sir nigel-第5章
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evil has been done。〃
And the three monks hurried down the stair which led to the
cloisters。
They had no sooner descended than their more pressing fears were
set at rest； for at that very moment； limping； disheveled and
mud…stained； the two sufferers were being led in amid a crowd of
sympathizing brethren。 Shouts and cries from outside showed；
however； that some further drama was in progress； and both Abbot
and sacrist hastened onward as fast as the dignity of their office
would permit； until they had passed the gates and gained the wall
of the meadow。 Looking over it； a remarkable sight presented
itself to their eyes。
Fetlock deep in the lush grass there stood a magnificent horse；
such a horse as a sculptor or a soldier might thrill to see。 His
color was a light chestnut； with mane and tail of a more tawny
tint。 Seventeen hands high； with a barrel and haunches which
bespoke tremendous strength； he fined down to the most delicate
lines of dainty breed in neck and crest and shoulder。 He was
indeed a glorious sight as he stood there； his beautiful body
leaning back from his wide…spread and propped fore legs； his head
craned high； his ears erect； his mane bristling； his red nostrils
opening and shutting with wrath； and his flashing eyes turning
from side to side in haughty menace and defiance。
Scattered round in a respectful circle； six of the Abbey lay
servants and foresters； each holding a halter； were creeping
toward him。 Every now and then； with a beautiful toss and swerve
and plunge； the great creature would turn upon one of his would…be
captors； and with outstretched head； flying mane and flashing
teeth； would chase him screaming to the safety of the wall； while
the others would close swiftly in behind and cast their ropes in
the hope of catching neck or leg； but only in their； turn to be
chased to the nearest refuge。
Had two of these ropes settled upon the horse； and had their
throwers found some purchase of stump or boulder by which they
could hold them； then the man's brain might have won its wonted
victory over swiftness and strength。 But the brains were
themselves at fault which imagined that one such rope would serve
any purpose save to endanger the thrower。
Yet so it was； and what might have been foreseen occurred at the
very moment of the arrival of the monks。 The horse； having chased
one of his enemies to the wall； remained so long snorting his
contempt over the coping that the others were able to creep upon
him from behind。 Several ropes were flung； and one noose settled
over the proud crest and lost itself in the waving mane。 In an
instant the creature had turned and the men were flying for their
lives； but he who had cast the rope lingered； uncertain what use
to make of his own success。 That moment of doubt was fatal。 With
a yell of dismay； the man saw the great creature rear above him。
Then with a crash the fore feet fell upon him and dashed him to
the ground。 He rose screaming； was hurled over once more； and lay
a quivering； bleeding heap； while the savage horse； the most cruel
and terrible in its anger of all creatures on earth； bit and shook
and trampled the writhing body。
A loud wail of horror rose from the lines of tonsured heads which
skirted the high wall … a wail which suddenly died away into a
long hushed silence； broken at last by a rapturous cry of
thanksgiving and of joy。
On the road which led to the old dark manor…house upon the side of
the hill a youth had been riding。 His mount was a sorry one； a
weedy； shambling； long…haired colt； and his patched tunic of faded
purple with stained leather belt presented no very smart
appearance； yet in the bearing of the man； in the poise of his
head； in his easy graceful carriage； and in the bold glance of his
large blue eyes； there was that stamp of distinction and of breed
which would have given him a place of his own in any assembly。 He
was of small stature； but his frame was singularly elegant and
graceful。 His face； though tanned with the weather； was delicate
in features and most eager and alert in expression。 A thick
fringe of crisp yellow curls broke from under the dark flat cap
which he was wearing； and a short golden beard hid the outline of
his strong square chin。 One white osprey feather thrust through a
gold brooch in the front of his cap gave a touch of grace to his
somber garb。 This and other points of his attire； the short
hanging mantle； the leather…sheathed hunting…knife； the cross belt
which sustained a brazen horn； the soft doe…skin boots and the
prick spurs； would all disclose themselves to an observer； but at
the first glance the brown face set in gold and the dancing light
of the quick； reckless； laughing eyes； were the one strong memory
left behind。
Such was the youth who； cracking his whip joyously； and followed
by half a score of dogs； cantered on his rude pony down the
Tilford Lane； and thence it was that with a smile of amused
contempt upon his face he observed the comedy in the field and the
impotent efforts of the servants of Waverley。
Suddenly； however； as the comedy turned swiftly to black tragedy；
this passive spectator leaped into quick strenuous life。 With a
spring he was off his pony； and with another he was over the stone
wall and flying swiftly across the field。 Looking up from his
victim； the great yellow horse saw this other enemy approach； and
spurning the prostrate； but still writhing body with its heels；
dashed at the newcomer。
But this time there was no hasty flight； no rapturous pursuit to
the wall。 The little man braced himself straight； flung up his
metal…headed whip； and met the horse with a crashing blow upon the
head； repeated again and again with every attack。 In vain the
horse reared and tried to overthrow its enemy with swooping
shoulders and pawing hoofs。 Cool； swift and alert； the man sprang
swiftly aside from under the very shadow of death； and then again
came the swish and thud of the unerring blow from the heavy
handle。
The horse drew off； glared with wonder and fury at this masterful
man； and then trotted round in a circle； with mane bristling； tail
streaming and ears on end； snorting in its rage and pain。 The
man； hardly deigning to glance at his fell neighbor； passed on to
the wounded forester； raised him in his arms with a strength which
could not have been expected in so slight a body； and carried him；
groaning； to the wall； where a dozen hands were outstretched to
help him over。 Then； at his leisure； the young man also climbed
the wall； smiling back with cool contempt at the yellow horse；
which had come raging after him once more。
As he sprang down； a dozen monks surrounded him to thank him or to
praise him； but he would have turned sullenly away without a word
had he not been stopped by Abbot John in person。
〃Nay； Squire Loring；〃 said he； 〃if you be a bad friend to our
Abbey； yet we must needs own that you have played the part of a
good Christian this day； for if there is breath left in our
servant's body it is to you next to our blessed patron Saint
Bernard that we owe it。〃
〃By Saint Paul！ I owe you no good…will； Abbot John；〃 said the
young man。 〃The shadow of your Abbey has ever fallen across the
house of Loring。 As to any small deed that I may have done this
day； I ask no thanks for it。 It is not for you nor for your house
that I have done it； but only because it was my pleasure so to
do。〃
The Abbot flushed at the bold words； and bit his lip with
vexation。
It was the sacrist； however； who answered： 〃It would be more
fitting and more gracious；〃 said he； 〃if you were to speak to the
holy Father Abbot in a manner suited to his high rank and to the
respect which is due to a Prince of the Church。〃
The youth turned his bold blue eyes upon the monk； and his
sunburned face darkened with anger。 〃Were it not for the gown
upon your back； and for your silvering hair； I would answer you in
another fashion；〃 said he。 〃You are the lean wolf which growls
ever at our door； greedy for the little which hath been left to
us。 Say and do what you will with me； but by Saint Paul！ if I
find that Dame Ermyntrude is baited by y
