sir nigel-第51部分

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you　not　heard　of　the　Butcher　of　La　Brohiniere？〃

〃Nay；　I　have　not　heard　of　him。〃

〃　His　name　is　accursed　in　France。　　Have　I　not　been　told　also　that
he　put　to　death　this　very　year　Gilles　de　St。　Pol；　a　friend　of　the
English　King？〃

〃Yes；　in　very　truth　it　comes　back　to　my　mind　now　that　I　heard
something　of　this　matter　in　Calais　before　we　started。〃

〃Then　there　he　dwells；　and　God　guard　you　if　ever　you　pass　under
yonder　portal；　for　no　prisoner　has　ever　come　forth　alive！　　Since
these　wars　began　he　hath　been　a　king　to　himself；　and　the　plunder
of　eleven　years　lies　in　yonder　cellars。　　How　can　justice　come　to
him；　when　no　man　knows　who　owns　the　land？　　But　when　we　have　packed
you　all　back　to　your　island；　by　the　Blessed　Mother　of　God；　we　have
a　heavy　debt　to　pay　to　the　man　who　dwells　in　yonder　pile！〃

But　even　as　they　watched；　the　trumpet…call　burst　forth　once　more。
It　came　not　from　the　castle　but　from　the　farther　end　of　the
valley。　　It　was　answered　by　a　second　call　from　the　walls。　　Then　in
a　long；　straggling　line　there　came　a　wild　troop　of　marauders
streaming　homeward　from　some　foray。　　In　the　van；　at　the　head　of　a
body　of　spearmen；　rode　a　tall　and　burly　man；　clad　in　brazen　armor；
so　that　he　shone　like　a　golden　image　in　the　slanting　rays　of　the
sun。　　His　helmet　had　been　loosened　from　his　gorget　and　was　held
before　him　on　his　horse's　neck。　　A　great　tangled　beard　flowed　over
his　breastplate；　and　his　hair　hung　down　as　far　behind。　　A　squire
at　his　elbow　bore　high　the　banner　of　the　bleeding　head。　　Behind
the　spearmen　were　a　line　of　heavily　laden　mules；　and　on　either
side　of　them　a　drove　of　poor　country　folk；　who　were　being　herded
into　the　castle。　　Lastly　came　a　second　strong　troop　of　mounted
spearmen；　who　conducted　a　score　or　more　of　prisoners　who　marched
together　in　a　solid　body。

Nigel　stared　at　them　and　then；　springing　on　his　horse；　he　urged　it
along　the　shelter　of　the　ridge　so　as　to　reach　unseen　a　spot　which
was　close　to　the　castle　gate。　　He　had　scarce　taken　up　his　new
position　when　the　cavalcade　reached　the　drawbridge；　and　amid　yells
of　welcome　from　those　upon　the　wall；　filed　in　a　thin　line　across
it。　　Nigel　stared　hard　once　more　at　the　prisoners　in　the　rear；　and
so　absorbed　was　he　by　the　sight　that　he　had　passed　the　rocks　and
was　standing　sheer　upon　the　summit。

〃By　Saint　Paul！〃　he　cried；　〃it　must　indeed　be　so。　　I　see　their
russet　jackets。　　They　are　English　archers！〃

As　he　spoke；　the　hindmost　one；　a　strongly　built；　broad…shouldered
man；　looked　round　and　saw　the　gleaming　figure　above　him　upon　the
hill；　with　open　helmet；　and　the　five　roses　glowing　upon　his
breast。　　With　a　sweep　of　his　hands　he　had　thrust　his　guardians
aside　and　for　a　moment　was　clear　of　the　throng。

〃Squire　Loring！　　Squire　Loring！〃　he　cried。　　〃It　is　I；　Aylward　the
archer！　　It　is　I；　Samkin　Aylward！〃　　The　next　minute　a　dozen　hands
had　seized　him；　his　cries　were　muffled　with　a　gag；　and　he　was
hurled；　the　last　of　the　band；　through　the　black　and　threatening
archway　of　the　gate。　　Then　with　a　clang　the　two　iron　wings　came
together；　the　portcullis　swung　upward；　and　captives　and　captors；
robbers　and　booty；　were　all　swallowed　up　within　the　grim　and
silent　fortress。




XX。　　HOW　THE　ENGLISH　ATTEMPTED　THE　CASTLE　OF　LA　BROHINIERE


For　some　minutes　Nigel　remained　motionless　upon　the　crest　of　the
hill；　his　heart；　like　lead　within　him；　and　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the
huge　gray　walls　which　contained　his　unhappy　henchman。　　He　was
roused　by　a　sympathetic　hand　upon　his　shoulder　and　the　voice　of
his　young　prisoner　in　his　ear。

〃Peste！〃　said　he。　　〃They　have　some　of　your　birds　in　their　cage；
have　they　not？　　What　then；　my　friend？　　Keep　your　heart　high！　　Is
it　not　the　chance　of　war；　to…day　to　them；　to…morrow　to　thee；　and
death　at　last　for　us　all？　　And　yet　I　had　rather　they　were　in　any
hands　than　those　of　Oliver　the　Butcher。〃

〃By　Saint　Paul；　we　cannot　suffer　it！〃　cried　Nigel　distractedly。
〃This　man　has　come　with　me　from　my　own　home。　　He　has　stood　between
me　and　death　before　now。　　It　goes　to　my　very　heart　that　he　should
call　upon　me　in　vain。　　I　pray　you；　Raoul；　to　use　your　wits；　for
mine　are　all　curdled　in　my　head。　　Tell　me　what　I　should　do　and　how
I　may　bring　him　help。〃

The　Frenchman　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃As　easy　to　get　a　lamb
unscathed　out　of　a　wolves'　lair　as　a　prisoner　safe　from　La
Brohiniere。　　Nay；　Nigel；　whither　do　you　go？　　Have　you　indeed　taken
leave　of　your　wits？〃

The　Squire　had　spurred　his　horse　down　the　hillside　and　never
halted　until　he　was　within　a　bowshot　of　the　gate。　　The　French
prisoner　followed　hard　behind　him；　with　a　buzz　of　reproaches　and
expostulations。

〃You　are　mad；　Nigel！〃　he。　　cried。　　〃What　do　you　hope　to　do　then？
Would　you　carry　the　castle　with　your　own　hands？　　Halt；　man；　halt；
in　the　name　of　the　Virgin！〃

But　Nigel　had　no　plan　in　his　head　and　only　obeyed　the　fevered
impulse　to　do　something　to　ease　his　thoughts。　　He　paced　his　horse
up　and　down；　waving　his　spear；　and　shouting　insults　and　challenges
to　the　garrison。　　Over　the　high　wall　a　hundred　jeering　faces
looked　down　upon　him。　　So　rash　and　wild　was　his　action　that　it
seemed　to　those　within　to　mean　some　trap；　so　the　drawbridge　was
still　held　high　and　none　ventured　forth　to　seize　him。　　A　few
long…range　arrows　pattered　on　the　rocks；　and　then　with　a　deep
booming　sound　a　huge　stone；　hurled　from　a　mangonel；　sang　over　the
head　of　the　two　Squires　and　crushed　into　splinters　amongst　the
boulders　behind　them。　　The　Frenchman　seized　Nigel's　bridle　and
forced　him　farther　from　the　gateway。

〃By　the　dear　Virgin！〃　he　cried；　〃I　care　not　to　have　those　pebbles
about　my　ears；　yet　I　cannot　go　back　alone；　so　it　is　very　clear；
my；　crazy　comrade；　that　you　must　come　also。　　Now　we　are　beyond
their　reach！　　But　see；　my　friend　Nigel；　who　are　those　who　crown
the　height？〃

The　sun　had　sunk　behind　the　western　ridge；　but　the　glowing　sky　was
fringed　at　its　lower　edge　by　a　score　of　ruddy　twinkling　points。　　A
body　of　horsemen　showed　hard　and　black　upon　the　bare　hill。　　Then
they　dipped　down　the　slope　into　the　valley；　whilst　a　band　of
footmen　followed　behind。

〃They　are　my　people；〃　cried　Nigel　joyously。　　〃Come；　my　friend；
hasten；　that　we　may　take　counsel　what　we　shall　do。〃

Sir　Robert　Knolles　rode　a　bowshot　in　front　of　his　men；　and　his
brow　was　as　black　as　night。　　Beside　him；　with　crestfallen　face；
his　horse　bleeding；　his　armor　dinted　and　soiled；　was　the
hot…headed　knight；　Sir　James　Astley。　　A　fierce　discussion　raged
between　them。

〃I　have　done　my　devoir　as　best　I　might；〃　said　Astley。　　〃Alone　I
had　ten　of　them　at　my　sword…point。　　I　know　not　how　I　have　lived　to
tell　it。〃

〃What　is　your　devoir　to　me？　　Where　are　my　thirty　bowmen？〃　cried
Knolles　in　bitter　wrath。　　〃Ten　lie　dead　upon　the　ground　and　twenty
are　worse　than　dead　in　yonder　castle。　　And　all　because　you　must
needs　show　all　men　how　bold　you　are；　and　ride　into　a　bushment　such
as　a　child　could　see。　　Alas　for　my　own　folly　that　ever　I　should
have　trusted　such　a　one　as　you　with　the　handling　of　men！〃

〃By　God；　Sir　Robert；　you　shall　answer　to　me　for　those　words！〃
cried　Astley　with　a　choking　voice。　　〃Never　has　a　man　dared　to
speak　to　me　as　you　have　done　this　day。〃

〃As　long　as　I　hold　the　King's　order　I　shall　be　master；　and　by　the
Lord　I　will　hang　you；　James；　on　a　near　tree　if　I　have　further
cause　of　offense！　　How　now；　Nigel？　　I　see　by　yonder　white　horse
that　you　at　least　have　not　failed　me。　　I　will　speak　with　you　anon。
Percy；　bring　up　your　men；　and　let　us　gather　round　this　castle；
for；　as　I　hope　for　my　soul's　salvation；　I　win　not　leave　it　until　I
have　my　archers；　or　the　head　of　him　who　holds　them。〃

That　night　the　English　lay　thick　round　the　fortress　of　La
Brohiniere　so　that　none　might　come　forth　from　it。　　But　if　none
could　come　forth　it　was　hard　to　see　how　any　could　win　their　way
in；　for　it　was　full　of　men；　the　walls　were　high　and　strong；　and　a
deep　dry　ditch　girt　it　round。　　But　the　hatred　and　fear　which　its
master　had　raised　over　the　whole　country…side　could　now　be　plainly
seen；　for　during　the　night　the　brushwood　men　and　the　villagers
came　in　from　all　parts　with　offers　of　such　help　as　they　could　give
for　the　intaking　of　the　castle。　　Knolles　set　them　cutting　bushes
and　tying　them　into　fagots。　　When　morning　came　he　rode　out　before
the　wall　and　he　held　counsel　with　his　knights　and　squires　as　to
how　he　should　enter　in。

〃By　noon；〃　said　he；　〃we　shall　have　so　many　fagots　that　we　may　make
our　way　over　the　ditch。　　Then　we　will　beat　in　the　gates　and　so　win
a　footing。〃

The　young　Frenchman　had　come　with　Nigel　to　the　conference；　and
now；　amid　the　silence　which　followed　the　leader's　proposal；　he
asked　if　he　might　be　heard。　　He　was　clad　in　the　brazen　armor　which
Nigel　had　taken　from　the　Red　Ferret。

〃It　may　be　that　it　is　not　for　me　to　join　in　your　counsel；〃　said
he；　〃seeing　that　I　am　a　prisoner　and　a　Frenchman。　　But　this　man　is
the　enemy　of　all；　and　we　of　France　owe　him　a　debt　even　as　you　do；
since　many　a　good　Frenchman　has　died　in　his　cellars。　　For　this
reason　I　crave　to　be　heard。〃

〃We　will　hear　you；〃　said　Knolles。

〃I　have　come　from　Evran　yesterday；〃　said　he。　　〃Sir　Henry
Spinnefort；　Sir　Peter　La　Roye　and　many　other　brave　knights　and
squires　lie　there；　with　a　good　company　of　men；　all　of　whom　would
very　gladly　join　with　you　to　destroy　this　butcher　and　his　castle；
for　it　is　well　known　amongst　us　that　his　deeds　are　neither　good
nor　fair。　　There　are　also　bombards　which　we　could　drag　over　the
hills；　and　so　beat　down　this　iron　gate。　　If　you　so　order　it　I　will
ride　to　Evran　and　bring　my　companions　back　with　me。〃

〃Indeed；　Robert；〃　said　Percy；　〃it　is　in　my　mind　that　this
Frenchman　speaks　very　wisely　and　well。〃

〃And　when　we　have　taken　the　castle　…　what　then？〃　asked　Knolles。

〃Then　you　could　go　upon　your　way；　fair　sir；　and　we　upon　ours。　　Or
if　it　please　you　better　you　could　draw　together　on　yonder　hill　and
we　on　this　one；　so　that　the　valley　lies　between　us。　　Then　if　any
cavalier　wished　to　advance　himself　or　to　shed　a　vow　and　exalt　his
lady；　an　opening　might　be　found　for　him。　　Surely　it　would　be　shame
if　so　many　brave　men　drew　together　and　no　small　deed　were　to　come
of　it。〃

Nigel　clasped　his　captive's　hand　to　show　his　admiration　and
este