the path of the king-第6部分

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task　of　the　conquest　of　English　hearts。　How　say　you；　Jehan？　Will　you　ride　north　with　me　on　this　errand；　and　out　of　the　lands　which　are　granted　me　to　govern　have　a　corner　on　which　to　practise　your　creed？〃

So　it　befell　that　Jehan　the　Hunter；　sometimes　called　Jehan　the　Outborn；　joined　the　company　of　Ivo　of　Dives；　and　followed　him　when　Duke　William　swept　northward　laughing　his　gross　jolly　laughter　and　swearing　terribly　by　the　splendour　of　God。

Part　2

Two　years　later　in　the　same　month　of　the　year　Jehan　rode　east　out　of　Ivo's　new　castle　of　Belvoir　to　visit　the　manor　of　which；　by　the　grace　of　God　and　the　King　and　the　favour　of　the　Count　of　Dives；　he　was　now　the　lord。　By　the　Dove's　side　he　had　been　north　to　Durham　and　west　to　the　Welsh　marches；　rather　on　falcon's　than　on　dove's　errands；　for　Ivo　held　that　the　crooning　of　peace　notes　came　best　after　hard　blows。　But　at　his　worst　he　was　hawk　and　not　crow；　and　malice　did　not　follow　his　steps。　The　men　he　beat　had　a　rude　respect　for　one　who　was　just　and　patient　in　victory；　and　whose　laughter　did　not　spare　himself。　Like　master　like　man；　and　Jehan　was　presently　so　sealed　of　Ivo's　brotherhood　that　in　the　tales　of　the　time　the　two　names　were　rarely　separate。　The　jealous；　swift　to　deprecate　good　fortune；　spared　the　Outborn；　for　it　was　observed　that　he　stood　aside　while　others　scrambled　for　gain。　Also；　though　no　man　knew　his　birth；　he　bore　himself　with　the　pride　of　a　king。

When　Ivo's　raw　stone　towers　faded　in　the　blue　distance；　the　road　led　from　shaggy　uplands　into　a　forested　plain；　with　knolls　at　intervals　which　gave　the　traveller　a　prospect　of　sullen　levels　up　to　the　fringe　of　the　fens　and　the　line　of　the　sea。　Six　men…at…arms　jolted　at　his　back　on　little　country…red　horses；　for　Jehan　did　his　tasks　with　few　helpers；　and　they　rode　well　in　the　rear；　for　he　loved　to　be　alone。　The　weather　was　all　October　gleams　and　glooms；　now　the　sunshine　of　April；　now　the　purple　depths　of　a　thunderstorm。　There　was　no　rain　in　the　air；　but　an　infinity　of　mist；　which　moved　in　fantastic　shapes；　rolling　close　about　the　cavalcade；　so　that　the　very　road　edge　was　obscured；　now　dissolving　into　clear　light；　now　opening　up　corridors　at　the　end　of　which　some　landmark　appeared　at　an　immeasurable　distance。　In　that　fantastic　afternoon　the　solid　earth　seemed　to　be　dissolving；　and　Jehan's　thoughts　as　he　journeyed　ranged　like　the　mists。

He　told　himself　that　he　had　discovered　his　country。　He；　the　Outborn；　had　come　home；　the　landless　had　found　his　settlement。　He　loved　every　acre　of　this　strange　Englandits　changing　skies；　the　soft　pastures　in　the　valleys；　the　copses　that　clung　like　moss　to　the　hills；　the　wide　moorland　that　lay　quiet　as　a　grave　from　mountain　to　mountain。　But　this　day　something　new　had　been　joined　to　his　affection。　The　air　that　met　him　from　the　east　had　that　in　it　which　stirred　some　antique　memory。　There　was　brine　in　it　from　the　unruly　eastern　sea；　and　the　sourness　of　marsh　water；　and　the　sweetness　of　marsh　herbage。　As　the　forest　thinned　into　scrub　again　it　came　stronger　and　fresher；　and　he　found　himself　sniffing　it　like　a　hungry　man　at　the　approach　of　food。　〃If　my　manor　of　Highstead　is　like　this；〃　he　told　himself；　〃I　think　I　will　lay　my　bones　there。〃

At　a　turn　of　the　road　where　two　grassy　tracks　forked；　he　passed　a　graven　stone　now　chipped　and　moss…grown；　set　on　noble　eminence　among　reddening　thorns。　It　was　an　altar　to　the　old　gods　of　the　land；　there　had　been　another　such　in　the　forest　of　his　childhood。　The　priest　had　told　him　it　was　the　shrine　of　the　Lord　Apollo　and　forbade　him　on　the　pain　of　a　mighty　cursing　to　do　reverence　to　it。　Nevertheless　he　had　been　wont　to　doff　his　cap　when　he　passed　it；　for　he　respected　a　god　that　lived　in　the　woods　instead　of　a　clammy　church。　Now　the　sight　of　the　ancient　thing　seemed　an　omen。　It　linked　up　the　past　and　the　present。　He　waved　a　greeting　to　it。　〃Hail；　old　friend；〃　he　said。　〃Bid　your　master　be　with　me；　whoever　he　be；　for　I　go　to　find　a　home。〃

One　of　his　fellows　rode　up　to　his　side。　〃We　are　within　a　mile　of　Highstead；〃　he　told　him。　〃Better　go　warily；　for　the　King's　law　runs　limpingly　in　the　fanlands。　I　counsel　that　a　picket　be　sent　forward　to　report　if　the　way　be　clear。　Every　churl　that　we　passed　on　the　road　will　have　sent　news　of　our　coming。〃

〃So　much　the　better；〃　said　Jehan。　〃Man；　I　come　not　as　a　thief　in　the　night。　This　is　a　daylight　business。　If　I　am　to　live　my　days　here　I　must　make　a　fair　conquest。〃

The　man　fell　back　sullenly；　and　there　were　anxious　faces　in　the　retinue　jogging　twenty　yards　behind。　But　no　care　sat　on　Jehan's　brow。　He　plucked　sprays　of　autumn　berries　and　tossed　and　caught　them；　he　sang　gently　to　himself　and　spoke　his　thoughts　to　his　horse。　Harm　could　not　come　to　him　when　air　and　scene　woke　in　his　heart　such　strange　familiarity。

A　last　turn　of　the　road　showed　Highstead　before　him；　two　furlongs　distant。　The　thatched　roof　of　the　hall　rose　out　of　a　cluster　of　shingled　huts　on　a　mound　defended　by　moat　and　palisade。　No　smoke　came　from　the　dwelling；　and　no　man　was　visible；　but　not　for　nothing　was　Jehan　named　the　Hunter。　He　was　aware　that　every　tuft　of　reed　and　scrog　of　wood　concealed　a　spear　or　a　bowman。　So　he　set　his　head　stiff　and　laughed；　and　hummed　a　bar　of　a　song　which　the　ferry…men　used　to　sing　on　Seine　side。　〃A　man　does　not　fight　to　win　his　home；〃　he　told　his　horse；　〃but　only　to　defend　it　when　he　has　won　it。　If　God　so　wills　I　shall　be　welcomed　with　open　gates：　otherwise　there　will　be　burying　ere　nightfall。〃

In　this　fashion　he　rode　steadfastly　toward　the　silent　burg。　Now　he　was　within　a　stone's　throw　of　it；　and　no　spear　had　been　launched；　now　he　was　before　the　massive　oaken　gate。　Suddenly　it　swung　open　and　a　man　came　out。　He　was　a　short；　square　fellow　who　limped；　and；　half　hidden　by　his　long　hair；　a　great　scar　showed　white　on　his　forehead。

〃In　whose　name？〃　he　asked　in　the　English　tongue。

〃In　the　name　of　our　lord　the　King　and　the　Earl　Ivo。〃

〃That　is　no　passport；〃　said　the　man。

〃In　my　own　name；　then；in　the　name　of　Jehan　the　Hunter。〃

The　man　took　two　steps　forward　and　laid　a　hand　on　the　off　stirrup。　Jehan　leaped　to　the　ground　and　kissed　him　on　both　cheeks。

〃We　have　met　before；　friend；〃　he　said；　and　he　took　between　his　palms　the　joined　hands　of　his　new　liege。

〃Two　years　back　on　the　night　of　Hastings；〃　said　the　man。　〃But　for　that　meeting；　my　lord；　you　had　tasted　twenty　arrows　betwixt　Highstead　and　the　forest。〃

Part　3

〃I　go　to　visit　my　neighbours；〃　said　Jehan　next　morning。

Arn　the　Steward　stared　at　his　master　with　a　puzzled　face。　〃You　will　get　a　dusty　welcome；〃　he　said。　〃There　is　but　the　Lady　Hilda　at　Galland；　and　her　brother　Aelward　is　still　at　odds　with　your　Duke。〃

Nevertheless　Jehan　rode　out　in　a　clear　dawn　of　St。　Luke's　summer；　leaving　a　wondering　man　behind　him；　and　he　rode　alone；　having　sent　back　his　men…at…arms　to　Ivo。　〃He　has　the　bold　heart；〃　said　Arn　to　himself。　〃If　there　be　many　French　like　him　there　will　assuredly　be　a　new　England。〃

At　Galland；　which　is　low　down　in　the　fen　country；　he　found　a　sullen　girl。　She　met　him　at　the　bridge　of　the　Galland　fen　and　her　grey　eyes　flashed　fire。　She　was　a　tall　maid；　very　fair　to　look　upon；　and　the　blue　tunic　which　she　wore　over　her　russet　gown　was　cunningly　embroidered。　Embroidered　too　with　gold　was　the　hood　which　confined　her　plaited　yellow　hair。

〃You　find　a　defenceless　house　and　a　woman　to　conquer；〃　she　railed。

〃Long　may　it　need　no　other　warder；〃　said　Jehan；　dismounting　and　looking　at　her　across　the　water。

〃The　fortune　of　war　has　given　me　a　home；　mistress。　I　would　dwell　in　amity　with　my　neighbours。〃

〃Amity！〃　she　cried　in　scorn。　〃You　will　get　none　from　me。　My　brother　Aelward　will　do　the　parleying。〃

〃So　be　it；〃　he　said。　〃Be　assured　I　will　never　cross　this　water　into　Galland　till　you　bid　me。〃

He　turned　and　rode　home；　and　for　a　month　was　busied　with　the　work　of　his　farms。　When　he　came　again　it　was　on　a　dark　day　in　November；　and　every　runnel　of　the　fens　was　swollen。　He　got　the　same　answer　from　the　girl；　and　with　it　a　warning　〃Aelward　and　his　men　wait　for　you　in　the　oakshaw；〃　she　told　him。　〃I　sent　word　to　them　when　the　thralls　brought　news　of　you。〃　And　her　pretty　face　was　hard　and　angry。

Jehan　laughed。　〃Now；　by　your　leave；　mistress；　I　will　wait　here　the　hour　or　two　till　nightfall。　I　am　Englishman　enough　to　know　that　your　folk　do　not　strike　in　the　dark。〃

He　returned　to　Highstead　unscathed；　and　a　week　later　came　a　message　from　Aelward。　〃Meet　me；〃　it　ran；　〃to…morrow　by　the　Danes'　barrow　at　noon；　and　we　will　know　whether　Englishman　or　Frenchman　is　to　bear　rule　in　this　land。〃

Jehan　donned　his　hauberk　and　girt　himself　with　his　long　sword。　〃There　will　be　hot　work　to…day　in　that　forest；〃　he　told　Arn；　who　was　busied　with　the　trussing　of　his　mail。

〃God　prosper　you；　master；〃　said　the　steward。　〃Frenchman　or　no；　you　are　such　a　man　as　I　love。　Beware　of　Aelward　and　his　downward　stroke；　for　he　has　the　strength　of　ten。〃

At　noon　by　the　Danes'　barrow　Jehan　met　a　young　tow…headed　giant；　who　spoke　with　the　back　of　his　throat　and　made　surly…response　to　the　other's　greeting。　It　was　a　blue　winter's　day；　with　rime　still　white　on　the　grass；　and　the　forest　was　very　still。　The　Saxon　had　the　shorter　sword　and　a　round　buckler；　Jehan　fought　only　with　his　blade。

At　the　first　bout　they　strove　with　steel；　and　were　ill…matched　at　that；　for　the　heavy　strength　of　the　fenman　was　futile　against　the　lithe　speed　of　the　hunter。　Jehan　ringed　him　in　circles　of　light；　and　the　famous　downward　stroke　was　expended　on　vacant　air。　He　played　with　him　till　he　breathed　heavily　like　a　cow；　and　then　by　a　sleight　of　hand　sent　his　sword　spinning　among　the　oak　mast。　The　young　giant　stood　sulkily　before　him；　unarmed；　deeply　shamed；　waiting　on　his　death；　but　with　no　fear　in　his　eyes。

Jehan　tossed　his　own　blade　to　the　ground；　and　stripped　off　his　hauberk。　〃We　have　fought　with　weapons；〃　he　said；　〃now　we　will　fight　in　the　ancient　way。〃

There　followed　a　very　different　contest。　Aelward　lost　his　shamefastness　and　his　slow　blood　fired　as　flesh　met　flesh　and　sinew　strained　against　sinew。　His　great　arms　crushed　the　Frenchman　till　the　ribs　cracked；　but　always　the　other　slipped　through　and　evaded　the　fatal　hug。　And　as　the　struggle　continued　Aelward's　heart　warmed　to　his　enemy。　When　their　swords　crossed