sir nigel-第45部分

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hanging　there　head　downward。　　A　howl　of　exultation　burst　from　the
English　at　the　sight；　answered　by　a　wild　roar　of　anger　from　the
Spaniards。　　A　seaman　had　run　from　the　Lion's　hold　and　whispered　in
the　ear　of　the　shipman。　　He　turned　an　ashen　face　upon　the　Prince。

〃It　is　even　as　I　say；　sire。　　The　ship　is　sinking　beneath　our
feet！〃　he　cried。

〃The　more　need　that　we　should　gain　another；〃　said　he。　　〃Sir　Henry
Stokes；　Sir　Thomas　Stourton；　William；　John　of　Clifton；　here。　　lies
our　road！　　Advance　my　banner；　Thomas　de　Mohun！　　On；　and　the　day　is
ours！〃

By　a　desperate　scramble　a　dozen　men；　the　Prince　at　their　bead；
gained　a　footing　on　the　edge　of　the　Spaniard's　deck。　　Some　slashed
furiously　to　clear　a　space；　others　hung　over；　clutching　the　rail
with　one　hand　and　pulling　up　their　comrades　from　below。　　Every
instant　that　they　could　hold　their　own　their　strength　increased；
till　twenty　had　become　thirty　and　thirty　forty；　when　of　a　sudden
the　newcomers；　still　reaching　forth　to　their　comrades　below；　saw
the　deck　beneath　them　reel　and　vanish　in　a　swirling　sheet　of　foam。
The　Prince's　ship　had　foundered。

A　yell　went　up　from　the　Spaniards　as　they　turned　furiously　upon
the　small　band　who　had　reached　their　deck。　　Already　the　Prince　and
his　men　had　carried　the　poop；　and　from　that　high　station　they　beat
back　their　swarming　enemies。　　But　crossbow　darts　pelted　and
thudded　among　their　ranks　till　a　third　of　their　number　were
stretched　upon　the　planks。　　Lined　across　the　deck　they　could
hardly　keep　an　unbroken　front　to　the　leaping；　surging　crowd　who
pressed　upon　them。　　Another　rush；　or　another　after　that；　must
assuredly　break　them；　for　these　dark　men　of　Spain；　hardened　by　an
endless　struggle　with　the　Moors；　were　fierce　and　stubborn
fighters。　　But　hark　to　this　sudden　roar　upon　the　farther　side　of
them

〃Saint　George！　　Saint　George！　　A　Knolles　to　the　rescue！〃　　A　small
craft　had　run　alongside　and　sixty　men　had　swarmed　on　the　deck　of
the　St。　Iago。　　Caught　between　two　fires；　the　Spaniards　wavered　and
broke。　　The　fight　became　a　massacre。　　Down　from　the　poop　sprang
the　Prince's　men。　　Up　from　the　waist　rushed　the　new…corners。
There　were　five　dreadful　minutes　of　blows　and　screams　and　prayers
with　struggling　figures　clinging　to　the　bulwarks　and　sullen
splashes　into　the　water　below。　　Then　it　was　over；　and　a　crowd　of
weary；　overstrained　men　leaned　panting　upon　their　weapons；　or　lay
breathless　and　exhausted　upon　the　deck　of　the　captured　carack。

The　Prince　had　pulled　up　his　visor　and　lowered　his　beaver。　　He
smiled　proudly　as　he　gazed　around　him　and　wiped　his　streaming
face。　　〃Where　is　the　shipman？　　he　asked。　　〃Let　him　lead　us　against
another　ship。〃

〃Nay；　sire；　the　shipman　and　all　his　men　have　stink　in　the　Lion；〃
said　Thomas　de　Mohun；　a　young　knight　of　the　West　Country；　who
carried　the　standard。　　〃We　have　lost　our　ship　and　the　half　of　our
following。　　I　fear　that　we　can　fight　no　more。〃

〃It　matters　the　less　since　the　day　is　already　ours；〃　said　the
Prince；　looking　over　the　sea。　　〃My　noble　father's　royal　banner
flies　upon　yonder　Spaniard。　　Mowbray；　Audley；　Suffolk；　Beauchamp；
Namur；　Tracey；　Stafford；　Arundel；　each　has　his　flag　over　a　scarlet
carack；　even　as　mine　floats　over　this。　　See；　yonder　squadron　is
already　far　beyond　our　reach。　　But　surely　we　owe　thanks　to　you　who
came　at　so　perilous　a　moment　to　our　aid。　　Your　face　I　have　seen；
and　your　coat…armor　also；　young　sir；　though　I　cannot　lay　my　tongue
to　your　name。　　Let　me　know　that　I　may　thank　you。〃

He　had　turned　to　Nigel；　who　stood　flushed　and　joyous　at　the　head
of　the　boarders　from　the　Basilisk。

〃I　am　but　a　Squire；　sire；　and　can　claim　no　thanks；　for　there　is
nothing　that　I　have　done。　　Here　is　our　leader。〃

The　Prince's　eyes　fell　upon　the　shield　charged　with　the　Black
Raven　and　the　stern　young　face　of　him　who　bore　it。　　〃Sir　Robert
Knolles；〃　said　he；　〃I　had　thought　you　were　on　your　way　to
Brittany。〃

〃I　was　so；　sire；　when　I　had　the　fortune　to　see　this　battle　as　I
passed。〃

The　Prince　laughed。　　〃It　would　indeed　be　to　ask　too　much；　Robert；
that　you　should　keep　on　your　course　when　much　honor　was　to　be
gathered　so　close　to　you。　　But　now　I　pray　you　that　you　will　come
back　with　us　to　Winchelsea；　for　well　I　know　that　my　father　would
fain　thank　you　for　what　you　have　done　this　day。〃

But　Robert　Knolles　shook　his　head。　　〃I　have　your　father's　command；
sire；　and　without　his　order　I　may　not　go　against　it。　　Our　people
are　hard…pressed　in　Brittany；　and　it　is　not　for　me　to　linger　on
the　way。　　I　pray　you；　sire；　if　you　must　needs　mention　me　to　the
King；　to　crave　his　pardon　that　I　should　have　broken　my　journey
thus。〃

〃You　are　right；　Robert。　　God…speed　you　on　your　way！　　And　I　would
that　I　were　sailing　under　your　banner；　for　I　see　clearly　that　you
will　take　your　people　where　they　may　worshipfully　win　worship。
Perchance　I　also　maybe　in　Brittany　before　the　year　is　past。〃

The　Prince　turned　to　the　task　of　gathering　his　weary　people
together；　and　the　Basilisks　passed　over　the　side　once　more　and
dropped　down　on　to　their　own　little　ship。　　They　poled　her　off　from
the　captured　Spaniard　and　set　their　sail　with　their　prow　for　the
south。　　Far　ahead　of　them　were　their　two　consorts；　beating　towards
them　in　the　hope　of　giving　help；　while　down　Channel　were　a　score
of　Spanish　ships　with　a　few　of　the　English　vessels　hanging　upon
their　skirts。　　The　sun　lay　low　on　the　water；　and　its　level　beams
glowed　upon　the　scarlet　and　gold　of　fourteen　great　caracks；　each
flying　the　cross　of　Saint　George；　and　towering　high　above　the
cluster　of　English　ships　which；　with　brave　waving　of　flags　and
blaring　of　music；　were　moving　slowly　towards　the　Kentish　coast。




XVIII。　　HOW　BLACK　SIMON　CLAIMED　FORFEIT　FROM　THE　KING　OF　SARK


For　a　day　and　a　half　the　small　fleet　made　good　progress；　but　on
the　second　morning；　after　sighting　Cape　de　la　Hague；　there　came　a
brisk　land　wind　which　blew　them　out　to　sea。　　It　grew　into　a　squall
with　rain　and　fog　so　that　they　were　two　more　days　beating　back。
Next　morning　they　found　themselves　in　a　dangerous　rock　studded　sea
with　a　small　island　upon　their　starboard　quarter。　　It　was　girdled
with　high　granite　cliffs　of　a　reddish　hue；　and　slopes　of　bright
green　grassland　lay　above　them。　　A　second　smaller　island　lay
beside　it。　　Dennis　the　shipman　shook　his　head　as　he　looked。

〃That　is　Brechou；〃　said　he；　〃and　the　larger　one　is　the　Island　of
Sark。　　If　ever　I　be　cast　away；　I　pray　the　saints　that　I　may　not　be
upon　yonder　coast！〃

Knolles　gazed　across　at　it。　　〃You　say　well；　master…shipman；〃　said
he。　　〃It　does　appear　to　be　a　rocky　and　perilous　spot。〃

〃Nay；　it　is　the　rocky　hearts　of　those　who　dwell　upon　it　that　I　had
in　my　mind；〃　the　old　sailor　answered。　　〃We　are　well　safe　in　three
goodly　vessels；　but　had　we　been　here　in　a　small　craft　I　make　no
doubt　that　they　would　have　already　had　their　boats　out　against
us。〃

〃Who　then　are　these　people；　and　how　do　they　live　upon　so　small　and
windswept　an　island？〃　asked　the　soldier。

〃They　do　not　live　from　the　island；　fair　sir；　but　from　what　they
can　gather　upon　the　sea　around　it。　　They　are　broken　folk　from　all
countries；　justice…fliers；　prison…breakers；　reavers；　escaped
bondsmen；　murderers　and　staff…strikers　who　have　made　their　way　to
this　outland　place　and　hold　it　against　all　comers。　　There　is　one
here　who　could　tell　you　of　them　and　of　their　ways；　for　he　was　long
time　prisoner　amongst　them。〃　　The　seaman　pointed　to　Black　Simon；
the　dark　man　from　Norwich；　who　was　leaning　against　the　side　lost
in　moody　thought　and　staring　with　a　brooding　eye　at　the　distant
shore。

〃How　now；　fellow？〃　asked　Knolles。　　〃What　is　this　I　hear？　　Is　it
indeed　sooth　that　you　have　been　a　captive　upon　this　island？〃

〃It　is　true；　fair　sir。　　For　eight　months　I　have　been　servant　to
the　man　whom　they　call　their　King。　　His　name　is　La　Muette；　and　he
comes　from　Jersey　nor　is　there　under　God's　sky　a　man　whom　I　have
more　desire　to　see。〃

〃Has　he　then　mishandled　you？〃

Black　Simon　gave　a　wry　smile　and　pulled　off　his　jerkin。　　His　lean
sinewy　back　was　waled　and　puckered　with　white　scars。　　〃He　has　left
his　sign　of　hand　upon　me；〃　said　he。　　〃He　swore　that　he　would　break
me　to　his　will；　and　thus　he　tried　to　do　it。　　But　most　I　desire　to
see　him　because　he　hath　lost　a　wager　to　me　and　I　would　fain　be
paid。〃

〃This　is　a　strange　saying；〃　said　Knolles。　　〃What　is　this　wager；
and　why　should　he　pay　you？〃

〃It　is　but　a　small　matter；〃　Simon　answered；　〃but　I　am　a　poor　man
and　the　payment　would　be　welcome。　　Should　it　have　chanced　that　we
stopped　at　this　island　I　should　have　craved　your　leave　that　I　go
ashore　and　ask　for　that　which　I　have　fairly　won。〃

Sir　Robert　Knolles　laughed。　　〃This　business　tickleth　my　fancy；〃
said　he。　　〃As　to　stopping　at　the　island；　this　shipman　tells　me
that　we　must　needs　wait　a　day　and　a　night；　for　that　we　have
strained　our　planks。　　But　if　you　should　go　ashore；　how　will　you　be
sure　that　you　will　be　free　to　depart；　or　that　you　will　see　this
King　of　whom　you　speak？〃

Black　Simon's　dark　face　was　shining　with　a　fierce　joy。　　〃Fair　sir；
I　will　ever　be　your　debtor　if　you　will　let　me　go。　　Concerning　what
you　ask；　I　know　this　island　even　as　I　know　the　streets　of　Norwich；
as　you　may　well　believe　seeing　that　it　is　but　a　small　place　and　I
upon　it　for　near　a　year。　　Should　I　land　after　dark；　I　could　win　my
way　to　the　King's　house；　and　if　he　be　not　dead　or　distraught　with
drink　I　could　have　speech　with　him　alone；　for　I　know　his　ways　and
his　hours　and　how　he　may　be　found。　　I　would　ask　only　that　Aylward
the　archer　may　go　with　me；　that　I　may　have　one　friend　at　my　side
if　things　should　chance　to　go　awry。〃

Knolles　thought　awhile。　　〃It　is　much　that　you　ask；〃　said　he；　〃for
by　God's　truth　I　reckon　that　you　and　this　friend　of　yours　are　two
of　my　men　whom　I　would　be　least　ready　to　lose。　　I　have　seen　you
both　at　grips　with　the　Spaniards　and　I　know　you。　　But　I　trust　you；
and　if　we　must　indeed　stop　at　this　accursed　place；　then　you　may　do
as　you　will。　　If　you　have　deceived　me；　or　if　this　is　a　trick　by
which　you　design　to　leave　me；　then　God　be　your　friend　when　next　we
meet；　for　man　will　be　of　small　avail！〃

It　proved　that　not　only　the　seams　had　to　be　calked　but　that　the
cog　Thomas　was　out　of　fresh　w