sir nigel-第25章

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welded　and　riveted　to　his　saddle　his　knees　could　not　hold　their
grip。　　Nigel　and　Pommers　were　one　flying　missile；　with　all　their
weight　and　strength　and　energy　centered　on　the　steady　end　of　the
lance。　　Had　Widdicombe　been　struck　by　a　thunderbolt　he　could　not
have　flown　faster　or　farther　from　his　saddle。　　Two　full
somersaults　did　he　make；　his　plates　clanging　like　cymbals；　ere　he
lay　prone　upon　his　back。

For　a　moment　the　King　looked　grave　at　that　prodigious　fall。　　Then
smiling　once　more　as　Widdicombe　staggered　to　his　feet；　he　clapped
his　hands　loudly　in　applause。　　〃A　fair　course　and　fairly　run！〃　he
cried。　　〃The　five　scarlet　roses　bear　themselves　in　peace　even　as　I
have　seen　them　in　war。　　How　now；　my　good　Walter？　　Have　you　another
Squire　or　will　you　clear　a　path　for　us　yourself？〃

Manny's　choleric　face　had　turned　darker　as　he　observed　the
mischance　of　his　representative。　　He　beckoned　now　to　a　tall
knight；　whose　gaunt　and　savage　face　looked　out　from　his　open
bassinet　as　an　eagle　might　from　a　cage　of　steel。

〃Sir　Hubert；〃　said　he；　〃I　bear　in　mind　the　day　when　you　overbore
the　Frenchman　at　Caen。　　Will　you　not　be　our　champion　now？〃

〃When　I　fought　the　Frenchman；　Walter；　it　was　with　naked　weapons；〃
said　the　knight　sternly。　　〃I　am　a　soldier　and　I　love　a　soldier's
work；　but　I　care　not　for　these　tiltyard　tricks　which　were　invented
for　nothing　but　to　tickle　the　fancies　of　foolish　women。〃

〃Oh；　most　ungallant　speech！〃　cried　the　King。　　〃Had　my　good…consort
heard　you　she　would　have　arraigned　you　to　appear　at　a　Court　of
Love　with　a　jury　of　virgins　to　answer　for　your　sins。　　But　I　pray
you　to　take　a　tilting　spear；　good　Sir　Hubert！〃

〃I　had　as　soon　take　a　peacock's　feather；　my　fair　lord；　but　I　will
do　it；　if　you　ask　me。　　Here；　page；　hand　me　one　of　those　sticks；
and　let　me　see　what　I　can　do。〃

But　Sir　Hubert　de　Burgh　was　not　destined　to　test　either　his　skill
or　his　luck。　　The　great　bay　horse　which　he　rode　was　as　unused　to
this　warlike　play　as　was　its　master；　and　had　none　of　its　master's
stoutness　of　heart；　so　that　when　it　saw　the　leveled　lance；　the
gleaming　figure　and　the　frenzied　yellow　horse　rushing　down　upon
it；　it　swerved；　turned　and　galloped　furiously　down　the　river…bank。
Amid　roars　of　laughter　from　the　rustics　on　the　one　side　and　from
the　courtiers　on　the　other；　Sir　Hubert　was　seen；　tugging　vainly　at
his　bridle；　and　bounding　onward；　clearing　gorse…bushes　and
heather…clumps；　until　he　was　but　a　shimmering；　quivering　gleam
upon　the　dark　hillside。　　Nigel；　who　had　pulled　Pommers　on　to　his
very　haunches　at　the　instant　that　his　opponent　turned；　saluted
with　his　lance　and　trotted　back　to　the　bridge…head；　where　he
awaited　his　next　assailant。

〃The　ladies　would　say　that　a　judgment　hath　fallen　upon　our　good
Sir　Hubert　for　his　impious　words；〃　said　the　King。

〃Let　us　hope　that　his　charger　may　be　broken　in　ere　they　venture　to
ride　out　between　two　armies；〃　remarked　the　Prince。　　〃They　might
mistake　the　hardness　of　his　horse's　mouth　for　a　softness　of　the
rider's　heart。　　See　where　he　rides；　still　clearing　every　bush　upon
his　path。〃

〃By　the　rood！〃　said　the　King；　〃if　the　bold　Hubert　has　not
increased　his　repute　as　a　jouster　he　has　gained　great　honor　as　a
horseman。　　But　the　bridge　is　still　closed；　Walter。　　How　say　you
now？　　Is　this　young　Squire　never　to　be　unhorsed；　or　is　your　King
himself　to　lay　lance　in　rest　ere　his　way　can　be　cleared？　　By　the
head　of　Saint　Thomas！　　I　am　in　the　very　mood　to　run　a　course　with
this　gentle　youth。〃

〃Nay；　nay；　sire；　too　much　honor　hath　already　been　done　him！〃　said
Manny；　looking　angrily　at　the　motionless　horseman。　　〃That　this
untried　boy　should　be　able　to　say　that　in　one　evening　he　has
unhorsed　my　Squire；　and　seen　the　back　of　one　of　the　bravest
knights　in　England　is　surely　enough　to　turn　his　foolish　head。
Fetch　me　a　spear；　Robert！　　I　will　see　what　I　can　make　of　him。〃

The　famous　knight　took　the　spear　when　it　was　brought　to　him　as　a
master…workman　takes　a　tool。　　He　balanced　it；　shook　it　once　or
twice　in　the　air；　ran　his　eyes　down　it　for　a　flaw　in　the　wood；　and
then　finally　having　made　sure　of　its　poise　and　weight　laid　it
carefully　in　rest　under　his　arm。　　Then　gathering　up　his　bridle　so
as　to　have　his　horse　under　perfect　command；　and　covering　himself
with　the　shield；　which　was　slung　round　his　neck；　he　rode　out　to　do
battle。

Now；　Nigel；　young　and　inexperienced；　all　Nature's　aid　will　not
help　you　against　the　mixed　craft　and　strength　of　such　a　warrior。
The　day　will　come　when　neither　Manny　nor　even　Chandos　could　sweep
you　from　your　saddle；　but　now；　even　had　you　some　less　cumbrous
armor；　your　chance　were　small。　　Your　downfall　is　near；　but　as　you
see　the　famous　black　chevrons　on　a　golden　ground　your　gallant
heart　which　never　knew　fear　is　only　filled　with　joy　and　amazement
at　the　honor　done　you。　　Your　downfall　is　near；　and　yet　in　your
wildest　dreams　you　would　never　guess　how　strange　your　downfall　is
to　be。

Again　with　a　dull　thunder　of　hoofs　the　horses　gallop　over　the　soft
water…meadow。　　Again　with　a　clash　of　metal　the　two　riders　meet。
It　is　Nigel　now；　taken　clean　in　the　face　of　his　helmet　with　the
blunted　spear；　who　flies　backward　off　his　horse　and　falls　clanging
on　the　grass。

But　good　heavens！　what　is　this？　　Manny　has　thrown　up　his　hands　in
horror　and　the　lance　has　dropped　from　his　nerveless　fingers。　　From
all　sides；　with　cries　of　dismay；　with　oaths　and　shouts　and
ejaculations　to　the　saints；　the　horsemen　ride　wildly　in。　　Was　ever
so　dreadful；　so　sudden；　so　complete；　an　end　to　a　gentle　passage　at
arms？　　Surely　their　eyes　must　be　at　fault？　　Some　wizard's　trick
has　been　played　upon　them　to　deceive　their　senses。　　But　no；　it　was
only　too　clear。　　There　on　the　greensward　lay　the　trunk　of　the
stricken　cavalier；　and　there；　a　good　dozen　yards　beyond；　lay　his
helmeted　head。

〃By　the　Virgin！〃　cried　Manny　wildly；　as　he　jumped　from　his　horse；
〃I　would　give　my　last　gold　piece　that　the　work　of　this　evening
should　be　undone！　　How　came　it？　　What　does　it　mean？　　Hither；　my
Lord　Bishop；　for　surely　it　smacks　of　witchcraft　and　the　Devil。〃

With　a　white　face　the　Bishop　had　sprung　down　beside　the　prostrate
body；　pushing　through　the　knot　of　horrified　knights　and　squires。

〃I　fear　that　the　last　offices　of　the　Holy　Church　come　too　late；〃
said　he　in　a　quivering　voice。　　〃Most　unfortunate　young　man！　　How
sudden　an　end！　　In　medio　vitae；　as　the　Holy　Book　has　it　…　one
moment　in　the　pride　of　his　youth；　the　next　his　head　torn　from　his
body。　　Now　God　and　his　saints　have　mercy　upon　me　and　guard　me　from
evil！〃

The　last　prayer　was　shot　out　of　the　Bishop　with　an　energy　and
earnestness　unusual　in　his　orisons。　　It　was　caused　by　the　sudden
outcry　of　one　of　the　Squires　who；　having　lifted　the　helmet　from
the　ground；　cast　it　down　again　with　a　scream　of　horror。

〃It　is　empty！〃　he　cried。　　〃It　weighs　as　light　as　a　feather。〃

〃'Fore　God；　it　is　true！〃　cried　Manny；　laying　his　hand　on　it。
〃There　is　no　one　in　it。　　With　what　have　I　fought；　father　Bishop？
Is　it　of　this　world　or　of　the　next？〃

The　Bishop　had　clambered　on　his　horse　the　better　to　consider　the
point。　　〃If　the　foul　fiend　is　abroad；〃　said　he；　〃my　place　is　over
yonder　by　the　King's　side。　　Certes　that　sulphur…colored　horse　hath
a　very　devilish　look。　　I　could　have　sworn　that　I　saw　both　smoke
and　flame　from　its　nostrils。　　The　beast　is　fit　to　bear　a　suit　of
armor　which　rides　and　fights　and　yet　hath　no　man　within　it。〃

〃Nay；　not　too　fast；　father　Bishop；〃　said　one　of　the　knights。　　〃It
may　be　all　that　you　say　and　yet　come　from　a　human　workshop。　　When
I　made　a　campaign　in　South　Germany　I　have　seen　at　Nuremberg　a
cunning　figure；　devised　by　an　armorer；　which　could　both　ride　and
wield　a　sword。　　If　this　be　such　a　one　…　〃

〃I　thank　you　all　for　your　very　gentle　courtesy；〃　said　a　booming
voice　from　the　figure　upon　the　ground。

At　the　words　even　the　valiant　Manny　sprang　into　his　saddle。　　Some
rode　madly　away　from　the　horrid　trunk。　　A　few　of　the　boldest
lingered。

〃Most　of　all；〃　said　the　voice；　〃would　I　thank　the　most　noble
knight；　Sir　Walter　Manny；　that　he　should　deign　to　lay　aside　his
greatness　and　condescend　to　do　a　deed　of　arms　upon　so　humble　a
Squire。〃

〃'Fore　God！〃　said　Manny；　〃　if　thi