sir nigel-第50部分

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once　again　Nigel　gained。　　A　sunken　road　crossed　it；　but　the　white
cleared　it　with　a　mighty　spring；　and　again　the　yellow　followed。
Two　small　hills　lay　before　them　with　a　narrow　gorge　of　deep　bushes
between。　　Nigel　saw　the　white　horse　bounding　chest…deep　amid　the
underwood。

Next　instant　its　hind　legs　were　high　in　the　air；　and　the　rider　had
been　shot　from　its　back。　　A　howl　of　triumph　rose　from　amidst　the
bushes；　and　a　dozen　wild　figures　armed　with　club　and　with　spear；
rushed　upon　the　prostrate　man。

〃A　moi；　Anglais；　a　moi！〃　cried　a　voice；　and　Nigel　saw　the　young
rider　stagger　to　his　feet；　strike　round　him　with　his　sword；　and
then　fall　once　more　before　the　rush　of　his　assailants。

There　was　a　comradeship　among　men　of　gentle　blood　and　bearing
which　banded　them　together　against　all　ruffianly　or　unchivalrous
attack。　　These　rude　fellows　were　no　soldiers。　　Their　dress　and
arms；　their　uncouth　cries　and　wild　assault；　marked　them　as
banditti　…　such　men　as　had　slain　the　Englishman　upon　the　road。
Waiting　in　narrow　gorges　with　a　hidden　rope　across　the　path；　they
watched　for　the　lonely　horseman　as　a　fowler　waits　by　his
bird…trap；　trusting　that　they　could　overthrow　the　steed　and　then
slay　the　rider　ere　he　had　recovered　from　his　fall。

Such　would　have　been　the　fate　of　the　stranger；　as　of　so　many
cavaliers　before　him；　had　Nigel　not　chanced　to　be　close　upon　his
heels。　　In　an　instant　Pommers　had　burst　through　the　group　who
struck　at　the　prostrate　man；　and　in　another　two　of　the　robbers　had
fallen　before　Nigel's　sword。　　A　spear　rang　on　his　breastplate；　but
one　blow　shore　off　its　head；　and　a　second　that　of　him　who　held　it。
In　vain　they　thrust　at　the　steel…girt　man。　　His　sword　played　round
them　like　lightning；　and　the　fierce　horse　ramped　and　swooped　above
them　with　pawing　iron…shod　hoofs　and　eyes　of　fire。　　With　cries　and
shrieks　they　flew　off　to　right　and　left　amidst　the　bushes；
springing　over　boulders　and　darting　under　branches　where　no
horseman　could　follow　them。　　The　foul　crew　had　gone　as　swiftly　and
suddenly　as　it　had　come；　and　save　for　four　ragged　figures　littered
amongst　the　trampled　bushes；　no　sign　remaining　of　their　passing。

Nigel　tethered　Pommers　to　a　thorn…bush　and　then　turned　his
attention　to　the　injured　man。　　The　white　horse　had　regained　his
feet　and　stood　whinnying　gently　as　he　looked　down　on　his　prostrate
master。　　A　heavy　blow；　half　broken　by　his　sword；　had　beaten　him
down　and　left　a　great　raw　bruise　upon　his　forehead。　　But　a　stream
gurgled　through　the　gorge；　and　a　capful　of　water　dashed　over　his
face　brought　the　senses　back　to　the　injured　man。　　He　was　a　mere
stripling；　with　the　delicate　features　of　a　woman；　and　a　pair　of
great　violet…blue　eyes　which　looked　up　presently　with　a　puzzled
stare　into　Nigel's　face。

〃Who　are　you？〃　he　asked。　　〃Ah　yes！　　I　call　you　to　mind。　　You　are
the　young　Englishman　who　chased　me　on　the　great　yellow　horse。　　By
our　Lady　of　Rocamadour　whose　vernicle　is　round　my　neck！　　I　could
not　have　believed　that　any　horse　could　have　kept　at　the　heels　of
Charlemagne　so　long。　　But　I　will　wager　you　a　hundred　crowns；
Englishman；　that　I　lead　you　over　a　five…mile　course。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Nigel；　〃we　will　wait　till　you　can　back　a　horse　ere　we
talk　of　racing　it。　　I　am　Nigel　of　Tilford；　of　the　family　of
Loring；　a　squire　by　rank　and　the　son　of　a　knight。　　How　are　you
called；　young　sir？〃

〃I　also　am　a　squire　by　rank　and　the　son　of　a　knight。　　I　am　Raoul
de　la　Roche　Pierre　de　Bras；　whose　father　writes　himself　Lord　of
Grosbois；　a　free　vavasor　of　the　noble　Count　of　Toulouse；　with　the
right　of　fossa　and　of　furca；　the　high　justice；　the　middle　and　the
low。〃　　He　sat　up　and　rubbed　his　eyes。　　〃Englishman；　you　have　saved
my　life　as　I　would　have　saved　yours；　had　I　seen　such　yelping　dogs
set　upon　a　man　of　blood　and　of　coat…armor。　　But　now　I　am　yours；
and　what　is　your　sweet　will？〃
〃　When　you　are　fit　to　ride；　you　will　come　back　with　me　to　my
people。〃

〃Alas！　　I　feared　that　you　would　say　so。　　Had　I　taken　you；　Nigel　…
that　is　your　name；　is　it　not？　…　had　I　taken　you；　I　would　not　have
acted　thus。〃

〃How　then　would　you　have　ordered　things？〃　asked　Nigel；　much　taken
with　the　frank　and　debonair　manner　of　his　captive。

〃I　would　not　have　taken　advantage　of　such　a　mischance　as　has
befallen　me　which　has　put　me　in　your　power。　　I　would　give　you　a
sword　and　beat　you　in　fair　fight；　so　that　I　might　send　you　to　give
greeting　to　my　dear　lady　and　show　her　the　deeds　which　I　do　for　her
fair　sake。〃

〃Indeed；　your　words　are　both　good　and　fair；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃By
Saint　Paul！　　I　cannot　call　to　mind　that　I　have　ever　met　a　man　who
bore　himself　better。　　But　since　I　am　in　my　armor　and　you　without；
I　see　not　how　we　can　debate　the　matter。〃

〃Surely；　gentle　Nigel；　you　could　doff　your　armor。〃

〃Then　have　I　only　my　underclothes。〃

〃Nay；　there　shall　be　no　unfairness　there；　for　I　also　will　very
gladly　strip　to　my　underclothes。〃

Nigel　looked　wistfully　at　the　Frenchman；　but　he　shook　his　head。
〃Alas！　　it　may　not　be；〃　said　he。　　〃The　last　words　that　Sir　Robert
said　to　me　were　that　I　was　to　bring　you　to　his　side；　for　he　would
have　speech　with　you。　　Would　that　I　could　do　what　you　ask；　for　I
also　have　a　fair　lady　to　whom　I　would　fain　send　you。　　What　use　are
you　to　me；　Raoul；　since　I　have　gained　no　honor　in　the　taking　of
you？　　How　is　it　with　you　now？〃

The　young　Frenchman　had　risen　to　his　feet。　　〃Do　not　take　my
sword；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　yours；　rescue　or　no　rescue。　　I　think　now
that　I　could　mount　my　horse；　though　indeed　my　head　still　rings
like　a　cracked　bell。〃

Nigel　had　lost　all　traces　of　his　comrades；　but　he　remembered　Sir
Robert's　words　that　he　should　ride　upon　the　sun　with　the　certainty
that　sooner　or　later　he　would　strike　upon　the　road。　　As　they
jogged　slowly　along　over　undulating　hills；　the　Frenchman　shook　off

his　hurt　and　the　two　chatted　merrily　together。

〃I　had　but　just　come　from　France；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　had　hoped　to
win　honor　in　this　country；　for　I　have　ever　heard　that　the　English
are　very　hardy　men　and　excellent　people　to　fight　with。　　My　mules
and　my　baggage　are　at　Evran；　but　I　rode　forth　to　see　what　I　could
see；　and　I　chanced　upon　your　army　moving　down　the　road；　so　I
coasted　it　in　the　hopes　of　some　profit　or　adventure。　　Then　you
came　after　me　and　I　would　have　given　all　the　gold　goblets　upon　my
father's　table　if　I　had　my　harness　so　that　I　could　have　turned
upon　you。　　I　have　promised　the　Countess　Beatrice　that　I　will　send
her　an　Englishman　or　two　to　kiss　her　hands。〃

〃One　might　perchance　have　a　worse　fate；〃　said　Nigel。　　〃Is　this
fair　dame　your　betrothed？〃

〃She　is　my　love；〃　answered　the　Frenchman。　　〃We　are　but　waiting　for
the　Count　to　be　slain　in　the　wars；　and　then　we　mean　to　marry。　　And
this　lady　of　thine；　Nigel？　　I　would　that　I　could　see　her。〃

〃Perchance　you　shall；　fair　sir；〃　said　Nigel；　〃for　all　that　I　have
seen　of　you　fills　me　with　desire　to　go　further　with　you。　　It　is　in
my　mind　that　we　might　turn　this　thing　to　profit　and　to　honor；　for
when　Sir　Robert　has　spoken　with　you；　I　am　free　to　do　with　you　as　I
will。〃

〃And　what　will　you　do；　Nigel？〃

〃We　shall　surely　try　some　small　deed　upon　each　other；　so　that
either　I　shall　see　the　Lady　Beatrice；　or　you　the　Lady　Mary。　　Nay；
thank　me　not；　for　like　yourself；　I　have　come　to　this　country　in
search　of　honor；　and　I　know　not　where　I　may　better　find　it　than　at
the　end　of　your　sword…point。　　My　good　lord　and　master；　Sir　John
Chandos；　has　told　me　many　times　that　never　yet　did　he　meet　French
knight　nor　squire　that　he　did　not　find　great　pleasure　and　profit
from　their　company；　and　now　I　very　clearly　see　that　he　has　spoken
the　truth。〃

For　an　hour　these　two　friends　rode　together；　the　Frenchman　pouring
forth　the　praises　of　his　lady；　whose　glove　he　produced　from　one
pocket；　her　garter　from　his　vest；　and　her　shoe　from　his
saddle…bag。　　She　was　blond；　and　when　he　heard　that　Mary　was　dark；
he　would　fain　stop　then　and　there　to　fight　the　question　of　color。
He　talked　too　of　his　great　chateau　at　Lauta；　by　the　head　waters　of
the　pleasant　Garonne；　of　the　hundred　horses　in　the　stables；　the
seventy　hounds　in　the　kennels；　the　fifty　hawks　in　the　mews。　　His
English　friend　should　come　there　when　the　wars　were　over；　and　what
golden　days　would　be　theirs！　　Nigel　too；　with　his　English　coldness
thawing　before　this　young　sunbeam　of　the　South；　found　himself
talking　of　the　heather　slopes　of　Surrey；　of　the　forest　of　Woolmer；
even　of　the　sacred　chambers　of　Cosford。

But　as　they　rode　onward　towards　the　sinking　sun；　their　thoughts
far　away　in　their　distant　homes；　their　horses　striding　together；
there　came　that　which　brought　their　minds　back　in　an　instant　to
the　perilous　hillsides　of　Brittany。

It　was　the　long　blast　of　a　trumpet　blown　from　somewhere　on　the
farther　side　of　a　ridge　toward　which　they　were　riding。　　A　second
long…drawn　note　from　a　distance　answered　it。

〃It　is　your　camp；〃　said　the　Frenchman。

〃Nay；〃　said　Nigel；　〃we　have　pipes　with　us　and　a　naker　or　two；　but
I　have　heard　no　trumpet…call　from　our　ranks。　　It　behooves　us　to
take　heed；　for　we　know　not　what　may　be　before　us。　　Ride　this　way；
I　pray　you；　that　we　may　look　over　and　yet　be　ourselves　unseen。〃

Some　scattered　boulders　crowned　the　height；　and　from　behind　them
the　two　young　Squires　could　see　the　long　rocky　valley　beyond。
Upon　a　knoll　was　a　small　square　building　with　a　battlement　round
it。　　Some　distance　from　it　towered　a　great　dark　castle；　as　massive
as　the　rocks　on　which　it　stood；　with　one　strong　keep　at　the
corner；　and　four　long　lines　of　machicolated　walls。　　Above；　a　great
banner　flew　proudly　in　the　wind；　with　some　device　which　glowed　red
in　the　setting　sun。　　Nigel　shaded　his　eyes　and　stared　with
wrinkled　brow。

〃It　is　not　the　arms　of　England；　nor　yet　the　lilies　of　France；　nor
is　it　the　ermine　of　Brittany；〃　said　he。　　〃He　who　holds　this　castle
fights　for　his　own　hand；　since　his　own　device　flies　above　it。
Surely　it　is　a　head　gules　on　an　argent　field。〃

〃The　bloody　head　on　a　silver　tray！〃　cried　the　Frenchman。　　〃Was　I
not　warned　against　him？　　This　is　not　a　man；　friend　Nigel。　　It　is　a
monster　who　wars　upon　English；　French　and　all　Christendom。　　Have
you　not　heard　of　the　Butcher　of　La　Brohiniere？〃

〃Nay；　I　have　not　heard　of　him。〃

〃　His　nam