child christopher-第17章

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Mighty　was　the　shout　of　yea…say　that　arose　at　that　word；　and　when　it　was　stilled；　a　grey…head　stood　up　and　said：　　〃King　Christopher；　and　thou；　our　leader；　whom　we　shall　henceforth　call　Earl；　it　is　now　meet　that　we　shear　up　the　war…arrow；　and　send　it　forth　to　whithersoever　we　deem　our　friends　dwell；　and　that　this　be　done　at　once　here　in　this　Mote；　and　that　the　hosting　be　after　three　nights'　frist　in　the　plain　of　Hazeldale；　which　all　ye　know　is　twelve　miles　nigher　to　Oakenrealm　than　this。〃

All　men　yea…said　this；　no　one　gainsaid　it；　and　straightway　was　fire　kindled　and　the　bull　slain；　for　the　said　elder　had　brought　him　thither；　and　the　arrow　was　sheared　and　scorched　and　reddened；　and　the　runners　were　fetched；　and　the　word　given　them；　and　they　were　sped　on　their　errand。

Up　rose　then　another；　a　young　man；　and　spake：　　〃Many　stout　fellows　be　here；　and　some　wise　and　well…ruled；　and　many　also　hot…head　and　wilful：　　Child　Christopher　is　King　now；　and　we　all　know　him　that　when　he　cometh　into　the　fray　he　is　like　to　strike　three　strokes　for　two　that　any　other　winneth；　but　as　to　his　lore　of　captainship；　if　he　hath　any；　he　was　born　with　it；　as　is　like　enough；　seeing　who　was　his　father；　therefore　we　need　a　captain　well…proven；　to　bid　us　how　to　turn　hither　and　thither；　and　where　to　gather　thickest；　and　where　to　spread　thinnest；　and　when　to　fall　on　fiercely　and　when　to　give　way；　and　let　the　thicket　cover　us；　for　wise　in　war　shall　our　foemen　be。　　Now　therefore　if　anyone　needeth　a　better　captain　than　our　kin…father　and　war…father　Jack　of　the　Tofts；　he　must　needs　go　fetch　him　from　otherwhere！　How　sayest　thou；　Christopher　lad？〃

Great　cheer　there　was　at　the　word；　and　laughter　no　little　therewith。　　But　Christopher　stood　up；　and　took　Jack　by　the　hand；　and　said：　　〃Now　say　I；　that　if　none　else　follow　this　man　into　battle；　yet　will　I；　and　if　none　else　obey　him　to　go　backward　or　forward　to　the　right　hand　or　to　the　left　as　he　biddeth；　yet　will　I。　　Thou；　Wilfrid　Wellhead；　look　to　it　that　thou　dost　no　less。　　But　ye　folk；　what　will　ye　herein？〃

So　they　all　yea…said　Jack　of　the　Tofts　for　captain；　and　forsooth　they　might　do　no　less；　for　he　was　wary　and　wise；　and　had　done　many　deeds；　and　seen　no　little　of　warfare。

Then　again　arose　a　man　of　some　forty　winters；　strong　built　and　not　ungoodly；　but　not　merry　of　countenance；　and　he　spake：　　〃King　and　war…leader；　I　have　a　word　to　say：　　We　be　wending　to　battle；　we　carles；　with　spear　in　fist　and　sword　by　side；　and　if　we　die　in　the　fray；　of　the　day's　work　is　it；　but　what　do　we　with　our　kinswomen；　as　mothers　and　daughters　and　wives　and　she…friends；　and　the　little　ones　they　have　borne　us？　For；　see　ye！　this　warfare　we　are　faring；　maybe　it　shall　not　last　long；　and　yet　maybe　it　shall；　and　then　may　the　foeman　go　about　us　and　fall　on　this　stead　if　we　leave　them　behind　here　with　none　to　guard　them；　and　if；　on　the　other　hand；　we　leave　them　men　enough　for　their　warding；　then　we　minish　our　host　overmuch。　　What　do　we　then？〃

Then　spake　Jack　of　the　Tofts：　　〃This　is　well　thought　of　by　Haward　of　Whiteacre；　and　we　must　look　to　it。　　And；　by　my　rede；　we　shall　have　our　women　and　little　ones　with　us；　and　why　not？　For　we　shall　then　but　be　moving　Toftstead　as　we　move；　and　ever　to　some　of　us　hath　it　been　as　a　camp　rather　than　an　house。　　Moreover；　ye　know　it；　that　our　women　be　no　useless　and　soft　queans；　who　durst　not　lie　under　the　oak　boughs　for　a　night　or　two；　or　wade　a　water　over　their　ankles；　but　valiant　they　be；　and　kind；　and　helpful；　and　many　of　them　are　there　who　can　draw　a　bow　with　the　best；　and；　it　may　be；　push　a　spear　if　need　were。　　How　say　ye；　lads？〃

Now　this　also　they　yea…said　gladly；　forsooth　they　had　scarce　been　fain　of　leaving　the　women　behind；　at　least　the　younger　ones；　even　had　they　been　safe　at　the　Tofts；　for　there　is　no　time　when　a　man　would　gladlier　have　a　fair　woman　in　his　arms　than　when　battle　and　life…peril　are　toward。

Thereafter　the　Mote　sundered；　when　the　Captain　had　bidden　his　men　this　and　that　matter　that　each　should　look　to；　and　said　that　he；　for　his　part；　with　King　Christopher　and　a　chosen　band；　would　set　off　for　Hazeldale　on　the　morrow　morn；　whereas　some　deal　of　the　gathering　would　of　a　certainty　be　come　thither　by　then；　and　that　there　was　enough　left　of　that　day　to　see　to　matters　at　the　Tofts。

So　all　men　went　about　their　business；　which　was；　for　the　most　part；　seeing　to　the　victualling　of　the　host。



CHAPTER　XXVIII。

OF　THE　HOSTING　IN　HAZELDALE。


On　the　morrow　early　was　Jack　of　the　Tofts　dight　for　departure；　with　Christopher　and　David　and　Gilbert　and　five　score　of　his　best　men。　　But　when　they　went　out　of　the　porch　into　the　sweet　morning；　lo！　there　was　Goldilind　before　them；　clad　in　her　green　gown；　and　as　fresh　and　dear　as　the　early　day　itself。　　And　Jack　looked　on　her　and　said：　　〃And　thou；　my　Lady　and　Queen；　thou　art　dight　as　thou　wouldst　wend　with　us？〃

〃Yea；〃　she　said；　〃and　why　not？〃

〃What　sayest　thou；　King　Christopher？〃　said　the　Captain。

〃Nay；〃　said　King　Christopher；　reddening；　〃it　is　for　thee　to　yea…say　or　nay…say；　though　true　it　is　that　I　have　bidden　her　farewell　for　two　days'　space。〃　　And　the　two　stood　looking　on　one　another。

But　Jack　laughed　and　said：　　〃Well；　then；　so　be　it；　but　let　us　get　to　the　way；　or　else　when　the　sweethearts　of　these　lads　know　that　we　have　a　woman　with　us　we　shall　have　them　all　at　our　backs。〃　　Thereat　all　laughed　who　were　within　earshot；　and　were　merry。

So　they　wended　the　woodland　ways；　some　afoot；　some　a…horseback；　of　whom　was　Jack　of　the　Tofts；　but　Christopher　and　David　went　afoot。　　And　Goldilind　rode　a　fair　white　horse　which　the　Captain　had　gotten　her。

As　they　went；　and　King　Christopher　ever　by　Goldilind's　right　hand；　and　were　merry　and　joyous；　they　two　were　alone　in　the　woodland　way；　so　Christopher　took　her　hand　and　kissed　it；　and　said：　　〃Sweetling；　why　didst　thou　tell　me　nought　of　thy　will　to　come　along　with　us？　Never　had　I　balked　thee。〃

She　looked　at　him；　blushing　as　a　rose；　and　said：　　〃Dear　friend；　I　will　tell　thee；　I　knew　that　thou　wouldst　make　our　parting　piteous…sweet　this　morning；　and　of　that　I　would　not　be　balked。　　See；　then；　how　rich　I　am；　since　I　have　both　parted　from　thee　and　have　thee。〃　And　therewith　she　louted　down　from　her　saddle；　and　they　kissed　together　sweetly；　and　so　thereafter　wore　the　way。

So　came　they　to　the　plain　of　Hazeldale；　which　was　a　wide　valley　with　a　middling　river　winding　about　it；　the　wild…wood　at　its　back　toward　the　Tofts；　and　in　front　down…land　nought　wooded；　save　here　and　there　a　tree　nigh　a　homestead　or　cot；　for　that　way　the　land　was　builded　for　a　space。　　Forsooth　it　was　not　easy　for　the　folk　thereabout　to　live　quietly；　but　if　they　were　friends　in　some　wise　to　Jack　of　the　Tofts。

So　when　the　company　of　the　Tofts　came　out　into　the　dale　about　three　hours　after　noon；　it　was　no　wonder　to　them　to　see　men　riding　and　going　to　and　fro；　and　folk　pitching　tents　and　raising　booths　nigh　to　the　cover　of　the　wood；　and　when　the　coming　of　the　Toft…folk　was　seen；　and　the　winding　of　their　horns　heard；　there　was　many　a　glad　cry　raised　in　answer；　and　many　an　horn　blown；　and　all　men　there　came　running　together　toward　where　now　was　stayed　Jack　of　the　Tofts　and　Christopher　and　their　men。

Then　Goldilind　bade　Christopher　help　her　light　down；　so　he　took　her　in　his　arms；　and　was　not　over　hasty　in　setting　her　down　again。　　But　when　she　stood　by　him；　she　looked　over　the　sunny　field　darkened　by　the　folk　hastening　over　the　greensward；　and　her　eyes　glittered　and　her　cheek　flushed；　and　she　said：　　〃Lord　King；　be　these　some　others　of　thy　men？〃

〃Yea；　sweetling；〃　said　he；　〃to　live　and　die　with　me。〃

She　looked　on　him；　and　said　softly：　　〃Maybe　it　were　an　ill　wish　to　wish　that　I　were　thou；　yet　if　it　might　be　for　one　hour！〃

Said　he：　　〃Shall　it　not　be　for　more　than　one　hour？　Shall　it　not　be　for　evermore；　since　we　twain　are　become　one？〃

〃Nay；〃　she　said；　〃this　is　but　a　word；　I　am　but　thine　handmaid：　　and　now　I　can　scarce　refrain　my　body　from　falling　before　thy　feet。〃

He　laughed　in　her　face　for　joy；　and　said：　　〃Abide　a　while；　until　these　men　have　looked　on　thee；　and　then　shalt　thou　see　how　thou　wilt　be　a　flame　of　war　in　their　hearts　that　none　shall　withstand。〃

Now　were　the　dale…dwellers　all　come　together　in　their　weapons；　and　they　were　glad　of　their　King　and　his　loveling；　and　stout　men　were　they　all；　albeit　some　were　old；　and　some　scarce　of　man's　age。　　So　they　were　ranked　and　told　over；　and　the　tale　of　them　was　over　six　score　who　had　obeyed　the　war…arrow；　and　more　and　more；　they　said；　would　come　in　every　hour。　　But　now　the　Captains　of　them　bade　the　Toft…folk　eat　with　them；　and　they　yea…said　the　bidding　merrily；　and　word　was　given；　and　sacks　and　baskets　brought　forth；　and　barrels　to　boot；　and　all　men　sat　down　on　the　greensward；　and　high　was　the　feast　and　much　the　merriment　on　the　edge　of　Hazeldale。



CHAPTER　XXIX。

TIDINGS　COME　TO　HAZELDALE。


But　they　had　not　done　their　meat；　and　had　scarce　begun　upon　their　drink；　ere　they　saw　three　men　come　riding　on　the　spur　over　the　crown　of　the　bent　before　them；　these　made　no　stay　for　aught；　but　rode　straight　through　the　ford　of　the　river；　as　men　who　knew　well　where　it　was；　and　came　on　hastily　toward　the　feasters　by　the　wood…edge。　　Then　would　some　have　run　to　meet　them；　but　Jack　of　the　Tofts　bade　them　abide　till　he　had　heard　the　tidings；　whereas　they　needed　not　to　run　to　their　weapons；　for；　all　of　them；　they　were　fully　dight　for　war；　save；　it　might　be；　the　doing　on　of　their　sallets　or　basnets。　　But　Jack　and　Christopher　alone　went　forward　to　meet　those　men；　and　the　foremost　of　them　cried　out　at　once：　〃I　know　thee；　Jack　of　the　Tofts！　I　know　thee！　Up　and　arm！　up　and　arm！　for　the　foemen　are　upon　thee；　and　so　choose　thee　whether　thou　wilt　fight　or　flee。〃

Quoth　Jack；　laughing：　　〃I　know　thee　also；　Wat　of　Whiteend；　and　when　thou　hast　told　me　how　many　and　who　be　the　foemen；　we　will　look　either　to　fighting　or　fleeing。〃

Said　Wat：　　〃Thou　knowest　the　blazon　of　the　banner　which　we　saw；　three　red　wolves　running　on　a　silver　field？〃

〃Yea；　forsooth；〃　said　Jack；　〃'tis　the　Baron　of　Brimside　that　beareth　that　shield　ever；　and　the　now　Baron；　hight　the　Lord　Gandolf；　how　many　was　he？〃

Said　Wat：　　〃Ten　hundreds　or　more。　　But　what　say　fellows？〃

Quoth　the　other　twain：　　〃More；　more　they　were。〃

Said　Jack　of　the　Tofts：　　〃And　when　shall　he　be　here；　deem　ye？〃

〃In　less　than　an　hour；〃　said　Wat；　〃he　will　be　on　thee　with　great　and　small；　but　his　riders；　some　of　them；　in　lesser　space。〃

Then　turned　Jack　about　and　cried　out　for　David；　and　when　he　came；　he　said：　　〃Put　thy　long　legs　over　a　good　horse；　and　ride　straight　back　to　the　Tofts　and　gather　whatever　may　bear　spear　and　draw　bow；　and　hither　with　them；　lad；　by　the　nighest　road；　tarry　not；　speak　no　word；　be　gone！〃

So　David　turned；　and　was　presently　riding　swiftly　back　through　the　woodland　paths。　But　Jack　spake　to　the　bearers　of　tidings：　　〃Good　fellows；　go　ye　yonder　and　bid　them　give　you　a　morsel　and　a　cup；　and　tell　all　the　tidings；　and　this；　withal；　that　we　have　nought　to　flee　from　a　good　fightstead　for　Gandolf　of　Brimside。〃　　Therewith　he　turned　to　Christopher　and　said：　　〃Thy　pardon；　King；　but　these　matters　must　be　seen　to　straightway。　　Now　do　thou　help　me　array　our　folk；　for　there　is　heart　enough　in　them　as　in　thee　and　me；　and　mayhappen　we　may　mak