sir nigel-第66章

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arbalesters　on　the　tower　leaned　over　and　shot　into　the　midst　of
them；　but　could　not　stop　their　advance。　　Two　dropped；　but　the
others　raising　their　shields　ran　onward　still　shouting；　crossed
the　bridge　of　fagots；　and　came　with　a　thundering　crash　against　the
door。　　It　splintered　from　base　to　arch；　but　kept　its　place。

Swinging　their　mighty　weapon；　the　storming　party　thudded　and
crashed　upon　the　gate；　every　blow　loosening　and　widening　the
cracks　which　rent　it　from　end　to　end。　　The　three　knights；　with
Nigel；　the　Frenchman　Raoul　and　the　other　squires；　stood　beside　the
ram；　cheering　on　the　men；　and　chanting　to　the　rhythm　of　the　swing
with　a　loud　〃Ha！〃　at　every　blow。　　A　great　stone　loosened　from　the
parapet　roared　through　the　air　and　struck　Sir　James　Astley　and
another　of　the　attackers；　but　Nigel　and　the　Frenchman　had　taken
their　places　in　an　instant；　and　the　ram　thudded　and　smashed　with
greater　energy　than　ever。　　Another　blow　and　another！　　the　lower
part　was　staving　inward；　but　the　great　central　bar　still　held
firm。　　Surely　another　minute　would　beat　it　from　its　sockets。

But　suddenly　from　above　there　came　a　great　deluge　of　liquid。　　A
hogshead　of　it　had　been　tilted　from　the　battlement　until　soldiers；
bridge；　and　ram　were　equally　drenched　in　yellow　slime。　　Knolles
rubbed　his　gauntlet　in　it；　held　it　to　his　visor；　and　smelled　it。

〃Back；　back！〃　he　cried。　　〃　Back　before　it　is　too　late！〃

There　was　a　small　barred　window　above　their　heads　at　the　side　of
the　gate。　　A　ruddy　glare　shone　through　it；　and　then　a　blazing
torch　was　tossed　down　upon　them。　　In　a　moment　the　oil　had　caught
and　the　whole　place　was　a　sheet　of　flame。　　The　fir…tree　that　they
carried；　the　fagots　beneath　them；　their　very　weapons；　were　all　in
a　blaze。

To　right　and　left　the　men　sprang　down　into　the　dry　ditch；　rolling
with　screams　upon　the　ground　in　their　endeavor　to　extinguish　the
flames。　　The　knights　and　squires　protected　by　their　armor　strove
hard；　stamping　and　slapping；　to　help　those　who　had　but　leather
jacks　to　shield　their　bodies。　　From　above　a　ceaseless　shower　of
darts　and　of　stones　were　poured　down　upon　them；　while　on　the　other
hand　the　archers；　seeing　the　greatness　of　the　danger；　ran　up　to
the　edge　of　the　ditch；　and　shot　fast　and　true　at　every　face　which
showed　above　the　wall。

Scorched；　wearied　and　bedraggled；　the　remains　of　the　storming
party　clambered　out　of　the　ditch　as　best　they　could；　clutching　at
the　friendly　hands　held　down　to　them；　and　so　limped　their　way　back
amid　the　taunts　and　howls　of　their　enemies。　　A　long　pile　of
smoldering　cinders　was　all　that　remained　of　their　bridge；　and　on
it　lay　Astley　and　six　other　red…hot　men　glowing　in　their　armor。

Knolles　clinched　his　hands　as　he　looked　back　at　the　ruin　that　was
wrought；　and　then　surveyed　the　group　of　men　who　stood　or　lay
around　him　nursing　their　burned　limbs　and　scowling　up　at　the
exultant　figures　who　waved　on　the　castle　wall。　　Badly　scorched
himself；　the　young　leader　had　no　thought　for　his　own　injuries　in
the　rage　and　grief　which　racked　his　soul。　　〃We　will　build　another
bridge；〃　he　cried。　　〃Set　the　peasants　binding　fagots　once　more。〃

But　a　thought　had　flashed　through　Nigel's　mind。　　〃See；　fair　sir；〃
said　he。　　〃The　nails　of　yonder　door　are　red…hot　and　the　wood　as
white　as　ashes。　　Surely　we　can　break　our　way　through　it。〃

〃By　the　Virgin；　you　speak　truly！〃　cried　the　French　Squire。　　〃If　we
can　cross　the　ditch　the　gate　will　not　stop　us。　　Come；　Nigel；　for
our　fair　ladies'　sakes；　I　will　race　you　who　will　reach　it　first；
England　or　France。〃

Alas　for　all　the　wise　words　of　the　good　Chandos！　　Alas　for　all　the
lessons　in　order　and　discipline　learned　from　the　wary　Knolles。　　In
an　instant；　forgetful　of　all　things　but　this　noble　challenge；
Nigel　was　running　at　the　top　of　his　speed　for　the　burning　gate。
Close　at　his　heels　was　the　Frenchman；　blowing　and　gasping；　as　he
rushed　along　in　his　brazen　armor。　　Behind　came　a　stream　of　howling
archers　and　men…at…arms；　like　a　flood　which　has　broken　its　dam。
Down　they　slipped　into　the　ditch；　rushed　across　it；　and　clambered
on　each　other's　backs　up　the　opposite　side。　　Nigel；　Raoul　and　two
archers　gained　a　foothold　in　front　of　the　burning　gate　at　the　same
moment。　　With　blows　and　kicks　they　burst　it　to　pieces；　and　dashed
with　a　yell　of　triumph　through　the　dark　archway　beyond。　　For　a
moment　they　thought　with　mad　rapture　that　the　castle　was　carried。
A　dark　tunnel　lay　before　them；　down　which　they　rushed。　　But　alas！
at　the　farther　end　it　was　blocked　by　a　second　gateway　as　strong　as
that　which　had　been　burned。　　In　vain　they　beat　upon　it　with　their
swords　and　axes。　　On　each　side　the　tunnel　was　pierced　with　slits；
and　the　crossbow　bolts　discharged　at　only　a　few　yards'　distance
crashed　through　armor　as　if　it　were　cloth　and　laid　man　after　man
upon　the　stones。　　They　raged　and　leaped　before　the　great
iron…clamped　barrier；　but　the　；wall　itself　was　as　easy　to　tear
down。

It　was　bitter　to　draw　back；　but　it　was　madness　to　remain。　　Nigel
looked　round　and　saw　that　half　his　men　were　down。　　At　the　same
moment　Raoul　sank　with　a　gasp　at　his　feet；　a　bolt　driven　to　its
socket　through　the　links　of　the　camail　which　guarded　his　neck。
Some　of　the　archers；　seeing　that　certain　death　awaited　them；　were
already　running　back　to　escape　from　the　fatal　passage。

〃By　Saint　Paul！〃　cried　Nigel　hotly。　　〃Would　you　leave　our　wounded
where　this　butcher　may　lay　his　hands　upon　them？　　Let　the　archers
shoot　inwards　and　hold　them　back　from　the　slits。　　Now　let　each　man
raise　one　of　our　comrades；　lest　we　leave　our　honor　in　the　gate　of
this　castle。〃

With　a　mighty　effort　he　had　raised　Raoul　upon　his　shoulders　and
staggered　with　him　to　the　edge　of　the　ditch。　　Several　men　were
waiting　below　where　the　steep　bank　shield　them　from　the　arrows；
and　to　them　Nigel　handed　down　his　wounded　friend；　and　each　archer
in　turn　did　the　same。　　Again　and　again　Nigel　went　back　until　no
one　lay　in　the　tunnel　save　seven　who　had　died　there。　　Thirteen
wounded　were　laid　in　the　shelter　of　the　ditch；　and　there　they　must
remain　until　night　came　to　cover　them。　　Meanwhile　the　bowmen　on
the　farther　side　protected　them　from　attack；　and　also　prevented
the　enemy　from　all　attempts　to　build　up　the　outer　gate。　　The
gaping　smoke…blackened　arch　was　all　that　they　could　show　for　a
loss　of　thirty　men；　but　that　at　least　Knolles　was　determined　to
keep。

Burned　and　bruised；　but　unconscious　of　either　pain　or　fatigue　for
the　turmoil　of　his　spirit　within　him；　Nigel　knelt　by　the　Frenchman
and　loosened　his　helmet。　　The　girlish　face　of　the　young　Squire　was
white　as　chalk；　and　the　haze　of　death　was　gathering　over　his
violet　eyes；　but　a　faint　smile　played　round　his　lips　as　he　looked
up　at　his　English　comrade。

〃I　shall　never　see　Beatrice　again；〃　he　whispered。　　〃I　pray　you；
Nigel；　that　when　there　is　a　truce　you　will　journey　as　far　as　my
father's　chateau　and　tell　him　how　his　son　died。　　Young　Gaston　will
rejoice；　for　to　him　come　the　land　and　the　coat；　the　war…cry　and
the　profit。　　See　them；　Nigel；　and　tell　them　that　I　was　as　forward
as　the　others。〃

〃Indeed　Raoul；　no　man　could　have　carried　himself　with　more　honor
or　won　more　worship　than　you　have　done　this　day。　　I　will　do　your
behest　when　the　time　comes。〃

〃Surely　you　are　happy；　Nigel；〃　the　dying　Squire　murmured；　〃for
this　day　has　given　you　one　more　deed　which　you　may　lay　at　the　feet
of　your　lady…love。〃

〃It　might　have　been　so　had　we　carried　the　gate；〃　Nigel　answered
sadly；　〃but　by　Saint　Paul！　　I　cannot　count　it　a　deed　where　I　have
come　back　with　my　purpose　unfulfilled。　　But　this　is　no　time；
Raoul；　to　talk　of　my　small　affairs。　　If　we　take　the　castle　and　I
bear　a　good　part　in　it；　then　perchance　all　this　may　indeed　avail。〃

The　Frenchman　sat　up　with　that　strange　energy　which　comes　often　as
the　harbinger　of　death。　　〃You　will　win　your　Lady　Mary；　Nigel；　and
your　great　deeds　will　be　not　three　but　a　score；　so　that　in　all
Christendom　there　shall　be　no　man　of　blood　and　coat…armor　who　has
not　heard　your　name　and　your　fame。　　This　I　tell　you　…　I；　Raoul　de
la　Roche　Pierre　de　Bras；　dying　upon　the　field　of　honor。　　And　now
kiss　me；　sweet　friend；　and　lay　me　back；　for　the　mists　close　round
me　and　I　am　gone！〃

With　ten