sir nigel-第44部分

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A　strange　sight　it　was　to　see　these　forty　nobles　tearing　off　their
clothes　and　littering　the　deck　with　velvets　and　satins；　whilst　the
squire　of　each；　as　busy　as　an　ostler　before　a　race；　stooped　and
pulled　and　strained　and　riveted；　fastening　the　bassinets；　the
legpieces；　the　front　and　the　back　plates；　until　the　silken
courtier　had　become　the　man　of　steel。　　When　their　work　was
finished；　there　stood　a　stern　group　of　warriors　where　the　light
dandies　had　sung　and　jested　round　Sir　John's　guitar。　　Below　in
orderly　silence　the　archers　were　mustering　under　their　officers
and　taking　their　allotted　stations。　　A　dozen　had　swarmed　up　to
their　hazardous　post　in　the　little　tower　in　the　tops。

〃Bring　wine；　Nicholas！〃　cried　the　King。　　〃Gentlemen；　ere　you　close
your　visors　I　pray　you　to　take　a　last　rouse　with　me。　　You　will　be
dry　enough；　I　promise　you；　before　your　lips　are　free　once　more。
To　what　shall　we　drink；　John？〃

〃To　the　men　of　Spain；〃　said　Chandos；　his　sharp　face　peering　like　a
gaunt　bird　through　the　gap　in　his　helmet。　　〃May　their　hearts　be
stout　and　their　spirits　high　this　day！〃

〃Well　said；　John！〃　cried　the　King；　and　the　knights　laughed
joyously　as　they　drank。　　〃Now；　fair　sirs；　let　each　to　his　post！　　I
am　warden　here　on　the　forecastle。　　Do　you；　John；　take　charge　of
the　afterguard。　　Walter；　James；　William；　Fitzallan；　Goldesborough；
Reginald　…　you　will　stay　with　me！　　John；　you　may　pick　whom　you
will　and　the　others　will　bide　with　the　archers。　　Now　bear　straight
at　the　center；　master…shipman。　　Ere　yonder　sun　sets　we　will　bring
a　red　ship　back　as　a　gift　to　our　ladies；　or　never　look　upon　a
lady's　face　again。〃

The　art　of　sailing　into　a　wind　had　not　yet　been　invented；　nor　was
there　any　fore…and…aft　canvas；　save　for　small　headsails　with　which
a　vessel　could　be　turned。　　Hence　the　English　fleet　had　to　take　a
long　slant　down　channel　to　meet　their　enemies；　but　as　the
Spaniards　coming　before　the　wind　were　equally　anxious　to　engage
there　was　the　less　delay。　　With　stately　pomp　and　dignity；　the　two
great　fleets　approached。

It　chanced　that　one　fine　carack　had　outstripped　its　consorts　and
came　sweeping　along；　all　red　and　gold；　with　a　fringe　of　twinkling
steel；　a　good　half…mile　before　the　fleet。　　Edward　looked　at　her
with　a　kindling　eye；　for　indeed　she　was　a　noble　sight　with　the
blue　water　creaming　under　her　gilded　prow。

〃This　is　a　most　worthy　and　debonair　vessel；　Master　Bunce；〃　said　he
to　the　shipman　beside　him。　　〃I　would　fain　have　a　tilt　with　her。　　I
pray　you　to　hold　us　straight　that　we　may　bear　her　down。〃

〃If　I　hold　her　straight；　then　one　or　other　must　sink；　and　it　may
be　both；〃　the　seaman　answered。

〃I　doubt　not　that　with　the　help　of　our　Lady　we　shall　do　our　part；〃
said　the　King。　　〃Hold　her　straight；　master…shipman；　as　I　have　told
you。〃

Now　the　two　vessels　were　within　arrow　flight；　and　the　bolts　from
the　crossbowmen　pattered　upon　the　English　ship。　　These　short　thick
devil's　darts　were　everywhere　humming　like　great　wasps　through　the
air；　crashing　against　the　bulwarks；　beating　upon　the　deck；　ringing
loudly。　　on　the　armor　of　the　knights；　or　with　a　soft　muffled　thud
sinking　to　the　socket　in　a　victim。

The　bowmen　along　either　side　of　the　Philippa　had　stood　motionless
waiting　for　their　orders；　but　now　there　was　a　sharp　shout　from
their　leader；　and　every　string　twanged　together。　　The　air　was　full
of　their　harping；　together　with　the　swish　of　the　arrows；　the
long…drawn　keening　of　the　bowmen　and　the　short　deep　bark　of　the
under…officers。　　〃Steady；　steady！　　Loose　steady！　　Shoot　wholly
together！　　Twelve　score　paces！　　Ten　score！　　Now　eight！　　Shoot
wholly　together！〃　　Their　gruff　shouts　broke　through　the　high
shrill　cry　like　the　deep　roar　of　a　wave　through　the　howl　of　the
wind。

As　the　two　great　ships　hurtled　together　the　Spaniard　turned　away　a
few　points　so　that　the　blow　should　be　a　glancing　one。　　None　the
less　it　was　terrific。　　A　dozen　men　in　the　tops　of　the　carack　were
balancing　a　huge　stone　with　the　intention　of　dropping　it　over　on
the　English　deck。　　With　a　scream　of　horror　they　saw　the　mast
cracking　beneath　them。　　Over　it　went；　slowly　at　first；　then
faster；　until　with　a　crash　it　came　down　on　its　side；　sending　them
flying　like　stones　from　a　sling　far　out　into　the　sea。　　A　swath　of
crushed　bodies　lay　across　the　deck　where　the　mast　had　fallen。　　But
the　English　ship　had　not　escaped　unscathed。　　Her　mast　held；　it　is
true；　but　the　mighty　shock　not　only　stretched　every　man　flat　upon
the　deck；　but　had　shaken　a　score　of　those　who　lined　her　sides　into
the　sea。　　One　bowman　was　hurled　from　the　top；　and　his　body　fell
with　a　dreadful　crash　at　the　very　side　of　the　prostrate　King　upon
the　forecastle。　　Many　were　thrown　down　with　broken　arms　and　legs
from　the　high　castles　at　either　end　into　the　waist　of　the　ship。
Worst　of　all；　the　seams　had　been　opened　by　the　crash　and　the　water
was　gushing　in　at　a　dozen　places。

But　these　were　men　of　experience　and　of　discipline；　men　who　had
already　fought　together　by　sea　and　by　land；　so　that　each　knew　his
place　and　his　duty。　　Those　who　could　staggered　to　their　feet　and
helped　up　a　score　or　more　of　knights　who　were　rolling　and　clashing
in　the　scuppers　unable　to　rise　for　the　weight　of　their　armor。　　The
bowmen　formed　up　as　before。　　The　seamen　ran　to　the　gaping　seams
with　oakum　and　with　tar。　　In　ten　minutes　order　had　been　restored
and　the　Philippa；　though　shaken　and　weakened；　was　ready　for　battle
once　more。　　The　King　was　glaring　round　him　like　a　wounded　boar。

〃Grapple　my　ship　with　that；〃　he　cried；　pointing　to　the　crippled
Spaniard；　〃for　I　would　have　possession　of　her！〃

But　already　the　breeze　had　carried　them　past　it；　and　a　dozen
Spanish　ships　were　bearing　down　full　upon　them。

〃We　cannot　win　back　to　her；　lest　we　show　our　flank　to　these
others；〃　said　the　shipman。

〃Let　her　go；　her　way！〃　cried　the　knights。　　〃You　shall　have　better
than　her。〃

〃By　Saint　George！　you　speak　the　truth；〃　said　the　King；　for　she　is
ours　when　we　have　time　to　take　her。　　These　also　seem　very　worthy
ships　which　are　drawing　up　to　us；　and　I　pray　you；　master…shipman；
that　you　will　have　a　tilt　with　the　nearest。〃

A　great　carack　was　within　a　bowshot　of　them　and　crossing　their
bows。　　Bunce　looked　up　at　his　mast；　and　he　saw　that　already　it　was
shaken　and　drooping。　　Another　blow　and　it　would　be　over　the　side
and　his　ship　a　helpless　log　upon　the　water。　　He　jammed　his　helm
round　therefore；　and　ran　his　ship　alongside　the　Spaniard；　throwing
out　his　hooks　and　iron　chains　as　he　did　so。

They；　no　less　eager；　grappled　the　Philippa　both　fore　and　aft；　and
the　two　vessels；　linked　tightly　together；　surged　slowly　over　the
long　blue　rollers。　　Over　their　bulwarks　hung　a　cloud　of　men　locked
together　in　a　desperate　struggle；　sometimes　surging　forward　on　to
the　deck　of　the　Spaniard；　sometimes　recoiling　back　on　to　the
King's　ship；　reeling　this　way　and　that；　with　the　swords　flickering
like　silver　flames　above　them；　while　the　long…drawn　cry　of　rage
and　agony　swelled　up　like　a　wolf's　howl　to　the　calm　blue　heaven
above　them。

But　now　ship　after　ship　of　the　English　had　come　up；　each　throwing
its　iron　over　the　nearest　Spaniard　and　striving　to　board　her　high
red　sides。　　Twenty　ships　were　drifting　in　furious　single　combat
after　the　manner　of　the　Philippa；　until　the　whole　surface　of　the
sea　was　covered　with　a　succession　of　these　desperate　duels。　　The
dismasted　carack；　which　the　King's　ship　had　left　behind　it；　had
been　carried　by　the　Earl　of　Suffolk's　Christopher；　and　the　water
was　dotted　with　the　heads　of　her　crew。　　An　English　ship　had　been
sunk　by　a　huge　stone　discharged　from　an　engine；　and　her　men　also
were　struggling　in　the　waves；　none　having　leisure　to　lend　them　a
hand。　　A　second　English　ship　was　caught　between　two　of　the　Spanish
vessels　and　overwhelmed　by　a　rush　of　boarders　so　that　not　a　man　of
her　was　left　alive。　　On　the　other　hand；　Mowbray　and　Audley　had
each　taken　the　caracks　which　were　opposed　to　them；　and　the　battle
in　the　center；　after　swaying　this　way　and　that；　was　turning　now　in
favor　of　the　Islanders。

The　Black　Prince；　with　the　Lion；　the　Grace　Marie　and　four　other
ships　had　swept　round　to　turn　the　Spanish　flank；　but　the　movement
was　seen；　and　the　Spaniards　had　ten　ships　with　which　to　meet　it；
one　of　them　their　great　carack　the　St。　Iago　di　Compostella。　　To
this　ship　the　Prince　had　attached　his　little　cog　and　strove
desperately　to　board　her；　but　her　side　was　so　high　and　the　defense
so　desperate　that　his　men　could　never　get　beyond　her　bulwarks　but
were　hurled　down　again　and　again　with　a　clang　and　clash　to　the
deck　beneath。　　Her　side　bristled　with　crossbowmen；　who　shot
straight　down　on　to　the　packed　waist　of　the　Lion；　so　that　the　dead
lay　there　in　heaps。　　But　the　most　dangerous　of　all　was　a　swarthy
black…bearded　giant　in　the　tops；　who　crouched　so　that　none　could
see　him；　but　rising…every　now　and　then　with　a　huge　lump　of　iron
between　his　hands；　hurled　it　down　with　such　force　that　nothing
would　stop　it。　　Again　and　again　these　ponderous　bolts　crashed
through　the　deck　and　hurtled　down　into　the　bottom　of　the　ship；
starting　the　planks　and　shattering　all　that　came　in　their　way。

The　Prince；　clad　in　that　dark　armor　which　gave　him　his　name；　was
directing　the　attack　from　the　poop　when　the　shipman　rushed　wildly
up　to　him　with　fear　on　his　face。

〃Sire！〃　he　cried。　　〃The　ship　may　not　stand　against　these　blows。　　A
few　more　will　sink　her！　　Already　the　water　floods　inboard。〃

The　Prince　looked　up；　and　as　he　did　so　the　shaggy　beard　showed
once　more　and　two　brawny　arms　swept　downward。　　A　great　slug；
whizzing　down；　beat　a　gaping　hole　in　the　deck；　and　fell　rending
and　riving　into　the　hold　below。　　The　master…mariner　tore　his
grizzled　hair。

〃Another　leak！〃　he　cried。　　〃I　pray　to　Saint　Leonard　to　bear　us　up
this　day！　　Twenty　of　my　shipmen　are　bailing　with　buckets；　but　the
water　rises　on　them　fast。　　The　vessel　may　not　float　another　hour。〃

The　Prince　had　snatched　a　crossbow　from　one　of　his　attendants　and
leveled　it　at　the　Spaniard's　tops。　　At　the　very　instant　when　the
seaman　stood　erect　with　a　fresh　bar　in　his　hands；　the　bolt　took
him　full　in　the　face；　and　his　body　fell　forward　over　the　parapet；
hanging　there　head　downward。　　A　howl　of　exultation