sir nigel-第46章

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confused；　disorderly；　struggling　rabble。

Then　betwixt　them　and　the　mast　the　two　figures：　the　armed　shining
man　of　metal；　with　hand　upraised；　watchful；　silent；　motionless；
and　Nigel；　bareheaded　and　crouching；　with　quick　foot；　eager　eyes
and　fearless　happy　face；　moving　this　way　and　that；　in　and　out；　his
sword　flashing　like　a　gleam　of　light　as　he　sought　at　all　points
for　some　opening　in　the　brazen　shell　before　him。

It　was　clear　to　the　man　in　armor　that　if　he　could　but　pen　his
antagonist　in　a　corner　he　would　beat　him　down　without　fail。　　But
it　was　not　to　be　done。　　The　unhampered　man　had　the　advantage　of
speed。　　With　a　few　quick　steps　he　could　always　glide　to　either
side　and　escape　the　clumsy　rush。　　Aylward　and　Badding　had　sprung
out　to　Nigel's　assistance；　but　he　shouted　to　them　to　stand　back；
with　such　authority　and　anger　in　his　voice　that　their　weapons
dropped　to　their　sides。　　With　staring　eyes　and　set　features　they
stood　watching　that　unequal　fight。

Once　it　seemed　that　all　was　over　with　the　Squire；　for　in　springing
back　from　his　enemy　he　tripped　over　one　of　the　bodies　which
strewed　the　deck　and　fell　flat　upon　his　back；　but　with　a　swift
wriggle　he　escaped　the　heavy　blow　which　thundered　down　upon　him；
and　springing　to　his　feet　he　bit　deeply　into　the　Frenchman's
helmet　with　a　sweeping　cut　in　return。　　Again　the　mace　fell；　and
this　time　Nigel　had　not　quite　cleared　himself。　　His　sword　was
beaten　down　and　the　blow　fell　partly　upon　his　left　shoulder。　　He
staggered；　and　once　more　the　iron　club　whirled　upward　to　dash　him
to　the　ground。

Quick　as　a　flash　it　passed　through　his　mind　that　he　could　not　leap
beyond　its　reach。　　But　he　might　get　within　it。　　In　an　instant　he
had　dropped　his　sword；　and　springing　in　he　had　seized　the　brazen
man　round　the　waist。　　The　mace　was　shortened　and　the　handle　jobbed
down　once　upon　the　bare　flaxen　head。　　'Then；　with　a　sonorous
clang；　and　a　yell　of　delight　from　the　spectators；　Nigel　with　one
mighty　wrench　tore　his　enemy　from　the　deck　and　hurled　him　down
upon　his　back。　　His　own　head　was　whirling　and　he　felt　that　his
senses　were　slipping　away；　but　already　his　hunting…knife　was　out
and　pointing　through　the　slit　in　the　brazen　helmet。

〃Give　yourself　up；　fair　sir！〃　said　he。

〃　Never　to　fishermen　and　to　archers！　　I　am　a　gentleman　of　coat…
armor。　　Kill　me！〃

〃I　also　am　a　gentleman　of　coat…armor。　　I　promise　you　quarter。〃

〃Then；　sir；　I　surrender　myself　to　you。〃

The　dagger　tinkled　down　upon　the　deck。　　Seamen　and　archers　ran
forward；　to　find　Nigel　half　senseless　upon　his　face。　　They　drew
him　off；　and　a　few　deft　blows　struck　off　the　helmet　of　his　enemy。
A　head；　sharp…featured；　freckled　and　foxy…red；　disclosed　itself
beneath　it。　　Nigel　raised　himself　on　his　elbow　for　an　instant。

〃You　are　the　Red　Ferret？〃　said　he。

〃So　my　enemies　call　me；〃　said　the　Frenchman；　with　a　smile。　　〃I
rejoice；　sir；　that　I　have　fallen　to　so　valiant　and　honorable　a
gentleman。〃

〃　I　thank　you；　fair　sir；〃　said　Nigel　feebly。　　〃　I　also　rejoice
that　I　have　encountered　so　debonair　a　person；　and　I　shall　ever
bear　in　mind　the　pleasure　which　I　have　had　from　our　meeting。〃

So　saying；　he　laid　his　bleeding　head　upon　his　enemy's　brazen　front
and　sank　into　a　dead　faint。




XV。　　HOW　THE　RED　FERRET　CAME　TO　COSFORD


The　old　chronicler　in　his　〃Gestes　du　Sieur　Nigel〃　has　bewailed　his
broken　narrative；　which　rose　from　the　fact　that　out　of　thirty…one
years　of　warfare　no　less　than　seven　were　spent　by　his　hero　at　one
time　or　another　in　the　recovery　from　his　wounds　or　from　those
illnesses　which　arose　from　privation　and　fatigue。　　Here　at　the
very　threshold　of　his　career；　on　the　eve　of　a　great　enterprise；
this　very　fate　befell　him。

Stretched　upon　a　couch　in　a　low…roofed　and　ill…furnished　chamber；
which　looks　down　from　under　the　machicolated　corner　turret　upon
the　inner　court　of　the　Castle　of　Calais；　he　lay　half…unconscious
and　impotent；　while　great　deeds　were　doing　under　his　window。
Wounded　in　three　places；　and　with　his　head　splintered　by　the　sharp
pommel　of　the　Ferret's　mace；　he　hovered　betwixt　life　and　death；
his　shattered　body　drawing　him　downward；　his　youthful　spirit
plucking　him　up。

As　in　some　strange　dream　he　was　aware　of　that　deed　of　arms　within
the　courtyard　below。　　Dimly　it　came　back　to　his　memory　afterwards
the　sudden　startled　shout；　the　crash　of　metal；　the　slamming　of
great　gates；　the　roar　of　many　voices；　the　clang；　clang；　clang；　as
of　fifty　lusty　smiths　upon　their　anvils；　and　then　at　last　the
dwindling　of　the　hubbub；　the　low　groans　and　sudden　shrill　cries　to
the　saints；　the　measured　murmur　of　many　voices；　the　heavy　clanking
of　armored　feet。

Sometime　in　that　fell　struggle　he　must　have　drawn　his　weakened
body　as　far　as　the　narrow　window；　and　hanging　to　the　iron　bars
have　looked　down　on　the　wild　scene　beneath　him。　　In　the　red　glare
of　torches　held　from　windows　and　from　roof　he　saw　the　rush　and
swirl　of　men　below；　the　ruddy　light　shining　back　from　glowing
brass　and　gleaming　steel。　　As　a　wild　vision　it　came　to　him
afterward；　the　beauty　and　the　splendor；　the　flying　lambrequins；
the　jeweled　crests；　the　blazonry　and　richness　of　surcoat　and　of
shield；　where　sable　and　gules；　argent　and　vair；　in　every　pattern
of　saltire；　bend　or　chevron；　glowed　beneath　him　like　a　drift　of
many…colored　blossoms；　tossing；　sinking；　stooping　into　shadow；
springing　into　light。　　There　glared　the　blood…red　gules　of
Chandos；　and　he　saw　the　tall　figure　of　his　master；　a　thunderbolt
of　war；　raging　in　the　van。　　There　too　were　the　three　black
chevrons　on　the　golden　shield　which　marked　the　noble　Manny。　　That
strong　swordsman　must　surely　be　the　royal　Edward　himself；　since
only　he　and　the　black…armored　swift…footed　youth　at　his　side　were
marked　by　no　symbol　of　heraldry。　　〃Manny！　　Manny！　　George　for
England！〃　rose　the　deep…throated　bay；　and　ever　the　gallant
counter…cry：　〃A　Chargny！　　A　Chargny！　　Saint　Denis　for　France！〃
thundered　amid　the　clash　and　thudding　of　the　battle。

Such　was　the　vague　whirling　memory　still　lingering　in　Nigel's　mind
when　at　last　the　mists　cleared　away　from　it　and　he　found　himself
weak　but　clear　on　the　low　couch　in　the　corner　turret。　　Beside　him；
crushing　lavender　betwixt　his　rough　fingers　and　strewing　it　over
floor　and　sheets；　was　Aylward　the　archer。　　His　longbow　leaned　at
the　foot　of　the　bed；　and　his　steel　cap　was　balanced　on　the　top　of
it；　while　he　himself；　sitting　in　his　shirt　sleeves；　fanned　off　the
flies　and　scattered　the　fragrant　herbs　over　his　helpless　master。

〃By　my　hilt！〃　he　cried　with　a　sudden　shout；　every　tooth　in　his
head　gleaming　with　joy；　〃I　thank　the　Virgin　and　all　the　saints　for
this　blessed　sight！　　I　had　not　dared　to　go　back　to　Tilford　had　I
lost　you。　　Three　weeks　have　you　lain　there　and　babbled　like　a
babe；　but　now　I　see　in　your　eyes　that　you　are　your　own　man　again。〃

〃I　have　indeed　had　some　small　hurt；〃　said　Nigel　feebly；　〃but　it　is
shame　and　sorrow　that　I　should　lie　here　if　there　is　work　for　my
hands。　　Whither　go　you；　archer？　〃

〃To　tell　the　good　Sir　John　that　you　are　mending。〃

〃Nay；　bide　with　me　a　little　longer；　Aylward。　　I　can　call　to　mind
all　that　has　passed。　　There　was　a　bickering　of　small　boats；　was
there　not；　and　I　chanced　upon　a　most　worthy　person　and　exchanged
handstrokes　with　him？　　He　was　my　prisoner；　was　he　not？〃

〃He　was；　fair　sir。〃

〃And　where　is　he　now？〃

〃Below　in　the　castle。〃

A　smile　stole　over　Nigel's　pale　face。　　〃I　know　what　I　will　do　with
him；〃　said　he。

〃I　pray　you　to　rest；　fair　sir；〃　said　Aylward　anxiously。　　〃The
King's　own　leech　saw　you　this　morning；　and　he　said　that　if　the
bandage　was　torn　from　your　head　you　would　surely　die。〃

〃Nay；　good　archer；　I　will　not　move。　　But　tell　me　what　befell　upon
the　boat？〃

〃There　is　little　to　tell；　fair　sir。　　Had　this　Ferret　not　been　his
own　squire　and　taken　so　long　a　time　to　don　his　harness　it　is
likely　that　they　would　have　had　the　better　of　us。　　He　did　not
reach　the　battle　till　his　comrades　were　on　their　backs。　　Him　we
took　to　the　Marie　Rose；　because　he　was　your　man。　　The　others　were
of　no　worth；　so　we　threw　them　into　the　sea。〃

〃The　quick　and　the　dead？〃

〃Every　man　of　them。〃

〃It　was　an　evil　deed。〃

Aylward　shrugged　his　shoulders。