sir nigel-第69章
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each pressing his lips devoutly upon it。 Then they rose to their
feet。 Nigel was the first to lower himself down the hole； then
Simon； then the priest； who was instantly seized by the other two。
The men…at…arms followed them。 They had scarcely moved away from
the hole when Nigel stopped。
〃Surely some one else came after us；〃 said he。
They listened； but no whisper or rustle came from behind them。
For a minute they paused and then resumed their journey through
the dark。 It seemed a long； long way； though in truth it was but
a few hundred yards before they came to a door with a glimmer of
yellow light around it； which barred their passage。 Nigel struck
upon it with his hand。
There was the rasping of a bolt and then a loud voice 〃Is that
you； priest？〃
〃Yes； it is I；〃 said the prisoner in a quavering voice。 〃Open；
Arnold！〃
The voice was enough。 There was no question of passwords。 The
door swung inward； and in an instant the janitor was cut down by
Nigel and Simon。 So sudden and so fierce was the attack that save
for the thud of his body no sound was heard。 A flood of light
burst outward into the passage； and the Englishmen stood with
blinking eyes in its glare。
In front of them lay a stone…flagged corridor； across which lay
the dead body of the janitor。 It had doors on either side of it；
and another grated door at the farther end。 A strange hubbub； a
kind of low droning and whining filled the air。 The four men were
standing listening； full of wonder as to what this might mean；
when a sharp cry came from behind them。 The priest lay in a
shapeless heap upon the ground； and the blood was rushing from his
gaping throat。 Down the passage； a black shadow in the yellow
light； there fled a crouching man； who clattered with a stick as
he went。
〃It is Andreas；〃 cried West…country Will。 〃He has slain him。〃
〃Then it was he that I heard behind us；〃 said Nigel。 〃Doubtless
he was at our very heels in the darkness。 I fear that the
priest's cry has been heard。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Simon； 〃there are so many cries that one more may well
pass。 Let us take this lamp from the wall and see what sort of
devil's den we have around us。〃
They opened the door upon the right； and so horrible a smell
issued from it that they were driven back from it。 The lamp which
Simon held forward showed a monkeylike creature mowing and
grimacing in the corner； man or woman none could tell； but driven
crazy by loneliness and horror。 In the other cell was a
graybearded man fettered to the wall； looking blankly before him；
a body without a soul； yet with life still in him； for his dull
eyes turned slowly in their direction。 But it was from behind the
central door at the end of the passage that the chorus of sad
cries came which filled the air。
〃Simon；〃 said Nigel； 〃before we go farther we will take this outer
door from its hinges。 With it we will block this passage so that
at the worst we may hold our ground here until help comes。 Do you
back to the camp as fast as your feet can bear you。 The peasants
will draw you upward through the hole。 Give my greetings to Sir
Robert and tell him that the castle is taken without fail if he
comes this way with fifty men。 Say that we have made a lodgment
within the walls。 And tell him also； Simon； that I would counsel
him to make a stir before the gateway so that the guard may be
held there whilst we make good our footing behind them。 Go； good
Simon； and lose not a moment！〃
But the man…at…arms shook his head。 〃It is I who have brought you
here； fair sir； and here I bide through fair and foul。 But you
speak wisely and well； for Sir Robert should indeed be told what
is going forward now that we have gone so far。 Harding； do you go
with all speed and bear the gentle Nigel's message。〃
Reluctantly the man…at…arms sped upon his errand。 They could hear
the racing of his feet and the low jingle of his harness until
they died away in the tunnel。 Then the three companions
approached the door at the end。 It was their intention to wait
where they were until help should come； but suddenly amid the
babel of cries within there broke forth an English voice； shouting
in torment。
〃My God！〃 it cried； 〃I pray you； comrades； for a cup of water； as
you hope for Christ's mercy！〃
A shout of laughter and the thud of a heavy blow followed the
appeal。
All the hot blood rushed to Nigel's head at the sound； buzzing in
his ears and throbbing in his temples。 There are times when the
fiery heart of a man must overbear the cold brain of a soldier。
With one bound he was at the door； with another he was through it；
the men…at…arms at his heels。 So strange was the scene before
them that for an instant all three stood motionless with horror
and surprise。
It was a great vaulted chamber； brightly lit by many torches。 At
the farther end roared a great fire。 In front of it three naked
men were chained to posts in such a way that flinch as they might
they could never get beyond the range of its scorching heat。 Yet
they were so far from it that no actual burn would be inflicted if
they could but keep turning and shifting so as continually to
present some fresh portion of their flesh to the flames。 Hence
they danced and whirled in front of the fire； tossing ceaselessly
this way and that within the compass of their chains； wearied to
death； their protruding tongues cracked and blackened with thirst；
but unable for one instant to rest from their writhings and
contortions。
Even stranger was the sight at each side of the room； whence came
that chorus of groans which had first struck upon the ears of
Nigel and his companions。 A line of great hogsheads were placed
alongside the walls； and within each sat a man； his head
protruding from the top。 As they moved within there was a
constant splashing and washing of water。 The white wan faces all
turned together as the door flew open； and a cry of amazement and
of hope took the place of those long…drawn moans of despair。
At the same instant two fellows clad in black； who had been seated
with a flagon of wine between them at a table near the fire；
sprang wildly to their feet； staring with blank amazement at this
sudden inrush。 That instant of delay deprived them of their last
chance of safety。 Midway down the room was a flight of stone
steps which led to the main door。
Swift as a wildcat Nigel bounded toward it and gained the steps a
stride or two before the jailers。 They turned and made for the
other which led to the passage； but Simon and his comrades were
nearer to it than they。 Two sweeping blows； two dagger thrusts
into writhing figures； and the ruffians who worked the will of the
Butcher lay dead upon the floor of their slaughter…house。
Oh； the buzz of joy and of prayer from all those white lips！ Oh；
the light of returning hope in all those sunken weary eyes！ One
wild shout would have gone up had not Nigel's outstretched hands
and warning voice hushed them to silence。
He opened the door behind him。 A curving newel staircase wound
upward into the darkness。 He listened； but no sound came down。
There was a key in the outer lock of the iron door。 He whipped it
out and turned it on the inner side。 The ground that they had
gained was safe。 Now they could turn to the relief of these poor
fellows beside them。 A few strong blows struck off the irons and
freed the three dancers before the fire。 With a husky croak of
joy； they rushed across to their comrades' water…barrels； plunged
their heads in like horses； and drank and drank and drank。 Then
in turn the poor shivering wretches were taken out of the barrels；
their skins bleached and wrinkled with long soaking。 Their bonds
were torn from them； but； cramped and fixed； their limbs refused
to act； and they tumbled and twisted upon the floor in their
efforts to reach Nigel and to kiss his hand。
In a corner lay Aylward； dripping from his barrel and exhausted
with cold and hunger。 Nigel ran to his side and raised his head。
The jug of wine from which the two jailers had drunk still stood
upon their table。 The Squire placed it to the archer's lips and
he took a hearty pull at it。
〃H
