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！
forgetting all their private woes； as those of their sex will do when
there is kissing in the wind。
〃God's blood！〃 said the rough voice； 〃who is this that handles my
daughter as though they had been but an hour wed？ Take those lips of
yours from her； fellow； or I'll cut them from your chops。〃
I looked round astonished； to see Sir Robert Aleys mounted on a grey
horse； and followed by a company of men…at…arms who appeared to be
under the command of a well…favoured； dark…eyed young captain with
long hair； and dressed more wondrously than any man I had ever seen
before。 Had he put on Joseph's coat over his mail； he could not have
worn more colours； and I noted that the toes of his shoes curled up so
high that I wondered however he worked them through his stirrups； and
what would happen to him if by chance he were unhorsed。
Being taken aback I made no answer； but William Bull； who； if a rough
fellow； had a tongue in his head and a ready wit； spoke up for me。
〃If you want to know；〃 he said in his Sussex drawl； 〃I'll tell you who
he is； Sir Robert Aleys。 He is my worshipful master； Hubert of
Hastings； ship…owner； householder； and trader of this town。 Or at
least he was these things； but now it seems that his ships and house
are burnt and his mother with them； also that there will be no trade
in Hastings for many a day。〃
〃Mayhap；〃 answered Sir Robert； adding other oaths； 〃but why does he
buss my daughter？〃
〃Perchance because he must give as good as he got； which is a law
among honest merchants； noble Sir Robert。 Or perchance because he has
a better right to buss her than any man alive； seeing that but for
him； by now she would be but stinking clay； or a Frenchman's leman。〃
Here the fine young captain cut in； saying；
〃Whatever else this worshipful trader may need； he does not lack a
trumpeter。〃
〃That is so； my Lord Deleroy；〃 replied William； unmoved； 〃for when I
find a good song I like to sing it。 Go now and look at those three men
who lie yonder on the slope； and see whether the arrows in them bear
my master's mark。 Go also and look upon the Castle hill and find a
knight with his head well…nigh hewn from his shoulders； and see
whether yonder sword fits into the cut。 Aye； and at others that I
could tell you of； slain； every one of them； to save this fair lady。
Aye； go you whose garments are so fine and unstained； and then come
back and talk of trumpeters。〃
〃Pish！〃 said my Lord Deleroy with a shrug of his shoulders； 〃a lady
who is over…wrought and hangs to some common fellow； like one who
kisses the feet of a wooden saint that she thinks has saved her from
calamity！〃
At these words I； who had been listening like a man in a dream； awoke；
as it were； for they stung me。 Moreover； I had heard that this fine
Deleroy was one of those who owed his place and rank to the King's
favour； as he did his high name； being； it was reported； by birth but
a prince's bastard sprung from some relative of Sir Robert whom
therefore he called cousin。
〃Sir；〃 I said； 〃you know best whether I am more common than you are。
Let that be。 At least I hold in my hand the sword of one who begat my
forefather hundreds of years ago； a certain Thorgrimmer who was great
in his time。 Now I have had my fill of fighting to…day； and you；
doubtless through no fault of your own； have had none； you also are
clad in mail and I； a common fellow； have none。 Deign then to descend
from that horse and take a turn with me though I be tired； and thus
prove my commonness upon my body。 Of your nobility do this； seeing
that after all we are of one flesh。〃
Now； stung in his turn； he made as though he would do what I prayed；
when for the first time； after glancing at her father who sat still
puzzled； it would seemthe lady Blanche spoke。
〃Be not mad； Cousin；〃 she said。 〃I tell you that this gentleman has
saved my life and honour； twice at least to…day。 Is it wonderful；
then； if I thanked him in the best fashion that a woman can； and thus
brought your insults on him？〃
He hesitated； though one of his curled…up shoes was out of the
stirrup； when suddenly Sir Robert broke in in his big voice； saying：
〃God's truth； Cousin； I think that you will do well to leave this
young cock alone； since I like not the look of that red spur of his；〃
and he glanced at the sword Wave…Flame。 〃Though he be weary； he may
have a kick or two in him yet。〃
Then he turned to me and added：
〃Sir； you have fought well； many a man has earned knighthood for less；
and if a fair maid thanked you in her own fashion； you are not to
blame。 I； her father； also thank you and wish you all good fortune
till we meet again。 Farewell。 Daughter； make shift to share this horse
with me； and let us away out of this stricken town to Pevensey； where
perchance it will please those French to call to…morrow。〃
A minute later they were gone； and I noted with a pang that as they
went the lady Blanche； having waved her good…bye to me； talked fast to
her cousin Deleroy and that he held her hand to steady her upon her
father's horse。
CHAPTER III
HUBERT COMES TO LONDON
When the lady Blanche was out of sight； followed by the women who had
sheltered with us in the cave； William and I went to a stream we knew
of not far away and drank our fill。 Then we walked to the three whom I
had shot with my big bow； hoping to regain the arrows； for I had none
left。 This； however； could not be done though all the men were dead；
for one of the shafts； the last； was broken； and the other two were so
fixed in flesh and bone that only a surgeon's saw would loose them。
So we left them where they were； and before the men were buried many
came to marvel at the sight； thinking it a wonderful thing that I
should have killed these three with three arrows； and that any bow
which arm might bend could have driven the last of them through an
iron shield and a breastplate behind it。
This armour； I should tell； William took for himself； since it was of
his size。 Also on the morrow； returning to the Castle Hill； I stripped
the knight whom I had slain with the sword； Wave…Flame； of his
splendid Milan mail； whereof the /plastron/； or breast…plate； was
inlaid with gold； having over it a /camail/ of chain to cover the
joints； through which my good sword had shorn into his neck。 The
cognizance on his shield strangely enough was three barbed arrows； but
what was the name of the knight who bore it I never learned。 This
mail； which must have cost a great sum； the Bailiff of Hastings
granted me to keep； since I had slain its wearer and borne myself well
in the fight。 Moreover； I took the three arrows for my own cognizance；
though in truth I had no right to any； being in those days but a
trader。 （Little did I know then how well this mail was to serve me in
the after years。）
By now night was coming on； and as we could see from the cave mouth
that the part of Hastings which lies towards the village of St。
Leonards seemed to have escaped the fire； thitherward we went by the
beach to avoid the heat and falling timbers in the burning town。 On
our way we met others and from them heard all that had befallen。 It
would seem that the French loss in life was heavier than our own；
since many of them were cut off when they tried to fly to their ships；
and some of these could not be floated from the beach or were rammed
and sunk with all aboard by the English vessels。 But the damage done
to Hastings was as much as could scarcely be made good in a
generation； for the most of it was burnt or burning。 Also many； like
my own mother； had perished in the fire； being sick or aged or in
childbed； or for this reason and that forgotten and unable to move。
Indeed on the beach were hundreds of folk in despair； nor was it only
the women and children who wept that evening。
For my part； with William I went beyond the burning to the house of a
certain old priest who was my confessor； and the friend of my father
before me； and there we found food and slept； he returning thanks to
God for my escape and offering me consolation for the loss of my
mother and goods。
I rested but ill that night； as those do who are over…weary。 Moreover；
this had been my first taste of battle； and again and again I saw
those men falling before my sword and arrows。 Very proud was I to have
slain them； wicked ravishers as they were； and very glad that from my
boyhood I had practised myself with sword and bow till I could fence
with any； and was perhaps the most skilled marksman in Hastings；
having won the silver arrow at the butts at the last meeting； and from
archers of all ages。 Yet the sight of their deaths haunted me who
remembered how well their fate might have been my own； had they got in
the first shot or blow。
Where had they gone to； I wondered？ To the priest's Heaven or Hell？
Were they now telling their sins to some hard…faced angel while he
checked the count from his book； reminding them of many that they had
forgotten？ Or were they fast asleep for ever and ever as a shrewd
thinker whom I knew had told me secretly he was sure would be the fate
of all of us； whatever the priests might teach and believe。