sir nigel-第75章

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But　Nigel　was　not　long　unavenged。　　The　huge　iron　club　of　Belford
struck　the　dwarf　Raguenel　to　the　ground；　while　Belford　in　turn　was
felled　by　a　sweeping　blow　from　Beaumanoir。　　Sometimes　a　dozen　were
on　the　ground　at　one　time；　but　so　strong　was　the　armor；　and　so
deftly　was　the　force　of　a　blow　broken　by　guard　and　shield；　that
the　stricken　men　were　often　pulled　to　their　feet　once　more　by
their　comrades；　and　were　able　to　continue　the　fight。

Some；　however；　were　beyond　all　aid。　　Croquart　had　cut　at　a　Breton
knight　named　Jean　Rousselot　and　had　shorn　away　his　shoulder…piece；
exposing　his　neck　and　the　upper　part　of　his　arm。　　Vainly　he　tried
to　cover　this　vulnerable　surface　with　his　shield。　　It　was　his
right　side；　and　he　could　not　stretch　it　far　enough　across；　nor
could　he　get　away　on　account　of　the　press　of　men　around　him。　　For
a　time　he　held　his　foemen　at　bay；　but　that　bare　patch　of　white
shoulder　was　a　mark　for　every　weapon；　until　at　last　a　hatchet　sank
up　to　the　socket　in　the　knight's　chest。　　Almost　at　the　same　moment
a　second　Breton；　a　young　Squire　named　Geoffrey　Mellon；　was　slain
by　a　thrust　from　Black　Simon　which　found　the　weak　spot　beneath　the
armpit。　　Three　other　Bretons；　Evan　Cheruel；　Caro　de　Bodegat；　and
Tristan　de　Pestivien；　the　first　two　knights　and　the　latter　a
squire；　became　separated　from　their　comrades；　and　were　beaten　to
the　ground　with　English　all　around　them；　so　that　they　had　to
choose　between　instant　death　and　surrender。　　They　handed　their
swords　to　Bambro'　and　stood　apart；　each　of　them　sorely　wounded；
watching　with　hot　and　bitter　hearts　the　melee　which　still　surged
up　and　down　the　field。

But　now　the　combat　had　lasted　half　an　hour　without　stint　or　rest；
until　the　warriors　were　so　exhausted　with　the　burden　of　their
armor；　the　loss　of　blood；　the　shock　of　blows；　and　their　own
furious　exertions；　that　they　could　scarce　totter　or　raise　their
weapons。　　There　must　be　a　pause　if　the　combat　was　to　have　any
decisive　end。　　〃Cessez！　　Cessez！　　Retirez！〃　cried　the　heralds；　as
they　spurred　their　horses　between　the　exhausted　men。

Slowly　the　gallant　Beaumanoir　led　the　twenty…five　men　who　were
left　to　their　original　station；　where　they　opened　their　visors　and
threw　themselves　down　upon　the　grass；　panting　like　weary　dogs；　and
wiping　the　sweat　from　their　bloodshot　eyes。　　A　pitcher　of　wine　of
Anjou　was　carried　round　by　a　page；　and　each　in　turn　drained　a　cup；
save　only　Beaumanoir　who　kept　his　Lent　with　such　strictness　that
neither　food　nor　drink　might　pass　his　lips　before　sunset。　　He
paced　slowly　amongst　his　men；　croaking　forth　encouragement　from
his　parched　lips　and　pointing　out　to　them　that　among　the　English
there　was　scarce　a　man　who　was　not　wounded；　and　some　so　sorely
that　they　could　hardly　stand。　　If　the　fight　so　far　had　gone
against　them；　there　were　still　five　hours　of　daylight；　and　much
might　happen　before　the　last　of　them　was　laid　upon　his　back。

Varlets　had　rushed　forth　to　draw　away　the　two　dead　Bretons；　and　a
brace　of　English　archers　had　carried　Nigel　from　the　field。　　With
his　own　hands　Aylward　had　unlaced　the　crushed　helmet　and　had　wept
to　see　the　bloodless　and　unconscious　face　of　his　young　master。　　He
still　breathed；　however；　and　stretched　upon　the　grass　by　the
riverside　the　bowman　tended　him　with　rude　surgery；　until　the　water
upon　his　brow　and　the　wind　upon　his　face　had　coaxed　back　the　life
into　his　battered　frame。　　He　breathed　with　heavy　gasps；　and　some
tinge　of　blood　crept　hack　into　his　cheeks；　but　still　he　lay
unconscious　of　the　roar　of　the　crowd　and　of　that　great　struggle
which　his　comrades　were　now　waging　once　again。

The　English　had　lain　for　a　space　bleeding　and　breathless；　in　no
better　case　than　their　rivals；　save　that　they　were　still
twenty…nine　in　number。　　But　of　this　muster　there　were　not　nine　who
were　hale　men；　and　some　were　so　weak　from　loss　of　blood　that　they
could　scarce　keep　standing。　　Yet；　when　the　signal　was　at　last
given　to　reengage　there　was　not　a　man　upon　either　side　who　did　not
totter　to　his　feet　and　stagger　forward　toward　his　enemies。

But　the　opening　of　this　second　phase　of　the　combat　brought　one
great　misfortune　and　discouragement　to　the　English。　　Bambro'　like
the　others；　had　undone　his　visor；　but　with　his　mind　full　of　many
cares　he　had　neglected　to　make　it　fast　again。　　There　was　an
opening　an　inch　broad　betwixt　it　and　the　beaver。　　As　the　two　lines
met　the　left…handed　Breton　squire；　Alain　de　Karanais；　caught　sight
of　Bambro's　face；　and　in　an　instant　thrust　his　short　spear　through
the　opening。　　The　English　leader　gave　a　cry　of　pain　and　fell　on
his　knees；　but　staggered　to　his　feet　again；　too　weak　to　raise　his
shield。　　As　he　stood　exposed　the　Breton　knight；　Geoffrey　Dubois
the　Strong；　struck　him　such　a　blow　with　his　ax　that　he　beat　in　the
whole　breast…plate　with　the　breast　behind　it。　　Bambro'　fell　dead
upon　the　ground　and　for　a　few　minutes　a　fierce　fight　raged　round
his　body。

Then　the　English　drew　back；　sullen　and　dogged；　bearing　Bambro'
with　them；　and　the　Bretons；　breathing　hard；　gathered　again　in
their　own　quarter。　　At　the　same　instant　the　three　prisoners　picked
up　such　weapons　as　were　scattered　upon　the　grass　and　ran　over　to
join　their　own　party。

〃Nay；　nay！〃　cried　Knolles；　raising　his　visor　and　advancing。　　〃This
may　not　be。　　You　have　been　held　to　mercy　when　we　might　have　slain
you；　and　by　the　Virgin　I　will　hold　you　dishonored；　all　three；　if
you　stand　not　back。〃

〃Say　not　so；　Robert　Knolles；〃　Evan　Cheruel　answered。　　〃Never　yet
has　the　word　dishonor　been　breathed　with　my　name；　but　I　should
count　myself　faineant　if　I　did　not　fight　beside　my　comrades　when
chance　has　made　it　right　and　proper　that　I　should　do　so。〃

〃By　Saint　Cadoc！　he　speaks　truly；〃　croaked　Beaumanoir；　advancing
in　front　of　his　men。　　〃You　are　well　aware；　Robert；　that　it　is　the
law　of　war　and　the　usage　of　chivalry　that　if　the　knight　to　whom
you　have　surrendered　is　himself　slain　the　prisoners　thereby　become
released。〃

There　was　no　answer　to　this　and　Knolles；　weary　and　spent；　returned
to　his　comrades。　　〃　I　would　that　we　had　slain　them；〃　said　he。　　〃We
have　lost　our　leader　and　they　have　gained　three　men　by　the　same
stroke。〃

〃If　any　more　lay　down　their　arms　it　is　my　order　that　you　slay　them
forthwith；〃　said　Croquart；　whose　bent　sword　and　bloody　armor
showed　how　manfully　he　had　borne　himself　in　the　fray。　　〃And　now；
comrades；　do　not　be　heavy…hearted　because　we　have　lost　our　leader。
Indeed；　his　rhymes　of　Merlin　have　availed　him　little。　　By　the
three　kings　of　Almain！　　I　can　teach　you　what　is　better　than　an　old
woman's　prophecies；　and　that　is　that　you　should　keep　your
shoulders　together　and　your　shields　so　close　that　none　can　break
between　them。　　Then　you　will　know　what　is　on　either　side　of　you；
and　you　can　fix　your　eyes　upon　the　front。　　Also；　if　any　be　so　weak
or　wounded　that　he　must　sink　his　hands　his　comrades　on　right　and
left　can　bear　him　up。　　Now　advance　all　together　in　God's　name；　for
the　battle　is　still　ours　if　we　bear　ourselves　like　men。〃

In　a　solid　line　the　English　advanced；　while　the　Bretons　ran
forward　as　before　to　meet　them。　　The　swiftest　of　these　was　a
certain　Squire；　Geoffrey　Poulart；　who　bore　a　helmet　which　was
fashioned　as　a　cock's　head；　with　high　comb　above；　and　long　pointed
beak　in　front　pierced　with　the　breathing…holes。　　He　thrust　with
his　sword　at　Calverly；　but　Belford　who　was　the　next　in　the　line
raised　his　giant　club　and　struck　him　a　crushing　blow　from　the
side。　　He　staggered；　and　then　pushing　forth　from　the　crowd；　he　ran
round　and　round　in　circles　as　one　whose　brain　is　stricken；　the
blood　dripping　from　the　holes　of　his　brazen　beak。　　So　for　a　long
time　he　ran；　the　crowd　laughing　and　cock…crowing　at　the　sight；
until　at　last　he　stumbled　and　fell　stone…dead　upon　his　face。　　But
the　fighters　had　seen　nothing　of　his　fate；　for　desperate　and
unceasing　was　the　rush　of　the　Bretons　and　the　steady　advance　of
the　English　line：

For　a　time　it　seemed　as　if　nothing　would　break　it；　but　gap…toothed
Beaumanoir　was　a　general　as　well　as　a　warrior。　　Whilst　his　weary；
bleeding；　hard…breathing　men　still　flung　themselves　upon　the　front
of　the　line；　he　himself　with　Raguenel；　Tentiniac；　Alain　de
Karanais；　and　Du