sir nigel-第65章
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above the portal three men were standing in the garb of English
archers； ropes round their necks and their hands bound behind
them。 Their comrades surged below them with cries of recognition
and of pity。
〃It is Ambrose！〃 cried one。 〃Surely it is Ambrose of Ingleton。〃
〃Yes； in truth； I see his yellow hair。 And the other； him with
the beard； it is Lockwood of Skipton。 Alas for his wife who keeps
the booth by the bridge…head of Ribble！ I wot not who the third
may be。〃
〃It is little Johnny Alspaye； the youngest man in the company；〃
cried old Wat； with the tears running down his cheeks； 〃'Twas I
who brought him from his home。 Alas！ Alas！ Foul fare the day
that ever I coaxed him from his mother's side that he might perish
in a far land。〃
There was a sudden flourish of a trumpet and the drawbridge fell。
Across it strode a portly man with a faded herald's coat。 He
halted warily upon the farther side and his voice boomed like a
drum。 〃I would speak with your leader。〃 he cried。
Knolles rode forward。
〃Have I your knightly word that I may advance unscathed with all
courteous entreaty as befits a herald？〃
Knolles nodded his head。
The man came slowly and pompously forward。 〃I am the messenger
and liege servant；〃 said he； 〃of the high baron； Oliver de St。
Yvon； Lord of La Brohiniere。 He bids me to say that if you
continue your journey and molest him no further he will engage
upon his part to make no further attack upon you。 As to the men
whom he holds； he will enroll them in his own honorable service；
for he has need of longbowmen； and has heard much of their skill。
But if you constrain him or cause him further displeasure by
remaining before his castle he hereby gives you warning that he
will hang these three men over his gateway and every morning
another three until all have been slain。 This he has sworn upon
the rood of Calvery； and as he has said so he will do upon
jeopardy of his soul。〃
Robert Knolles looked grimly at the messenger。 〃You may thank the
saints that you have had my promise；〃 said he； 〃else would I have
stripped that lying tabard from thy back and the skin beneath it
from thy bones； that thy master might have a fitting answer to his
message。 Tell him that I hold him and all that are within his
castle as hostage for the lives of my men； and that should he dare
to do them scathe he and every man that is with him shall hang
upon his battlements。 Go； and go quickly； less my patience fail。
There was that in Knolles' cold gray eyes and in his manner of
speaking those last words which sent the portly envoy back at a
quicker gait than he had come。 As he vanished into the gloomy
arch of the gateway the drawbridge swung up with creak and rattle
behind him。
A few minutes later a rough…bearded fellow stepped out over the
portal where the condemned archers stood and seizing the first by
the shoulders he thrust him over the wall。 A cry burst from the
man's lips and a deep groan from those of his comrades below as he
fell with a jerk which sent him half…way up to the parapet again；
and then after dancing like a child's toy swung slowly backward
and forward with limp limbs and twisted neck。
The hangman turned and bowed in mock reverence to the spectators
beneath him。 He had not yet learned in a land of puny archers how
sure and how strong is the English bow。 Half a dozen men； old Wat
amongst them； had run forward toward the wall。 They were too late
to save their comrades； but at least their deaths were speedily
avenged。
The man was in the act of pushing off the second prisoner when an
arrow crashed through his head； and he fell stone dead upon the
parapet。 But even in falling he had given the fatal thrust and a
second russet figure swung beside the first against the dark
background of the castle wall。
There only remained the young lad； Johnny Alspaye； who stood
shaking with fear； an abyss below him； and the voices of those who
would hurl him over it behind。 There was a long pause before
anyone would come forth to dare those deadly arrows。 Then a
fellow； crouching double； ran forward from the shelter； keeping
the young archer's body as a shield between him and danger。
〃Aside； John！ Aside！〃 cried his comrades from below。
The youth sprang as far as the rope would allow him； and slipped
it half over his face in the effort。 Three arrows flashed past
his side； and two of them buried themselves in the body of the man
behind。 A howl of delight burst from the spectators as he dropped
first upon his knees and then upon his face。 A life for a life
was no bad bargain。
But it was only a short respite which the skill of his comrades
had given to the young archer。 Over the parapet there appeared a
ball of brass； then a pair of great brazen shoulders； and lastly
the full figure of an armored man。 He walked to the edge and they
heard his hoarse guffaw of laughter as the arrows clanged and
clattered against his impenetrable mail。 He slapped his
breast…plate； as he jeered at them。 Well he knew that at the
distance no dart ever sped by mortal hands could cleave through
his plates of metal。 So he stood； the great burly Butcher of La
Brohiniere； with head uptossed； laughing insolently at his foes。
Then with slow and ponderous tread he walked toward his boy
victim； seized him by the ear； and dragged him across so that the
rope might be straight。 Seeing that the noose had slipped across
the face； he tried to push it down； but the mail glove hampering
him he pulled it off； and grasped the rope above the lad's head
with his naked hand。
Quick as a flash old Wat's arrow had sped； and the Butcher sprang
back with a howl of pain； his hand skewered by a cloth…yard shaft。
As he shook it furiously at his enemies a second grazed his
knuckles。 With a brutal kick of his metal…shod feet he hurled
young Alspaye over the edge； looked down for a few moments at his
death agonies； and then walked slowly from the parapet； nursing
his dripping hand； the arrows still ringing loudly upon his
back…piece as he went。
The archers below； enraged at the death of their comrades； leaped
and howled like a pack of ravening wolves。
〃By Saint Dunstan；〃 said Percy； looking round at their flushed
faces； 〃if ever we are to carry it now is the moment； for these
men will not be stopped if hate can take them forward。〃
〃You are right； Thomas！〃 cried Knolles。 〃Gather together twenty
men…at…arms each with his shield to cover him。 Astley； do you
place the bowmen so that no head may show at window or parapet。
Nigel； I pray you to order the countryfolk forward with their
fardels of fagots。 Let the others bring up the lopped pine…tree
which lies yonder behind the horse lines。 Ten men…at…arms can
bear it on the right； and ten on the left； having shields over
their heads。 The gate once down； let every man rush in。 And God
help the better cause！〃
Swiftly and yet quietly the dispositions were made； for these were
old soldiers whose daily trade was war。 In little groups the
archers formed in front of each slit or crevice in the walls；
whilst others scanned the battlements with wary eyes； and sped an
arrow at every face which gleamed for an instant above them。 The
garrison shot forth a shower of crossbow bolts and an occasional
stone from their engine； but so deadly was the hail which rained
upon them that they had no time to dwell upon their aim； and their
discharges were wild and harmless。 Under cover of the shafts of
the bowmen a line of peasants ran unscathed to the edge of the
ditch； each hurling in the bundle which he bore in his arms； and
then hurrying back for another one。 In twenty minutes a broad
pathway of fagots lay level with the ground upon one side and the
gate upon the other。 With the loss of two peasants slain by bolts
and one archer crushed by a stone； the ditch had been filled up。
All was ready for the battering…ram。
With a shout； twenty picked men rushed forward with the pine…tree
under their arms； the heavy end turned toward the gate。 The
arbalesters on the tower leaned over and shot into the midst of
them； but could not stop their advance。 Two dropped； but the
others raisin
