sir nigel-第44章

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The　little　skiff　was　swiftly　lowered　over　the　side　and　the　slack
end　of　the　cable　fastened　to　the　after　thwart。　　Cock　Badding　and
his　comrades　pulled　as　if　they　would　snap　their　oars；　and　the
little　vessel　began　slowly　to　lurch　forward　over　the　rollers。　　But
the　next　moment　a　larger　skiff　had　splashed　over　the　side　of　the
Frenchman；　and　no　less　than　four　seamen　were　hard　at　work　under
her　bows。　　If　the　Marie　Rose　advanced　a　yard　the　Frenchman　was
going　two。　　Again　Cock　Badding　raved　and　shook　his　fist。　　He
clambered　aboard；　his　face　wet　with　sweat　and　dark　with　anger。

〃Curse　them！　　they　have　had　the　best　of　us！〃　he　cried。　　〃I　can　do
no　more。　　Sir　John　has　lost　his　papers；　for　indeed　now　that　night
is　at　hand　I　can　see　no　way　in　which　we　can　gain　them。〃

Nigel　had　leaned　against　the　bulwark　during　these　events；　watching
with　keen　attention　the　doings　of　the　sailors；　and　praying
alternately　to　Saint　Paul；　Saint　George；　and　Saint　Thomas　for　a
slant　of　wind　which　would　put　them　along　side　their　enemy。　　He　was
silent；　but　his　hot　heart　was　simmering　within　him。　　His　spirit
had　risen　even　above　the　discomfort　of　the　sea；　and　his　mind　was
too　absorbed　in　his　mission　to　have　a　thought　for　that　which　had
laid　Aylward　flat　upon　the　deck。　　He　had　never　doubted　that　Cock
Badding　in　one　way　or　another　would　accomplish　his　end；　but　when
he　heard　his　speech　of　despair　he　bounded　off　the　bulwark　and
stood　before　the　seaman　with　his　face　flushed　and　all　his　soul
afire。

〃By　Saint　Paul！　　master…shipman；〃　he　cried；　〃we　should　never　hold
up　our　heads　in　honor　if　we　did　not　go　further　into　the　matter！
Let　us　do　some　small　deed　this　night　upon　the　water；　or　let　us
never　see　land　again；　for　indeed　we　could　not　wish　fairer　prospect
of　winning　honorable　advancement。〃

〃With　your　leave；　little　master；　you　speak　like　a　fool；〃　said　the
gruff　seaman。　　〃You　and　all　your　kind　are　as　children　when　once
the　blue　water　is　beneath　you。　　Can　you　not　see　that　there　is　no
wind；　and　that　the　Frenchman　can　warp　her　as　swiftly　as　we？　　What
then　would　you　do？〃

Nigel　pointed　to　the　boat　which　towed　astern。　　〃Let　us　venture
forth　in　her；〃　said　he；　〃and　let　us　take　this　ship　or　die
worshipful　in　the　attempt。〃

His　bold　and　fiery　words　found　their　echo　in　the　brave　rough
hearts　around　him。　　There　was　a　deep…chested　shout　from　both
archers　and　seamen。　　Even　Aylward　sat　up；　with　a　wan　smile　upon
his　green　face。

But　Cock　Badding　shook　his　head。　　〃I　have　never　met　the　man　who
could　lead　where　I　would　not　follow；〃　said　he；　〃but　by　Saint
Leonard！　　this　is　a　mad　business；　and　I　should　be　a　fool　if　I　were
to　risk　my　men　and　my　ship。　　Bethink　you；　little　master；　that　the
skiff　can　hold　only　five；　though　you　load　her　to　the　water's　edge。
If　there　is　a　man　yonder；　there　are　fourteen；　and　you　have　to
climb　their　side　from　the　boat。　　What　chance　would　you　have？　　Your
boat　stove　and　you　in　the　water　…　there　is　the　end　of　it。　　No　man
of　mine　goes　on　such　a　fool's　errand；　and　so　I　swear！〃

〃Then；　Master　Badding；　I　must　crave　the　loan　of　your　skiff；　for　by
Saint　Paul！　　the　good　Lord　Chandos'　papers　are　not　to　be　so
lightly　lost。　　If　no　one　else　will　come；　then　I　will　go　alone。〃

The　shipman　smiled　at　the　words；　but　the　smile　died　away　from　his
lips　when　Nigel；　with　features　set　like　ivory　and　eyes　as　hard　as
steel；　pulled　on　the　rope　so　as　to　bring　the　skiff　under　the
counter。　　It　was　very　clear　that　he　would　do　even　as　he　said。　　At
the　same　time　Aylward　raised　his　bulky　form　from　the　deck；　leaned
for　a　moment　against　the　bulwarks；　and　then　tottered　aft　to　his
master's　side。

〃Here　is　one　that　will　go　with　you；〃　said　he；　〃or　he　would　never
dare　show　his　face　to　the　girls　of　Tilford　again。　　Come；　archers；
let　us　leave　these　salt　herrings　in　their　pickle　tub　and　try　our
luck　out　on　the　water。〃

The　three　archers　at　once　ranged　themselves　on　the　same　side　as
their　comrade。　　They　were　bronzed；　bearded　men；　short　in　stature；
as　were　most　Englishmen　of　that　day；　but　hardy；　strong　and　skilled
with　their　weapons。　　Each　drew　his　string　from　its　waterproof　case
and　bent　the　huge　arc　of　his　war…bow　as　he　fitted　it　into　the
nocks。

〃Now；　master；　we　are　at　your　back；〃　said　they　as　they　pulled　and
tightened　their　sword…belts。

But　already　Cock　Badding　had　been　carried　away　by　the　hot　lust　of
battle　and　had　thrown　aside　every　fear　and　doubt　which　had　clouded
him。　　To　see　a　fight　and　not　to　be　in　it　was　more　than　he　could
bear。

〃Nay；　have　it　your　own　way！〃　he　cried；　〃and　may　Saint　Leonard　help
us；　for　a　madder　venture　I　have　never　seen！　　And　yet　it　may　be
worth　the　trial。　　But　if　it　be　done　let　me　have　the　handling　of
it；　little　master；　for　you　know　no　more　of　a　boat　than　I　do　of　a
war…horse。　　The　skiff　can　bear　five　and　not　a　man　more。　　Now；　who
will　come？〃

They　had　all　caught　fire；　and　there　was　not　one　who　would　be　left
out。

Badding　picked　up　his　hammer。　　〃I　will　come　myself；〃　said　he；　〃and
you　also；　little　master；　since　it　is　your　hot　head　that　has
planned　it。　　Then　there　is　Black　Simon；　the　best　sword　of　the
Cinque　Ports。　　Two　archers　can　pull　on　the　oars；　and　it　may　be
that　they　can　pick　off　two　or　three　of　these　Frenchmen　before　we
close　with　them。　　Hugh　Baddlesmere；　and　you；　Dicon　of　Rye　…　into
the　boat　with　you！〃

〃What？　　〃　cried　Aylward。　　〃Am　I　to　be　left　behind？　　I；　who　am　the
Squire's　own　man？　　Ill　fare　the　bowman　who　comes　betwixt　me　and
yonder　boat！〃

〃Nay；　Aylward；〃　said　his　master；　〃I　order　that　you　stay；　for
indeed　you　are　a　sick　man。〃

〃But　now　that　the　waves　have　sunk　I　am　myself　again。　　Nay；　fair
sir；　I　pray　that　you　will　not　leave　me　behind。〃

〃You　must　needs　take　the　space　of　a　better　man；　for　what　do　you
know　of　the　handling　of　a　boat？〃　said　Badding　shortly。　　〃No　more
fool's　talk；　I　pray　you；　for　the　night　will　soon　fall。　　Stand
aside！〃

Aylward　looked　hard　at　the　French　boat。　　〃I　could　swim　ten　times
up　and　down　Frensham　pond；〃　said　he；　〃and　it　will　be　strange　if　I
cannot　go　as　far　as　that。　　By　these　finger…bones；　Samkin　Aylward
may　be　there　as　soon　as　you！〃

The　little　boat　with　its　five　occupants　pushed　off　from　the　side
of　the　schooner；　and　dipping　and　rising；　made　its　slow　way　toward
the　Frenchman。　　Badding　and　one　archer　had　single　oars；　the　second
archer　was　in　the　prow；　while　Black　Simon　and　Nigel　huddled　into
the　stern　with　the　water　lapping　and　hissing　at　their　very　elbows。
A　shout　of　defiance　rose　from　the　Frenchmen；　and　they　stood　in　a
line　along　the　side　of　their　vessel　shaking　their　fists　and　waving
their　weapons。　　Already　the　sun　was　level　with　Dungeness；　and　the
gray　of　evening　was　blurring　sky　and　water　into　one　dim　haze。　　A
great　silence　hung　over　the　broad　expanse　of　nature；　and　no　sound
broke　it　save　the　dip　and　splash　of　the　oars　and　the　slow　deep
surge　of　the　boat　upon　the　swell。　　Behind　them　their　comrades　of
the　Marie　Rose　stood　motionless　and　silent；　watching　their
progress　with　eager　eyes。

They　were　near　enough　now　to　have　a　good　look　at　the　Frenchmen。
One　was　a　big　swarthy　man　with　a　long　black　beard。　　He　had　a　red
cap　and　an　ax　over　his　shoulder。　　There　were　ten　other
hardy…looking　fellows；　all　of　them　well　armed；　and　there　were
three　who　seemed　to　be　boys。

〃Shall　we　try　a　shaft　upon　them？〃　asked　Hugh　Baddlesmere。　　〃They
are　well　within　our　bowshot。〃

〃Only　one　of　you　can　shoot　at　a　time；　for　you　have　no　footing；〃
said　Badding。　　〃With　one　foot　in　the　prow　and　one　over　the　thwart
you　will　get　your　stance。　　Do　what　you　may；　and　then　we　will　close
in　upon　them。〃

The　archer　balanced　himself　in　the　rolling　boat　with　the　deftness
of　a　man　who　has　been　trained　upon　the　sea；　for　he　was　born　and
bred　in　the　Cinque　Ports。　　Carefully　he　nocked　his　arrow；　strongly
he　drew　it；　steadily　he　loosed　it；　but　the　boat　swooped　at　the
instant；　and　it　buried　itself　in　the　waves。　　The　second　passed
over　the　little　ship；　and　the　third　struck　in　her　black　side。
Then　in　quick　succession　so　quick　that　two　shafts　were　often　in
the　air　at　the　same　instant　…　he　discharged　a　dozen　arrows；　most
of　which　just　cleared　the　bulwarks　and　dropped　upon　the　deck。
There　was　a　cry　on　the　Frenchman；　and　the　heads　vanished　from　the