men of iron-第10章

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！


cted　an　answer。

〃I　know　not　that　he　is　a　mean…hearted　caitiff；　Myles；〃　said　he　at　last；　hesitatingly。　〃The　Earl　hath　many　enemies；　and　I　have　heard　that　he　hath　stood　more　than　once　in　peril；　having　been　accused　of　dealings　with　the　King's　foes。　He　was　cousin　to　the　Earl　of　Kent；　and　I　do　remember　hearing　that　he　had　a　narrow　escape　at　that　time　from　ruin。　There　be　more　reasons　than　thou　wottest　of　why　he　should　not　have　dealings　with　thy　father。〃

〃I　had　not　thought；〃　said　Myles；　bitterly；　after　a　little　pause；　〃that　thou　wouldst　stand　up　for　him　and　against　me　in　this　quarrel；　Gascoyne。　Him　will　I　never　forgive　so　long　as　I　may　live；　and　I　had　thought　that　thou　wouldst　have　stood　by　me。〃

〃So　I　do；〃　said　Gascoyne；　hastily；　〃and　do　love　thee　more　than　any　one　in　all　the　world；　Myles；　but　I　had　thought　that　it　would　make　thee　feel　more　easy；　to　think　that　the　Earl　was　not　against　thee。　And；　indeed；　from　all　thou　has　told　me；　I　do　soothly　think　that　he　and　Sir　James　mean　to　befriend　thee　and　hold　thee　privily　in　kind　regard。〃

〃Then　why　doth　he　not　stand　forth　like　a　man　and　befriend　me　and　my　father　openly；　even　if　it　be　to　his　own　peril？〃　said　Myles；　reverting　stubbornly　to　what　he　had　first　spoken。

Gascoyne　did　not　answer；　but　lay　for　a　long　while　in　silence。　〃Knowest　thou；〃　he　suddenly　asked；　after　a　while；　〃who　is　this　great　enemy　of　whom　Sir　James　speaketh；　and　who　seeketh　so　to　drive　thy　father　to　ruin？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　〃I　know　not；　for　my　father　hath　never　spoken　of　these　things；　and　Sir　James　would　not　tell　me。　But　this　I　know；〃　said　he；　suddenly；　grinding　his　teeth　together；　〃an　I　do　not　hunt　him　out　some　day　and　slay　him　like　a　dog〃　He　stopped　abruptly；　and　Gascoyne；　looking　askance　at　him；　saw　that　his　eyes　were　full　of　tears；　whereupon　he　turned　his　looks　away　again　quickly；　and　fell　to　shooting　pebbles　out　through　the　open　window　with　his　finger　and　thumb。

〃Thou　wilt　tell　no　one　of　these　things　that　I　have　said？〃　said　Myles；　after　a　while。

〃Not　I；〃　said　Gascoyne。　〃Thinkest　thou　I　could　do　such　a　thing？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　briefly。

Perhaps　this　talk　more　than　anything　else　that　had　ever　passed　between　them　knit　the　two　friends　the　closer　together；　for；　as　I　have　said；　Myles　felt　easier　now　that　he　had　poured　out　his　bitter　thoughts　and　words；　and　as　for　Gascoyne；　I　think　that　there　is　nothing　so　flattering　to　one's　soul　as　to　be　made　the　confidant　of　a　stronger　nature。


But　the　old　tower　served　another　purpose　than　that　of　a　spot　in　which　to　pass　away　a　few　idle　hours；　or　in　which　to　indulge　the　confidences　of　friendship；　for　it　was　there　that　Myles　gathered　a　backing　of　strength　for　resistance　against　the　tyranny　of　the　bachelors；　and　it　is　for　that　more　than　for　any　other　reason　that　it　has　been　told　how　they　found　the　place　and　of　what　they　did　there；　feeling　secure　against　interruption。

Myles　Falworth　was　not　of　a　kind　that　forgets　or　neglects　a　thing　upon　which　the　mind　has　once　been　set。　Perhaps　his　chief　objective　since　the　talk　with　Sir　James　following　his　fight　in　the　dormitory　had　been　successful　resistance　to　the　exactions　of　the　head　of　the　body　of　squires。　He　was　now　（more　than　a　month　had　passed）　looked　upon　by　nearly　if　not　all　of　the　younger　lads　as　an　acknowledged　leader　in　his　own　class。　So　one　day　he　broached　a　matter　to　Gascoyne　that　had　for　some　time　been　digesting　in　his　mind。　It　was　the　formation　of　a　secret　order；　calling　themselves　the　〃Knights　of　the　Rose；〃　their　meeting…place　to　be　the　chapel　of　the　Brutus　Tower；　and　their　object　to　be　the　righting　of　wrongs；　〃as　they；〃　said　Myles；　of　Arthur　his　Round…table　did　right　wrongs。〃

〃But；　prithee；　what　wrongs　are　there　to　right　in　this　place？〃　quoth　Gascoyne；　after　listening　intently　to　the　plan　which　Myles　set　forth。

〃Why；　first　of　all；　this；〃　said　Myles；　clinching　his　fists；　as　he　had　a　habit　of　doing　when　anything　stirred　him　deeply；　〃that　we　set　those　vile　bachelors　to　their　right　place；　and　that　is；　that　they　be　no　longer　our　masters；　but　our　fellows。〃

Gascoyne　shook　his　head。　He　hated　clashing　and　conflict　above　all　things；　and　was　for　peace。　Why　should　they　thus　rush　to　thrust　themselves　into　trouble？　Let　matters　abide　as　they　were　a　little　longer；　surely　life　was　pleasant　enough　without　turning　it　all　topsy…turvy。　Then；　with　a　sort　of　indignation；　why　should　Myles；　who　had　only　come　among　them　a　month；　take　such　service　more　to　heart　than　they　who　had　endured　it　for　years？　And；　finally；　with　the　hopefulness　of　so　many　of　the　rest　of　us；　he　advised　Myles　to　let　matters　alone；　and　they　would　right　themselves　in　time。

But　Myles's　mind　was　determined；　his　active　spirit　could　not　brook　resting　passively　under　a　wrong；　he　would　endure　no　longer；　and　now　or　never　they　must　make　their　stand。

〃But　look　thee；　Myles　Falworth；〃　said　Gascoyne；　〃all　this　is　not　to　be　done　withouten　fighting　shrewdly。　Wilt　thou　take　that　fighting　upon　thine　own　self？　As　for　me；　I　tell　thee　I　love　it　not。〃

〃Why；　aye；〃　said　Myles；　〃I　ask　no　man　to　do　what　I　will　not　do　myself。〃

Gascoyne　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃So　be　it；〃　said　he。　〃An　thou　hast　appetite　to　run　thy　head　against　hard　knocks；　do　it　i'　mercy's　name！　I　for　one　will　stand　thee　back　while　thou　art　taking　thy　raps。〃

There　was　a　spirit　of　drollery　in　Gascoyne's　speech　that　rubbed　against　Myles's　earnestness。

〃Out　upon　it！〃　cried　he；　his　patience　giving　way。　〃Seest　not　that　I　am　in　serious　earnest？　Why　then　dost　thou　still　jest　like　Mad　Noll；　my　Lord's　fool？　An　thou　wilt　not　lend　me　thine　aid　in　this　matter；　say　so　and　ha'　done　with　it；　and　I　will　bethink　me　of　somewhere　else　to　turn。〃

Then　Gascoyne　yielded　at　once；　as　he　always　did　when　his　friend　lost　his　temper；　and　having　once　assented　to　it；　entered　into　the　scheme　heart　and　soul。　Three　other　ladsone　of　them　that　tall　thin　squire　Edmund　Wilkes；　before　spoken　of　were　sounded　upon　the　subject。　They　also　entered　into　the　plan　of　the　secret　organization　with　an　enthusiasm　which　might　perhaps　not　have　been　quite　so　glowing　had　they　realized　how　very　soon　Myles　designed　embarking　upon　active　practical　operations。　One　day　Myles　and　Gascoyne　showed　them　the　strange　things　that　they　had　discovered　in　the　old　towerthe　inner　staircases；　the　winding　passage…ways；　the　queer　niches　and　cupboard；　and　the　black　shaft　of　a　well　that　pierced　down　into　the　solid　wall；　and　whence；　perhaps；　the　old　castle　folk　had　one　time　drawn　their　supply　of　water　in　time　of　siege；　and　with　every　new　wonder　of　the　marvellous　place　the　enthusiasm　of　the　three　recruits　rose　higher　and　higher。　They　rummaged　through　the　lumber　pile　in　the　great　circular　room　as　Myles　and　Gascoyne　had　done；　and　at　last；　tired　out；　they　ascended　to　the　airy　chapel；　and　there　sat　cooling　themselves　in　the　rustling　freshness　of　the　breeze　that　came　blowing　briskly　in　through　the　arched　windows。

It　was　then　and　there　that　the　five　discussed　and　finally　determined　upon　the　detailed　plans　of　their　organization；　canvassing　the　names　of　the　squirehood；　and　selecting　from　it　a　sufficient　number　of　bold　and　daring　spirits　to　make　up　a　roll　of　twenty　names　in　all。

Gascoyne　had；　as　I　said；　entered　into　the　matter　with　spirit；　and　perhaps　it　was　owing　more　to　him　than　to　any　other　that　the　project　caught　its　delightful　flavor　of　romance。

〃Perchance；〃　said　he；　as　the　five　lads　lay　in　the　rustling　stillness　through　which　sounded　the　monotonous　and　ceaseless　cooing　of　the　pigeons　〃perchance　there　may　be　dwarfs　and　giants　and　dragons　and　enchanters　and　evil　knights　and　what　not　even　nowadays。　And　who　knows　but　that　if　we　Knights　of　the　Rose　hold　together　we　may　go　forth　into　the　world；　and　do　battle　with　them；　and　save　beautiful　ladies；　and　have　tales　and　gestes　written　about　us　as　they　are　writ　about　the　Seven　Champions　and　Arthur　his　Round…table。〃

Perhaps　Myles；　who　lay　silently　listening　to　all　that　was　said；　was　the　only　one　who　looked　upon　the　scheme　at　all　in　the　light　of　real　utility；　but　I　think　that　even　with　him　the　fun　of　the　matter　outweighed　the　serious　part　of　the　business。

So　it　was　that　the　Sacred　Order　of　the　Twenty　Knights　of　the　Rose　came　to　be　initiated。　They　appointed　a　code　of　secret　passwords　and　countersigns　which　were　very　difficult　to　remember；　and　which　were　only　used　when　they　might　excite　the　curiosity　of　the　other　and　uninitiated　boys　by　their　mysterious　sound。　They　elected　Myles　as　their　Grand　High　Commander；　and　held　secret　meetings　in　the　ancient　tower；　where　many　mysteries　were　soberly　enacted。

Of　course　in　a　day　or　two　all　the　body　of　squires　knew　nearly　everything　concerning　the　Knights　of　the　Rose；　and　of　their　secret　meetings　in　the　old　tower。　The　lucky　twenty　were　the　objects　of　envy　of　all　not　so　fortunate　as　to　be　included　in　this　number；　and　there　was　a　marked　air　of　secrecy　about　everything　they　did　that　appealed　to　every　romantic　notion　of　the　youngsters　looking　on。　What　was　the　stormy　outcome　of　it　all　is　now　presently　to　be　told。



CHAPTER　12

Thus　it　was　that　Myles；　with　an　eye　to　open　war　with　the　bachelors；　gathered　a　following　to　his　support。　It　was　some　little　while　before　matters　were　brought　to　a　crisisa　week　or　ten　days。　Perhaps　even　Myles　had　no　great　desire　to　hasten　matters。　He　knew　that　whenever　war　was　declared；　he　himself　would　have　to　bear　the　brunt　of　the　battle；　and　even　the　bravest　man　hesitates　before　deliberately　thrusting　himself　into　a　fight。

One　morning　Myles　and　Gascoyne　and　Wilkes　sat　under　the　shade　of　two　trees；　between　which　was　a　board　nailed　to　the　trunks；　making　a　rude　benchalways　a　favorite　lounging…place　for　the　lads　in　idle　moments。　Myles　was　polishing　his　bascinet　with　lard　and　wood…ashes；　rubbing　the　metal　with　a　piece　of　leather；　and　wiping　it　clean　with　a　fustian　rag。　The　other　two；　who　had　just　been　relieved　from　household　duty；　lay　at　length　idly　looking　on。

Just　then　one　of　the　smaller　pages；　a　boy　of　twelve　or　thirteen；　by　name　Robin　Ingoldsby；　crossed　the　court。　He　had　been　crying；　his　face　was　red　and　blubbered；　and　his　body　was　still　shaken　with　convulsive　sniffs。

Myles　looked　up。　〃Come　hither；　Robin；〃　he　called　from　where　he　sat。　〃What　is　to　do？〃

The　little　fellow　came　slowly　up　to　where　the　three　rested　in　the　shade。　〃Mowbray　beat　me　with　a　strap；〃　said　he；　rubbing　his　sleeve　across　his　eyes；　and　catching　his　breath　at　the　recollection。

〃Beat　thee；　didst　say？〃　said　Myles；　drawing　his　brows　together。　〃Why　did　he　beat　thee？〃

〃Because；〃　said　Robin；　〃I　tarried　overlong　in　fetching　a　pot　of　beer　from　the　buttery　for　him　and　Wyatt。〃　Then；　with　a　boy's　sudden　and　easy　quickness　in　forgetting　past　troubles；　〃Tell　me；　Falworth；〃　said　he；　〃when　wilt　thou　give　me　that　knife　thou　promised　methe　one　thou　break　the　blade　of　yesterday？〃

〃I　know　not；〃　said　Myles；　bluntly；　vexed　that　the　boy　did　not　take　the　disgrace　of　his　beating　more　to　heart。　〃Some　time　soon；　mayhap。　Me　thinks　thou　shouldst　think　more　of　thy　beating　than　of　a　broken　knife。　Now　get　thee　gone　to　thy　business。〃

The　youngster　lingered　for　a　moment　or　two　watching　Myles　at　his　work。　〃What　is　that　on　the　leather　scrap；　Falworth？〃　said　he；　curiously。

〃Lard　and　ashes；〃　said　Myles；　testily。　〃Get　thee　gone；　I　say；　or　I　will　crack　thy　head　for　thee；〃　and　he　picked　up　a　block　of　wood；　with　a　threateni