child christopher-第4章

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　and　they　saw　that　there　were　no　folk　therein　and　at　the　house…doors　save　old　carles　and　carlines　scarce　wayworthy；　and　little　children　who　might　not　go　afoot。　　But　from　the　field　anigh　the　thorpe　came　the　sound　of　shouting　and　glad　voices；　and　through　the　lanes　of　the　houses　they　saw　on　the　field　many　people　in　gay　raiment　going　to　and　fro；　as　though　there　were　games　and　sports　toward。

Thereof　Lord　Rolf　heeded　nought；　but　went　his　ways　straight　to　the　Castle；　and　was　brought　with　all　honour　into　the　hall；　and　thither　came　Lord　Richard　the　Lean；　hastening　and　half　afeard；　and　did　obeisance　to　him；　and　there　were　but　a　few　in　the　hall；　and　they　stood　out　of　earshot　of　the　two　lords。

The　Marshal　spoke　graciously　to　Lord　Richard；　and　made　him　sit　beside　him；　and　said　in　a　soft　voice：　　〃We　have　come　to　see　thee；　Lord；　and　how　the　folk　do　in　the　Uttermost　Marches。　　Also　we　would　wot　how　it　goes　with　a　lad　whom　we　sent　to　thee　when　he　was　yet　a　babe；　whereas　he　was　some　byblow　of　the　late　King；　our　lord　and　master；　and　we　deemed　thee　both　rich　enough　and　kind　enough　to　breed　him　into　thriving　without　increasing　pride　upon　him：　　and；　firstly；　is　the　lad　yet　alive？〃

He　knitted　his　brow　as　he　spake；　for　carefulness　of　soul；　but　Lord　Richard　smiled　upon　him；　though　as　one　somewhat　troubled；　and　answered：　　〃Lord　Marshal；　I　thank　thee　for　visiting　this　poor　house；　and　I　shall　tell　thee　first　that　the　lad　lives；　and　hath　thriven　marvellously；　though　he　be　somewhat　unruly；　and　will　abide　no　correction　now　these　last　six　years。　　Sooth　to　say；　there　is　now　no　story　of　his　being　anywise　akin　to　our　late　Lord　King；　though　true　it　is　that　the　folk　in　this　faraway　corner　of　the　land　call　him　King　Christopher；　but　only　in　a　manner　of　jesting。　　But　it　is　no　jest　wherein　they　say　that　they　will　gainsay　him　nought；　and　that　especially　the　young　women。　　Yet　I　will　say　of　him　that　he　is　wise；　and　asketh　not　overmuch；　the　more　is　the　sorrow　of　many　of　the　maidens。　　A　fell　woodsman　he　is；　and　exceeding　stark；　and　as　yet　heedeth　more　of　valiance　than　of　the　love　of　woman。〃

The　Marshal　looked　no　less　troubled　than　before　at　these　words；　he　said：　　〃I　would　see　this　young　man　speedily。〃

〃So　shall　it　be；　Lord；〃　said　Lord　Richard。　　Therewith　he　called　to　him　a　squire；　and　said：　〃Go　thou　down　into　the　thorpe；　and　bring　hither　Christopher；　for　that　a　great　lord　is　here　who　would　set　him　to　do　a　deed　of　woodcraft；　such　as　is　more　than　the　wont　of　men。〃

So　the　squire　went　his　ways；　and　was　gone　a　little　while；　and　meantime　drew　nigh　to　the　hall　a　sound　of　triumphing　songs　and　shouts；　and　right　up　to　the　hall　doors；　then　entered　the　squire；　and　by　his　side　came　a　tall　young　man；　clad　but　in　a　white　linen　shirt　and　deerskin　brogues；　his　head　crowned　with　a　garland　of　flowers：　　him　the　squire　brought　up　to　the　lords　on　the　dais；　and　louted　to　them；　and　said：　　〃My　lords；　I　bring　you　Christopher；　and　he　not　overwilling；　for　now　hath　he　been　but　just　crowned　king　of　the　games　down　yonder；　but　when　the　carles　and　queans　there　said　that　they　would　come　with　him　and　bear　him　company　to　the　hall　doors；　then；　forsooth；　he　yea…said　the　coming。　　It　were　not　unmeet　that　some　shame　were　done　him。〃

〃Peace；　man！〃　said　Lord　Richard；　〃what　hath　this　to　do　with　thee？　Seest　thou　not　the　Lord　Marshal　here？〃　The　Lord　Rolf　sat　and　gazed　on　the　lad；　and　scowled　on　him；　but　Christopher　saw　therein　nought　but　the　face　of　a　great　lord　burdened　with　many　cares；　so　when　he　had　made　his　obeisance　he　stood　up　fearlessly　and　merrily　before　them。

Sooth　to　say；　he　was　full　fair　to　look　on：　　for　all　his　strength；　which；　as　ye　shall　hear；　was　mighty；　all　the　fashion　of　his　limbs　and　his　body　was　light　and　clean　done；　and　beauteous；　and　though　his　skin；　where　it　showed　naked；　was　all　tanned　with　the　summer；　it　was　fine　and　sleek　and　kindly；　every　deal　thereof：　　bright…eyed　and　round…cheeked　he　was；　with　full　lips　and　carven　chin；　and　his　hair　golden　brown　of　hue；　and　curling　crisp　about　the　blossoms　of　his　garland。

So　must　we　say　that　he　was　such　an　youngling　as　most　might　have　been　in　the　world；　had　not　man's　malice　been；　and　the　mischief　of　grudging　and　the　marring　of　grasping。

But　now　spake　Lord　Rolf：　　〃Sir　varlet；　they　tell　me　that　thou　art　a　mighty　hunter；　and　of　mickle　guile　in　woodcraft；　wilt　thou　then　hunt　somewhat　for　me；　and　bring　me　home　a　catch　seldom　seen？〃

〃Yea；　Lord　King；〃　said　Christopher；　〃I　will　at　least　do　my　best；　if　thou　but　tell　me　where　to　seek　the　quarry　and　when。〃

〃It　is　well；〃　said　the　Marshal；　〃and　to…morrow　my　squire；　whom　thou　seest　yonder；　and　who　hight　Simon；　shall　tell　thee　where　the　hunt　is　up；　and　thou　shalt　go　with　him。　　But　hearken！　thou　shalt　not　call　me　king；　for　to…day　there　is　no　king　in　Oakenrealm；　and　I　am　but　Marshal；　and　Earl　of　the　king　that　shall　be。〃

The　lad　fell　a…musing　for　a　minute；　and　then　he　said：　　〃Yea；　Lord　Marshal；　I　shall　do　thy　will：　　but　meseemeth　I　have　heard　some　tale　of　one　who　was　but　of　late　king　in　Oakenrealm：　　is　it　not　so；　Lord？〃

〃Stint　thy　talk；　young　man；〃　cried　the　Marshal　in　a　harsh　voice；　〃and　abide　to…morrow；　who　knoweth　who　shall　be　king；　and　whether　thou　or　I　shall　live　to　see　him。〃

But　as　he　spake　the　words　they　seemed　to　his　heart　like　a　foretelling　of　evil；　and　he　turned　pale　and　trembled；　and　said　to　Christopher：　　〃Come　hither；　lad；　I　will　give　thee　a　gift；　and　then　shalt　thou　depart　till　to…morrow。〃　　So　Christopher　drew　near　to　him；　and　the　Marshal　pulled　off　a　ring　from　his　finger　and　set　it　on　the　lad's；　and　said　to　him：　〃Now　depart　in　peace；〃　and　Christopher　bent　the　knee　to　him　and　thanked　him　for　the　gracious　gift　of　the　ruler　of　Oakenrealm；　and　then　went　his　ways　out　of　the　hall；　and　the　folk　without　gave　a　glad　cry　as　he　came　amongst　them。

But　by　then　he　was　come　to　the　door；　Lord　Rolf　looked　on　his　hand；　and　saw　that；　instead　of　giving　the　youngling　a　finger…ring　which　he　had　bought　of　a　merchant　for　a　price　of　five　bezants；　as　he　had　meant　to　do；　he　had　given　him　a　ring　which　the　old　King　had　had；　whereon　was　the　first　letter　of　his　name　（Christopher　to　wit）；　and　a　device　of　a　crowned　rose；　for　this　ring　was　a　signet　of　his。　　Wherefore　was　the　Marshal　once　more　sore　troubled；　and　he　arose；　and　was　half　minded　to　run　down　the　hall　after　Christopher；　but　he　refrained　him；　and　presently　smiled　to　himself；　and　then　fell　a…talking　to　Lord　Richard；　sweetly　and　pleasantly。

SO　wore　the　day　to　evening；　but；　ere　he　went　to　bed；　the　Lord　Rolf　had　a　privy　talk；　first　with　Lord　Richard；　and　after　with　his　squire　Simon。　　What　followed　of　that　talk　ye　may　hear　after。



CHAPTER　VII。

HOW　CHRISTOPHER　WENT　A　JOURNEY　INTO　THE　WILD…WOOD。


Next　morning　Christopher；　who　slept　in　the　little　hall　of　the　inner　court　of　the　Castle；　arose　betimes；　and　came　to　the　great　gate；　but；　for　as　early　as　he　was；　there　he　saw　the　squire　Simon　abiding　him；　standing　between　two　strong　horses；　to　him　he　gave　the　sele　of　the　day；　and　the　squire　greeted　him；　but　in　somewhat　surly　wise。　　Then　he　said　to　him：　　〃Well；　King　Christopher；　art　thou　ready　for　the　road？〃

〃Yea；　as　thou　seest；〃　said　the　youngling　smiling。　　For；　indeed；　he　had　breeches　now　beneath　his　shirt；　and　a　surcoat　of　green　woollen　over　it；　boots　of　deerskin　had　he　withal；　and　spurs　thereon：　　he　was　girt　with　a　short　sword；　and　had　a　quiver　of　arrows　at　his　back；　and　bare　a　great　bow　in　his　hand。

〃Yea；〃　quoth　Simon；　〃thou　deemest　thee　a　gay　swain　belike；　but　thou　lookest　likelier　for　a　deerstealer　than　a　rider；　thou；　hung　up　to　thy　shooting…gear。　　Deemest　thou　we　go　a…hunting　of　the　hind？〃

Quoth　Christopher：　　〃I　wot　not；　squire；　but　the　great　lord　who　lieth　sleeping　yonder；　hath　told　me　that　thou　shouldest　give　me　his　errand；　and　of　some　hunting　or　feat　of　wood…craft　he　spake。　　Moreover；　this　crooked　stick　can　drive　a　shaft　through　matters　harder　than　a　hind's　side。〃

Simon　looked　confused；　and　he　reddened　and　stammered　somewhat　as　he　answered：　〃Ah；　yea：　　so　it　was；　I　mind　me；　I　will　tell　thee　anon。〃

Said　Christopher：　　〃Withal；　squire；　if　we　are　wending　into　the　wood；　as　needs　we　must；　unless　we　ride　round　about　this　dale　in　a　ring　all　day；　dost　thou　deem　we　shall　go　at　a　gallop　many　a　mile？　Nay；　fair　sir；　the　horses　shall　wen