red eve-第31章
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left living。 After them went the dark Welsh。 Their commanders ordered
them to stand； the Earl of Warwick ordered them to stand。 The Prince
himself ordered them to stand； running in front of them； only to be
swept aside like a straw before a draught of wind。 Out they broke；
grinning and gnashing their teeth； great knives in their hands。
The red Dragon of Merlin which a giant bore led them on。 It sank； it
fell； it rose again。 The giant was down； but another had it。 They
scrambled over the mass of dead and dying。 They got among the living
beyond。 With eerie screams they houghed the horses and； when the
riders fell； hacked open the lacings of their helms； and； unheeding of
any cries for mercy； drove the great knives home。 At length all were
dead； and they returned again waving those red knives and singing some
fierce chant in their unknown tongue。
The battle was not over yet。 Fresh horses of Frenchmen gathered out of
arrow range； and charged again under the banners of Blois； Alencon；
Lorraine； and Flanders。 Forward they swept； and with them came one who
looked like a king； for he wore a crown upon his helm。 The hawk…eyed
Dick noted him； and that his bridle was bound to those of the knights
who rode upon his either side。 On them he rained shafts from his great
black bow； for Grey Dick never shot without an aim； and after the
battle one of his marked arrows was found fixed in the throat of the
blind king of Bohemia。
This second charge could not be stayed。 Step by step the English
knights were beaten back； the line of archers was broken through； his
guard formed round the Prince； Hugh among them。 Heavy horses swept on
to them。 Beneath the hoofs of one of these Hugh was felled； but；
stabbing it from below； caused the poor beast to leap aside。 He gained
his feet again。 The Prince was down； a splendid knightit was the
Count of Flanderswho had sprung from his horse； stood over him； his
sword point at his throat； and called on him to yield。 Up ran Robert
Fitzsimmon； the standard bearer； shouting：
〃To the son of the King！ To the son of the King！〃
He struck down a knight with the pole of his standard。 Hugh sprang
like a wild…cat at Louis of Flanders； and drove his sword through his
throat。 Richard de Beaumont flung the great banner of Wales over the
Prince； hiding him till more help came to beat back the foe。 Then the
Prince struggled from the ground； gasping：
〃I thank you； friends；〃 and once more the French retreated。 The Welsh
banner rose again and that danger was over。
The Earl of Warwick ran up。 Hugh noted that his armour was covered
with blood。
〃John of Norwich；〃 he cried to an aged knight； who stood leaning on
his sword； 〃take one with you； away to the King and pray him for aid。
The French gather again； we are outworn with blows； the young Prince
is in danger of his life or liberty。 Begone！〃
Old John's eyes fell on Hugh。
〃Come with me； you Suffolk man；〃 he said； and away they went。
〃Now what would you give；〃 he gasped as they ran； 〃to be drinking a
stoup of ale with me in my tower of Mettingham as you have done before
this red day dawned？ What would you give； young Hugh de Cressi？〃
〃Nothing at all；〃 answered Hugh。 〃Rather would I die upon this field
in glory than drink all the ale in Suffolk for a hundred years。〃
〃Well said； young man；〃 grunted John。 〃So do I think would I； though I
have never longed for a quart of liquor more。〃
They came to a windmill and climbed its steep stairs。 On the top
stage； amid the corn sacks stood Edward of England looking through the
window…places。
〃Your business； Sir John？〃 he said； scarcely turning his head。
The old knight told it shortly。
〃My son is not dead and is not wounded；〃 replied the King； 〃and I have
none to send to his aid。 Bid him win his spurs； the day shall yet be
his。 Look；〃 he added； pointing through the window…place； 〃our banners
have not given back a spear's throw； and in front of them the field is
paved with dead。 I tell you the French break。 Back； de Norwich！ Back；
de Cressi； and bid the Prince to charge！〃
Some one thrust a cup of wine into Hugh's hand。 He swallowed it；
glancing at the wild scene below； and presently was running with Sir
John toward the spot where they saw the Prince's banner flying。 They
came to Warwick and told him the King's answer。
〃My father speaks well；〃 said the Prince。 〃Let none share our glory
this day！ My lord； form up the lines； and when my banner is lifted
thrice； give the word to charge。 Linger not； the dark is near； and
either France or England must go down ere night。〃
Forward rolled the French in their last desperate onset； horse and
foot mingled together。 Forward they rolled almost in silence； the
arrows playing on their dense host； but not as they did at first； for
many a quiver was empty。 Once； twice； thrice the Prince's banner bowed
and lifted； and as it rose for the third time there rang out a shout
of：
〃Charge for St。 George and Edward！〃
Then England； that all these long hours had stood still； suddenly
hurled herself upon the foe。 Hugh； leaping over a heap of dead and
dying； saw in front of him a knight who wore a helmet shaped like a
wolf's head and had a wolf painted upon his shield。 The wolf knight
charged at him as though he sought him alone。 An arrow from behindit
was Grey Dick'ssank up to the feathers in the horse's neck； and down
it came。 The rider shook himself clear and began to fight。 Hugh was
beaten to his knee beneath a heavy blow that his helm turned。 He rose
unhurt and rushed at the knight； who； in avoiding his onset； caught
his spur on the body of a dead man and fell backward。
Hugh leapt on to him； striving to thrust his sword up beneath his
gorget and make an end of him。
〃Grace！〃 said the knight in French； 〃I yield me。〃
〃We take no prisoners；〃 answered Hugh； as he thrust again。
〃Pity； then；〃 said the knight。 〃You are brave； would you butcher a
fallen man？ If you had tripped I would have spared you。 Show mercy；
some day your case may be mine and it will be repaid to you。〃
Hugh hesitated； although now the point of his sword was through the
lacing of the gorget。
〃For your lady's sake； pity；〃 gasped the knight as he felt its point。
〃You know by what name to conjure；〃 said Hugh doubtfully。 〃Well； get
you gone if you can； and pray for one Hugh de Cressi； for he gives you
your life。〃
The knight seemed to start； then struggled to his feet； and； seizing a
loose horse by the bridle； swung himself to the saddle and galloped
off into the shadows。
〃Master；〃 croaked a voice into Hugh's ear； 〃I've seen the swan！ Follow
me。 My arrows are all gone； or I'd have shot him。〃
〃God's truth！ show him to me；〃 gasped Hugh； and away they leapt
together。
Soon they had outrun even the slaughtering Welsh； and found themselves
mingled with fugitives from the French army。 But in the gathering
twilight none seemed to take any note of them。 Indeed every man was
engaged in saving his own life and thought that this was the purpose
of these two also。 Some three hundred yards away certain French
knights； mounted； often two upon one horse； or afoot； were flying from
that awful field； striking out to the right in order to clear
themselves of the cumbering horde of fugitives。 One of these knights
lagged behind； evidently because his horse was wounded。 He turned to
look back； and a last ray from the dying sun lit upon him。
〃Look；〃 said Dick； and Hugh saw that on the knight's shield was
blazoned a white swan and that he wore upon his helmet a swan for a
crest。 The knight； who had not seen them； spurred his horse； but it
would not or could not move。 Then he called to his companions for
help； but they took no heed。 Finding himself alone； he dismounted；
hastily examined the horse's wound； and； having unbuckled a cloak from
his saddle； cast down his shield in order that he might run more
lightly。
〃Thanks to God； he is mine；〃 muttered Hugh。 〃Touch him not； Dick；
unless I fall； and then do you take up the quarrel till you fall。〃
So speaking he leapt upon the man out of the shadow of some thorns
that grew there。
〃Lift your shield and fight；〃 said Hugh； advancing on him with raised
sword
