sir nigel-第70章

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upon　their　table。　　The　Squire　placed　it　to　the　archer's　lips　and
he　took　a　hearty　pull　at　it。

〃How　is　it　with　you　now；　Aylward？〃

〃Better；　Squire；　better；　but　may　I　never　touch　water　again　as　long
as　I　live！　　Alas！　　poor　Dicon　has　gone；　and　Stephen　also　…　the
life　chilled　out　of　them。　　The　cold　is　in　the　very　marrow　of　my
bones。　　I　pray　you；　let　me　lean　upon　your　arm　as　far　as　the　fire；
that　I　may　warm　the　frozen　blood　and　set　it　running　in　my　veins
once　more。〃

A　strange　sight　it　was　to　see　these　twenty　naked　men　crouching　in
a　half…circle　round　the　fire　with　their　trembling　hands　extended
to　the　blaze。　　Soon　their　tongues　at　least　were　thawed；　and　they
poured　out　the　story　of　their　troubles　with　many　a　prayer　and
ejaculation　to　the　saints　for　their　safe　delivery。　　No　food　had
crossed　their　lips　since　they　had　been　taken。　　The　Butcher　had
commanded　them　to　join　his　garrison　and　to　shoot　upon　their
comrades　from　the　wall。　　When　they　refused　he　had　set　aside　three
of　them　for　execution。

The　others　had　been　dragged　to　the　cellar；　whither　the　leering
tyrant　had　followed　them。　　Only　one　question　he　had　asked　them；
whether　they　were　of　a　hot…blooded　nature　or　of　a　cold。　　Blows
were　showered　upon　them　until　they　answered。　　Three　had　said　cold；
and　had　been　condemned　to　the　torment　of　the　fire。　　The　rest　who
had　said　hot　were　delivered　up　to　the　torture　of　the　water…cask。
Every　few　hours　this　man　or　fiend　had　come　down　to　exult　over
their　sufferings　and　to　ask　them　whether　they　were　ready　yet　to
enter　his　service。　　Three　had　consented　and　were　gone。　　But　the
others　had　all　of　them　stood　firm；　two　of　them　even　to　their
death。

Such　was　the　tale　to　which　Nigel　and　his　comrades　listened　whilst
they　waited　impatiently　for　the　coming　of　Knolles　and　his　men。
Many　an　anxious　look　did　they　cast　down　the　black　tunnel；　but　no
glimmer　of　light　and　no　clash　of　steel　came　from　its　depths。
Suddenly；　however；　a　loud　and　measured　sound　broke　upon　their
ears。　　It　was　a　dull　metallic　clang；　ponderous　and　slow；　growing
louder　and　ever　louder　…　the　tread　of　an　armored　man。　　The　poor
wretches　round　the　fire；　all　unnerved　by　hunger　and　suffering；
huddled　together　with　wan；　scared　faces；　their　eyes　fixed　in
terror　on　the　door。

〃It　is　he！〃　they　whispered。　　〃It　is　the　Butcher　himself！〃

Nigel　had　darted　to　the　door　and　listened　intently。　　There　were　no
footfalls　save　those　of　one　man。　　Once　sure　of　that；　he　softly
turned　the　key　in　the　lock。　　At　the　same　instant　there　came　a
bull's　bellow　from　without。

〃Ives！　　Bertrand！〃　cried　the　voice。　　〃Can　you　not　hear　me　coming；
you　drunken　varlets？　　You　shall　cool　your　own　heads　in　the
water…casks；　you　lazy　rascals！　　What；　not　even　now！　　Open；　you
dogs。　　Open；　I　say！〃

He　had　thrust　down　the　latch；　and　with　a　kick　he　flung　the　door
wide　and　rushed　inward。　　For　an　instant　he　stood　motionless；　a
statue　of　dull　yellow　metal；　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the　empty　casks
and　the　huddle　of　naked　men。　　Then　with　the　roar　of　a　trapped
lion；　he　turned；　but　the　door　had　slammed　behind　him；　and　Black
Simon；　with　grim　figure　and　sardonic　face；　stood　between。

The　Butcher　looked　round　him　helplessly；　for　he　was　unarmed　save
for　his　dagger。　　Then　his　eyes　fell　upon　Nigel's　roses。

〃You　are　a　gentleman　of　coat…armor；〃　he　cried。　　〃I　surrender
myself　to　you。〃

〃I　will　not　take　your　surrender；　you　black　villain；〃　said　Nigel。
〃Draw　and　defend　yourself。　　Simon；　give　him　your　sword。〃

〃Nay；　this　is　madness；〃　said　the　blunt　man…at…arms。　　〃Why　should　I
give　the　wasp　a　sting？〃

〃Give　it　him；　I　say。　　I　cannot　kill　him　in　cold　blood。〃

〃But　I　can！〃　yelled　Aylward；　who　had　crept　up　from　the　fire。
〃Come；　comrades！　　By　these　ten　finger…bones！　has　he　not　taught　us
how　cold　blood　should　be　warmed？〃

Like　a　pack　of　wolves　they　were　on　him；　and　he　clanged　upon　the
floor　with　a　dozen　frenzied　naked　figures　clutching　and　clinging
above　him。　　In　vain　Nigel　tried　to　pull　them　off。　　They　were　mad
with　rage；　these　tortured　starving　men；　their　eyes　fixed　and
glaring；　their　hair　on　end；　their　teeth　gnashing　with　fury；　while
they　tore　at　the　howling；　writhing　man。　　Then　with　a　rattle　and
clatter　they　pulled　him　across　the　room　by　his　two　ankles　and
dragged　him　into　the　fire。

Nigel　shuddered　and　turned　away　his　eyes　as　he　saw　the　brazen
figure　roll　out　and　stagger　to　his　knees；　only　to　be　hurled　once
more　into　the　heart　of　the　blaze。　　His　prisoners　screamed　with　joy
and　clapped　their　hands　as　they　pushed　him　back　with　their　feet
until　the　armor　was　too　hot　for　them　to　touch。　　Then　at　last　he
lay　still　and　glowed　darkly　red；　whilst　the　naked　men　danced　in　a
wild　half…circle　round　the　fire。

But　now　at　last　the　supports　had　come。　　Lights　flashed　and　armor
gleamed　down　the　tunnel。　　The　cellar　filled　with　armed　men；　while
from　above　came　the　cries　and　turmoil　of　the　feigned　assault　upon
the　gate。　　Led　by　Knolles　and　Nigel；　the　storming　party　rushed
upward　and　seized　the　courtyard。　　The　guard　of　the　gate　taken　in
the　rear　threw　down　their　weapons　and　cried　for　mercy。　　The　gate
was　thrown　open　and　the　assailants　rushed　in；　with　hundreds　of
furious　peasants　at　their　heels。　　Some　of　the　robbers　died　in　hot
blood；　many　in　cold；　but　all　died；　for　Knolles　had　vowed　to　give
no　quarter。　　Day　was　just　breaking　when　the　last　fugitive　had　been
hunted　out　and　slain。　　From　all　sides　came　the　yells　and　whoops　of
the　soldiers　with　the　rending　and　riving　of　doors　as　they　burst
into　the　store…rooms　and　treasure…chambers。　　There　was　a　joyous
scramble　amongst　them；　for　the　plunder　of　eleven　years；　gold　and
jewels；　satins　and　velvets；　rich　plate　and　noble　hangings　were　all
to　be　had　for　the　taking。

The　rescued　prisoners；　their　hunger　appeased　and　their　clothes
restored；　led　the　search　for　booty。　　Nigel；　leaning　on　his　sword
by　the　gateway；　saw　Aylward　totter　past；　a　huge　bundle　under　each
arm；　another　slung　over　his　back　and　a　smaller　packet　hanging　from
his　mouth。　　He　dropped　it　for　a　moment　as　he　passed　his　young
master。

〃By　these　ten　finger…bones！　　I　am　right　glad　that　I　came　to　the
war；　and　no　man　could　ask　for　a　more　goodly　life；〃　said　he。　　〃I
have　a　present　here　for　every　girl　in　Tilford；　and　my　father　need
never　fear　the　frown　of　the　sacrist　of　Waverley　again。　　But　how　of
you；　Squire　Loring？　　It　standeth　not　aright　that　we　should　gather
the　harvest　whilst　you；　who　sowed　it；　go　forth　empty…handed。
Come；　gentle　sir；　take　these　things　that　I　have　gathered；　and　I
will　go　back　and　find　more。〃

But　Nigel　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　　〃You　have　gained　what　your
heart　desired；　and　perchance　I　have　done　so　also；〃　said　he。

An　instant　later　Knolles　strode　up　to　him　with　outstretched　hand。
〃I　ask　your　pardon；　Nigel；〃　said　he。　　〃I　have　spoken　too　hotly　in
my　wrath。〃

〃Nay；　fair　sir；　I　was　at　fault。〃

〃If　we　stand　here　now　within　this　castle；　it　is　to　you　that　I　owe
it。　　The　King　shall　know　of　it；　and　Chandos　also。　　Can　I　do　aught
else；　Nigel；　to　prove　to　you　the　high　esteem　in　which　I　hold　you？〃

The　Squire　flushed　with　pleasure。　　〃Do　you　send　a　messenger　home
to　England；　fair　sir；　with　news　of　these　doings？〃

〃Surely；　I　must　do　so。　　But　do　not　tell　me；　Nigel；　that　you　would
be　that　messenger。　　Ask　me　some　other　favor；　for　indeed　I　cannot
let　you　go。〃

〃Now　God　forbid！〃　cried　Nigel。　　〃By　Saint　Paul！　　I　would　not　be　so
caitiff　and　so　thrall　as　to　leave　you；　when　some　small　deed　might
still　be　done。　　But　I　would　fain　send　a　message　by　your
messenger。〃

〃To　whom？〃

〃It　is　to　the　Lady　Mary；　daughter　of　old　Sir　John　Buttesthorn　who
dwells　near　Guildford。〃

〃But　you　will　write　the　message；　Nigel。　　Such　greetings　as　a
cavalier　sends　to　his　lady…love　should　be　under　seal。〃

〃Nay；　he　can　carry　my　message　by　word　of　mouth。〃

〃Then　I　shall　tell　him　for　he　goes　this　morning。　　What　message；
then；　shall　he　say　to　the　lady？〃

〃He　will　give　her　my　very　humble　greeting；　and　he　will　say　to　her
that　for　the　second　time　Saint　Catharine　has　been　our　friend。〃




XXII。　　HOW　ROBERT　OF　BEAUMANOIR　CAME　TO　PLOERMEL


Sir　Robert　Knolles　and　his　men　passed　onward　that　day；　looking
back　many　a　time　to　see　the　two　dark　columns　of　smoke；　one　thicker
and　o