men of iron-第13章

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〃There！〃　said　he；　still　panting　from　the　chase　and　seating　the　boy　by　no　means　gently　upon　the　bench　beside　Wilkes。　〃Sit　thou　there；　thou　imp　of　evil！　And　now　tell　me　what　thou　didst　mean　by　thy　words　anonan　thou　stop　not　thine　outcry；　I　will　cut　thy　throat　for　thee；〃　and　he　made　a　ferocious　gesture　with　his　dagger。

It　was　by　no　means　easy　to　worm　the　story　from　the　mischievous　little　monkey；　he　knew　Myles　too　well　to　be　in　the　least　afraid　of　his　threats。　But　at　last；　by　dint　of　bribing　and　coaxing；　Myles　and　his　friends　managed　to　get　at　the　facts。　The　youngster　had　been　sent　to　clean　the　riding…boots　of　one　of　the　bachelors；　instead　of　which　he　had　lolled　idly　on　a　cot　in　the　dormitory；　until　he　had　at　last　fallen　asleep。　He　had　been　awakened　by　the　opening　of　the　dormitory　door　and　by　the　sound　of　voicesamong　them　was　that　of　his　taskmaster。　Fearing　punishment　for　his　neglected　duty；　he　had　slipped　out　of　the　cot；　and　hidden　himself　beneath　it。

Those　who　had　entered　were　Walter　Blunt　and　three　of　the　older　bachelors。　Blunt's　companions　were　trying　to　persuade　him　against　something；　but　without　avail。　It　wasMyles's　heart　thrilled　and　his　blood　boiledto　lie　in　wait　for　him；　to　overpower　him　by　numbers；　and　to　mutilate　him　by　slitting　his　earsa　disgraceful　punishment　administered；　as　a　rule；　only　for　thieving　and　poaching。

〃He　would　not　dare　to　do　such　a　thing！〃　cried　Myles；　with　heaving　breast　and　flashing　eyes。

〃Aye；　but　he　would；〃　said　Gascoyne。　〃His　father；　Lord　Reginald　Blunt；　is　a　great　man　over　Nottingham　way；　and　my　Lord　would　not　dare　to　punish　him　even　for　such　a　matter　as　that。　But　tell　me；　Robin　Ingoldsby；　dost　know　aught　more　of　this　matter？　Prithee　tell　it　me；　Robin。　Where　do　they　propose　to　lie　in　wait　for　Falworth？〃

〃In　the　gate…way　of　the　Buttery　Court；　so　as　to　catch　him　when　he　passes　by　to　the　armory；〃　answered　the　boy。

〃Are　they　there　now？〃　said　Wilkes。

〃Aye；　nine　of　them；〃　said　Robin。　〃I　heard　Blunt　tell　Mowbray　to　go　and　gather　the　others。　He　heard　thee　tell　Gosse；　Falworth；　that　thou　wert　going　thither　for　thy　arbalist　this　morn　to　shoot　at　the　rooks　withal。〃

〃That　will　do；　Robin；〃　said　Myles。　〃Thou　mayst　go。〃

And　therewith　the　little　imp　scurried　off；　pulling　the　lobes　of　his　ears　suggestively　as　he　darted　around　the　corner。

The　others　looked　at　one　another　for　a　while　in　silence。

〃So；　comrades；〃　said　Myles　at　last；　〃what　shall　we　do　now？〃

〃Go；　and　tell　Sir　James；〃　said　Gascoyne；　promptly。

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　〃I　take　no　such　coward's　part　as　that。　I　say　an　they　hunger　to　fight；　give　them　their　stomachful。〃

The　others　were　very　reluctant　for　such　extreme　measures；　but　Myles；　as　usual；　carried　his　way；　and　so　a　pitched　battle　was　decided　upon。　It　was　Gascoyne　who　suggested　the　plan　which　they　afterwards　followed。

Then　Wilkes　started　away　to　gather　together　those　of　the　Knights　of　the　Rose　not　upon　household　duty；　and　Myles；　with　the　others；　went　to　the　armor　smith　to　have　him　make　for　them　a　set　of　knives　with　which　to　meet　their　enemies　knives　with　blades　a　foot　long；　pointed　and　double…　edged。

The　smith；　leaning　with　his　hammer　upon　the　anvil；　listened　to　them　as　they　described　the　weapons。

〃Nay；　nay；　Master　Myles；〃　said　he；　when　Myles　had　ended　by　telling　the　use　to　which　he　intended　putting　them。　〃Thou　art　going　all　wrong　in　this　matter。　With　such　blades；　ere　this　battle　is　ended；　some　one　would　be　slain；　and　so　murder　done。　Then　the　family　of　him　who　was　killed　would　haply　have　ye　cited；　and　mayhap　it　might　e'en　come　to　the　hanging；　for　some　of　they　boys　ha'　great　folkeys　behind　them。　Go　ye　to　Tom　Fletcher；　Master　Myles；　and　buy　of　him　good　yew　staves；　such　as　one　might　break　a　head　withal；　and　with　them；　gin　ye　keep　your　wits；　ye　may　hold　your　own　against　knives　or　short　swords。　I　tell　thee；　e'en　though　my　trade　be　making　of　blades；　rather　would　I　ha'　a　good　stout　cudgel　in　my　hand　than　the　best　dagger　that　ever　was　forged。〃

Myles　stood　thoughtfully　for　a　moment　or　two；　then；　looking　up；　〃Methinks　thou　speaketh　truly；　Robin；〃　said　he；　〃and　it　were　ill　done　to　have　blood　upon　our　hands。〃



CHAPTER　15

From　the　long；　narrow　stone…paved　Armory　Court；　and　connecting　it　with　the　inner　Buttery　Court；　ran　a　narrow　arched　passage…way；　in　which　was　a　picket…gate；　closed　at　night　and　locked　from　within。　It　was　in　this　arched　passage…way　that；　according　to　little　Robert　Ingoldsby's　report；　the　bachelors　were　lying　in　wait　for　Myles。　Gascoyne's　plan　was　that　Myles　should　enter　the　court　alone；　the　Knights　of　the　Rose　lying　ambushed　behind　the　angle　of　the　armory　building　until　the　bachelors　should　show　themselves。

It　was　not　without　trepidation　that　Myles　walked　alone　into　the　court；　which　happened　then　to　be　silent　and　empty。　His　heart　beat　more　quickly　than　it　was　wont；　and　he　gripped　his　cudgel　behind　his　back；　looking　sharply　this　way　and　that；　so　as　not　to　be　taken　unawares　by　a　flank　movement　of　his　enemies。　Midway　in　the　court　he　stopped　and　hesitated　for　a　moment；　then　he　turned　as　though　to　enter　the　armory。　The　next　moment　he　saw　the　bachelors　come　pouring　out　from　the　archway。

Instantly　he　turned　and　rushed　back　towards　where　his　friends　lay　hidden；　shouting：　〃To　the　rescue！　To　the　rescue！〃

〃Stone　him！〃　roared　Blunt。　〃The　villain　escapes！

He　stopped　and　picked　up　a　cobble…stone　as　he　spoke；　flinging　it　after　his　escaping　prey。　It　narrowly　missed　Myles's　head；　had　it　struck　him；　there　might　have　been　no　more　of　this　story　to　tell。

〃To　the　rescue！　To　the　rescue！〃　shouted　Myles's　friends　in　answer；　and　the　next　moment　he　was　surrounded　by　them。　Then　he　turned；　and　swinging　his　cudgel；　rushed　back　upon　his　foes。

The　bachelors　stopped　short　at　the　unexpected　sight　of　the　lads　with　their　cudgels。　For　a　moment　they　rallied　and　drew　their　knives；　then　they　turned　and　fled　towards　their　former　place　of　hiding。

One　of　them　turned　for　a　moment；　and　flung　his　knife　at　Myles　with　a　deadly　aim；　but　Myles；　quick　as　a　cat；　ducked　his　body；　and　the　weapon　flew　clattering　across　the　stony　court。　Then　he　who　had　flung　it　turned　again　to　fly；　but　in　his　attempt　he　had　delayed　one　instant　too　long。　Myles　reached　him　with　a　long…arm　stroke　of　his　cudgel　just　as　he　entered　the　passage…way；　knocking　him　over　like　a　bottle；　stunned　and　senseless。

The　next　moment　the　picket…gate　was　banged　in　their　faces　and　the　bolt　shot　in　the　staples；　and　the　Knights　of　the　Rose　were　left　shouting　and　battering　with　their　cudgels　against　the　palings。

By　this　time　the　uproar　of　fight　had　aroused　those　in　the　rooms　and　offices　fronting　upon　the　Armory　Court；　heads　were　thrust　from　many　of　the　windows　with　the　eager　interest　that　a　fight　always　evokes。

〃Beware！〃　shouted　Myles。　〃Here　they　come　again！〃　He　bore　back　towards　the　entrance　of　the　alley…way　as　he　spoke；　those　behind　him　scattering　to　right　and　left；　for　the　bachelors　had　rallied；　and　were　coming　again　to　the　attack；　shouting。

They　were　not　a　moment　too　soon　in　this　retreat；　either；　for　the　next　instant　the　pickets　flew　open；　and　a　volley　of　stones　flew　after　the　retreating　Knights　of　the　Rose。　One　smote　Wilkes　upon　the　head；　knocking　him　down　headlong。　Another　struck　Myles　upon　his　left　shoulder；　benumbing　his　arm　from　the　finger…tips　to　the　armpit；　so　that　he　thought　at　first　the　limb　was　broken。

〃Get　ye　behind　the　buttresses！〃　shouted　those　who　looked　down　upon　the　fight　from　the　windows　〃get　ye　behind　the　buttresses！〃　And　in　answer　the　lads；　scattering　like　a　newly…flushed　covey　of　partridges；　fled　to　and　crouched　in　the　sheltering　angles　of　masonry　to　escape　from　the　flying　stones。

And　now　followed　a　lull　in　the　battle；　the　bachelors　fearing　to　leave　the　protection　of　the　arched　passage…way　lest　their　retreat　should　be　cut　off；　and　the　Knights　of　the　Rose　not　daring　to　quit　the　shelter　of　the　buttresses　and　angles　of　the　wall　lest　they　should　be　knocked　down　by　the　stones。

The　bachelor　whom　Myles　had　struck　down　with　his　cudgel　was　sitting　up　rubbing　the　back　of　his　head；　and　Wilkes　had　gathered　his　wits　enough　to　crawl　to　the　shelter　of　the　nearest　buttress。　Myles；　peeping　around　the　corner　behind　which　he　stood；　could　see　that　the　bachelors　were　gathered　into　a　little　group　consulting　together。　Suddenly　it　broke　asunder；　and　Blunt　turned　around。

〃Ho；　Falworth！〃　he　cried。　〃Wilt　thou　hold　truce　whiles　we　parley　with　ye？〃

〃Aye；〃　answered　Myles。

〃Wilt　thou　give　me　thine　honor　that　ye　will　hold　your　hands　from　harming　us　whiles　we　talk　together？〃

〃Yea；〃　said　Myles；　〃I　will　pledge　thee　mine　honor。〃

〃I　accept　thy　pledge。　See！　here　we　throw　aside　our　stones　and　lay　down　our　knives。　Lay　ye　by　your　clubs；　and　meet　us　in　parley　at　the　horse…　block　yonder。〃

〃So　be　it；〃　said　Myles；　and　thereupon；　standing　his　cudgel　in　the　angle　of　the　wall；　he　stepped　boldly　out　into　the　open　court…yard。　Those　of　his　party　came　scatteringly　from　right　and　left；　gathering　about　him；　and　the　bachelors　advanced　in　a　body；　led　by　the　head　squire。

〃Now　what　is　it　thou　wouldst　have；　Walter　Blunt？〃　said　Myles；　when　both　parties　had　met　at　the　horse…block。

〃It　is　to　say　this　to　thee；　Myles　Falworth；〃　said　the　other。　〃One　time；　not　long　sin；　thou　didst　challenge　me　to　meet　thee　hand　to　hand　in　the　dormitory。　Then　thou　didst　put　a　vile　affront　upon　me；　for　the　which　I　ha'　brought　on　this　battle　to…day；　for　I　knew　not　then　that　thou　wert　going　to　try　thy　peasant　tricks　of　wrestling；　and　so；　without　guarding　myself；　I　met　thee　as　thou　didst　desire。〃

〃But　thou　hadst　thy　knife；　and　would　have　stabbed　him　couldst　thou　ha'　done　so；〃　said　Gascoyne。

〃Thou　liest！〃　said　Blunt。　〃I　had　no　knife。〃　And　then；　without　giving　time　to　answer；　〃Thou　canst　not　deny　that　I　met　thee　then　at　thy　bidding；　canst　thou；　Falworth？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　〃nor　haply　canst　thou　deny　it　either。〃　And　at　this　covert　reminder　of　his　defeat　Myles's　followers　laughed　scoffingly　and　Blunt　bit　his　lip。

〃Thou　hast　said　it；〃　said　he。　〃Then　sin。　I　met　thee　at　thy　bidding；　I　dare　to　thee　to　meet　me　now　at　mine；　and　to　fight　this　battle　out　between　our　two　selves；　with　sword　and　buckler　and　bascinet　as　gentles　should；　and　not　in　a　wrestling　match　like　two　country　hodges。〃

〃Thou　art　a　coward　caitiff；　Walter　Blunt！〃　burst　out　Wilkes；　who　stood　by　with　a　swelling　lump　upon　his　head；　already　as　big　as　a　walnut。　〃Well　thou　knowest　that　Falworth　is　no　match　for　thee　at　broadsword　play。　Is　he　not　four　years　younger　than　thou；　and　hast　thou　not　had　three　times　the　practice　in　arms　that　he　hath　had？　I　say　thou　art　a　coward　to　seek　to　fight　with　cutting　weapons。〃

Blunt　made　no　answer　to　Wilkes's　speech；　but　gazed　steadfastly　at　Myles；　with　a　scornful　smile　curling　the　corners　of　his　lips。　Myles　stood　looking　upon　the　ground　without　once　lifting　his　eyes；　not　knowing　what　to　answer；　for　he　was　well　aware　that　he　was　no　match　for　Blunt　with　the　broadsword。

〃Thou　art　afraid　to　fight　me；　Myles　Falworth；〃　said　Blunt；　tauntingly；　and　the　bachelors　gave　a　jeering　laugh　in　echo。

Then　Myles　looked　up；　and　I　cannot　say　that　his　face　was　not　a　trifle　whiter　than　usual。　〃Nay；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　not　afraid；　and　I　will　fight　thee；　Blunt。〃

〃So　be　it；〃　said　Blunt。　〃Then　let　us　go　at　it　straightway　in　the　armory　yonder；　for　they　be　at　dinner　in　the　Great　H