men of iron-第12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！



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　will　knife　ye　too。〃　And　as　they　spoke；　some　of　them　leaped　from　the　benches　whereon　they　stood；　drawing　their　knives　and　flourishing　them。

For　just　a　few　seconds　Myles's　friends　stood　cowed；　and　in　those　few　seconds　the　fight　came　to　an　end　with　a　suddenness　unexpected　to　all。

A　struggle　fierce　and　silent　followed　between　the　two；　Blunt　striving　to　draw　his　knife；　and　Myles；　with　the　energy　of　despair；　holding　him　tightly　by　the　wrist。　It　was　in　vain　the　elder　lad　writhed　and　twisted；　he　was　strong　enough　to　overbear　Myles；　but　still　was　not　able　to　clutch　the　haft　of　his　knife。

〃Thou　shalt　not　draw　it！〃　gasped　Myles　at　last。　〃Thou　shalt　not　stab　me！〃

Then　again　some　of　his　friends　started　forward　to　his　aid；　but　they　were　not　needed；　for　before　they　came；　the　fight　was　over。

Blunt；　finding　that　he　was　not　able　to　draw　the　weapon；　suddenly　ceased　his　endeavors；　and　flung　his　arms　around　Myles；　trying　to　bear　him　down　upon　the　ground；　and　in　that　moment　his　battle　was　lost。

In　an　instantso　quick；　so　sudden；　so　unexpected　that　no　one　could　see　how　it　happened　his　feet　were　whirled　away　from　under　him；　he　spun　with　flying　arms　across　Myles's　loins；　and　pitched　with　a　thud　upon　the　stone　pavement；　where　he　lay　still；　motionless；　while　Myles；　his　face　white　with　passion　and　his　eyes　gleaming；　stood　glaring　around　like　a　young　wild…boar　beset　by　the　dogs。

The　next　moment　the　silence　was　broken；　and　the　uproar　broke　forth　with　redoubled　violence。　The　bachelors；　leaping　from　the　benches；　came　hurrying　forward　on　one　side；　and　Myles's　friends　from　the　other。

〃Thou　shalt　smart　for　this；　Falworth；〃　said　one　of　the　older　lads。　〃　Belike　thou　hast　slain　him！〃

Myles　turned　upon　the　speaker　like　a　flash；　and　with　such　a　passion　of　fury　in　his　face　that　the　other；　a　fellow　nearly　a　head　taller　than　he；　shrank　back；　cowed　in　spite　of　himself。　Then　Gascoyne　came　and　laid　his　hand　on　his　friend's　shoulder；

〃Who　touches　me？〃　cried　Myles；　hoarsely；　turning　sharply　upon　him；　and　then；　seeing　who　it　was；　〃Oh；　Francis；　they　would　ha'　killed　me！〃

〃Come　away；　Myles；〃　said　Gascoyne；　〃thou　knowest　not　what　thou　doest；　thou　art　mad；　come　away。　What　if　thou　hadst　killed　him？〃

The　words　called　Myles　somewhat　to　himself。　〃I　care　not！〃　said　he；　but　sullenly　and　not　passionately；　and　then　he　suffered　Gascoyne　and　Wilkes　to　lead　him　away。

Meantime　Blunt's　friends　had　turned　him　over；　and；　after　feeling　his　temples；　his　wrist；　and　his　heart；　bore　him　away　to　a　bench　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　There　they　fell　to　chafing　his　hands　and　sprinkling　water　in　his　face；　a　crowd　of　the　others　gathering　about。　Blunt　was　hidden　from　Myles　by　those　who　stood　around；　and　the　lad　listened　to　the　broken　talk　that　filled　the　room　with　its　confusion；　his　anxiety　growing　keener　as　he　became　cooler。　But　at　last；　with　a　heartfelt　joy；　he　gathered　from　the　confused　buzz　of　words　that　the　other　lad　had　opened　his　eyes　and；　after　a　while；　he　saw　him　sit　up；　leaning　his　head　upon　the　shoulder　of　one　of　his　fellow…bachelors；　white　and　faint　and　sick　as　death。

〃Thank　Heaven　that　thou　didst　not　kill　him！〃　said　Edmund　Wilkes；

who　had　been　standing　with　the　crowd　looking　on　at　the　efforts　of　Blunt's　friends　to　revive　him；　and　who　had　now　come　and　sat　down　upon　the　bed　not　far　from　Myles。

〃Aye；〃　said　Myles；　gruffly；　〃I　do　thank　Heaven　for　that。〃



CHAPTER　14

If　Myles　fancied　that　one　single　victory　over　his　enemy　would　cure　the　evil　against　which　he　fought；　he　was　grievously　mistaken；　wrongs　are　not　righted　so　easily　as　that。　It　was　only　the　beginning。　Other　and　far　more　bitter　battles　lay　before　him　ere　he　could　look　around　him　and　say；　〃I　have　won　the　victory。〃

For　a　dayfor　two　daysthe　bachelors　were　demoralized　at　the　fall　of　their　leader；　and　the　Knights　of　the　Rose　were　proportionately　uplifted。

The　day　that　Blunt　met　his　fall；　the　wooden　tank　in　which　the　water　had　been　poured　every　morning　was　found　to　have　been　taken　away。　The　bachelors　made　a　great　show　of　indignation　and　inquiry。　Who　was　it　stole　their　tank？　If　they　did　but　know；　he　should　smart　for　it。

〃Ho！　ho！〃　roared　Edmund　Wilkes；　so　that　the　whole　dormitory　heard　him；　〃smoke　ye　not　their　tricks；　lads？　See　ye　not　that　they　have　stolen　their　own　water…tank；　so　that　they　might　have　no　need　for　another　fight　over　the　carrying　of　the　water？〃

The　bachelors　made　an　obvious　show　of　not　having　heard　what　he　said；　and　a　general　laugh　went　around。　No　one　doubted　that　Wilkes　had　spoken　the　truth　in　his　taunt；　and　that　the　bachelors　had　indeed　stolen　their　own　tank。　So　no　more　water　was　ever　carried　for　the　head　squires；　but　it　was　plain　to　see　that　the　war　for　the　upperhand　was　not　yet　over。

Even　if　Myles　had　entertained　comforting　thoughts　to　the　contrary；　he　was　speedily　undeceived。　One　morning；　about　a　week　after　the　fight；　as　he　and　Gascoyne　were　crossing　the　armory　court；　they　were　hailed　by　a　group　of　the　bachelors　standing　at　the　stone　steps　of　the　great　building。

〃Holloa；　Falworth！〃　they　cried。　〃Knowest　thou　that　Blunt　is　nigh　well　again？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　〃I　knew　it　not。　But　I　am　right　glad　to　hear　it。〃

〃Thou　wilt　sing　a　different　song　anon；〃　said　one　of　the　bachelors。　〃I　tell　thee　he　is　hot　against　thee；　and　swears　when　he　cometh　again　he　will　carve　thee　soothly。〃

〃Aye；　marry！〃　said　another。　〃I　would　not　be　in　thy　skin　a　week　hence　for　a　ducat！　Only　this　morning　he　told　Philip　Mowbray　that　he　would　have　thy　blood　for　the　fall　thou　gavest　him。　Look　to　thyself；　Falworth；　he　cometh　again　Wednesday　or　Thursday　next；　thou　standest　in　a　parlous　state。〃

〃Myles；〃　said　Gascoyne；　as　they　entered　the　great　quadrangle；　〃I　do　indeed　fear　me　that　he　meaneth　to　do　thee　evil。〃

〃I　know　not；〃　said　Myles；　boldly；　〃but　I　fear　him　not。〃　Nevertheless　his　heart　was　heavy　with　the　weight　of　impending　ill。

One　evening　the　bachelors　were　more　than　usually　noisy　in　their　end　of　the　dormitory；　laughing　and　talking　and　shouting　to　one　another。

〃Holloa；　you　sirrah；　Falworth！〃　called　one　of　them　along　the　length　of　the　room。　〃Blunt　cometh　again　to…morrow　day。〃

Myles　saw　Gascoyne　direct　a　sharp　glance　at　him；　but　he　answered　nothing　either　to　his　enemy's　words　or　his　friend's　look。

As　the　bachelor　had　said；　Blunt　came　the　next　morning。　It　was　just　after　chapel；　and　the　whole　body　of　squires　was　gathered　in　the　armory　waiting　for　the　orders　of　the　day　and　the　calling　of　the　roll　of　those　chosen　for　household　duty。　Myles　was　sitting　on　a　bench　along　the　wall；　talking　and　jesting　with　some　who　stood　by；　when　of　a　sudden　his　heart　gave　a　great　leap　within　him。

It　was　Walter　Blunt。　He　came　walking　in　at　the　door　as　if　nothing　had　passed；　and　at　his　unexpected　coming　the　hubbub　of　talk　and　laughter　was　suddenly　checked。　Even　Myles　stopped　in　his　speech　for　a　moment；　and　then　continued　with　a　beating　heart　and　a　carelessness　of　manner　that　was　altogether　assumed。　In　his　hand　Blunt　carried　the　house　orders　for　the　day；　and　without　seeming　to　notice　Myles；　he　opened　it　and　read　the　list　of　those　called　upon　for　household　service。

Myles　had　risen；　and　was　now　standing　listening　with　the　others。　When　Blunt　had　ended　reading　the　list　of　names；　he　rolled　up　the　parchment；　and　thrust　it　into　his　belt；　then　swinging　suddenly　on　his　heel；　he　strode　straight　up　to　Myles；　facing　him　front　to　front。　A　moment　or　two　of　deep　silence　followed；　not　a　sound　broke　the　stillness。　When　Blunt　spoke　every　one　in　the　armory　heard　his　words。

〃Sirrah！〃　said　he；　〃thou　didst　put　foul　shame　upon　me　some　time　sin。　Never　will　I　forget　or　forgive　that　offence；　and　will　have　a　reckoning　with　thee　right　soon　that　thou　wilt　not　forget　to　the　last　day　of　thy　life。〃

When　Myles　had　seen　his　enemy　turn　upon　him；　he　did　not　know　at　first　what　to　expect；　he　would　not　have　been　surprised　had　they　come　to　blows　there　and　then；　and　he　held　himself　prepared　for　any　event。　He　faced　the　other　pluckily　enough　and　without　flinching；　and　spoke　up　boldly　in　answer。　〃So　be　it；　Walter　Blunt；　I　fear　thee　not　in　whatever　way　thou　mayst　encounter　me。〃

〃Dost　thou　not？〃　said　Blunt。　〃By'r　Lady；　thou'lt　have　cause　to　fear　me　ere　I　am　through　with　thee。〃　He　smiled　a　baleful；　lingering　smile；　and　then　turned　slowly　and　walked　away。

〃What　thinkest　thou；　Myles？〃　said　Gascoyne；　as　the　two　left　the　armory　together。

〃I　think　naught；〃　said　Myles　gruffly。　〃He　will　not　dare　to　touch　me　to　harm　me。　I　fear　him　not。〃　Nevertheless；　he　did　not　speak　the　full　feelings　of　his　heart。

〃I　know　not；　Myles；〃　said　Gascoyne；　shaking　his　head　doubtfully。　〃Walter　Blunt　is　a　parlous　evil…minded　knave；　and　methinks　will　do　whatever　evil　he　promiseth。〃

〃I　fear　him　not；〃　said　Myles　again；　but　his　heart　foreboded　trouble。

The　coming　of　the　head　squire　made　a　very　great　change　in　the　condition　of　affairs。　Even　before　that　coming　the　bachelors　had　somewhat　recovered　from　their　demoralization；　and　now　again　they　began　to　pluck　up　their　confidence　and　to　order　the　younger　squires　and　pages　upon　this　personal　service　or　upon　that。

〃See　ye　not；〃　said　Myles　one　day；　when　the　Knights　of　the　Rose　were　gathered　in　the　Brutus　Tower〃see　ye　not　that　they　grow　as　bad　as　ever？　An　we　put　not　a　stop　to　this　overmastery　now；　it　will　never　stop。〃

〃Best　let　it　be；　Myles；〃　said　Wilkes。　〃They　will　kill　thee　an　thou　cease　not　troubling　them。　Thou　hast　bred　mischief　enow　for　thyself　already。〃

〃No　matter　for　that；〃　said　Myles；　〃it　is　not　to　be　borne　that　they　order　others　of　us　about　as　they　do。　I　mean　to　speak　to　them　to…night；　and　tell　them　it　shall　not　be。〃

He　was　as　good　as　his　word。　That　night；　as　the　youngsters　were　shouting　and　romping　and　skylarking；　as　they　always　did　before　turning　in；　he　stood　upon　his　cot　and　shouted：　〃Silence！　List　to　me　a　little！〃　And　then；　in　the　hush　that　followed　〃I　want　those　bachelors　to　hear　this：　that　we　squires　serve　them　no　longer；　and　if　they　would　ha'　some　to　wait　upon　them；　they　must　get　them　otherwheres　than　here。　There　be　twenty　of　us　to　stand　against　them　and　haply　more；　and　we　mean　that　they　shall　ha'　service　of　us　no　more。〃

Then　he　jumped　down　again　from　his　elevated　stand；　and　an　uproar　of　confusion　instantly　filled　the　place。　What　was　the　effect　of　his　words　upon　the　bachelors　he　could　not　see。　What　was　the　result　he　was　not　slow　in　discovering。

The　next　day　Myles　and　Gascoyne　were　throwing　their　daggers　for　a　wager　at　a　wooden　target　against　the　wall　back　of　the　armorer's　smithy。　Wilkes；　Gosse；　and　one　or　two　others　of　the　squires　were　sitting　on　a　bench　looking　on；　and　now　and　then　applauding　a　more　than　usually　well…aimed　cast　of　the　knife。　Suddenly　that　impish　little　page　spoken　of　before；　Robin　Ingoldsby；　thrust　his　shock　head　around　the　corner　of　the　smithy；　and　said：　〃Ho；　Falworth！　Blunt　is　going　to　serve　thee　out　to…day；　and　I　myself　heard　him　say　so。　He　says　he　is　going　to　slit　thine　ears。〃　And　then　he　was　gone　as　suddenly　as　he　had　appeared。

Myles　darted　after　him；　caught　him　midway　in　the　quadrangle；　and　brought　him　back　by　the　scuff　of　the　neck；　squalling　and　struggling。

〃There！〃　said　he；　still　panting　from　the　chase　and　seating　the　boy　b