eyes　was　a　noble　yellow　horse；
which　was　tethered　by　the　track；　and　a　small　young　man；　who
appeared　to　be　a　lunatic　since　he　had　undressed　hastily　in　the
heart　of　the　forest；　and　stood　now　with　an　eager　anxious　face　clad
in　his　underlinen　amid　the　scattered　debris　of　his　garments。　　Of
such　a　person　the　high　Lord　of　Pons　could　take　no　notice；　and　so
he　pursued　his　inexorable　way；　his　arrogant　eyes　looking　out　into
the　distance　and　his　thoughts　set　intently　upon　the　maiden　of　St。
Jean。　　He　was　dimly　aware　that　the　little　crazy　man　in　the
undershirt　ran　a　long　way　beside　him　in　his　stockings；　begging；
imploring　and　arguing。

〃Just　one　hour；　most　fair　sir；　just　one　hour　at　the　longest；　and　a
poor　Squire　of　England　shall　ever　hold　himself　your　debtor！　　Do
but　condescend　to　rein　your　horse　until　my　harness　comes　back　to
me！　　Will　you　not　stoop　to　show　me　some　small　deed　of　arms？　　I
implore　you；　fair　sir；　to　spare　me　a　little　of　your　time　and　a
handstroke　or　two　ere　you　go　upon　your　way！〃

Lord　de　Pons　motioned　impatiently　with　his　gauntleted　hand；　as　one
might　brush　away　an　importunate　fly；　but　when　at　last　Nigel　became
desperate　in　his　clamor　he　thrust　his　spurs　into　his　great
war…horse；　and　clashing　like　a　pair　of　cymbals　he　thundered　off
through　the　forest。　　So　he　rode　upon　his　majestic　way；　until　two
days　later　he　was　slain　by　Lord　Reginald　Cobham　in　a　field　near
Weybridge。

When　after　a　long　chase　Aylward　secured　the　spare　horse　and
brought　it　back；　he　found　his　master　seated　upon　a　fallen　tree；
his　face　buried　in　his　hands　and　his　mind　clouded　with　humiliation
and　grief。　　Nothing　was　said；　for　the　matter　was　beyond　words；　and
so　in　moody　silence　they　rode　upon　their　way。

But　soon　they　came　upon　a　scene　which　drew　Nigel's　thoughts　away
from　his　bitter　trouble；　for　in　front　of　them　there　rose　the
towers　of　a　great　building　with　a　small　gray　sloping　village
around　it；　and　they　learned　from　a　passing　hind　that　this　was　the
hamlet　and　Abbey　of　Battle。　　Together　they　drew　rein　upon　the　low
ridge　and　looked　down　into　that　valley　of　death　from　which　even
now　the　reek　of　blood　seems　to　rise。　　Down　beside　that　sinister
lake　and　amid　those　scattered　bushes　sprinkled　over　the　naked
flank　of　the　long　ridge　was　fought　that　long…drawn　struggle
betwixt　two　most　noble　foes　with　broad　England　as　the　prize　of
victory。　　Here；　up　and　down　the　low　hill；　hour　by　hour　the　grim
struggle　had　waxed　and　waned；　until　the　Saxon　army　had　died　where
it　stood；　King；　court；　house…carl　and　fyrdsman；　each　in　their
ranks　even　as　they　had　fought。　　And　now；　after　all　the　stress　and
toil；　the　tyranny；　the　savage　revolt；　the　fierce　suppression；　God
had　made　His　purpose　complete；　for　here　were　Nigel　the　Norman　and
Aylward　the　Saxon　with　good…fellowship　in　their　hearts　and　a
common　respect　in　their　minds；　with　the　same　banner　and　the　same
cause；　riding　forth　to　do　battle　for　their　old　mother　England。

And　now　the　long　ride　drew　to　an　end。　　In　front　of　them　was　the
blue　sea；　flecked　with　the　white　sails　of　ships。　　Once　more　the
road　passed　upward　from　the　heavy…wooded　plain　to　the　springy　turf
of　the　chalk　downs。　　Far　to　the　right　rose　the　grim　fortalice　of
Pevensey；　squat　and　powerful；　like　one　great　block　of　rugged
stone；　the　parapet　twinkling　with　steel　caps　and　crowned　by　the
royal　banner　of　England。　　A　flat　expanse　of　reeded　marshland　lay
before　them；　out　of　which　rose　a　single　wooded　hill；　crowned　with
towers；　with　a　bristle　of　masts　rising　out　of　the　green　plain　some
distance　to　the　south　of　it。　　Nigel　looked　at　it　with　his　hand
shading　his　eyes；　and　then　urged　Pommers　to　a　trot。　　The　town　was
Winchelsea；　and　there　amid　that　cluster　of　houses　on　the　hill　the
gallant　Chandos　must　be　awaiting　him。




XIV。　　HOW　NIGEL　CHASED　THE　RED　FERRET


They　passed　a　ferry；　wound　upward　by　a　curving　path；　and　then；
having　satisfied　a　guard　of　men…at…arms；　were　admitted　through　the
frowning　arch　of　the　Pipewell　Gate。　　There　waiting　for　them；　in
the　middle　of　the　east　street；　the　sun　gleaming　upon　his　lemon…
colored　beard；　and　puckering　his　single　eye；　stood　Chandos
himself；　his　legs　apart；　his　hands　behind　his　back；　and　a
welcoming　smile　upon　hiss　quaint　high…nosed　face。　　Behind　him　a
crowd　of　little　boys　were　gazing　with　reverent　eyes　at　the　famous
soldier。

〃Welcome；　Nigel！〃　said　he；　〃and　you　also；　good　archer！　　I　chanced
to　be　walking　on　the　city　wall；　and　I　thought　from　the　color　of
your　horse　that　it　was　indeed　you　upon　the　Udimore　Road。　　How　have
you　fared；　young　squire　errant？　　Have　you　held　bridges　or　rescued
damsels　or　slain　oppressors　on　your　way　from　Tilford？〃

〃Nay；　my　fair　lord；　I　have　accomplished　nothing；　but　I　once　had
hopes　…　〃　Nigel　flushed　at　the　remembrance。

〃I　will　give　you　more　than　hopes；　Nigel。　　I　will　put　you　where　you
can　dip　both　arms　to　the　elbow　into　danger　and　honor；　where　peril
will　sleep　with　you　at　night　and　rise　with　you　in　the　morning　and
the　very　air　you　breathe　be　laden　with　it。　　Are　you　ready