sir nigel-第4部分

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clothes。

〃Amazed　at　such　a　sight；　I　stood　without　movement　and　had　said　a
credo　and　three　aves；　when　the　Devil　dropped　the　subprior　and
sprang　upon　me。　　With　the　help　of　Saint　Bernard　I　clambered　over
the　wall；　but　not　before　his　teeth　had　found　my　leg；　and　he　had
torn　away　the　whole　back　skirt　of　my　gown。〃　　As　he　spoke　he　turned
and　gave　corroboration　to　his　story　by　the　hanging　ruins　of　his
long　trailing　garment。

〃In　what　shape　then　did　Satan　appear？〃　the　Abbot　demanded。

〃As　a　great　yellow　horse；　holy　father　…　a　monster　horse；　with　eyes
of　fire　and　the　teeth　of　a　griffin。〃

〃A　yellow　horse！〃　　The　sacrist　glared　at　the　scared　monk。　　〃You
foolish　brother！　　How　will　you　behave　when　you　have　indeed　to　face
the　King　of　Terrors　himself　if　you　can　be　so　frightened　by　the
sight　of　a　yellow　horse？　　It　is　the　horse　of　Franklin　Aylward；　my
father；　which　has　been　distrained　by　us　because　he　owes　the　Abbey
fifty　good　shillings　and　can　never　hope　to　pay　it。　　Such　a　horse；
they　say；　is　not　to　be　found　betwixt　this　and　the　King's　stables
at　Windsor；　for　his　sire　was　a　Spanish　destrier；　and　his　dam　an
Arab　mare　of　the　very　breed　which　Saladin；　whose　soul　now　reeks　in
Hell；　kept　for　his　own　use；　and　even　it　has　been　said　under　the
shelter　of　his　own　tent。　　I　took　him　in　discharge　of　the　debt；　and
I　ordered　the　varlets　who　had　haltered　him　to　leave　him　alone　in
the　water…meadow；　for　I　have　heard　that　the　beast　has　indeed　a
most　evil　spirit；　and　has　killed　more　men　than　one。〃

〃It　was　an　ill　day　for　Waverley　that　you　brought　such　a　monster
within　its　bounds；〃　said　the　Abbot。　　〃If　the　subprior　and　Brother
John　be　indeed　dead；　then　it　would　seem　that　if　the　horse　be　not
the　Devil　he　is　at　least　the　Devil's　instrument。〃

〃Horse　or　Devil；　holy　father；　I　heard　him　shout　with　joy　as　he
trampled　upon　Brother　John；　and　had　you　seen　him　tossing　the
subprior　as　a　dog　shakes　a　rat　you　would　perchance　have　felt　even
as　I　did。〃

〃Come　then；〃　cried　the　Abbot；　〃let　us　see　with　our　own　eyes　what
evil　has　been　done。〃

And　the　three　monks　hurried　down　the　stair　which　led　to　the
cloisters。

They　had　no　sooner　descended　than　their　more　pressing　fears　were
set　at　rest；　for　at　that　very　moment；　limping；　disheveled　and
mud…stained；　the　two　sufferers　were　being　led　in　amid　a　crowd　of
sympathizing　brethren。　　Shouts　and　cries　from　outside　showed；
however；　that　some　further　drama　was　in　progress；　and　both　Abbot
and　sacrist　hastened　onward　as　fast　as　the　dignity　of　their　office
would　permit；　until　they　had　passed　the　gates　and　gained　the　wall
of　the　meadow。　　Looking　over　it；　a　remarkable　sight　presented
itself　to　their　eyes。

Fetlock　deep　in　the　lush　grass　there　stood　a　magnificent　horse；
such　a　horse　as　a　sculptor　or　a　soldier　might　thrill　to　see。　　His
color　was　a　light　chestnut；　with　mane　and　tail　of　a　more　tawny
tint。　　Seventeen　hands　high；　with　a　barrel　and　haunches　which
bespoke　tremendous　strength；　he　fined　down　to　the　most　delicate
lines　of　dainty　breed　in　neck　and　crest　and　shoulder。　　He　was
indeed　a　glorious　sight　as　he　stood　there；　his　beautiful　body
leaning　back　from　his　wide…spread　and　propped　fore　legs；　his　head
craned　high；　his　ears　erect；　his　mane　bristling；　his　red　nostrils
opening　and　shutting　with　wrath；　and　his　flashing　eyes　turning
from　side　to　side　in　haughty　menace　and　defiance。

Scattered　round　in　a　respectful　circle；　six　of　the　Abbey　lay
servants　and　foresters；　each　holding　a　halter；　were　creeping
toward　him。　　Every　now　and　then；　with　a　beautiful　toss　and　swerve
and　plunge；　the　great　creature　would　turn　upon　one　of　his　would…be
captors；　and　with　outstretched　head；　flying　mane　and　flashing
teeth；　would　chase　him　screaming　to　the　safety　of　the　wall；　while
the　others　would　close　swiftly　in　behind　and　cast　their　ropes　in
the　hope　of　catching　neck　or　leg；　but　only　in　their；　turn　to　be
chased　to　the　nearest　refuge。

Had　two　of　these　ropes　settled　upon　the　horse；　and　had　their
throwers　found　some　purchase　of　stump　or　boulder　by　which　they
could　hold　them；　then　the　man's　brain　might　have　won　its　wonted
victory　over　swiftness　and　strength。　　But　the　brains　were
themselves　at　fault　which　imagined　that　one　such　rope　would　serve
any　purpose　save　to　endanger　the　thrower。

Yet　so　it　was；　and　what　might　have　been　foreseen　occurred　at　the
very　moment　of　the　arrival　of　the　monks。　　The　horse；　having　chased
one　of　his　enemies　to　the　wall；　remained　so　long　snorting　his
contempt　over　the　coping　that　the　others　were　able　to　creep　upon
him　from　behind。　　Several　ropes　were　flung；　and　one　noose　settled
over　the　proud　crest　and　lost　itself　in　the　waving　mane。　　In　an
instant　the　creature　had　turned　and　the　men　were　flying　for　their
lives；　but　he　who　had　cast　the　rope　lingered；　uncertain　what　use
to　make　of　his　own　success。　　That　moment　of　doubt　was　fatal。　　With
a　yell　of　dismay；　the　man　saw　the　great　creature　rear　above　him。
Then　with　a　crash　the　fore　feet　fell　upon　him　and　dashed　him　to
the　ground。　　He　rose　screaming；　was　hurled　over　once　more；　and　lay
a　quivering；　bleeding　heap；　while　the　savage　horse；　the　most　cruel
and　terrible　in　its　anger　of　all　creatures　on　earth；　bit　and　shook
and　trampled　the　writhing　body。

A　loud　wail　of　horror　rose　from　the　lines　of　tonsured　heads　which
skirted　the　high　wall　…　a　wail　which　suddenly　died　away　into　a
long　hushed　silence；　broken　at　last　by　a　rapturous　cry　of
thanksgiving　and　of　joy。

On　the　road　which　led　to　the　old　dark　manor…house　upon　the　side　of
the　hill　a　youth　had　been　riding。　　His　mount　was　a　sorry　one；　a
weedy；　shambling；　long…haired　colt；　and　his　patched　tunic　of　faded
purple　with　stained　leather　belt　presented　no　very　smart
appearance；　yet　in　the　bearing　of　the　man；　in　the　poise　of　his
head；　in　his　easy　graceful　carriage；　and　in　the　bold　glance　of　his
large　blue　eyes；　there　was　that　stamp　of　distinction　and　of　breed
which　would　have　given　him　a　place　of　his　own　in　any　assembly。　　He
was　of　small　stature；　but　his　frame　was　singularly　elegant　and
graceful。　　His　face；　though　tanned　with　the　weather；　was　delicate
in　features　and　most　eager　and　alert　in　expression。　　A　thick
fringe　of　crisp　yellow　curls　broke　from　under　the　dark　flat　cap
which　he　was　wearing；　and　a　short　golden　beard　hid　the　outline　of
his　strong　square　chin。　　One　white　osprey　feather　thrust　through　a
gold　brooch　in　the　front　of　his　cap　gave　a　touch　of　grace　to　his
somber　garb。　　This　and　other　points　of　his　attire；　the　short
hanging　mantle；　the　leather…sheathed　hunting…knife；　the　cross　belt
which　sustained　a　brazen　horn；　the　soft　doe…skin　boots　and　the
prick　spurs；　would　all　disclose　themselves　to　an　observer；　but　at
the　first　glance　the　brown　face　set　in　gold　and　the　dancing　light
of　the　quick；　reckless；　laughing　eyes；　were　the　one　strong　memory
left　behind。

Such　was　the　youth　who；　cracking　his　whip　joyously；　and　followed
by　half　a　score　of　dogs；　cantered　on　his　rude　pony　down　the
Tilford　Lane；　and　thence　it　was　that　with　a　smile　of　amused
contempt　upon　his　face　he　observed　the　comedy　in　the　field　and　the
impotent　efforts　of　the　servants　of　Waverley。

Suddenly；　however；　as　the　comedy　turned　swiftly　to　black　tragedy；
this　passive　spectator　leaped　into　quick　strenuous　life。　　With　a
spring　he　was　off　his　pony；　and　with　another　he　was　over　the　stone
wall　and　flying　swiftly　across　the　field。　　Looking　up　from　his
victim；　the　great　yellow　horse　saw　this　other　enemy　approach；　and
spurning　the　prostrate；　but　still　writhing　body　with　its　heels；
dashed　at　the　newcomer。

But　this　time　there　was　no　hasty　flight；　no　rapturous　pursuit　to
the　wall。　　The　little　man　braced　himself　straight；　flung　up　his
metal…headed　whip；　and　met　the　horse　with　a　crashing　blow　upon　the
head；　repeated　again　and　again　with　every　attack。　　In　vain　the
horse　reared　and　tried　to　overthrow　its　enemy　with　swooping
shoulders　and　pawing　hoofs。　　Cool；　swift　and　alert；　the　man　sprang
swiftly　aside　from　under　the　very　shadow　of　death；　and　then　again
came　the　swish　and　thud　of　the　unerring　blow　from　the　heavy
handle。

The　horse　drew　off；　glared　with　wonder　and　fury　at　this　masterful
man；　and　then　trotted　round　in　a　circle；　with　mane　bristling；　tail
streaming　and　ears　on　end；　snorting　in　its　rage　and　pain。　　The
man；　hardly　deigning　to　glance　at　his　fell　neighbor；　passed　on　to
the　wounded　forester；　raised　him　in　his　arms　with　a　strength　which
could　not　have　been　expected　in　so　slight　a　body；　and　carried　him；
groaning；　to　the　wall；　where　a　dozen　hands　were　outstretched　to
help　him　over。　　Then；　at　his　leisure；　the　young　man　also　climbed
the　wall；　smiling　back　with　cool　contempt　at　the　yellow　horse；
which　had　come　raging　after　him　once　more。

As　he　sprang　down；　a　dozen　monks　surrounded　him　to　thank　him　or　to
praise　him；　but　he　would　have　turned　sullenly　away　without　a　word
had　he　not　been　stopped　by　Abbot　John　in　person。

〃Nay；　Squire　Loring；〃　said　he；　〃if　you　be　a　bad　friend　to　our
Abbey；　yet　we　must　needs　own　that　you　have　played　the　part　of　a
good　Christian　this　day；　for　if　there　is　breath　left　in　our
servant's　body　it　is　to　you　next　to　our　blessed　patron　Saint
Bernard　that　we　owe　it。〃

〃By　Saint　Paul！　　I　owe　you　no　good…will；　Abbot　John；〃　said　the
young　man。　　〃The　shadow　of　your　Abbey　has　ever　fallen　across　the
house　of　Loring。　　As　to　any　small　deed　that　I　may　have　done　this
day；　I　ask　no　thanks　for　it。　　It　is　not　for　you　nor　for　your　house
that　I　have　done　it；　but　only　because　it　was　my　pleasure　so　to
do。〃

The　Abbot　flushed　at　the　bold　words；　and　bit　his　lip　with
vexation。

It　was　the　sacrist；　however；　who　answered：　〃It　would　be　more
fitting　and　more　gracious；〃　said　he；　〃if　you　were　to　speak　to　the
holy　Father　Abbot　in　a　manner　suited　to　his　high　rank　and　to　the
respect　which　is　due　to　a　Prince　of　the　Church。〃

The　youth　turned　his　bold　blue　eyes　upon　the　monk；　and　his
sunburned　face　darkened　with　anger。　　〃Were　it　not　for　the　gown
upon　your　back；　and　for　your　silvering　hair；　I　would　answer　you　in
another　fashion；〃　said　he。　　〃You　are　the　lean　wolf　which　growls
ever　at　our　door；　greedy　for　the　little　which　hath　been　left　to
us。　　Say　and　do　what　you　will　with　me；　but　by　Saint　Paul！　if　I
find　that　Dame　Ermyntrude　is　baited　by　your　rav