sir nigel-第53章
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in sight。 By the shipman's reckoning they were now about midway
between the two shores。
Nigel was leaning against the bulwarks； his thoughts away in the
dingle at Cosford and out on the heather…clad slopes of Hindhead；
when something struck his ear。 It was a thin clear clang of
metal； pealing out high above the dull murmur of the sea； the
creak of the boom and the flap of the sail。 He listened； and
again it was borne to his ear。
〃Hark； my lord！〃 said he to Sir Robert。 〃Is there not a sound in
the fog？ 〃
They both listened together with sidelong heads。 Then it rang
clearly forth once more； but this time in another direction。 It
had been on the bow； now it was on the quarter。 Again it sounded；
and again。 Now it had moved to the other bow； now back to the
quarter again； now it was near； and now so far that it was but a
faint tinkle on the ear。 By this time every man on board； seamen；
archers and men…at…arms； were crowding the sides of the vessel。
All round them there were noises in the darkness； and yet the wall
of fog lay wet against their very faces。 And the noises were such
as were strange to their ears； always the same high musical
clashing。
The old shipman shook his head and crossed himself。
〃In thirty years upon the waters I have never heard the like；〃
said he。 〃The Devil is ever loose in a fog。 Well is he named the
Prince of Darkness。〃
A wave of panic passed over the vessel； and these rough and hardy
men who feared no mortal foe shook with terror at the shadows of
their own minds。 They stared into the cloud with blanched faces
and fixed eyes； as though each instant some fearsome shape might
break in upon them。 And as they stared there came a gust of wind。
For a moment the fog…bank rose and a circle of ocean lay before
them。
It was covered with vessels。 On all sides they lay thick upon its
surface。 They were huge caracks； high…ended and portly； with red
sides and bulwarks carved and crusted with gold。 Each had one
great sail set and was driving down channel on the same course at
the Basilisk。 Their decks were thick with men； and from their
high poops came the weird clashing which filled the air。 For one
moment they lay there； this wondrous fleet； surging slowly
forward； framed in gray vapor。 The next the clouds closed in and
they had vanished from view。 There was a long hush； and then a
buzz of excited voices。
〃The Spaniards！〃 cried a dozen bowmen and sailors。
〃I should have known it；〃 said the shipman。 〃I call to mind on
the Biscay Coast how they would clash their cymbals after the
fashion of the heathen Moor with whom they fight； but what would
you have me do； fair sir？ If the fog rises we are all dead men。〃
〃There were thirty ships at the least；〃 said Knolles； with a moody
brow。 〃If we have seen them I trow that they have also seen us。
They will lay us aboard。〃
〃Nay； fair sir； it is in my mind that our； ship is lighter and
faster than theirs。 If the fog hold another hour we should be
through them。〃
〃Stand to your arms！〃 yelled Knolles。 〃Stand to your arms … ！
They are on us！〃
The Basilisk had indeed been spied from the Spanish Admiral's ship
before the fog closed down。 With so light a breeze； and such a
fog； he could not hope to find her under sail。 But by an evil
chance not a bowshot from the great Spanish carack was a low
galley； thin and swift； with oars which could speed her against
wind or tide。 She also had seen the Basilisk and it was to her
that the Spanish leader shouted his orders。 For a few minutes she
hunted through the fog； and then sprang out of it like a lean and
stealthy beast upon its prey。 It was the sight of the long dark
shadow gliding after them which had brought that wild shout of
alarm from the lips of the English knight。 In another instant the
starboard oars of the galley had been shipped； the sides of the
two vessels grated together； and a stream of swarthy； red…capped
Spaniards were swarming up the sides of the Basilisk and dropped
with yells of triumph upon her deck。
For a moment it seemed as if the vessel was captured without a
blow being struck； for the men of the English ship had run wildly
in all directions to look for their arms。 Scores of archers might
be seen under the shadow of the forecastle and the poop bending
their bowstaves to string them with the cords from their
waterproof cases。 Others were scrambling over saddles； barrels
and cases in wild search of their quivers。 Each as he came upon
his arrows pulled out a few to lend to his less fortunate
comrades。 In mad haste the men…at…arms also were feeling and
grasping in the dark corners； picking up steel caps which would
not fit them； hurling them down on the deck； and snatching eagerly
at any swords or spears that came their way。
The center of the ship was held by the Spaniards； and having slain
all who stood before them； they were pressing up to either end
before they were made to understand that it was no fat sheep but a
most fierce old wolf which they had taken by the ears。
If the lesson was late； it was the more thorough。 Attacked on
both sides and hopelessly outnumbered； the Spaniards； who had
never doubted that this little craft was a merchant…ship； were cut
off to the last man。 It was no fight； but a butchery。 In vain
the survivors ran screaming prayers to the saints and threw
themselves down into the galley alongside。 It also had been
riddled with arrows from the poop of the Basilisk； and both the
crew on the deck and the galley…slaves in the outriggers at either
side lay dead in rows under the overwhelming shower from above。
》From stem to rudder every foot of her was furred with arrows。 It
was but a floating coffin piled with dead and dying men； which
wallowed in the waves behind them as the Basilisk lurched onward
and left her in the fog。
In their first rush on to the Basilisk； the Spaniards had seized
six of the crew and four unarmed archers。 Their throats had been
cut and their bodies tossed overboard。 Now the Spaniards who
littered the deck； wounded and dead； were thrust over the side in
the same fashion。 One ran down into the hold and had to be hunted
and killed squealing under the blows like a rat in the darkness。
Within half an hour no sign was left of this grim meeting in the
fog save for the crimson splashes upon bulwarks and deck。 The
archers； flushed and merry； were unstringing their bows once more；
for in spite of the water glue the damp air took the strength from
the cords。 Some were hunting about for arrows which might have
stuck inboard； and some tying up small injuries received in the
scuffle。 But an anxious shadow still lingered upon the face of
Sir Robert； and he peered fixedly about him through the fog。
〃Go among the archers； Hawthorne；〃 said he to his Squire。 〃Charge
them on their lives to make no sound！ You also； Loring。 Go to
the afterguard and say the same to them。 We are lost if one of
these great ships should spy us。〃
For an hour with bated breath they stole through the fleet； still
hearing the cymbals clashing all round them； for in this way the
Spaniards held themselves together。 Once the wild music came from
above their very prow； and so warned them to change their course。
Once also a huge vessel loomed for an instant upon their quarter；
but they turned two points away from her； and she blurred and
vanished。 Soon the cymbals were but a distant tinkling； and at
last they died gradually away。
〃It is none too soon；〃 said the old shipman； pointing to a
yellowish tint in the haze above them。 〃See yonder！ It is the
sun which wins through。 It will be here anon。 Ah！ said I not
so？〃
A sickly sun； no larger and far dimmer than the moon； had indeed
shown its face； with cloud…wreaths smoking across it。 As they
looked up it waxed larger and brighter before their eyes … a
yellow halo spread round it； one ray broke through； and then a
funnel of golden light poured down upon them； widening swiftly at
the base。 A minute later they were sailing on a clear blue sea
with an azure cloud…flecked sky above their heads； and such a
scene beneath it as each of them would carry in his memory while
