sir nigel-第55章
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great fleets approached。
It chanced that one fine carack had outstripped its consorts and
came sweeping along； all red and gold； with a fringe of twinkling
steel； a good half…mile before the fleet。 Edward looked at her
with a kindling eye； for indeed she was a noble sight with the
blue water creaming under her gilded prow。
〃This is a most worthy and debonair vessel； Master Bunce；〃 said he
to the shipman beside him。 〃I would fain have a tilt with her。 I
pray you to hold us straight that we may bear her down。〃
〃If I hold her straight； then one or other must sink； and it may
be both；〃 the seaman answered。
〃I doubt not that with the help of our Lady we shall do our part；〃
said the King。 〃Hold her straight； master…shipman； as I have told
you。〃
Now the two vessels were within arrow flight； and the bolts from
the crossbowmen pattered upon the English ship。 These short thick
devil's darts were everywhere humming like great wasps through the
air； crashing against the bulwarks； beating upon the deck； ringing
loudly。 on the armor of the knights； or with a soft muffled thud
sinking to the socket in a victim。
The bowmen along either side of the Philippa had stood motionless
waiting for their orders； but now there was a sharp shout from
their leader； and every string twanged together。 The air was full
of their harping； together with the swish of the arrows； the
long…drawn keening of the bowmen and the short deep bark of the
under…officers。 〃Steady； steady！ Loose steady！ Shoot wholly
together！ Twelve score paces！ Ten score！ Now eight！ Shoot
wholly together！〃 Their gruff shouts broke through the high
shrill cry like the deep roar of a wave through the howl of the
wind。
As the two great ships hurtled together the Spaniard turned away a
few points so that the blow should be a glancing one。 None the
less it was terrific。 A dozen men in the tops of the carack were
balancing a huge stone with the intention of dropping it over on
the English deck。 With a scream of horror they saw the mast
cracking beneath them。 Over it went； slowly at first； then
faster； until with a crash it came down on its side； sending them
flying like stones from a sling far out into the sea。 A swath of
crushed bodies lay across the deck where the mast had fallen。 But
the English ship had not escaped unscathed。 Her mast held； it is
true； but the mighty shock not only stretched every man flat upon
the deck； but had shaken a score of those who lined her sides into
the sea。 One bowman was hurled from the top； and his body fell
with a dreadful crash at the very side of the prostrate King upon
the forecastle。 Many were thrown down with broken arms and legs
from the high castles at either end into the waist of the ship。
Worst of all； the seams had been opened by the crash and the water
was gushing in at a dozen places。
But these were men of experience and of discipline； men who had
already fought together by sea and by land； so that each knew his
place and his duty。 Those who could staggered to their feet and
helped up a score or more of knights who were rolling and clashing
in the scuppers unable to rise for the weight of their armor。 The
bowmen formed up as before。 The seamen ran to the gaping seams
with oakum and with tar。 In ten minutes order had been restored
and the Philippa； though shaken and weakened； was ready for battle
once more。 The King was glaring round him like a wounded boar。
〃Grapple my ship with that；〃 he cried； pointing to the crippled
Spaniard； 〃for I would have possession of her！〃
But already the breeze had carried them past it； and a dozen
Spanish ships were bearing down full upon them。
〃We cannot win back to her； lest we show our flank to these
others；〃 said the shipman。
〃Let her go； her way！〃 cried the knights。 〃You shall have better
than her。〃
〃By Saint George！ you speak the truth；〃 said the King； for she is
ours when we have time to take her。 These also seem very worthy
ships which are drawing up to us； and I pray you； master…shipman；
that you will have a tilt with the nearest。〃
A great carack was within a bowshot of them and crossing their
bows。 Bunce looked up at his mast； and he saw that already it was
shaken and drooping。 Another blow and it would be over the side
and his ship a helpless log upon the water。 He jammed his helm
round therefore； and ran his ship alongside the Spaniard； throwing
out his hooks and iron chains as he did so。
They； no less eager； grappled the Philippa both fore and aft； and
the two vessels； linked tightly together； surged slowly over the
long blue rollers。 Over their bulwarks hung a cloud of men locked
together in a desperate struggle； sometimes surging forward on to
the deck of the Spaniard； sometimes recoiling back on to the
King's ship； reeling this way and that； with the swords flickering
like silver flames above them； while the long…drawn cry of rage
and agony swelled up like a wolf's howl to the calm blue heaven
above them。
But now ship after ship of the English had come up； each throwing
its iron over the nearest Spaniard and striving to board her high
red sides。 Twenty ships were drifting in furious single combat
after the manner of the Philippa； until the whole surface of the
sea was covered with a succession of these desperate duels。 The
dismasted carack； which the King's ship had left behind it； had
been carried by the Earl of Suffolk's Christopher； and the water
was dotted with the heads of her crew。 An English ship had been
sunk by a huge stone discharged from an engine； and her men also
were struggling in the waves； none having leisure to lend them a
hand。 A second English ship was caught between two of the Spanish
vessels and overwhelmed by a rush of boarders so that not a man of
her was left alive。 On the other hand； Mowbray and Audley had
each taken the caracks which were opposed to them； and the battle
in the center； after swaying this way and that； was turning now in
favor of the Islanders。
The Black Prince； with the Lion； the Grace Marie and four other
ships had swept round to turn the Spanish flank； but the movement
was seen； and the Spaniards had ten ships with which to meet it；
one of them their great carack the St。 Iago di Compostella。 To
this ship the Prince had attached his little cog and strove
desperately to board her； but her side was so high and the defense
so desperate that his men could never get beyond her bulwarks but
were hurled down again and again with a clang and clash to the
deck beneath。 Her side bristled with crossbowmen； who shot
straight down on to the packed waist of the Lion； so that the dead
lay there in heaps。 But the most dangerous of all was a swarthy
black…bearded giant in the tops； who crouched so that none could
see him； but rising…every now and then with a huge lump of iron
between his hands； hurled it down with such force that nothing
would stop it。 Again and again these ponderous bolts crashed
through the deck and hurtled down into the bottom of the ship；
starting the planks and shattering all that came in their way。
The Prince； clad in that dark armor which gave him his name； was
directing the attack from the poop when the shipman rushed wildly
up to him with fear on his face。
〃Sire！〃 he cried。 〃The ship may not stand against these blows。 A
few more will sink her！ Already the water floods inboard。〃
The Prince looked up； and as he did so the shaggy beard showed
once more and two brawny arms swept downward。 A great slug；
whizzing down； beat a gaping hole in the deck； and fell rending
and riving into the hold below。 The master…mariner tore his
grizzled hair。
〃Another leak！〃 he cried。 〃I pray to Saint Leonard to bear us up
this day！ Twenty of my shipmen are bailing with buckets； but the
water rises on them fast。 The vessel may not float another hour。〃
The Prince had snatched a crossbow from one of his attendants and
leveled it at the Spaniard's tops。 At the very instant when the
seaman stood erect with a fresh bar in his hands； the bolt took
him full in the face； and his body fell forward over the parapet；
hanging there head downward。 A howl of exultation b
