red eve-第39部分

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and　there　vanished；　and　this　was　the　last　that　Dick　ever　saw　or　heard
of　him。　But；　although　he　waited　there　a　while；　feeling　the　edge　of　his
axe　and　glaring　about　him；　none　of　the　captain's　companions　came
forward　to　accept　his　challenge。

At　length；　with　a　shrug　of　his　shoulders；　Dick　turned。　Having　taken
his　bow　and　quiver　from　David；　who　could　not　conceal　his　indecent　joy
at　the　utter　humiliation　of　Ambrosio；　whom　he　hated　with　a　truly
British　hate；　he　walked　slowly　to　where　Hugh　sat　upon　his　horse。

〃The　jest　is　done；　master；　and　now　for　good　earnest；　since　'tis　your
turn。　The　Saints　save　me　such　another　cow　hunt　in　this　hell's　heat。
Had　I　killed　him　at　once　I　should　be　cooler　now；　but　it　came　into　my
mind　to　let　the　hound　live。　Indeed；　to　speak　truth；　I　thought　that　I
heard　the　voice　of　Murgh　behind　me；　saying；　'Spare；'　and　knew　that　I
must　obey。〃

〃I　hope　he　will　say　nothing　of　the　sort　to　me　presently；〃　answered
Hugh；　〃if　he　is　here；　which　I　doubt。　Why；　what　is　it　now？　Those　gold…
coated　marshals　are　talking　again。〃

Talking　they　were；　evidently　at　the　instance　of　Cattrina；　or　his
counsellors；　who　had　raised　some　new　objections；　which　Sir　Geoffrey
stepped　forward　to　explain　to　them。　But　Hugh　would　not　even　hear　him
out。

〃Tell　the　man　and　all　whom　it　may　concern；〃　he　said　in　an　angry　voice；
〃that　I　am　ready　to　fight　him　as　he　will；　on　horse　or　on　foot；　with
lance　or　sword　or　axe　or　dagger；　or　any　or　all　of　them；　in　mail　or
without　it；　or；　if　it　pleases　him；　stripped　to　the　shirt。　Only　let　him
settle　swiftly；　since　unless　the　sweat　runs　into　my　eyes　and　dims
them；　it　seems　to　me　that　night　is　coming　before　it　is　noon。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　answered　Sir　Geoffrey；　〃this　gathering　gloom　is
ominous　and　fearful。　I　think　that　some　awesome　tempest　must　be　about
to　burst。　Also　it　seems　to　me　that　Cattrina　has　no　stomach　for　this
fray；　else　he　would　not　raise　so　many　points　of　martial　law　and
custom。〃

Then　wiping　his　brow　with　a　silken　handkerchief　he　returned　to　deliver
the　message。

Now　Hugh　and　Dick；　watching；　saw　that　Cattrina　and　those　who　advised
him　could　find　no　further　loophole　for　argument。　They　saw；　moreover；
that　the　Doge　grew　angry；　for　he　rose　in　his　seat；　throwing　off　his
velvet　robe　of　office；　of　which　it　appeared　that　he　could　no　longer
bear　the　weight；　and　spoke　in　a　hard　voice　to　Cattrina　and　his
squires。　Next；　once　more　the　titles　of　the　combatants　were　read；　and
their　cause　of　combat；　and　while　this　went　on　Hugh　bade　Dick　bind
about　his　right　arm　a　certain　red　ribbon　that　Eve　had　given　him；
saying　that　he　wished　to　fight　wearing　his　lady's　favour。

Dick　obeyed；　muttering　that　he　thought　such　humours　foolish　and　that　a
knight　might　as　well　wear　a　woman's　petticoat　as　her　ribbon。　By　now；
so　dim　had　the　light　grown；　he　could　scarce　see　to　tie　the　knot。

Indeed；　the　weather　was　very　strange。

From　the　dark；　lowering　sky　above　a　palpable　blackness　sank　downward
as　though　the　clouds　themselves　were　falling　of　their　own　weight；
while　from　the　sea　great　rolls　of　vapour　came　sweeping　in　like　waves。
Also　this　sea　itself　had　found　a　voice；　for；　although　it　was　so　calm；
it　moaned　like　a　world　in　pain。　The　great　multitude　began　to　murmur；
and　their　faces；　lifted　upward　toward　the　sky；　grew　ghastly　white。
Fear；　they　knew　not　of　what；　had　got　hold　of　them。　A　voice　cried
shrilly：

〃Let　them　fight　and　have　done。　We　would　get　home　ere　the　tempest
bursts。〃

The　first　trumpet　blew　and　the　horses　of　the　knights；　which　whinnied
uneasily；　were　led　to　their　stations。　The　second　trumpet　blew　and　the
knights　laid　their　lances　in　rest。　Then　ere　the　third　trumpet　could
sound；　suddenly　the　darkness　of　midnight　swallowed　all　the　scene。

Dick　groped　his　way　to　Hugh's　side。　〃Bide　where　you　are；〃　he　said；
〃the　end　of　the　world　is　here；　let　us　meet　it　like　men　and　together。〃

〃Ay；〃　answered　Hugh；　and　his　voice　rang　hollow　through　his　closed
visor；　〃without　doubt　it　is　the　end　of　the　world；　and　Murgh；　the
Minister；　has　been　sent　to　open　the　doors　of　heaven　and　hell。　God　have
mercy　on　us　all！〃

So　they　stayed　there；　hearkening　to　the　groans　and　prayers　of　the
terrified　multitude　about　them；　Dick　holding　the　bridle　of　the　horse；
which　shook　from　head　to　foot；　but　never　stirred。　For　some　minutes
they　remained　thus；　till　suddenly　the　sky　began　to　lighten；　but　with
no　natural　light。　The　colour　of　it；　of　the　earth　beneath　and　of　the
air　between　was　a　deep；　terrible　red；　that　caused　all　things　to　seem
as　though　they　were　dyed　in　blood。　Lighter　and　lighter　and　redder　and
redder　it　grew；　the　long　stand　and　the　pavilions　became　visible；　and
after　them　the　dense；　deep　ring　of　spectators。　Many　of　these　were
kneeling；　while　others；　who　could　find　no　space　to　kneel；　held　their
hands　upstretched　toward　heaven；　or　beat　their　breasts　and　wept　in　the
emotional　fashion　of　the　country。

Yet　not　on　them　were　the　eyes　of　Hugh　and　Grey　Dick　fixed；　but　rather
on　a　single　figure　which　stood　quite　alone　in　the　midst　of　that　great
arena　where　Cattrina　and　his　horse　should　have　been；　where　they　had
been　indeed　but　a　little　while　before。　The　figure　was　clothed　in　a　red
and　yellow　cap　shaped　like　a　cock's…comb；　in　black　furs；　a　yellow　robe
and　white　gloves　and　sandals。　Yonder　it　stood；　fantastic；　fearful；　its
bare　and　brawny　arms　crossed　upon　its　breast；　its　head　bowed　as　though
it　contemplated　the　ground。　There　was　not　an　eye　of　all　the　tens　of
thousands　of　those　who　were　present　that　did　not　see　it；　there　was　not
a　voice　that　did　not　break　into　a　yell　of　terror　and　hate；　till　the
earth　shook　with　such　a　sound　as　might　reverberate　through　the　choked
abyss　of　hell。

〃The　fiend！　The　fiend！　The　fiend！〃　said　the　shout。　〃Kill　him！　Kill
him！　Kill　him！〃

The　figure　looked　up；　the　red　light　shone　upon　its　stony　face　that
seemed　one　blotch　of　white　amidst　its　glow。　Then　it　stooped　down　and
lifted　from　the　sand　a　knight's　lance　such　as　Cattrina　had　held。　It
raised　the　lance　and　with　it　pointed　four　times；　east　and　west　and
north　and　south；　holding　it　finally　for　a　while　in　the　direction　of
the　tribune；　where　sat　the　Doge　with　all　his　noble　company；　and　of
Venice　beyond。　Lastly；　with　a　quick　and　easy　motion；　it　cast　the　lance
toward　the　sky；　whence　it　fell；　remaining　fixed　point　downward　in　the
earth。　Then　a　tongue　of　mist　that　had　crept　up　from　the　sea　enveloped
it；　and　when　that　mist　cleared　away　the　shape　was　gone。

Now　the　red　haze　thinned；　and　for　the　first　time　that　morning　the　sun
shone　out　in　a　sickly　fashion。　Although　their　nerves　were　torn　by　the
unnatural　darkness　and　the　apparition　that　followed　it；　which　all　saw；
yet　none　quite　believed　that　they　had　seen；　the　multitude　shouted　for
the　combat　to　proceed。

Once　more　Hugh　laid　his　lance　in　rest；　thinking　that　Cattrina　was
there；　although　he　could　not　see　him。

Then　the　third　trumpet　rang　outin　that　silence　it　sounded　like　the
blast　of　doomand　Hugh　spurred　his　horse　forward　a　little　way；　but
halted；　for　he　could　perceive　no　foe　advancing　against　him。　He　stared
about　him；　and　at　last　in　a　rage　threw　his　lance　to　a　squire；　and；
turning　his　horse；　galloped　to　the　tribune。　There　he　pulled　it　to　his
haunches　and　shouted　out　in　a　great　voice：

〃Where　is　Cattrina？　Am　I　to　be　fooled；　who　appear　here　as　the　champion
of　the　King　of　England？　Where　is　Cattrina？　Produce　Cattrina　that　I　may
slay　him　or　be　slain；　or；　Chivalry　of　Venice；　be　forever　shamed！〃

The　Doge　rose；　uttering　swift　commands；　and　heralds　ran　here　and
there。　Knights　and　captains　searched　the　pavilions　and　every　other
place　where　a　mounted　man　might　hide。　But　they　never　found　Cattrina；
and；　returning　at　length；　confessed　as　much　with　bowed　heads。

The　Doge；　maddened　by　this　ignominy；　seized　the　great　gold　chain　upon
his　beast　and　burst　it　in　two。

〃Cattrina　has　fled！〃　he　shouted。　〃Or　Satan　himself　has　carried　him
away！　At　the　least　let　his　name　be　erased　from　the　Golden　Book　of
Venice；　and　until　he　prove　himself　innocent；　let　no　noble　of　Venice
stretch　out　to　him　the　hand　of　fellowship。　Men　of　Venice；　for　you
Cattrina　and　his　House　are　dead。〃

〃Will　none　take　up　his　cause　and　fight　for　him？〃　asked　Hugh　through
Sir　Geoffrey；　and　presently；　at　the　Doge's　command；　the　challenge　was
repeated　thrice　by　the　herald。　But　to　it　no　answer　came。　Of　this
afterward　Hugh　was　glad；　since　it　was　Cattrina's　life　he　sought；　not
that　of　any　other　man。　Then　Hugh　spoke　again；　saying：

〃I　claim；　O　Illustrious；　that　I　be　written　down　as　victor　in　this
combat　to　the　death；　bloodless　through　no　fault　of　mine。〃

〃It　shall　be　so　written；　noble　Hugh　de　Cressi；〃　said　the　Doge。　〃Let
all　Venice　take　notice　thereof。〃



As　the　words　left　his　lips　the　solid　earth　began　to　heave　and　rock。

At　the　first　heave　Hugh　leaped　from　his　horse；　which　screamed　aloud
and　fled　away；　and　gripped　hold　of　Grey　Dick。　At　the　second；　the
multitude　broke　out　into　wild　cries；　prayers　and　blasphemies；　and
rushed　this　way　and　that。　At　the　third；　which　came　quite　slowly　and
was　the　greatest　of　them　all；　the　long　stand　of　timber　bent　its　flags
toward　him　as　though　in　salute；　then；　with　a　slow；　grinding　crash；
fell　over；　entangling　all　within　it　beneath　its　ruin。　Also　in　the　city
beyond；　houses；　whole　streets　of　them；　gabled　churches　and　tall
towers；　sank　to　the　earth；　while　where　they　had　been　rose　up　wreathed
columns　of　dust。　To　the　south　the　sea　became　agitated。　Spouts　of　foam
appeared　upon　its　smooth　face；　it　drew　back　from　the　land；　revealing
the　slime　of　ages　and　embedded　therein　long…forgotten　wrecks。　It
heaped　itself　up　like　a　mountain；　then；　with　a　swift　and　dreadful
motion；　advanced　again　in　one　vast　wave。

In　an　instant　all　that　multitude　were　in　full　flight。

Hugh　and　Dick　fled　like　the　rest；　and　with　them　David；　though　whither
they　went　they　knew　not。

All　they　knew　was　that　the　ground　leapt　and　quivered　beneath　their
feet；　while　behind　them　came　the　horrible；　seething　hiss　of　water　on
the　crest　of　which　men　were　tossed　up　and　down　like　bits　of　floating
wood。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XV

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　DEATH　AT　WORK

Presently　Hugh　halted；　taking　shelter　with　his　two　companions　behind
the　stone　wall