men of iron-第11章

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〃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　threatening　gesture。

The　youngster　made　a　hideous　grimace；　and　then　scurried　away；　ducking　his　head；　lest　in　spite　of　Myles's　well…known　good…nature　the　block　should　come　whizzing　after　him。

〃Hear　ye　that　now！〃　cried　Myles；　flinging　down　the　block　again　and　turning　to　his　two　friends。　〃Beaten　with　straps　because；　forsooth；　he　would　not　fetch　and　carry　quickly　enough　to　please　the　haste　of　these　bachelors。　Oh；　this　passeth　patience；　and　I　for　one　will　bear　it　no　longer。〃

〃Nay；　Myles；〃　said　Gascoyne；　soothingly；　〃the　little　imp　is　as　lazy　as　a　dormouse　and　as　mischievous　as　a　monkey。　I'll　warrant　the　hiding　was　his　due；　and　that　more　of　the　like　would　do　him　good。〃

〃Why；　how　dost　thou　talk；　Francis！〃　said　Myles；　turning　upon　him　indignantly。　〃Thou　knowest　that　thou　likest　to　see　the　boy　beaten　no　more　than　I。〃　Then；　after　a　meditative　pause；　〃How　many；　think　ye；　we　muster　of　our　company　of　the　Rose　today？〃

Wilkes　looked　doubtfully　at　Gascoyne。　〃There　be　only　seventeen　of　us　here　now；〃　said　he　at　last。　〃Brinton　and　Lambourne　are　away　to　Roby　Castle　in　Lord　George's　train；　and　will　not　be　back　till　Saturday　next。　And　Watt　Newton　is　in　the　infirmary。

〃Seventeen　be'st　enou；〃　said　Myles；　grimly。　〃Let　us　get　together　this　afternoon；　such　as　may；　in　the　Brutus　Tower；　for　I；　as　I　did　say；　will　no　longer　suffer　these　vile　bachelors。〃

Gascoyne　and　Wilkes　exchanged　looks；　and　then　the　former　blew　a　long　whistle。

So　that　afternoon　a　gloomy　set　of　young　faces　were　gathered　together　in　the　Eyryfifteen　of　the　Knights　of　the　Roseand　all　knew　why　they　were　assembled。　The　talk　which　followed　was　conducted　mostly　by　Myles。　He　addressed　the　others　with　a　straightforward　vim　and　earnestness；　but　the　response　was　only　half…hearted；　and　when　at　last；　having　heated　himself　up　with　his　own　fire；　he　sat　down；　puffing　out　his　red　cheeks　and　glaring　round；　a　space　of　silence　followed；　the　lads　looked　doubtfully　at　one　another。　Myles　felt　the　chill　of　their　silence　strike　coldly　on　his　enthusiasm；　and　it　vexed　him。

〃What　wouldst　thou　do；　Falworth？〃　said　one　of　the　knights；　at　last。　〃Wouldst　have　us　open　a　quarrel　with　the　bachelors？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　gruffly。　〃I　had　thought　that　ye　would　all　lend　me　a　hand　in　a　pitched　battle　but　now　I　see　that　ye　ha'　no　stomach　for　that。　Ne'theless；　I　tell　ye　plainly　I　will　not　submit　longer　to　the　bachelors。　So　now　I　will　ask　ye　not　to　take　any　venture　upon　yourselves；　but　only　this：　that　ye　will　stand　by　me　when　I　do　my　fighting；　and　not　let　five　or　seven　of　them　fall　upon　me　at　once。

〃There　is　Walter　Blunt；　he　is　parlous　strong；　said　one　of　the　others；　after　a　time　of　silence。　〃Methinks　he　could　conquer　any　two　of　us。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　〃ye　do　fear　him　too　greatly。　I　tell　ye　I　fear　not　to　stand　up　to　try　battle　with　him　and　will　do　so；　too；　if　the　need　arise。　Only　say　ye　that　ye　will　stand　by　my　back。〃

〃Marry；〃　said　Gascoyne；　quaintly；　〃an　thou　wilt　dare　take　the　heavy　end　upon　thee；　I　for　one　am　willing　to　stand　by　and　see　that　thou　have　thy　fill　of　fighting。〃

〃I　too　will　stand　thee　by；　Myles；〃　said　Edmund　Wilkes。

〃And　I；　and　I；　and　I；〃　said　others；　chiming　in。

Those　who　would　still　have　held　back　were　carried　along　by　the　stream；　and　so　it　was　settled　that　if　the　need　should　arise　for　Myles　to　do　a　bit　of　fighting；　the　others　should　stand　by　to　see　that　he　had　fair　play。

〃When　thinkest　thou　that　thou　wilt　take　thy　stand　against　them；　Myles？〃　asked　Wilkes。

Myles　hesitated　a　moment。　〃To…morrow；〃　said　he；　grimly。

Several　of　the　lads　whistled　softly。

Gascoyne　was　prepared　for　an　early　opening　of　the　war；　but　perhaps　not　for　such　an　early　opening　as　this。　〃By　'r　Lady；　Myles；　thou　art　hungry　for　brawling；〃　said　he。



CHAPTER　13

After　the　first　excitement　of　meeting；　discussing；　and　deciding　had　passed；　Myles　began　to　feel　the　weight　of　the　load　he　had　so　boldly　taken　upon　himself。　He　began　to　reckon　what　a　serious　thing　it　was　for　him　to　stand　as　a　single　champion　against　the　tyranny　that　had　grown　so　strong　through　years　of　custom。　Had　he　let　himself　do　so；　he　might　almost　have　repented；　but　it　was　too　late　now　for　repentance。　He　had　laid　his　hand　to　the　plough；　and　he　must　drive　the　furrow。

Somehow　the　news　of　impending　battle　had　leaked　out　among　the　rest　of　the　body　of　squires；　and　a　buzz　of　suppressed　excitement　hummed　through　the　dormitory　that　evening。　The　bachelors；　to　whom；　no　doubt；　vague　rumors　had　been　blown；　looked　lowering；　and　talked　together　in　low　voices；　standing　apart　in　a　group。　Some　of　them　made　a　rather　marked　show　of　secreting　knives　in　the　straw　of　their　beds；　and　no　doubt　it　had　its　effect　upon　more　than　one　young　heart　that　secretly　thrilled　at　the　sight　of　the　shining　blades。　However；　all　was　undisturbed　that　evening。　The　lights　were　put　out；　and　the　lads　retired　with　more　than　usual　quietness；　only　for　the　murmur　of　whispering。

All　night　Myles's　sleep　was　more　or　less　disturbed　by　dreams　in　which　he　was　now　conquering；　now　being　conquered；　and　before　the　day　had　fairly　broken　he　was　awake。　He　lay　upon　his　cot；　keying　himself　up　for　the　encounter　which　he　had　set　upon　himself　to　face；　and　it　would　not　be　the　truth　to　say　that　the　sight　of　those　knives　hidden　in　the　straw　the　night　before　had　made　no　impression　upon　him。　By…and…by　he　knew　the　others　were　beginning　to　awake；　for　he　heard　them　softly　stirring；　and　as　the　light　grew　broad　and　strong；　saw　them　arise；　one　by　one；　and　begin　dressing　in　the　gray　morning。　Then　he　himself　arose　and　put　on　his　doublet　and　hose；　strapping　his　belt　tightly　about　his　waist；　then　he　sat　down　on　the　side　of　his　cot。

Presently　that　happened　for　which　he　was　waiting；　two　of　the　younger　squires　started　to　bring　the　bachelors'　morning　supply　of　water。　As　they　crossed　the　room　Myles　called　to　them　in　a　loud　voicea　little　uneven；　perhaps：　〃Stop！　We　draw　no　more　water　for　any　one　in　this　house；　saving　only　for　ourselves。　Set　ye　down　those　buckets；　and　go　back　to　your　places！〃

The　two　lads　stopped；　half　turned；　and　then　stood　still；　holding　the　three　buckets　undecidedly。

In　a　moment　all　was　uproar　and　confusion；　for　by　this　time　every　one　of　the　lads　had　arisen；　some　sitting　on　the　edge　of　their　beds；　some　nearly；　others　quite　dressed。　A　half…dozen　of　the　Knights　of　the　Rose　came　over　to　where　Myles　stood；　gathering　in　a　body　behind　him　and　the　others　followed；　one　after　another。

The　bachelors　were　hardly　prepared　for　such　prompt　and　vigorous　action。

〃What　is　to　do？〃　cried　one　of　them；　who　stood　near　the　two　lads　with　the　buckets。　〃Why　fetch　ye　not　the　water？〃

〃Falworth　says　we　shall　not　fetch　it；〃　answered　one　of　the　lads；　a　boy　by　the　name　of　Gosse。

〃What　mean　ye　by　that；　Falworth？〃　the　young　man　called　to　Myles。

Myles's　heart　was　beating　thickly　and　heavily　within　him；　but　nevertheless　he　spoke　up　boldly　enough。　〃I　mean；〃　said　he；　〃that　from　henceforth　ye　shall　fetch　and　carry　for　yourselves；〃

〃Look'ee；　Blunt；〃　called　the　bachelor；　〃here　is　Falworth　says　they　squires　will　fetch　no　more　water　for　us。〃

The　head　bachelor　had　heard　all　that　had　passed；　and　was　even　then　hastily　slipping　on　his　doublet　and　hose。　〃Now；　then；　Falworth；〃　said　he　at　last；　striding　forward；　〃what　is　to　do？　Ye　will　fetch　no　more　water；　eh？　By　'r　Lady；　I　will　know　the　reason　why。〃

He　was　still　advancing　towards　Myles；　with　two　or　three　of　the　older　bachelors　at　his　heels；　when　Gascoyne　spoke。

〃Thou　hadst　best　stand　back；　Blunt；〃　said　he；　〃else　thou　mayst　be　hurt。　We　will　not　have　ye　bang　Falworth　again　as　ye　once　did；　so　stand　thou　back！〃

Blunt　stopped　short　and　looked　upon　the　lads　standing　behind　Myles；　some　of　them　with　faces　a　trifle　pale　perhaps；　but　all　grim　and　determined　looking　enough。　Then　he　turned　upon　his　heel　suddenly；　and　walked　back　to　the　far　end　of　the　dormitory；　where　the　bachelors　were　presently　clustered　together。　A　few　words　passed　between　them；　and　then　the　thirteen　began　at　once　arming　themselves；　some　with　wooden　clogs；　and　some　with　the　knives　which　they　had　so　openly　concealed　the　night　before。　At　the　sign　of　imminent　battle；　all　those　not　actively　interested　scuttled　away　to　right　and　left；　climbing　up　on　the　benches　and　cots；　and　leaving　a　free　field　to　the　combatants。　The　next　moment　would　have　brought　bloodshed。

Now　Myles；　thanks　to　the　training　of　the　Crosbey…Dale　smith；　felt　tolerably　sure　that　in　a　wrestling　bout　he　was　a　matchperhaps　more　than　a　matchfor　any　one　of　the　body　of　squires；　and　he　had　determined；　if　possible；　to　bring　the　battle　to　a　single…handed　encounter　upon　that　footing。　Accordingly　he　suddenly　stepped　forward　before　the　others。

〃Look'ee；　fellow；〃　he　called　to　Blunt；　〃thou　art　he　who　struck　me　whilst　I　was　down　some　while　since。　Wilt　thou　let　this　quarrel　stand　between　thee　and　me；　and　meet　me　man　to　man　without　weapon？　See；　I　throw　me　down　mine　own；　and　will　meet　thee　with　bare　hands。〃　And　as　he　spoke；　he　tossed　the　clog　he　held　in　his　hand　back　upon　the　cot。

〃So　be　it；〃　said　Blunt；　with　great　readiness；　tossing　down　a　similar　weapon　which　he　himself　held。

〃Do　not　go；　Myles；〃　cried　Gascoyne；　〃he　is　a　villain　and　a　traitor；　and　would　betray　thee　to　thy　death。　I　saw　him　when　he　first　gat　from　bed　hide　a　knife　in　his　doublet。〃

〃Thou　liest！〃　said　Blunt。　〃I　swear；　by　my　faith；　I　be　barehanded　as　ye　see　me！　Thy　friend　accuses　me；　Myles　Falworth；　because　he　knoweth　thou　art　afraid　of　me。〃

〃There　thou　liest　most　vilely！〃　exclaimed　Myles。　〃Swear　that　thou　hast　no　knife；　and　I　will　meet　thee。〃

〃Hast　thou　not　heard　me　say　that　I　have　no　knife？〃　said　Blunt。　〃What　more　wouldst　thou　have？〃

〃Then　I　will　meet　thee　halfway；〃　said　Myles。

Gascoyne　caught　him　by　the　sleeve；　and　would　have　withheld　him；　assuring　him　that　he　had　seen　the　bachelor　conceal　a　knife。　But　Myles；　hot　for　the　fight；　broke　away　from　his　friend　without　listening　to　him。

As　the　two　advanced　steadily　towards　one　another　a　breathless　silence　fell　upon　the　dormitory　in　sharp　contrast　to　the　uproar　and　confusion　that　had　filled　it　a　moment　before。　The　lads；　standing　some　upon　benches；　some　upon　beds；　all　watched　with　breathless　interest　the　meeting　of　the　two　champions。

As　they　approached　one　another　they　stopped　and　stood　for　a　moment　a　little　apart；　glaring　the　one　upon　the　other。　They　seemed　ill　enough　matched；　Blunt　was　fully　half　a　head　taller　than　Myles；　and　was　thick…set　and　close…knit　in　young　manhood。　Nothing　but　Myles's　undaunted　pluck　could　have　led　him　to　dare　to　face　an　enemy　so　much　older　and　stouter　than　himself。

The　pause　was　only　for　a　moment。　They　who　looked　saw　Blunt　slide　his　hand　furtively　towards　his　bosom。　Myles　saw　too；　and　in　the　flash　of　an　instant　knew　what　the　gesture　meant；　and　sprang　upon　the　other　before　the　hand　could　grasp　what　it　sought。　As　he　clutched　his　enemy　he　felt　what　he　had　in　that　instant　expected　to　feelthe　handle　of　a　dagger。　The　next　moment　he　cried；　in　a　loud　voice：　〃Oh；　thou　villain！　Help；　Gascoyne！　He　hath　a　knife　under　his　doublet！〃

In　answer　to　his　cry　for　help；　Myles's　friends　started　to　his　aid。　But　the　bachelors　shouted；　〃Stand　back　and　let　them　fight　it　out　alone；　else　we