the path of the king-第5部分

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But　he　had　not　taken　a　step　inside　before　he　hastily　withdrew。

〃There　is　something　there；〃　he　cried〃something　that　breathes。　A　light；　Gil。〃

One　of　the　four　lit　a　lantern　from　his　flint　and　poked　it　within。　It　revealed　the　foul　floor　and　the　rotting　acorns；　and　in　the　far　corner；　on　a　bed　of　withered　boughs；　something　dark　which　might　be　a　man。　They　stood　still　and　listened。　There　was　the　sound　of　painful　breathing；　and　then　the　gasp　with　which　a　sick　man　wakens。　A　figure　disengaged　itself　from　the　shadows。　Seeing　it　was　but　one　man；　the　four　pushed　inside；　and　the　last　pulled　the　door　to　behind　him。

〃What　have　we　here？〃　the　leader　cried。　A　man　had　dragged　himself　to　his　feet；　a　short；　square　fellow　who　held　himself　erect　with　a　grip　on　a　side…post。　His　eyes　were　vacant；　dazzled　by　the　light　and　also　by　pain。　He　seemed　to　have　had　hard　usage　that　day；　for　his　shaggy　locks　were　matted　with　blood　from　a　sword…cut　above　his　forehead；　one　arm　hung　limp；　and　his　tunic　was　torn　and　gashed。　He　had　no　weapons　but　a　knife　which　he　held　blade　upwards　in　the　hollow　of　his　big　hand。

The　four　who　confronted　him　were　as　ill…looking　a　quartet　as　Duke　William's　motley　host　could　show。　One；　the　leader；　was　an　unfrocked　priest　of　Rouen；　one　was　a　hedge…robber　from　the　western　marches　who　had　followed　Alan　of　Brittany；　a　third　had　the　olive　cheeks　and　the　long　nose　of　the　south；　and　the　fourth　was　a　heavy　German　from　beyond　the　Rhine。　They　were　the　kites　that　batten　on　the　offal　of　war；　and　the　great　battle　on　the　seashore　having　been　won　by　better　men；　were　creeping　into　the　conquered　land　for　the　firstfruits　of　its　plunder。

An　English　porker；〃　cried　the　leader。　〃We　will　have　the　tusks　off　him。〃　Indeed；　in　the　wild　light　the　wounded　man；　with　his　flat　face　and　forked　beard；　had　the　look　of　a　boar　cornered　by　hounds。

〃'Ware　his　teeth；〃　said　the　one　they　called　Gil。　〃He　has　a　knife　in　his　trotter。〃

The　evil　faces　of　the　four　were　growing　merry。　They　were　worthless　soldiers；　but　adepts　in　murder。　Loot　was　their　first　thought；　but　after　that　furtive　slaying。　There　seemed　nothing　to　rob　here；　but　there　was　weak　flesh　to　make　sport　of。

Gil　warily　crept　on　one　side；　where　he　held　his　spear　ready。　The　ex…priest；　who　had　picked　up　somewhere　a　round　English　buckler；　gave　the　orders。　〃I　will　run　in　on　him；　and　take　his　stroke；　so　you　be　ready　to　close。　There　is　nothing　to　be　feared　from　the　swine。　See；　he　is　blooded　and　faints。〃

The　lantern　had　been　set　on　the　ground　by　the　door　and　revealed　only　the　lower　limbs　of　the　four。　Their　heads　were　murky　in　shadow。　Their　speech　was　foreign　to　the　wounded　man；　but　he　saw　their　purpose。　He　was　clearly　foredone　with　pain；　but　his　vacant　eyes　kindled　to　slow　anger；　and　he　shook　back　his　hair　so　that　the　bleeding　broke　out　again　on　his　forehead。　He　was　as　silent　as　an　old　tusker　at　bay。

The　ex…priest　gave　the　word　and　the　four　closed　in　on　him。　He　defeated　their　plan　by　hurling　himself　on　the　leader's　shield；　so　that　his　weight　bore　him　backwards　and　he　could　not　use　his　weapon。　The　spears　on　the　flanks　failed　for　the　same　reason；　and　the　two　men　posted　there　had　well…nigh　been　the　death　of　each　other。　The　fourth；　the　one　from　the　south；　whose　business　it　had　been　to　support　the　priest；　tripped　and　fell　sprawling　beside　the　lantern。

The　Englishman　had　one　arm　round　the　priest's　neck　and　was　squeezing　the　breath　out　of　him。　But　the　blood　of　the　four　was　kindling；　and　they　had　vengeance　instead　of　sport　to　seek。　Mouthing　curses；　the　three　of　them　went　to　the　rescue　of　the　leader；　and　a　weaponless　and　sore…wounded　man　cannot　strive　with　such　odds。　They　overpowered　him；　bending　his　arms　viciously　back　and　kicking　his　broken　head。　Their　oaths　filled　the　hut　with　an　ugly　clamour；　but　no　sound　came　from　their　victim。

Suddenly　a　gust　of　air　set　the　lantern　flickering；　and　a　new…comer　stood　in　the　doorway。　He　picked　up　the　light　and　looked　down　on　the　struggle。　He　was　a　tall；　very　lean　man；　smooth　faced；　and　black　haired；　helmetless　and　shieldless；　but　wearing　the　plated　hauberk　of　the　soldier。　There　was　no　scabbard　on　his　left　side；　but　his　right　hand　held　a　long　bright　sword。

For　a　second　he　lifted　the　light　high；　while　he　took　in　the　scene。　His　eyes　were　dark　and　dancing；　like　the　ripples　on　a　peat　stream。　〃So…ho！〃　he　said　softly。　〃Murder！　And　by　our　own　vermin！〃

He　appeared　to　brood　for　a　second；　and　then　he　acted。　For　he　set　the　light　very　carefully　in　the　crook　of　a　joist　so　that　it　illumined　the　whole　hut。　Then　he　reached　out　a　hand；　plucked　the　ex…priest　from　his　quarry；　and；　swinging　him　in　both　arms；　tossed　him　through　the　door　into　the　darkness。　It　would　seem　that　he　fell　hard；　for　there　was　a　groan　and　then　silence。

〃One　less；〃　he　said　softly。

The　three　had　turned　to　face　him；　warned　by　Gil's　exclamation；　and　found　themselves　looking　at　the　ominous　bar　of　light　which　was　his　sword。　Cornered　like　rats；　they　took　small　comfort　from　the　odds。　They　were　ready　to　surrender；　still　readier　to　run；　and　they　stood　on　their　defence　with　no　fight　in　their　faces；　whining　in　their　several　patois。　All　but　the　man　from　the　south。　He　was　creeping　round　in　the　darkness　by　the　walls；　and　had　in　his　hands　a　knife。　No　mailed　hauberk　protected　the　interloper's　back　and　there　was　a　space　there　for　steel　to　quiver　between　his　shoulder　blades。

The　newcomer　did　not　see；　but　the　eyes　of　the　wounded　man　seemed　to　have　been　cleared　by　the　scuffle。　He　was　now　free；　and　from　the　floor　he　snatched　the　round　shield　which　the　ex…priest　had　carried；　and　hurled　it　straight　at　the　creeping　miscreant。　It　was　a　heavy　oaken　thing　with　rim　and　boss　of　iron；　and　it　caught　him　fairly　above　the　ear；　so　that　he　dropped　like　a　poled　ox。　The　stranger　turned　his　head　to　see　what　was　happening。　〃A　lucky　shot；　friend；〃　he　cried。　〃I　thank　you。〃　And　he　addressed　himself　to　the　two　pitiful　bandits　who　remained。

But　their　eyes　were　looking　beyond　him　to　the　door；　and　their　jaws　had　dropped　in　terror。　For　from　outside　came　the　sound　of　horses'　hooves　and　bridles；　and　two　riders　had　dismounted　and　were　peering　into　the　hut。　The　first　was　a　very　mountain　of　a　man；　whose　conical　helmet　surmounted　a　vast　pale　face；　on　which　blond　moustaches　hung　like　the　teeth　of　a　walrus。　The　said　helmet　was　grievously　battered；　and　the　nose…piece　was　awry　as　if　from　some　fierce　blow；　but　there　was　no　scar　on　the　skin。　His　long　hauberk　was　wrought　in　scales　of　steel　and　silver；　and　the　fillets　which　bound　his　great　legs　were　of　fine　red　leather。　Behind　him　came　a　grizzled　squire；　bearing　a　kite…shaped　shield　painted　with　the　cognisance　of　a　dove。

〃What　have　we　here？〃　said　the　knight　in　a　reedy　voice　like　a　boy's。　His　pale　eyes　contemplated　the　figuresthe　wounded　man；　now　faint　again　with　pain　and　half…fallen　on　the　litter　of　branches；　his　deliverer；　tall　and　grim；　but　with　laughing　face；　the　two　murderers　cringing　in　their　fear；　in　a　corner　the　huddled　body　of　the　man　from　the　south　half　hidden　by　the　shield。　〃Speak；　fellow；〃　and　he　addressed　the　soldier。　〃What　work　has　been　toward？　Have　you　not　had　your　bellyfull　of　battles　that　you　must　scrabble　like　rats　in　this　hovel？　What　are　you　called；　and　whence　come　you？〃

The　soldier　lifted　his　brow；　looked　his　questioner　full　in　the　face；　and；　as　if　liking　what　he　found　there；　bowed　his　head　in　respect。　The　huge　man　had　the　air　of　one　to　be　obeyed。

〃I　am　of　the　Duke's　army；〃　he　said；　〃and　was　sent　on　to　reconnoitre　the　forest　roads　I　stumbled　on　this　hut　and　found　four　men　about　to　slay　a　wounded　English。　One　lies　outside　where　I　flung　him；　another　is　there　with　a　cracked　skull；　and　you　have　before　you　the　remnant。〃

The　knight　seemed　to　consider。　〃And　why　should　a　soldier　of　the　Duke's　be　so　careful　of　English　lives？〃　he　asked。

〃I　would　help　my　lord　Duke　to　conquer　this　land；〃　was　the　answer。　〃We　have　broken　their　army　and　the　way　is　straight　before　us。　We　shall　have　to　fight　other　armies；　but　we　cannot　be　fighting　all　our　days；　and　we　do　not　conquer　England　till　England　accepts　us。　I　have　heard　enough　of　that　stubborn　people　to　know　that　the　way　to　win　them　is　not　by　murder。　At　fair　fight；　and　then　honest　dealing　and　mercy；　say　I。〃

The　knight　laughed。　〃A　Solomon　in　judgment；〃　he　cried。　〃But　who　are　you　that　bear　a　sword　and　wear　gold　on　your　finger？〃

The　old　squire　broke　in。　〃My　lord　Count；　I　know　the　man。　He　is　a　hunter　of　the　Lord　Odo's；　and　has　a　name　for　valour。　He　wrought　mightily　this　morning　on　the　hill。　They　call　him　Jehan　the　Hunter；　and　sometimes　Jehan　the　Outborn；　for　no　man　knows　his　comings。　There　is　a　rumour　that　he　is　of　high　blood；　and　truly　in　battle　he　bears　himself　like　a　prince。　The　monks　loved　him　not；　but　the　Lord　Odo　favoured　him。〃

The　knight　looked　steadily　for　the　space　of　a　moment　at　the　tall　soldier；　and　his　light　eyes　seemed　to　read　deep。　〃Are　you　that　man；〃　he　asked　at　last；　and　got　the　reply：　〃I　am　Jehan　the　Hunter。〃

〃Bid　my　fellows　attend　to　yon　scum；〃　he　told　his　squire。　〃The　camp　marshal　will　have　fruit　for　his　gallows。　The　sweepings　of　all　Europe　have　drifted　with　us　to　England；　and　it　is　our　business　to　make　bonfire　of　them　before　they　breed　a　plague。。。。　See　to　the　wounded　man；　likewise。　He　may　be　one　of　the　stout　house…carles　who　fought　with　Harold　at　Stamford；　and　to　meet　us　raced　like　a　gale　through　the　length　of　England。　By　the　Mount　of　the　Archangel；　I　would　fain　win　such　mettle　to　our　cause。〃

Presently　the　hut　was　empty　save　for　the　two　soldiers；　who　faced　each　other　while　the　lantern　flickered　to　its　end　on　the　rafters。

〃The　good　Odo　is　dead；〃　said　the　knight。　〃An　arrow　in　the　left　eye　has　bereft　our　Duke　of　a　noble　ally　and　increased　the　blessedness　of　the　City　of　Paradise。　You　are　masterless　now。　Will　you　ride　with　me　on　my　service；　you　Jehan　the　Hunter？　It　would　appear　that　we　are　alike　in　our　ways　of　thinking。　They　call　me　the　Dove　from　the　shield　I　bear；　and　a　dove　I　seek　to　be　in　the　winning　of　England。　The　hawk's　task　is　over　when　the　battle　is　won；　and　he　who　has　but　the　sword　for　weapon　is　no　hawk；　but　carrion…crow。　We　have　to　set　our　Duke　on　the　throne；　but　that　is　but　the　first　step。　There　are　more　battles　before　us；　and　when　they　are　ended　begins　the　slow　task　of　the　conquest　of　English　hearts。　How　say　you；　Jehan？　Will