sir nigel-第57章

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his　sign　of　hand　upon　me；〃　said　he。　　〃He　swore　that　he　would　break
me　to　his　will；　and　thus　he　tried　to　do　it。　　But　most　I　desire　to
see　him　because　he　hath　lost　a　wager　to　me　and　I　would　fain　be
paid。〃

〃This　is　a　strange　saying；〃　said　Knolles。　　〃What　is　this　wager；
and　why　should　he　pay　you？〃

〃It　is　but　a　small　matter；〃　Simon　answered；　〃but　I　am　a　poor　man
and　the　payment　would　be　welcome。　　Should　it　have　chanced　that　we
stopped　at　this　island　I　should　have　craved　your　leave　that　I　go
ashore　and　ask　for　that　which　I　have　fairly　won。〃

Sir　Robert　Knolles　laughed。　　〃This　business　tickleth　my　fancy；〃
said　he。　　〃As　to　stopping　at　the　island；　this　shipman　tells　me
that　we　must　needs　wait　a　day　and　a　night；　for　that　we　have
strained　our　planks。　　But　if　you　should　go　ashore；　how　will　you　be
sure　that　you　will　be　free　to　depart；　or　that　you　will　see　this
King　of　whom　you　speak？〃

Black　Simon's　dark　face　was　shining　with　a　fierce　joy。　　〃Fair　sir；
I　will　ever　be　your　debtor　if　you　will　let　me　go。　　Concerning　what
you　ask；　I　know　this　island　even　as　I　know　the　streets　of　Norwich；
as　you　may　well　believe　seeing　that　it　is　but　a　small　place　and　I
upon　it　for　near　a　year。　　Should　I　land　after　dark；　I　could　win　my
way　to　the　King's　house；　and　if　he　be　not　dead　or　distraught　with
drink　I　could　have　speech　with　him　alone；　for　I　know　his　ways　and
his　hours　and　how　he　may　be　found。　　I　would　ask　only　that　Aylward
the　archer　may　go　with　me；　that　I　may　have　one　friend　at　my　side
if　things　should　chance　to　go　awry。〃

Knolles　thought　awhile。　　〃It　is　much　that　you　ask；〃　said　he；　〃for
by　God's　truth　I　reckon　that　you　and　this　friend　of　yours　are　two
of　my　men　whom　I　would　be　least　ready　to　lose。　　I　have　seen　you
both　at　grips　with　the　Spaniards　and　I　know　you。　　But　I　trust　you；
and　if　we　must　indeed　stop　at　this　accursed　place；　then　you　may　do
as　you　will。　　If　you　have　deceived　me；　or　if　this　is　a　trick　by
which　you　design　to　leave　me；　then　God　be　your　friend　when　next　we
meet；　for　man　will　be　of　small　avail！〃

It　proved　that　not　only　the　seams　had　to　be　calked　but　that　the
cog　Thomas　was　out　of　fresh　water。　　The　ships　moored　therefore
near　the　Isle　of　Brechou；　where　springs　were　to　be　found。　　There
were　no　people　upon　this　little　patch；　but　over　on　the　farther
island　many　figures　could　be　seen　watching　them；　and　the　twinkle
of　steel　from　among　them　showed　that　they　were　armed　men。　　One
boat　had　ventured　forth　and　taken　a　good　look　at　them；　but　had
hurried　back　with　the　warning　that　they　were　too　strong　to　be
touched。

Black　Simon　found　Aylward　seated　under　the　poop　with　his　back；
against　Bartholomew　the　bowyer。　　He　was　whistling　merrily　as　he
carved　a　girl's　face　upon　the　horn　of　his　bow。

〃My　friend；〃　said　Simon；　〃will　you　come　ashore　to…night　…　for　I
have　need　of　your　help？〃

Aylward　crowed　lustily。　　〃Will　I　come；　Simon？　　By　my　hilt；　I　shall
be　right　glad　to　put　my　foot　on　the　good　brown　earth　once　more。
All　my　life　I　have　trod　it；　and　yet　I　would　never　have　learned　its
worth　had　I　not　journeyed　in　these　cursed　ships。　　We　will　go　on
shore　together；　Simon；　and　we　will　seek　out　the　women；　if　there　be
any　there；　for　it　seems　a　long　year　since　I　heard　their　gentle
voices；　and　my　eyes　are　weary　of　such　faces　as　Bartholomew's　or
thine。〃

Simon's　grim　features　relaxed　into　a　smile。　　〃The　only　face　that
you　will　see　ashore；　Samkin；　will　bring　you　small　comfort；〃　said
he；　〃and　I　warn　you　that　this　is　no　easy　errand；　but　one　which　may
be　neither　sweet　nor　fair；　for　if　these　people　take　us　our　end
will　be　a　cruel　one。〃

〃By　my　hilt；〃　said　Aylward；　〃I　am　with　you；　gossip；　wherever　you
may　go！　　Say　no　more；　therefore；　for　I　am　weary　of　living　like　a
cony　in　a　hole；　and　I　shall　be　right　glad　to　stand　by　you　in　your
venture。〃

That　night；　two　hours　after　dark；　a　small　boat　put　forth　from　the
Basilisk。　　It　contained　Simon；　Aylward　and　two　seamen。　　The
soldiers　carried　their　swords；　and　Black　Simon　bore　a　brown
biscuit…bag　over　his　shoulder。　　Under　his　direction　the　rowers
skirted　the　dangerous　surf　which　beat　against　the　cliffs　until
they　came　to　a　spot　where　an　outlying　reef　formed　a　breakwater。
Within　was　a　belt　of　calm　water　and　a　shallow　cover　with　a　sloping
beach。　　Here　the　boat　was　dragged　up　and　the　seamen　were　ordered
to　wait；　while　Simon　and　Aylward　started　on　their　errand。

With　the　assured　air　of　a　man　who　knows　exactly　where　he　is　and
whither　he　is　going；　the　man…at…arms　began　to　clamber　up　a　narrow
fern…lined　cleft　among　the　rocks。　　It　was　no　easy　ascent　in　the
darkness；　but　Simon　climbed　on　like　an　old　dog　hot　upon　a　scent；
and　the　panting　Aylward　struggled　after　as　best　he　might。　　At　last
they　were　at　the　summit　and　the　archer　threw　himself　down　upon　the
grass。

〃Nay；　Simon；　I　have　not　enough　breath　to　blow　out　a　candle；〃　said
he。　　〃Stint　your　haste　for　a　minute；　since　we　have　a　long　night
before　us。　　Surely　this　man　is　a　friend　indeed；　if　you　hasten　so
to　see　him。〃

〃Such　a　friend；〃　Simon　answered；　〃that　I　have　often　dreamed　of　our
next　meeting。　　Now　before　that　moon　has　set　it　will　have　come。〃

〃Had　it　been　a　wench　I　could　have　understood　it；〃　said　Aylward。
〃By　these　ten　finger…bones；　if　Mary　of　the　mill　or　little　Kate　of
Compton　had　waited　me　on　the　brow　of　this　cliff；　I　should　have
come　up　it　and　never　known　it　was　there。　　But　surely　I　see　houses
and　hear　voices　over　yonder　in　the　shadow？〃

〃It　is　their　town；〃　whispered　Simon。　　〃There　are　a　hundred　as
bloody…minded　cutthroats　as　are　to　be　found　in　Christendom　beneath
those　roofs。　　Hark　to　that！〃

A　fierce　burst　of　laughter　came　out　of　the　darkness；　followed　by　a
long　cry　of　pain。

〃All…hallows　be　with　us！〃　cried　Aylward。　　〃What　is　that？〃

〃As　like　as　not　some　poor　devil　has　fallen　into　their　clutches；
even　as　I　did。　　Come　this　way；　Samkin；　for　there　is　a　peat…cutting
where　we　may　hide。　　Aye；　here　it　is；　but　deeper　and　broader　than
of　old。　　Now　follow　me　close；　for　if　we　keep　within　it　we　shall
find　ourselves　a　stone　cast　off　the　King's　house。〃

Together　they　crept　along　the　dark　cutting。　　Suddenly　Simon　seized
Aylward　by　the　shoulder　and　pushed　him　into　the　shadow　of　the
bank。　　Crouching　in　the　darkness；　they　heard　footsteps　and　voices
upon　the　farther　side　of　the　trench。　　Two　men　sauntered　along　it
and　stopped　almost　at　the　very　spot　where　the　comrades　were　lying。
Aylward　could　see　their　dark　figures　outlined　against　the　starry
sky。

〃Why　should　you　scold；　Jacques；〃　said　one　of　them；　speaking　a
strange　half…French；　half…English　lingo。　　〃Le　diable　t'emporte　for
a　grumbling　rascal。　　You　won　a　woman　and　I　got　nothing。　　What　more
would　you　have？〃

〃You　will　have　your　chance　off　the　next　ship；　mon　garcon；　but　mine
is　passed。　　A　woman；　it　is　true　…　an　old　peasant　out　of　the
fields；　with　a　face　as　yellow　as　a　kite's　claw。　　But　Gaston；　who
threw　a　nine　against　my　eight；　got　as　fair　a　little　Normandy　lass
as　ever　your　eyes　have　seen。　　Curse　the　dice；　I　say！　　And　as　to　my
woman；　I　will　sell　her　to　you　for　a　firkin　of　Gascony：'

〃I　have　no　wine　to　spare；　but　I　will　give　you　a　keg　of　apples；〃
said　the　other。　　〃I　had　it　out　of　the　Peter　and　Paul；　the　Falmouth
boat　that　struck　in　Creux　Bay。〃

〃Well；　well　your　apples　may　be　the　worse　for　keeping；　but　so　is
old　Marie；　and　we　can　cry　quits　on　that。　　Come　round　and　drink　a
cup　over　the　bargain。〃

They　shuffled　onward　in　the　darkness。

〃Heard　you　ever　such　villainy？〃　cried　Aylward；　breathing　fierce
and　hard。　　〃Did　you　hear　them；　Simon？　　A　woman　for　a　keg　of
apples！　　And　my　heart's　root　is　sad　for　the　other　one；　the　girl　of
Normandy。　　Surely　we　can　land　to…morrow　and　burn　all　these　water…
rats　out　of　their　nest。〃

〃Nay；　Sir　Robert　will　not　waste　time　or　strength　ere　he　reach
Brittany。〃

〃Sure　I　am　that　if　my　little　master　Squire　Loring　had　the　handling
of　it；　every　woman　on　this　island　would　be　free　ere　another　day
had　passed。〃

〃I　doubt　it　not；〃　said　Simon。　　〃He　is　one　who　makes　an　idol　of
woman；　after　the　manner　of　those　crazy　knight　errants。　　But　Sir
Robert　is　a　true　soldier　and　hath　only　his　purpose　in　view。〃

〃Simon；〃　said　Aylward；　〃the　light　is　not　overgood　and　the　place　is
cramped　for　sword…pla