saint george for england-第30章

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gths　of　about　a　couple　of　feet　and　we　ought　to　be　able　to　tie　these　to　the　rope　in　such　a　way　as　not　to　slip　down　with　our　weight。　If　we　tie　them　four　feet　apart　we　can　go　up　step　by　step；　I　don't　see　much　difficulty　about　that。〃

〃No；〃　Ralph　said　much　more　cheerfully；　〃I　should　think　that　we　could　manage　that。〃

They　at　once　set　to　work。　The　rope　was　cut　up　and　unravelled；　and　the　strands　cut　into　pieces　about　two　feet　long。　They　then　both　set　to　work　trying　to　discover　some　way　of　fastening　it　by　which　it　would　not　slip　down　the　rope。　　They　made　many　fruitless　attempts；　each　time　that　a　strand　was　fastened　with　a　loop　large　enough　for　them　to　pass　a　leg　through；　it　slid　down　the　rope　when　their　weight　was　applied　to　it。　At　last　they　succeeded　in　finding　out　a　knot　which　would　hold。　This　was　done　by　tying　a　knot　close　to　one　end　of　a　piece　of　the　strand；　then　sufficient　was　left　to　form　the　loop；　and　the　remainder　was　wound　round　the　rope　in　such　a　way　that　the　weight　only　served　to　tighten　its　hold。

〃Shall　we　begin　at　once？〃　Ralph　said；　when　success　was　achieved。

〃No；　we　had　better　wait　until　nightfall。　The　vibration　of　the　rope　when　our　weight　once　gets　on　it　might　be　noticed　by　anyone　crossing　the　courtyard。〃

〃Do　you　think　we　have　sufficient　bits　of　rope；〃　Ralph　asked。

〃Just　enough；　I　think；〃　Walter　replied；　〃there　were　six　strands；　and　each　has　made　six　pieces；　so　we　have　thirty…six。　　I　know　the　well　is　about　a　hundred　feet　deep；　for　the　other　day　I　heard　some　of　the　soldiers　who　were　drawing　water　grumbling　over　the　labour　required。　So　if　we　put　them　three　feet　apart　it　will　take　thirty…three　of　them；　which　will　leave　three　over；　but　we　had　better　place　them　a　little　over　a　yard　so　as　to　make　sure。〃

In　a　short　time　the　fading　brightness　of　the　circle　of　light　far　overhead　told　them　that　twilight　had　commenced；　and　shortly　afterwards　they　attached　the　first　strand　to　the　rope　some　three　feet　above　the　water。

〃Now；〃　Walter　said；　〃I　will　go　first；　at　any　rate　for　a　time。　　I　must　put　one　leg　through　the　loop；　and　sit；　as　it　were；　while　I　fasten　the　one　above；　as　I　shall　want　both　hands　for　the　work。　You　will　find　it　a　good　deal　easier　to　stand　with　your　foot　in　the　loop。　If　I　get　tired　I　will　fasten　another　loop　by　the　side　of　that　on　which　I　am　resting；　so　you　can　come　up　and　pass　me。　There　is　no　hurry。　It　ought　not　to　take　up　above　an　hour；　and　it　will　not　do　for　us　to　get　to　the　top　until　the　place　becomes　a　little　quiet。　Tonight　they　are　sure　to　be　drinking　and　feasting　over　their　victory　until　late。〃

They　now　set　to　work；　and　step　by　step　mounted　the　rope。　They　found　the　work　less　arduous　than　they　had　expected。　The　rope　was　dry；　and　the　strands　held　tightly　to　it。　　Two　or　three　times　they　changed　places；　resting　in　turn　from　the　work；　but　in　less　than　two　hours　from　the　time　they　made　the　first　loop　Walter's　head　and　shoulders　appeared　above　the　level　of　the　courtyard。　He　could　hear　sounds　of　shouting　and　singing　within　the　castle；　and　knew　that　a　great　feast　was　going　on。　Descending　a　step　or　two　he　held　parley　with　Ralph。

〃I　think；　perhaps；　it　will　be　better　to　sally　out　at　once。　　Everyone　is　intent　on　his　own　pleasure；　and　we　shall　have　no　difficulty　in　slipping　out　of　the　castle　unnoticed。　All　will　be　feasting　and　riot　in　the　town；　and　so　long　as　we　do　not　brush　against　any　one　so　that　they　may　feel　our　wet　garments　we　are　little　likely　to　be　noticed；　besides；　the　gates　of　the　town　will　stand　open　late；　for　people　from　the　villages　round　will　have　come　in　to　join　in　the　revels。〃

〃I　am　ready　to　try　it；　Master　Walter；〃　Ralph　replied；　〃for　I　ache　from　head　to　foot　with　holding　on　to　this　rope。　The　sooner　the　better；　say　I。〃

In　another　minute　both　stood　in　the　courtyard。　It　was　a　retired　spot；　and　none　were　passing。　Going　along　the　passage　they　issued　into　the　main　yard。　Here　great　fires　were　blazing；　and　groups　of　men　sat　round　them　drinking　and　shouting。　Many　lay　about　in　drunken　sleep。

〃Stay　where　you　are　in　the　shade；　Ralph。　You　had　best　lie　down　by　the　foot　of　the　wall。　Anyone　who　passes　will　think　that　you　are　in　a　drunken　sleep。　I　will　creep　forward　and　possess　myself　of　the　steel　caps　of　two　of　these　drunkards；　and　if　I　can　get　a　couple　of　cloaks　so　much　the　better。〃

There　was　no　difficulty　about　the　caps；　and　by　dint　of　unbuckling　the　cloaks　and　rolling　their　wearers　gently　over；　Walter　succeeded　at　last　in　obtaining　two　of　them。　He　also　picked　up　a　sword　for　Ralph　…　his　own　still　hung　in　its　sheath　…　and　then　he　joined　his　companion；　and　the　two　putting　on　the　steel　caps　and　cloaks　walked　quietly　to　the　gate。　There　were　none　on　guard；　and　they　issued　unmolested　into　the　town。　Here　all　was　revelry。　Bonfires　blazed　in　the　streets。　　Hogsheads　of　wine；　with　the　heads　knocked　out；　stood　before　many　of　the　houses　for　all　to　help　themselves　who　wished。　　Drunken　soldiers　reeled　along　shouting　snatches　of　songs；　and　the　burghers　in　the　highest　state　of　hilarity　thronged　the　ways。

〃First　of　all；　Ralph；　we　will　have　a　drink　of　wine；　for　I　am　chilled　to　the　bone。〃

〃Aye；　and　so　am　I；〃　Ralph　replied。　〃I　got　hot　enough　climbing　that　rope；　but　now　the　cold　has　got　hold　of　me　again；　and　my　teeth　are　chattering　in　my　head。〃

Picking　up　one　of　the　fallen　vessels　by　a　cask　they　dipped　it　in　and　took　a　long　draught　of　wine；　then；　turning　off　from　the　principal　streets；　they　made　their　way　by　quiet　lanes　down　to　one　of　the　gates。　To　their　dismay　they　found　that　this　was　closed。　The　French　commanders　knew　that　Sir　Walter　Manny　or　Salisbury　might　ere　this　be　pressing　forward　to　relieve　the　town；　and　that；　finding　that　it　had　fallen；　they　might　attempt　to　recapture　it　by　a　sudden　attack。　While　permitting　therefore　the　usual　licence；　after　a　successful　assault；　to　the　main　body　of　their　forces；　they　had　placed　a　certain　number　of　their　best　troops　on　the　walls；　giving　them　a　handsome　largess　to　make　up　for　their　loss　of　the　festivities。

At　first　Walter　and　his　friend　feared　that　their　retreat　was　cut　off　for　the　night；　but　several　other　people　presently　arrived；　and　the　officer　on　guard　said；　coming　out；　〃You　must　wait　a　while；　the　last　batch　have　only　just　gone；　and　I　cannot　keep　opening　and　closing　the　gate；　in　half　an　hour　I　will　let　you　out。

Before　that　time　elapsed　some　fifty　or　sixty　people；　anxious　to　return　to　their　villages；　gathered　round　the　gate。

〃Best　lay　aside　your　steel　cap；　Ralph；　before　we　join　them；〃　Walter　said。　〃In　the　dim　light　of　that　lamp　none　will　notice　that　we　have　head…gear；　but　if　it　were　to　glint　upon　the　steel　cap　the　officer　might　take　us　for　deserters　and　question　us　as　to　who　we　are。

Presently　the　officer　came　out　from　the　guard…room　again。　There　was　a　forward　movement　of　the　little　crowd；　and　Walter　and　Ralph　closed　in　to　their　midst。　The　gates　were　opened；　and　without　any　question　the　villagers　passed　out；　and　the　gates　were　shut　instantly　behind　them。

Walter　and　his　comrade　at　once　started　at　a　brisk　pace　and　walked　all　night　in　the　direction　of　Hennebon。　Their　clothes　soon　dried；　and　elated　at　their　escape　from　danger　they　struggled　on　briskly。　When　morning　broke　they　entered　a　wood；　and　lay　there　till　evening；　as　they　feared　to　continue　their　journey　lest　they　might　fall　into　the　hands　of　some　roving　band　of　French　horse。　They　were；　too；　dog…tired；　and　were　asleep　a　few　minutes　after　they　lay　down。　The　sun　was　setting　when　they　awoke；　and　as　soon　as　it　was　dark　they　resumed　their　journey。

〃I　don't　know　what　you　feel；　Master　Walter；　but　I　am　well…nigh　famished。　It　is　thirty…six　hours　since　I　swallowed　a　bit　of　food；　just　as　the　French　were　moving　to　the　attack。　　Hard　blows　I　don't　mind　…　I　have　been　used　to　it；　but　what　with　fighting；　and　being　in　the　water　for　five　or　six　hours；　and　climbing　up　that　endless　rope；　and　walking　all　night　on　an　empty　stomach；　it　does　not　suit　me　at　all。〃

〃I　feel　ravenous　too；　Ralph；　but　there　is　no　help　for　it。　　We　shall　eat　nothing　till　we　are　within　the　walls　of　Hennebon；　and　that　will　be　by　daylight　tomorrow　if　all　goes　well。　Draw　your　belt　an　inch　or　two　tighter；　it　will　help　to　keep　out　the　wolf。〃

They　kept　on　all　night；　and　in　the　morning　saw　to　their　delight　the　towers　of　Hennebon　in　the　distance。