sir nigel-第19章
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considered that his own business had still to be done； and that it
was time once more that he should seek the road to Guildford。
Meantime Aylward had found his own rough means of consoling the
woman in the road； who stood sobbing with her face against the
side of Pommers' saddle。
〃Nay； weep not； my pretty one；〃 said he。 〃It brings the tears to
my own eyes to see them stream from thine。〃
〃Alas！ good archer； he was the best of fathers； so gentle and so
kind！ Had you but known him； you must have loved him。〃
〃Tut； tut！ he will suffer no scathe。 Squire Nigel will bring him
back to you anon。〃
〃No； no； I shall never see him more。 Hold me； archer； or I fall！〃
Aylward pressed his ready arm round the supple waist。 The
fainting woman leaned with her hand upon his shoulder。 Her pale
face looked past him； and it was some new light in her eyes； a
flash of expectancy； of triumph； of wicked joy； which gave him
sudden warning of his danger。
He shook her off and sprang to one side； but only just in time to
avoid a crashing blow from a great club in the hands of a man even
taller and stronger than himself。 He had one quick vision of
great white teeth clenched in grim ferocity； a wild flying beard
and blazing wild…beast eyes。 The next instant he had closed；
ducking his head beneath another swing of that murderous cudgel。
With his arms round the robber's burly body and his face buried in
his bushy beard； Aylward gasped and strained and heaved。 Back and
forward in the dusty road the two men stamped and staggered； a
grim wrestling…match； with life for the prize。 Twice the great
strength of the outlaw had Aylward nearly down； and twice with his
greater youth and skill the archer restored his grip and his
balance。 Then at last his turn came。 He slipped his leg behind
the other's knee； and； giving a mighty wrench； tore him across it。
With a hoarse shout the outlaw toppled backward and had hardly
reached the ground before Aylward had his knee upon his chest and
his short sword deep in his beard and pointed to his throat。
〃By these ten finger…bones！〃 he gasped； 〃one more struggle and it
is your last！〃
The man lay still enough； for he was half…stunned by the crashing
fall。 Aylward looked round him； but the woman had disappeared。
At the first blow struck she had vanished into the forest。 He
began to have fears for his master； thinking that he perhaps had
been lured into some deathtrap； but his forebodings were soon at
rest； for Nigel himself came hastening down the road； which he had
struck some distance from the spot where he left it。
〃By Saint Paul！〃 he cried； 〃who is this man on whom you are
perched； and where is the lady who has honored us so far as to
crave our help？ Alas； that I have been unable to find her
father！〃
〃As well for you； fair sir；〃 said Aylward； 〃for I am of opinion
that her father was the Devil。 This woman is； as I believe； the
wife of the ‘Wild Man of Puttenham；' and this is the ‘Wild Man'
himself who set upon me and tried to brain me with his club。〃
The outlaw； who had opened his eyes； looked with a scowl from his
captor to the new…comer。 〃You are in luck； archer；〃 said he； 〃for
I have come to grips with many a man； but I cannot call to mind
any who have had the better of me。〃
〃You have indeed the grip of a bear；〃 said Aylward； 〃but it was a
coward deed that your wife should hold me while you dashed out my
brains with a stick。 It is also a most villainous thing to lay a
snare for wayfarers by asking for their pity and assistance； so
that it was our own soft hearts which brought us into such danger。
The next who hath real need of our help may suffer for your sins。〃
〃When the hand of the whole world is against you；〃 said the outlaw
in a surly voice； 〃you must fight as best you can。〃
〃You well deserve to be hanged； if only because you have brought
this woman； who is fair and gentle…spoken； to such a life；〃 said
Nigel。 〃Let us tie him by the wrist to my stirrup leather；
Aylward； and we will lead him into Guildford。〃
The archer drew a spare bowstring from his case and had bound the
prisoner as directed； when Nigel gave a sudden start and cry of
alarm。
〃Holy Mary！〃 he cried。 〃Where is the saddle…bag？〃
It had been cut away by a sharp knife。 Only the two ends of strap
remained。 Aylward and Nigel stared at each other in blank dismay。
Then the young Squire shook his clenched hands and pulled at his
yellow curls in his despair。
〃The Lady Ermyntrude's bracelet！ My grandfather's cup！〃 he cried。
〃I would have died ere I lost them！ What can I say to her？ I
dare not return until I have found them。 Oh； Aylward； Aylward！
how came you to let them be taken？〃
The honest archer had pushed back his steel cap and was scratching
his tangled head。 〃Nay； I know nothing of it。 You never said
that there was aught of price in the bag； else had I kept a better
eye upon it。 Certes！ it was not this fellow who took it； since I
have never had my hands from him。 It can only be the woman who
fled with it while we fought。〃
Nigel stamped about the road in his perplexity。 〃I would follow
her to the world's end if I knew where I could find her； but to
search these woods for her is to look for a mouse in a
wheat…field。 Good Saint George； thou who didst overcome the
Dragon； I pray you by that most honorable and knightly achievement
that you will be with me now！ And you also； great Saint Julian；
patron of all wayfarers in distress！ Two candles shall burn
before your shrine at Godalming； if you will but bring me back my
saddle…bag。 What would I not give to have it back？〃
〃Will you give me my life？〃 asked the outlaw。 〃Promise that I go
free； and you shall have it back； if it be indeed true that my
wife has taken it。〃
〃Nay； I cannot do that；〃 said Nigel。 〃My honor would surely be
concerned； since my loss is a private one； but it would be to the
public scathe that you should go free。 By Saint Paul！ it would be
an ungentle deed if in order to save my own I let you loose upon
the gear of a hundred others。〃
〃I will not ask you to let me loose；〃 said the 〃Wild Man。〃 〃If
you will promise that my life be spared I will restore your bag。〃
〃I cannot give such a promise； for it will lie with the Sheriff
and reeves of Guildford。〃
〃Shall I have your word in my favor？〃
〃That I could promise you； if you will give back the bag； though I
know not how far my word may avail。 But your words are vain； for
you cannot think that we will be so fond as to let you go in the
hope that you return？〃
〃I would not ask it；〃 said the 〃Wild Man；〃 〃for I can get your bag
and yet never stir from the spot where I stand。 Have I your
promise upon your honor and all that you hold dear that you will
ask for grace？〃
〃You have。〃
〃And that my wife shall be unharmed？〃
〃I promise it。〃
The outlaw laid back his head and uttered a long shrill cry like
the howl of a wolf。 There was a silent pause； and then； clear and
shrill； there rose the same cry no great distance away in the
forest。 Again the 〃Wild Man〃 called； and again his mate replied。
A third time he summoned； as the deer bells to the doe in the
greenwood。 Then with a rustle of brushwood and snapping of twigs
the woman was before them once more； tall； pale； graceful；
wonderful。 She glanced neither at Aylward nor Nigel； but ran to
the side of her husband。
〃Dear and sweet lord；〃 she cried； 〃I trust they have done you no
hurt。 I waited by the old ash； and my heart sank when you came
not。〃
〃I have been taken at last； wife。〃
〃Oh； cursed； cursed day！ Let him go； kind； gentle sirs； do not
take him from me！〃
〃They will speak for me at Guildford；〃 said the 〃 Wild Man。〃 〃They
have sworn it。 But hand them first the bag that you have taken。〃
She drew it out from under her loose cloak。 〃Here it is； gentle
sir。 Indeed it went to my heart to take it； for you had mercy
upon me in my trouble。 But now I am； as you see； in real and very
sore distress。 Will you not have mercy now？ Take ruth on us；
fair sir！ On my knees I beg it of you； most gentle and kindly
Squire！〃
Nigel had clutched his bag； and right glad he was to feel that th
