sir nigel-第52部分

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of　it。〃

Nigel　clasped　his　captive's　hand　to　show　his　admiration　and
esteem；　but　Knolles　shook　his　head。

〃Things　are　not　ordered　thus；　save　in　the　tales　of　the　minstrels；〃
said　he。　　〃I　have　no　wish　that　your　people　at　Evran　should　know
our　numbers　or　our　plans。　　I　am　not　in　this　land　for　knight
errantry；　but　I　am　here　to　make　head　against　the　King's　enemies。
Has　no　one　aught　else　to　say？〃

Percy　pointed　to　the　small　outlying　fortalice　upon　the　knoll；　on
which　also　flew　the　flag　of　the　bloody　head。　　〃This　smaller
castle；　Robert；　is　of　no　great　strength　and　cannot　hold　more　than
fifty　men。　　It　is　built；　as　I　conceive　it；　that　no　one　should
seize　the　high　ground　and　shoot　down　into　the　other。　　Why　should
we　not　turn　all　our　strength　upon　it；　since　it　is　the　weaker　of
the　twain？〃

But　again　the　young　leader　shook　his　head。　　〃If　I　should　take　it；〃
said　he；　〃I　am　still　no　nearer　to　my　desire；　nor　will　it　avail　me
in　getting　back　my　bowmen。　　It　may　cost　a　score　of　men；　and　what
profit　shall　I　have　from　it？　　Had　I　bombards；　I　might　place　them
on　yonder　hill；　but　having　none　it　is　of　little　use　to　me。〃

〃It　may　be；〃　said　Nigel；　〃that　they　have　scant　food　or　water；　and
so　must　come　forth　to　fight　us。〃

〃I　have　made　inquiry　of　the　peasants；〃　Knolles　answered；　〃and　they
are　of　one　mind　that　there　is　a　well　within　the　castle；　and　good
store　of　food。　　Nay；　gentlemen；　there　is　no　way　before　us　save　to
take　it　by　arms；　and　no　spot　where　we　can　attempt　it　save　through
the　great　gate。　　Soon　we　will　have　so　many　fagots　that　we　can　cast
them　down　into　the　ditch；　and　so　win　our　way　across。　　I　have
ordered　them　to　cut　a　pine…tree　on　the　hill　and　shear　the　branches
so　that　we　may　beat　down　the　gate　with　it。　　But　what　is　now　amiss；
and　why　do　they　run　forward　to　the　castle？〃

A　buzz　had　risen　from　the　soldiers　in　the　camp；　and　they　all
crowded　in　one　direction；　rushing　toward　the　castle　wall。　　The
knights　and　squires　rode　after　them；　and　when　in　view　of　the　main
gate；　the　cause　of　the　disturbance　lay　before　them。　　On　the　tower
above　the　portal　three　men　were　standing　in　the　garb　of　English
archers；　ropes　round　their　necks　and　their　hands　bound　behind
them。　　Their　comrades　surged　below　them　with　cries　of　recognition
and　of　pity。

〃It　is　Ambrose！〃　cried　one。　　〃Surely　it　is　Ambrose　of　Ingleton。〃

〃Yes；　in　truth；　I　see　his　yellow　hair。　　And　the　other；　him　with
the　beard；　it　is　Lockwood　of　Skipton。　　Alas　for　his　wife　who　keeps
the　booth　by　the　bridge…head　of　Ribble！　　I　wot　not　who　the　third
may　be。〃

〃It　is　little　Johnny　Alspaye；　the　youngest　man　in　the　company；〃
cried　old　Wat；　with　the　tears　running　down　his　cheeks；　〃'Twas　I
who　brought　him　from　his　home。　　Alas！　　Alas！　　Foul　fare　the　day
that　ever　I　coaxed　him　from　his　mother's　side　that　he　might　perish
in　a　far　land。〃

There　was　a　sudden　flourish　of　a　trumpet　and　the　drawbridge　fell。
Across　it　strode　a　portly　man　with　a　faded　herald's　coat。　　He
halted　warily　upon　the　farther　side　and　his　voice　boomed　like　a
drum。　　〃I　would　speak　with　your　leader。〃　he　cried。

Knolles　rode　forward。

〃Have　I　your　knightly　word　that　I　may　advance　unscathed　with　all
courteous　entreaty　as　befits　a　herald？〃

Knolles　nodded　his　head。

The　man　came　slowly　and　pompously　forward。　　〃I　am　the　messenger
and　liege　servant；〃　said　he；　〃of　the　high　baron；　Oliver　de　St。
Yvon；　Lord　of　La　Brohiniere。　　He　bids　me　to　say　that　if　you
continue　your　journey　and　molest　him　no　further　he　will　engage
upon　his　part　to　make　no　further　attack　upon　you。　　As　to　the　men
whom　he　holds；　he　will　enroll　them　in　his　own　honorable　service；
for　he　has　need　of　longbowmen；　and　has　heard　much　of　their　skill。
But　if　you　constrain　him　or　cause　him　further　displeasure　by
remaining　before　his　castle　he　hereby　gives　you　warning　that　he
will　hang　these　three　men　over　his　gateway　and　every　morning
another　three　until　all　have　been　slain。　　This　he　has　sworn　upon
the　rood　of　Calvery；　and　as　he　has　said　so　he　will　do　upon
jeopardy　of　his　soul。〃

Robert　Knolles　looked　grimly　at　the　messenger。　　〃You　may　thank　the
saints　that　you　have　had　my　promise；〃　said　he；　〃else　would　I　have
stripped　that　lying　tabard　from　thy　back　and　the　skin　beneath　it
from　thy　bones；　that　thy　master　might　have　a　fitting　answer　to　his
message。　　Tell　him　that　I　hold　him　and　all　that　are　within　his
castle　as　hostage　for　the　lives　of　my　men；　and　that　should　he　dare
to　do　them　scathe　he　and　every　man　that　is　with　him　shall　hang
upon　his　battlements。　　Go；　and　go　quickly；　less　my　patience　fail。

There　was　that　in　Knolles'　cold　gray　eyes　and　in　his　manner　of
speaking　those　last　words　which　sent　the　portly　envoy　back　at　a
quicker　gait　than　he　had　come。　　As　he　vanished　into　the　gloomy
arch　of　the　gateway　the　drawbridge　swung　up　with　creak　and　rattle
behind　him。

A　few　minutes　later　a　rough…bearded　fellow　stepped　out　over　the
portal　where　the　condemned　archers　stood　and　seizing　the　first　by
the　shoulders　he　thrust　him　over　the　wall。　　A　cry　burst　from　the
man's　lips　and　a　deep　groan　from　those　of　his　comrades　below　as　he
fell　with　a　jerk　which　sent　him　half…way　up　to　the　parapet　again；
and　then　after　dancing　like　a　child's　toy　swung　slowly　backward
and　forward　with　limp　limbs　and　twisted　neck。

The　hangman　turned　and　bowed　in　mock　reverence　to　the　spectators
beneath　him。　　He　had　not　yet　learned　in　a　land　of　puny　archers　how
sure　and　how　strong　is　the　English　bow。　　Half　a　dozen　men；　old　Wat
amongst　them；　had　run　forward　toward　the　wall。　　They　were　too　late
to　save　their　comrades；　but　at　least　their　deaths　were　speedily
avenged。

The　man　was　in　the　act　of　pushing　off　the　second　prisoner　when　an
arrow　crashed　through　his　head；　and　he　fell　stone　dead　upon　the
parapet。　　But　even　in　falling　he　had　given　the　fatal　thrust　and　a
second　russet　figure　swung　beside　the　first　against　the　dark
background　of　the　castle　wall。

There　only　remained　the　young　lad；　Johnny　Alspaye；　who　stood
shaking　with　fear；　an　abyss　below　him；　and　the　voices　of　those　who
would　hurl　him　over　it　behind。　　There　was　a　long　pause　before
anyone　would　come　forth　to　dare　those　deadly　arrows。　　Then　a
fellow；　crouching　double；　ran　forward　from　the　shelter；　keeping
the　young　archer's　body　as　a　shield　between　him　and　danger。

〃Aside；　John！　　Aside！〃　cried　his　comrades　from　below。

The　youth　sprang　as　far　as　the　rope　would　allow　him；　and　slipped
it　half　over　his　face　in　the　effort。　　Three　arrows　flashed　past
his　side；　and　two　of　them　buried　themselves　in　the　body　of　the　man
behind。　　A　howl　of　delight　burst　from　the　spectators　as　he　dropped
first　upon　his　knees　and　then　upon　his　face。　　A　life　for　a　life
was　no　bad　bargain。

But　it　was　only　a　short　respite　which　the　skill　of　his　comrades
had　given　to　the　young　archer。　　Over　the　parapet　there　appeared　a
ball　of　brass；　then　a　pair　of　great　brazen　shoulders；　and　lastly
the　full　figure　of　an　armored　man。　　He　walked　to　the　edge　and　they
heard　his　hoarse　guffaw　of　laughter　as　the　arrows　clanged　and
clattered　against　his　impenetrable　mail。　　He　slapped　his
breast…plate；　as　he　jeered　at　them。　　Well　he　knew　that　at　the
distance　no　dart　ever　sped　by　mortal　hands　could　cleave　through
his　plates　of　metal。　　So　he　stood；　the　great　burly　Butcher　of　La
Brohiniere；　with　head　uptossed；　laughing　insolently　at　his　foes。
Then　with　slow　and　ponderous　tread　he　walked　toward　his　boy
victim；　seized　him　by　the　ear；　and　dragged　him　across　so　that　the
rope　might　be　straight。　　Seeing　that　the　noose　had　slipped　across
the　face；　he　tried　to　push　it　down；　but　the　mail　glove　hampering
him　he　pulled　it　off；　and　grasped　the　rope　above　the　lad's　head
with　his　naked　hand。

Quick　as　a　flash　old　Wat's　arrow　had　sped；　and　the　Butcher　sprang
back　with　a　howl　of　pain；　his　hand　skewered　by　a　cloth…yard　shaft。
As　he　shook　it　furiously　at　his　enemies　a　second　grazed　his
knuckles。　　With　a　brutal　kick　of　his　metal…shod　feet　he　hurled
young　Alspaye　over　the　edge；　looked　down　for　a　few　moments　at　his
death　agonies；　and　then　walked　slowly　from　the　parapet；　nursing
his　dripping　hand；　the　arrows　still　ringing　loudly　upon　his
back…piece　as　he　went。

The　archers　below；　enraged　at　the　death　of　their　comrades；　leaped
and　howled　like　a　pack　of　ravening　wolves。

〃By　Saint　Dunstan；〃　said　Percy；　looking　round　at　their　flushed
faces；　〃if　ever　we　are　to　carry　it　now　is　the　moment；　for　these
men　will　not　be　stopped　if　hate　can　take　them　forward。〃

〃You　are　right；　Thomas！〃　cried　Knolles。　　〃Gather　together　twenty
men…at…arms　each　with　his　shield　to　cover　him。　　Astley；　do　you
place　the　bowmen　so　that　no　head　may　show　at　window　or　parapet。
Nigel；　I　pray　you　to　order　the　countryfolk　forward　with　their
fardels　of　fagots。　　Let　the　others　bring　up　the　lopped　pine…tree
which　lies　yonder　behind　the　horse　lines。　　Ten　men…at…arms　can
bear　it　on　the　right；　and　ten　on　the　left；　having　shields　over
their　heads。　　The　gate　once　down；　let　every　man　rush　in。　　And　God
help　the　better　cause！〃

Swiftly　and　yet　quietly　the　dispositions　were　made；　for　these　were
old　soldiers　whose　daily　trade　was　war。　　In　little　groups　the
archers　formed　in　front　of　each　slit　or　crevice　in　the　walls；
whilst　others　scanned　the　battlements　with　wary　eyes；　and　sped　an
arrow　at　every　face　which　gleamed　for　an　instant　above　them。　　The
garrison　shot　forth　a　shower　of　crossbow　bolts　and　an　occasional
stone　from　their　engine；　but　so　deadly　was　the　hail　which　rained
upon　them　that　they　had　no　time　to　dwell　upon　their　aim；　and　their
discharges　were　wild　and　harmless。　　Under　cover　of　the　shafts　of
the　bowmen　a　line　of　peasants　ran　unscathed　to　the　edge　of　the
ditch；　each　hurling　in　the　bundle　which　he　bore　in　his　arms；　and
then　hurrying　back　for　another　one。　　In　twenty　minutes　a　broad
pathway　of　fagots　lay　level　with　the　ground　upon　one　side　and　the
gate　upon　the　other。　　With　the　loss　of　two　peasants　slain　by　bolts
and　one　archer　crushed　by　a　stone；　the　ditch　had　been　filled　up。
All　was　ready　for　the　battering…ram。

With　a　shout；　twenty　picked　men　rushed　forward　with　the　pine…tree
under　their　arms；　the　heavy　end　turned　toward　the　gate。　　The
arbalesters　on　the　tower　leaned　over　and　shot　into　the　midst　of
them；　but　could　not　stop　their　advance。　　T