sir nigel-第40章
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unbutton his doublet。 〃Quick； Aylward； quick！〃 he said。 〃He
comes； a knight errant comes！ Was there ever such a chance of
worshipfully winning worship？ Untruss the harness whilst I loose
my clothes！ Good sir； I beg you to warn your noble and valiant
master that a poor Squire of England would implore him to take
notice of him and to do some small deed upon him as he passes。〃
But already the Lord of Pons had come in sight。 He was a huge man
upon an enormous horse； so that together they seemed to fill up
the whole long dark archway under the oaks。 He was clad in full
armor of a brazen hue with only his face exposed； and of this face
there was little visible save a pair of arrogant eyes and a great
black beard； which flowed through the open vizor and down over his
breastplate。 To the crest of his helmet was tied a small brown
glove； nodding and swinging above him。 He bore a long lance with
a red square banner at the end； charged with a black boar's head；
and the same symbol was engraved upon his shield。 Slowly he rode
through the forest； ponderous； menacing； with dull thudding of his
charger's hoofs and constant clank of metal； while always in front
of him came the distant peal of the silver trumpet calling all men
to admit his majesty and to clear his path ere they be cleared
from it。
Never in his dreams had so perfect a vision come to cheer Nigel's
heart； and as he struggled with his clothes； glancing up
continually at this wondrous traveler； he pattered forth prayers
of thanksgiving to the good Saint Paul who had shown such loving…
kindness to his unworthy servant and thrown him in the path of so
excellent and debonair a gentleman。
But alas！ how often at the last instant the cup is dashed from the
lips！ This joyful chance was destined to change suddenly to
unexpected and grotesque disaster … disaster so strange and so
complete that through all his life Nigel flushed crimson when he
thought of it。 He was busily stripping his hunting…costume； and
with feverish haste he had doffed boots； hat； hose； doublet and
cloak； so that nothing remained save a pink jupon and pair of
silken drawers。 At the same time Aylward was hastily unbuckling
the load with the intention of handing his master his armor piece
by piece； when the Squire gave one last challenging peal from his
silver trumpet into the very ear of the spare horse。
In an instant it had taken to its heels； the precious armor upon
its back； and thundered away down the road which they had
traversed。 Aylward jumped upon his mare； drove his prick spurs
into her sides and galloped after the runaway as hard as he could
ride。 Thus it came about that in an instant Nigel was shorn of
all his little dignity； had lost his two horses； his attendant and
his outfit； and found himself a lonely and unarmed man standing in
his shirt and drawers upon the pathway down which the burly figure
of the Lord of Pons was slowly advancing。
The knight errant； whose mind had been filled by the thought of
the maiden whom he had left behind at St。 Jean … the same whose
glove dangled from his helmet … had observed nothing that had
occurred。 Hence； all that met his eyes was a noble yellow horse；
which was tethered by the track； and a small young man； who
appeared to be a lunatic since he had undressed hastily in the
heart of the forest； and stood now with an eager anxious face clad
in his underlinen amid the scattered debris of his garments。 Of
such a person the high Lord of Pons could take no notice； and so
he pursued his inexorable way； his arrogant eyes looking out into
the distance and his thoughts set intently upon the maiden of St。
Jean。 He was dimly aware that the little crazy man in the
undershirt ran a long way beside him in his stockings； begging；
imploring and arguing。
〃Just one hour； most fair sir； just one hour at the longest； and a
poor Squire of England shall ever hold himself your debtor！ Do
but condescend to rein your horse until my harness comes back to
me！ Will you not stoop to show me some small deed of arms？ I
implore you； fair sir； to spare me a little of your time and a
handstroke or two ere you go upon your way！〃
Lord de Pons motioned impatiently with his gauntleted hand； as one
might brush away an importunate fly； but when at last Nigel became
desperate in his clamor he thrust his spurs into his great
war…horse； and clashing like a pair of cymbals he thundered off
through the forest。 So he rode upon his majestic way； until two
days later he was slain by Lord Reginald Cobham in a field near
Weybridge。
When after a long chase Aylward secured the spare horse and
brought it back； he found his master seated upon a fallen tree；
his face buried in his hands and his mind clouded with humiliation
and grief。 Nothing was said； for the matter was beyond words； and
so in moody silence they rode upon their way。
But soon they came upon a scene which drew Nigel's thoughts away
from his bitter trouble； for in front of them there rose the
towers of a great building with a small gray sloping village
around it； and they learned from a passing hind that this was the
hamlet and Abbey of Battle。 Together they drew rein upon the low
ridge and looked down into that valley of death from which even
now the reek of blood seems to rise。 Down beside that sinister
lake and amid those scattered bushes sprinkled over the naked
flank of the long ridge was fought that long…drawn struggle
betwixt two most noble foes with broad England as the prize of
victory。 Here； up and down the low hill； hour by hour the grim
struggle had waxed and waned； until the Saxon army had died where
it stood； King； court； house…carl and fyrdsman； each in their
ranks even as they had fought。 And now； after all the stress and
toil； the tyranny； the savage revolt； the fierce suppression； God
had made His purpose complete； for here were Nigel the Norman and
Aylward the Saxon with good…fellowship in their hearts and a
common respect in their minds； with the same banner and the same
cause； riding forth to do battle for their old mother England。
And now the long ride drew to an end。 In front of them was the
blue sea； flecked with the white sails of ships。 Once more the
road passed upward from the heavy…wooded plain to the springy turf
of the chalk downs。 Far to the right rose the grim fortalice of
Pevensey； squat and powerful； like one great block of rugged
stone； the parapet twinkling with steel caps and crowned by the
royal banner of England。 A flat expanse of reeded marshland lay
before them； out of which rose a single wooded hill； crowned with
towers； with a bristle of masts rising out of the green plain some
distance to the south of it。 Nigel looked at it with his hand
shading his eyes； and then urged Pommers to a trot。 The town was
Winchelsea； and there amid that cluster of houses on the hill the
gallant Chandos must be awaiting him。
XIV。 HOW NIGEL CHASED THE RED FERRET
They passed a ferry； wound upward by a curving path； and then；
having satisfied a guard of men…at…arms； were admitted through the
frowning arch of the Pipewell Gate。 There waiting for them； in
the middle of the east street； the sun gleaming upon his lemon…
colored beard； and puckering his single eye； stood Chandos
himself； his legs apart； his hands behind his back； and a
welcoming smile upon hiss quaint high…nosed face。 Behind him a
crowd of little boys were gazing with reverent eyes at the famous
soldier。
〃Welcome； Nigel！〃 said he； 〃and you also； good archer！ I chanced
to be walking on the city wall； and I thought from the color of
your horse that it was indeed you upon the Udimore Road。 How have
you fared； young squire errant？ Have you held bridges or rescued
damsels or slain oppressors on your way from Tilford？〃
〃Nay； my fair lord； I have accomplished nothing； but I once had
hopes … 〃 Nigel flushed at the remembrance。
〃I will give you more than hopes； Nigel。 I will put you where you
can dip both arms to the elbow into danger and honor； where peril
will sleep with you at night and rise with you in the morning and
the very air you breathe be laden with it。 Are you ready for
that； yo
