red eve-第5章
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walked near to him。〃
〃It must not be; Dick; unless they strike first。 What else?〃
〃Perchance; when the smoke begins to trouble them; which it must soon;
they'll move。 Then we will run for the river; 'tis but fifty yards。
The Lady Eve can swim like a duck; and so can you。 The tide has
turned; and will bear you to the point; and I'll hold the bank against
any who try to follow; and take my chance。 What say you of that plan;
lady?〃
〃That it is good as another; or as bad;〃 she answered indifferently。
〃Let's bide where we are and do what we must when we must。 Nay; waste
no more breath; Hugh。 I'll not yield and go home like a naughty child
to be married。 It was you who snatched away Grey Dick's shaft; not I;
and now I'll save myself。〃
〃Red Eve!that's Red Eve!〃 muttered the henchman; with a dry chuckle
of admiration。 〃The dead trouble neither man nor woman。 Ah; she knows;
she knows!〃
After this there was silence for a while; save for the roar of the
fire that ever drew more near。
Eve held her cloak pressed against her mouth to filter the smoke;
which grew thick。
〃It is time to move;〃 said Hugh; coughing as he spoke。 〃By Heaven's
grace; we are too late! Look!〃
As he spoke; suddenly in the broad belt of reeds which lay between
them and the river bank fire appeared in several places; caused
doubtless by the flaming flakes which the strong wind had carried from
behind the mound。 Moreover; these new fires; burning up briskly and
joining themselves together; began to advance toward the three in the
hole。
〃The wind has turned;〃 said Dick。 〃Now it is fire; or water if you can
get there。 How do you choose to die?〃 and as he spoke he unstrung his
bow and slipped it into its leathern case。
〃Neither one way nor the other;〃 answered Eve。 〃Some may die to…night;
but we shall not。〃
Hugh leapt up and took command。
〃Cover your faces to the eyes; and run for it;〃 he said。 〃I'll go
first; then you; Eve; and Dick behind。 Make for the point and leap
the water is deep there。〃
They sprang to their feet and forward into the reeds。 When they were
almost at the edge of the fire a shout told them that they had been
seen。 Eve; the swift of foot; outpaced Hugh; and was the first to leap
into that circle of tall flames。 She was through it! They were all
through it; scorched but unharmed。 Thirty paces away was the little
point of land where nothing grew; for the spring tides washed it; that
jutted out into the waters of the Blythe; and; perhaps a hundred to
their right; the Claverings poured down on them; foot and horse
together。
Hugh caught his foot in a willow root and fell。 Eve and Grey Dick sped
onward unknowing。 They reached the point above the water; turned; and
saw。 Dick slipped his bow from its case; strung it; and set an arrow
on the string。 Hugh had gained his feet; but a man who had come up
sprang; and cast his arms about him。 Hugh threw him to the ground; for
he was very strong; and shook himself free。 Then he drew the short and
heavy sword that he wore; and; shouting out; 〃Make way!〃 to those who
stood between him and the little promontory; started to run again。
These opened to the right and left to let him pass; for they feared
the look in his eyes and the steel in his hand。 Only young John
Clavering; who had leapt from his horse; would not budge。 As Hugh
tried to push past him; he struck him in the face; calling out:
〃We have caught the de Cressi thief! Take him and hang him!〃
At the insult of the blow and words; Hugh stopped dead and turned
quite white; whereupon the men; thinking that he was afraid; closed in
upon him。 Then in the silence the harsh; croaking voice of Grey Dick
was heard saying:
〃Sir John of Clavering; bid your people let my master go; or I will
send an arrow through your heart!〃 and he lifted the long bow and drew
it。
Sir John muttered something; thinking that this was a poor way to die;
and again the men fell back; except one French knight; who; perhaps;
did not catch or understand his words。
This man stretched out his hand to seize Hugh; but before ever it fell
upon his shoulder the bow twanged and Acour's retainer was seen
whirling round and round; cursing with pain。 In the palm of his hand
was an arrow that had sunk through it to the feathers。
〃You are right; that knave shoots well;〃 said the Count to Sir John;
who made no answer。
Now again all fell back; so that Hugh might have run for it if he
would。 But his blood was up; and he did not stir。
〃John Clavering;〃 he said; addressing the young man; 〃just now; when I
lay hid in yonder hole; I heard you say that if you had five minutes
with me alone you'd beat me to a pulp and hang what was left of me on
the nearest tree。 Well; here I stand; and there's a tree。 Having first
tried to burn me and your sister; you have struck me in the face。 Will
you make good your words; or shall I strike /you/ in the face and go
my way? Nay; keep your dogs off me! Grey Dick yonder has more arrows。〃
Now a tumult rose; some saying one thing and some another; but all
keeping an eye upon Grey Dick and his bent bow。 At last Sir Edmund
Acour rode forward; and in his polished; stately way said to John:
〃Young sir; this merchant is in the right; and whatever his trade may
be; his blood is as good as your own。 After your brave words; either
you should fight him or take back the blow you gave。〃
Then he leaned down and whispered into John's ear:
〃Your sword is longer than his。 Make an end of him and of all his
trouble; lest men should laugh at you as an empty boaster。〃
Now John; who was brave and needed but little urging; turned to his
father and said:
〃Have I your leave to whip this fellow; sir?〃
〃You should have asked that before you struck him in the face;〃
replied the knight。 〃You are a man grown。 Do as best pleases you。 Only
if you take the blow; begone from Blythburgh。〃
Then Eve; who all this time had been listening; called out from where
she stood above the river。
〃Brother John; if you fight your cousin Hugh; who is my affianced
husband; and fall; on your own head be it; for know; your blood shall
not stand between him and me; since it was you who struck him; and not
he you。 Be warned; John; and let him go; lest he should send you
farther than you wish to travel。 And to you; Hugh; I say; though it is
much to ask; if he throws down his sword; forget that unknightly blow
and come thither。〃
〃You hear;〃 said Hugh shortly to John。 〃Now; because she is your
sister; if it's your will I'll begone in peace。〃
〃Ay;〃 answered John; setting his thin lips; 〃because you are a coward;
woman…thief; and seek to live that you may bring shame upon our House。
Well; that will pass when you die presently!〃
〃John; John; boast not;〃 cried Eve。 〃Who has shown you where you will
sleep to…night?〃
〃Whether I shall live or die; God knows alone;〃 said Hugh solemnly。
〃But what I seek to know is; should it chance to be your lot to die;
whether your people or this Frenchman will set on me; or raise a
blood…feud against me。 Tell me now; Sir John Clavering。〃
〃If you kill my son in combat /?outrance/; he being the challenger;〃
answered the knight; 〃none shall lift hand against you for that deed
if I can hold them back。 But know that I have other cause of quarrel
against you〃and he pointed to his daughter〃and that if you meddle
more with her; who is not for you; certainly you shall die。〃
〃And; young sir;〃 broke in Sir Edmund; 〃I pray you to understand that
this Lady Eve to…morrow becomes my wife with the will of her father
and her kin; and that if you try to stand between us; although I may
not fight you; seeing what I am and what you are; I'll kill you like a
rat when and where I get the chance! Yes;〃 he added; in a savage
snarl; 〃I pledge my knightly honour that I will kill you like a rat;
if I must follow you across the world to do so!〃
〃You will not have need to travel far if I have my will;〃 answered the
young man sternly; 〃since Red Eve is mine; not yours; and; living or
dead; mine she will remain。 As for your fine knightly honour; Sir
Edmund Acour; Count de Noyon; Seigneur of Cattrina; what has a traitor
to his King to do with hono