the caged lion-第5部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



'Hm！'　said　Halbert；　considering；　'he　looked　like　a　trusty　cheild：　maybe　he'd　guide　my　lord　here　to　a　wiser　wit；　and　a　good　lance　on　the　way　to　Dunbar　is　not　to　be　scorned。'

In　fact；　there　would　have　been　no　time　for　one　party　to　conceal　themselves　from　the　other；　for；　hidden　by　the　copsewood；　and　unheeded　by　the　watchers　who　were　gazing　in　the　opposite　direction；　Sir　James　Stewart　and　his　two　attendants　suddenly　came　round　the　foot　of　Jill's　Knowe　upon　the　fugitives；　who　were　profiting　by　the　interval　to　loosen　the　girths　of　their　horses；　and　water　them　at　the　pool　under　the　thicket；　whilst　Halbert　in　vain　tried　to　pacify　and　reason　with　the　young　master；　who　had　thrown　himself　on　the　grass　in　an　agony　of　grief　and　despair。　　Sir　James；　after　the　first　momentary　start；　recognized　the　party　in　an　instant；　and　at　once　leapt　from　his　horse；　exclaiming　…

'How　now；　my　bonnie　manmy　kind　hostwhat　is　it？　what　makes　this　grief？'

'Do　not　speak　to　me；　Sir；'　muttered　the　unhappy　boy。　　'They　have　been　reftreft　from　me；　and　I　have　done　nothing　for　them。　　Walter　of　Albany　has　them；　and　I　am　here。'

And　he　gave　way　to　another　paroxysm　of　grief；　while　Halbert　explained　to　Sir　James　Stewart　that　when　Sir　Patrick　Drummond　had　gone　to　embark　for　France；　with　the　army　led　to　the　aid　of　Charles　VI。　by　the　Earl　of　Buchan；　his　father　and　cousins；　with　a　large　escort；　had　accompanied　him　to　Eyemouth；　whence；　after　taking　leave　of　him；　they　had　set　out　to　spend　Passion…tide　and　Easter　at　Coldingham　Abbey；　after　the　frequent　fashion　of　the　devoutly　inclined　among　the　Scottish　nobility；　in　whose　castles　there　was　often　little　commodity　for　religious　observances。　　Short；　however；　as　was　the　distance；　they　had　in　the　midst　of　it　been　suddenly　assailed　by　a　band　of　armed　men；　among　whom　might　easily　be　recognized　the　giant　form　of　young　Walter　Stewart；　the　Master　of　Albany；　the　Regent　Duke　Murdoch's　eldest　son；　who　was　well　known　for　his　lawless　excesses　and　violence。　　His　father's　silky　sayings；　and　his　own　ruder　speeches；　had　long　made　it　known　to　the　House　of　Glenuskie　that　the　family　policy　was　to　cajole　or　to　drive　the　sickly　heir　into　a　convent；　and；　rendering　Lilias　the　possessor　of　the　broad　lands　inherited　from　both　parents；　unite　her　and　them　to　the　Albany　family

The　almost　barbarous　fierceness　and　wild　licentiousness　of　Walter　would　have　made　the　arrangement　abhorrent　to　Lilias；　even　had　not　love　passages　already　passed　between　her　and　her　cousin；　Patrick　Drummond；　and　Sir　David　had　hitherto　protected　her　by　keeping　Malcolm　in　the　secular　life；　but　Walter；　it　seemed；　had　grown　impatient；　and　had　made　this　treacherous　attack；　evidently　hoping　to　rid　himself　of　the　brother；　and　secure　the　sister。　　No　sooner　had　the　Tutor　of　Glenuskie　perceived　that　his　own　party　were　overmatched；　than　he　had　bidden　his　faithful　squire　to　secure　the　bairnsif　not　both；　at　least　the　boy；　and　Halbert；　perceiving　that　Lilias　had　already　been　pounced　upon　by　Sir　Walter　himself　and　several　more；　seized　the　bridle　of　the　bewildered　Malcolm；　who　was　still　trying　to　draw　his　sword；　and　had　absolutely　swept　him　away　from　the　scene　of　action　before　he　had　well　realized　what　was　passing；　and　now　that　the　poor　lad　understood　the　whole；　his　horror；　grief；　and　shame　were　unspeakable。

Before　Sir　James　had　done　more　than　hear　the　outline　of　Halbert's　tale；　however；　the　watchers　on　the　mound　gave　the　signal　that　the　reivers　were　coming　that　waya　matter　hitherto　doubtful；　since　no　one　could　guess　whether　Walter　Stewart　would　make　for　Edinburgh　or　for　Doune。　　With　the　utmost　agility　Sir　James　sprang　up　the　side　of　the　mound；　reconnoitred；　and　returned　again　just　as　Halbert　was　trying　to　stir　his　master　from　the　ground；　and　Malcolm　answering　sullenly　that　he　would　not　movehe　would　be　taken　and　die　with　the　rest。

'You　may　save　them　instead；　if　you　will　attend　to　me；'　said　Sir　James；　and　at　his　words　the　boy　suddenly　started　up　with　a　look　of　hope。

'How　many　fell　upon　you？'　demanded　Sir　James。

'Full　a　hundred　lances；'　replied　Halbert　（and　a　lance　meant　at　least　three　men）。　　'It　wad　be　a　fule's　wark　to　withstand　them。　　Best　bide　fast　in　the　covert；　for　our　horses　are　sair　forfaughten。'

'If　there　are　now　more　than　twenty　lances；　I　am　greatly　mistaken；'　returned　Sir　James。　　'They　must　have　broken　up　after　striking　their　blow；　or　have　sent　to　secure　Glenuskie；　and　we；　falling　on　them　from　this　thicket'

'I　see；　I　see；'　cried　Halbert。　　'Back；　ye　loons；　back　among　the　hazels。　　Hold　every　one　his　horse　ready　to　mount。'

'With　your　favour；　Sir　Squire；　I　say；　bind　each　man　his　horse　to　a　tree。　　The　skene　and　broadsword；　which　I　see　you　all　wear；　will　be　ten　times　as　effective　on　foot。'

'Do　as　the　knight　bids；'　said　Malcolm；　starting　forth　with　colour　on　his　cheek；　light　in　his　eye；　that　made　him　another　being。　　'In　him　there　is　help。'

'Ay；　ay；　Lord　Malcolm；'　muttered　Halbert；　'you　need　not　tell　me　that：　I　know　my　duty　better　than　not　to　do　the　bidding　of　a　belted　knight；　and　pretty　man　too　of　his　inches。'

The　two　attendants　of　Sir　James　were　meantime　apparently　uttering　some　remonstrance；　to　which　he　lightly　replied；　'Tut；　Nigel；　it　will　do　thine　heart　good　to　hew　down　a　minion　of　Albany。　　What　were　I　worth　could　I　not　strike　a　blow　against　so　foul　a　wrong　to　my　own　orphan　kindred？　　Brewster；　I'll　answer　it　to　thy　master。　　These　are　his　foes；　as　well　as　those　of　all　honest　men。　　Ha！　thou　art　as　glad　to　be　at　them　as　I　myself。'

By　this　time　he　had　exchanged　his　cap　for　a　steel　helmet；　and　was　assuming　the　command　as　his　natural　right；　as　he　placed　the　men　in　their　ambush　behind　the　knoll；　received　reports　from　those　he　had　set　to　watch；　and　concerted　the　signal　with　Halbert　and　his　own　followers。　　Malcolm　kept　by　him；　shivering　with　intense　excitement　and　eagerness；　and　thus　they　waited　till　the　horses'　hoofs　and　clank　of　armour　were　distinctly　audible。　　But　even　then　Sir　James；　with　outstretched　hand；　signed　his　followers　back；　and　kept　them　in　the　leash；　as　it　were；　until　the　troop　was　fairly　in　the　valley；　those　in　front　beginning　to　halt　to　give　their　horses　water。　　They　were；　in　effect；　riding　somewhat　carelessly；　and　with　the　ease　of　men　whose　feat　was　performed；　and　who　expected　no　more　opposition。　　Full　in　the　midst　was　Lilias；　entirely　muffled　and　pinioned　by　a　large　plaid　drawn　closely　round　her；　and　held　upon　the　front　of　the　saddle　of　a　large　tall　horse；　ridden　by　a　slender；　light…limbed；　wiry　groom；　whom　Malcolm　knew　as　Christopher　Hall；　a　retainer　of　the　Duke　of　Albany；　and　beside　him　rode　her　captor；　Sir　Walter　Stewart；　a　man　little　above　twenty；　but　with　a　bronzed；　hardened；　reckless　expression　that　made　him　look　much　older；　and　of　huge　height　and　giant　build。　Malcolm　knew　him　well；　and　regarded　him　with　unmitigated　horror　and　dread；　both　from　the　knowledge　of　his　ruffianly　violence　even　towards　his　father；　from　fear　of　his　intentions；　and　from　the　misery　that　his　brutal　jests；　scoffs；　and　practical　jokes　had　often　personally　inflicted：　　and　the　sight　of　his　sister　in　the　power　of　this　wicked　man　was　the　realization　of　all　his　worst　fears。　　But　ere　there　was　time　for　more　than　one　strong　pang　of　consternation　and　constitutional　terror；　Sir　James's　shout　of　'St。　Andrew　for　the　right！'　was　ringing　out；　echoed　by　all　the　fifteen　in　ambush　with　him；　as　simultaneously　they　leapt　forward。　　Malcolm；　among　the　first；　darting　with　one　spring；　as　it　were；　to　the　horse　where　his　sister　was　carried；　seized　the　bridle　with　his　left　hand；　and　flashing　his　sword　upon　the　ruffian　with　the　other；　shouted；　'Let　go；　villain；　give　me　my　sister！'　Hall's　first　impulse　was　to　push　his　horse　forward　so　as　to　trample　the　boy　down；　but　Malcolm's　hold　rendered　this　impossible；　besides；　there　was　the　shouting；　the　clang；　the　confusion　of　the　outburst　of　an　ambush　all　around　and　on　every　side；　and　before　the　man　could　free　his　hand　to　draw　his　weapon　he　necessarily　loosed　his　grasp　of　Lilias；　who；　half　springing；　half　falling；　came　to　the　ground；　almost　overthrowing　her　brother　in　her　descent；　but　just　saved　by　him　from　coming　down　prostrate。　　The　horse；　suddenly　released；　started　forward　with　its　rider　and　at　the　same　moment　Malcolm；　recovering　himself；　stood　with　his　sword　in　his　hand；　his　arm　round　his　sister's　waist；　assuring　her　that　she　was　safe；　and　himself　glowing　for　the　first　time　with　manly　exultation。　Had　he　not　saved　and　rescued　her　himself？

It　was　as　well；　however；　that　the　rescue　did　not　depend　on　his　sole　prowess。　　Indeed；　by　the　time　the　brother　and　sister　were　clinging　together　and　turning　to　look　round；　the　first　shock　was　over；　and　the　retainers　of　Albany；　probably　fancying　the　attack　made　by　a　much　larger　troop；　were　either　in　full　flight；　or　getting　decidedly　the　worst　in　their　encounters　with　their　assailants。

Sir　James　Stewart　had　at　the　first　onset　sprung　like　a　lion　upon　the　Master　of　Albany；　and　without　drawing　his　sword　had　grappled　with　him。　　'In　the　name　of　St。　Andrew　and　the　King；　yield　thy　prey；　thou　dastard；'　were　his　words　as　he　threw　his　arms　round　the　body　of　Sir　Walter；　and　exerted　his　full　strength　to　drag　him　from　his　horse。　The　young　giant　writhed；　struggled；　cursed；　raged；　he　had　not　space　to　draw　sword　or　even　dagger；　but　he　struck　furiously　with　his　gauntleted　hand；　strove　to　drive　his　horse　forward。　　The　struggle　like　that　of　Hercules　and　Antaeus；　so　desperate　and　mighty　was　the　strength　put　forth　on　either　side；　but　nothing　could　unclasp　the　iron　grip　of　those　sinewy　arms；　and　almost　as　soon　as　Malcolm　and　Lilias　had　eyes　to　see　what　was　passing；　Walter　Stewart　was　being　dragged　off　his　horse　by　that　tremendous　grapple；　and　the　next　moment　his　armour　rung　as　he　lay　prostrate　on　his　back　upon　the　ground。

His　conqueror　set　his　mailed　foot　upon　his　neck　lightly；　but　so　as　to　prevent　any　attempt　to　rise；　and　after　one　moment's　pause　to　gather　breath；　said　in　a　clear　deep　trumpet　voice；　'Walter　Stewart　of　Albany；　on　one　condition　I　grant　thee　thy　life。　　It　is　that　thou　take　the　most　solemn　oath　on　the　spot　that　no　spulzie　or　private　brawl　shall　henceforth　stain　that　hand　of　thine　while　thy　father　holds　the　power　in　Scotland。　　Take　that　oath；　thou　livest：　　refuse　it；　and'　He　held　up　the　deadly　little　dagger　called　the　misericorde。