sir nigel-第62章
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the beauty and the terror of that outer world beyond the high gray
lichen…mottled wall。
Everything fell out even as Knolles had planned。 As Nigel rounded
the oak forest； there upon the farther side of it； with only good
greensward between； was the rider upon the white horse。 Already
he was so near that Nigel could see him clearly； a young cavalier；
proud in his bearing； clad in purple silk tunic with a red curling
feather in his low black cap。 He wore no armor； but his sword
gleamed at his side。 He rode easily and carelessly； as one who
cares for no man； and his eyes were forever fixed upon the English
soldiers on the road。 So intent was he upon them that he gave no
thought to his own safety； and it was only when the low thunder of
the great horse's hoofs broke upon his ears that he turned in his
saddle； looked very coolly and steadily at Nigel； then gave his
own bridle a shake and darted off； swift as a hawk； toward the
hills upon the left。
Pommers had met his match that day。 The white horse； two parts
Arab； bore the lighter weight； since Nigel was clad in full armor。
For five miles over the open neither gained a hundred yards upon
the other。 They had topped the hill and flew down the farther
side； the stranger continually turning in his saddle to have a
look at his pursuer。 There was no panic in his flight； but rather
the amused rivalry with which a good horseman who is proud of his
mount contends with one who has challenged him。 Below the hill
was a marshy plain； studded with great Druidic stones； some
prostrate； some erect； some bearing others across their tops like
the huge doors of some vanished building。 A path ran through the
marsh with green rushes as a danger signal on either side of it。
Across this path many of the huge stones were lying； but the white
horse cleared them in its stride and Pommers followed close upon
his heels。 Then came a mile of soft ground where the lighter
weight again drew to the front； but it ended in a dry upland and
once again Nigel gained。 A sunken road crossed it； but the white
cleared it with a mighty spring； and again the yellow followed。
Two small hills lay before them with a narrow gorge of deep bushes
between。 Nigel saw the white horse bounding chest…deep amid the
underwood。
Next instant its hind legs were high in the air； and the rider had
been shot from its back。 A howl of triumph rose from amidst the
bushes； and a dozen wild figures armed with club and with spear；
rushed upon the prostrate man。
〃A moi； Anglais； a moi！〃 cried a voice； and Nigel saw the young
rider stagger to his feet； strike round him with his sword； and
then fall once more before the rush of his assailants。
There was a comradeship among men of gentle blood and bearing
which banded them together against all ruffianly or unchivalrous
attack。 These rude fellows were no soldiers。 Their dress and
arms； their uncouth cries and wild assault； marked them as
banditti … such men as had slain the Englishman upon the road。
Waiting in narrow gorges with a hidden rope across the path； they
watched for the lonely horseman as a fowler waits by his
bird…trap； trusting that they could overthrow the steed and then
slay the rider ere he had recovered from his fall。
Such would have been the fate of the stranger； as of so many
cavaliers before him； had Nigel not chanced to be close upon his
heels。 In an instant Pommers had burst through the group who
struck at the prostrate man； and in another two of the robbers had
fallen before Nigel's sword。 A spear rang on his breastplate； but
one blow shore off its head； and a second that of him who held it。
In vain they thrust at the steel…girt man。 His sword played round
them like lightning； and the fierce horse ramped and swooped above
them with pawing iron…shod hoofs and eyes of fire。 With cries and
shrieks they flew off to right and left amidst the bushes；
springing over boulders and darting under branches where no
horseman could follow them。 The foul crew had gone as swiftly and
suddenly as it had come； and save for four ragged figures littered
amongst the trampled bushes； no sign remaining of their passing。
Nigel tethered Pommers to a thorn…bush and then turned his
attention to the injured man。 The white horse had regained his
feet and stood whinnying gently as he looked down on his prostrate
master。 A heavy blow； half broken by his sword； had beaten him
down and left a great raw bruise upon his forehead。 But a stream
gurgled through the gorge； and a capful of water dashed over his
face brought the senses back to the injured man。 He was a mere
stripling； with the delicate features of a woman； and a pair of
great violet…blue eyes which looked up presently with a puzzled
stare into Nigel's face。
〃Who are you？〃 he asked。 〃Ah yes！ I call you to mind。 You are
the young Englishman who chased me on the great yellow horse。 By
our Lady of Rocamadour whose vernicle is round my neck！ I could
not have believed that any horse could have kept at the heels of
Charlemagne so long。 But I will wager you a hundred crowns；
Englishman； that I lead you over a five…mile course。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Nigel； 〃we will wait till you can back a horse ere we
talk of racing it。 I am Nigel of Tilford； of the family of
Loring； a squire by rank and the son of a knight。 How are you
called； young sir？〃
〃I also am a squire by rank and the son of a knight。 I am Raoul
de la Roche Pierre de Bras； whose father writes himself Lord of
Grosbois； a free vavasor of the noble Count of Toulouse； with the
right of fossa and of furca； the high justice； the middle and the
low。〃 He sat up and rubbed his eyes。 〃Englishman； you have saved
my life as I would have saved yours； had I seen such yelping dogs
set upon a man of blood and of coat…armor。 But now I am yours；
and what is your sweet will？〃
〃 When you are fit to ride； you will come back with me to my
people。〃
〃Alas！ I feared that you would say so。 Had I taken you； Nigel …
that is your name； is it not？ … had I taken you； I would not have
acted thus。〃
〃How then would you have ordered things？〃 asked Nigel； much taken
with the frank and debonair manner of his captive。
〃I would not have taken advantage of such a mischance as has
befallen me which has put me in your power。 I would give you a
sword and beat you in fair fight； so that I might send you to give
greeting to my dear lady and show her the deeds which I do for her
fair sake。〃
〃Indeed； your words are both good and fair；〃 said Nigel。 〃By
Saint Paul！ I cannot call to mind that I have ever met a man who
bore himself better。 But since I am in my armor and you without；
I see not how we can debate the matter。〃
〃Surely； gentle Nigel； you could doff your armor。〃
〃Then have I only my underclothes。〃
〃Nay； there shall be no unfairness there； for I also will very
gladly strip to my underclothes。〃
Nigel looked wistfully at the Frenchman； but he shook his head。
〃Alas！ it may not be；〃 said he。 〃The last words that Sir Robert
said to me were that I was to bring you to his side； for he would
have speech with you。 Would that I could do what you ask； for I
also have a fair lady to whom I would fain send you。 What use are
you to me； Raoul； since I have gained no honor in the taking of
you？ How is it with you now？〃
The young Frenchman had risen to his feet。 〃Do not take my
sword；〃 he said。 〃I am yours； rescue or no rescue。 I think now
that I could mount my horse； though indeed my head still rings
like a cracked bell。〃
Nigel had lost all traces of his comrades； but he remembered Sir
Robert's words that he should ride upon the sun with the certainty
that sooner or later he would strike upon the road。 As they
jogged slowly along over undulating hills； the Frenchman shook off
his hurt and the two chatted merrily together。
〃I had but just come from France；〃 said he； 〃and I had hoped to
win honor in this country； for I have ever heard that the English
are very hardy men and excellent people to fight with。 My mules
and my baggage are at Evran； but I rode forth to see what I could
see； and I chanced upon your army moving down the road； so I
coasted it in
