men of iron-第14章

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〃So　be　it；〃　said　Blunt。　〃Then　let　us　go　at　it　straightway　in　the　armory　yonder；　for　they　be　at　dinner　in　the　Great　Hall；　and　just　now　there　be'st　no　one　by　to　stay　us。〃

〃Thou　shalt　not　fight　him；　Myles！〃　burst　out　Gascoyne。　〃He　will　murther　thee！　Thou　shalt　not　fight　him；　I　say！〃

Myles　turned　away　without　answering　him。

〃What　is　to　do？〃　called　one　of　those　who　were　still　looking　out　of　the　windows　as　the　crowd　of　boys　passed　beneath。

〃Blunt　and　Falworth　are　going　to　fight　it　out　hand　to　hand　in　the　armory；〃　answered　one　of　the　bachelors；　looking　up。

The　brawling　of　the　squires　was　a　jest　to　all　the　adjoining　part　of　the　house。　So　the　heads　were　withdrawn　again；　some　laughing　at　the　〃sparring　of　the　cockerels。〃

But　it　was　no　jesting　matter　to　poor　Myles。



CHAPTER　16

I　have　no　intention　to　describe　the　fight　between　Myles　Falworth　and　Walter　Blunt。　Fisticuffs　of　nowadays　are　brutal　and　debasing　enough；　but　a　fight　with　a　sharp…edged　broadsword　was　not　only　brutal　and　debasing；　but　cruel　and　bloody　as　well。

From　the　very　first　of　the　fight　Myles　Falworth　was　palpably　and　obviously　overmatched。　After　fifteen　minutes　had　passed；　Blunt　stood　hale　and　sound　as　at　first；　but　poor　Myles　had　more　than　one　red　stain　of　warm　blood　upon　doublet　and　hose；　and　more　than　one　bandage　had　been　wrapped　by　Gascoyne　and　Wilkes　about　sore　wounds。

He　had　received　no　serious　injury　as　yet；　for　not　only　was　his　body　protected　by　a　buckler；　or　small　oblong　shield；　which　he　carried　upon　his　left　arm；　and　his　head　by　a　bascinet；　or　light　helmet　of　steel；　but　perhaps；　after　all；　Blunt　was　not　over…anxious　to　do　him　any　dangerous　harm。　Nevertheless；　there　could　be　but　one　opinion　as　to　how　the　fight　tended；　and　Myles's　friends　were　gloomy　and　downcast；　the　bachelors　proportionately　exultant；　shouting　with　laughter；　and　taunting　Myles　at　every　unsuccessful　stroke。

Once；　as　he　drew　back　panting；　leaning　upon　Gascoyne's　shoulder；　the　faithful　friend　whispered；　with　trembling　lips：　〃Oh；　dear　Myles；　carry　it　no　further。　Thou　hurtest　him　not；　and　he　will　slay　thee　ere　he　have　done　with　thee。〃

Thereupon　Blunt；　who　caught　the　drift　of　the　speech；　put　in　a　word。　〃Thou　art　sore　hurt；　Myles　Falworth；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　would　do　thee　no　grievous　harm。　Yield　thee　and　own　thyself　beaten；　and　I　will　forgive　thee。　Thou　hast　fought　a　good　fight；　and　there　is　no　shame　in　yielding　now。〃

〃Never！〃　cried　Myles；　hoarsely〃never　will　I　yield　me！　Thou　mayst　slay　me；　Walter　Blunt；　and　I　reck　not　if　thou　dost　do　so；　but　never　else　wilt　thou　conquer　me。〃

There　was　a　tone　of　desperation　in　his　voice　that　made　all　look　serious。

〃Nay；〃　said　Blunt；　〃I　will　fight　thee　no　more；　Myles　Falworth；　thou　hast　had　enough。〃

〃By　heavens！〃　cried　Myles；　grinding　his　teeth；　〃thou　shalt　fight　me；　thou　coward！　Thou　hast　brought　this　fight　upon　us；　and　either　thou　or　I　get　our　quittance　here。　Let　go；　Gascoyne！〃　he　cried；　shaking　loose　his　friend's　hold；　〃I　tell　thee　he　shall　fight　me！〃

From　that　moment　Blunt　began　to　lose　his　head。　No　doubt　he　had　not　thought　of　such　a　serious　fight　as　this　when　he　had　given　his　challenge；　and　there　was　a　savage　bull…dog　tenacity　about　Myles　that　could　not　but　have　had　a　somewhat　demoralizing　effect　upon　him。

A　few　blows　were　given　and　taken；　and　then　Myles's　friends　gave　a　shout。　Blunt　drew　back；　and　placed　his　hand　to　his　shoulder。　When　he　drew　it　away　again　it　was　stained　with　red；　and　another　red　stain　grew　and　spread　rapidly　down　the　sleeve　of　his　jacket。　He　stared　at　his　hand　for　a　moment　with　a　half…dazed　look；　and　then　glanced　quickly　to　right　and　left。

〃I　will　fight　no　more；〃　said　he；　sullenly。

〃Then　yield　thee！〃　cried　Myles；　exultantly。

The　triumphant　shouts　of　the　Knights　of　the　Rose　stung　Blunt　like　a　lash；　and　the　battle　began　again。　Perhaps　some　of　the　older　lads　were　of　a　mind　to　interfere　at　this　point；　certainly　some　looked　very　serious；　but　before　they　interposed；　the　fight　was　ended。

Blunt；　grinding　his　teeth；　struck　one　undercut　at　his　opponentthe　same　undercut　that　Myles　had　that　time　struck　at　Sir　James　Lee　at　the　knight's　bidding　when　he　first　practised　at　the　Devlen　pels。　Myles　met　the　blow　as　Sir　James　had　met　the　blow　that　he　had　given；　and　then　struck　in　return　as　Sir　James　had　struckfull　and　true。　The　bascinet　that　Blunt　wore　glanced　the　blow　partly；　but　not　entirely。　Myles　felt　his　sword　bite　through　the　light　steel　cap；　and　Blunt　dropped　his　own　blade　clattering　upon　the　floor。　It　was　all　over　in　an　instant；　but　in　that　instant　what　he　saw　was　stamped　upon　Myles's　mind　with　an　indelible　imprint。　He　saw　the　young　man　stagger　backward；　he　saw　the　eyes　roll　upward；　and　a　red　streak　shoot　out　from　under　the　cap　and　run　down　across　the　cheek。

Blunt　reeled　half　around；　and　then　fell　prostrate　upon　his　face；　and　Myles　stood　staring　at　him　with　the　delirious　turmoil　of　his　battle　dissolving　rapidly　into　a　dumb　fear　at　that　which　he　had　done。

Once　again　he　had　won　the　victorybut　what　a　victory！　〃Is　he　dead？〃　he　whispered　to　Gascoyne。

〃I　know　not；〃　said　Gascoyne；　with　a　very　pale　face。　〃But　come　away；　Myles。〃　And　he　led　his　friend　out　of　the　room。

Some　little　while　later　one　of　the　bachelors　came　to　the　dormitory　where　Myles；　his　wounds　smarting　and　aching　and　throbbing；　lay　stretched　upon　his　cot；　and　with　a　very　serious　face　bade　him　to　go　presently　to　Sir　James；　who　had　just　come　from　dinner；　and　was　then　in　his　office。

By　this　time　Myles　knew　that　he　had　not　slain　his　enemy；　and　his　heart　was　light　in　spite　of　the　coming　interview。　There　was　no　one　in　the　office　but　Sir　James　and　himself；　and　Myles；　without　concealing　anything；　told；　point　by　point；　the　whole　trouble。　Sir　James　sat　looking　steadily　at　him　for　a　while　after　he　had　ended。

〃Never；〃　said　he；　presently；　〃did　I　know　any　one　of　ye　squires；　in　all　the　time　that　I　have　been　here；　get　himself　into　so　many　broils　as　thou；　Myles　Falworth。　Belike　thou　sought　to　take　this　lad's　life。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Myles；　earnestly；　〃God　forbid！〃

〃Ne'theless；〃　said　Sir　James；　〃thou　fetched　him　a　main　shrewd　blow；　and　it　is　by　good　hap；　and　no　fault　of　thine；　that　he　will　live　to　do　more　mischief　yet。　This　is　thy　second　venture　at　him；　the　third　time；　haply；　thou　wilt　end　him　for　good。〃　Then　suddenly　assuming　his　grimmest　and　sternest　manner：　〃Now；　sirrah；　do　I　put　a　stop　to　this；　and　no　more　shall　ye　fight　with　edged　tools。　Get　thee　to　the　dormitory；　and　abide　there　a　full　week　without　coming　forth。　Michael　shall　bring　thee　bread　and　water　twice　a　day　for　that　time。　That　is　all　the　food　thou　shalt　have；　and　we　will　see　if　that　fare　will　not　cool　thy　hot　humors　withal。〃

Myles　had　expected　a　punishment　so　much　more　severe　than　that　which　was　thus　meted　to　him；　that　in　the　sudden　relief　he　broke　into　a　convulsive　laugh；　and　then；　with　a　hasty　sweep；　wiped　a　brimming　moisture　from　his　eyes。

Sir　James　looked　keenly　at　him　for　a　moment。　〃Thou　art　white　i'　the　face；〃　said　he。　〃Art　thou　wounded　very　sorely？〃

〃Nay〃　said　Myles；　〃it　is　not　much；　but　I　be　sick　in　my　stomach。〃

〃Aye；　aye；〃　said　Sir　James；　〃I　know　that　feeling　well。　It　is　thus　that　one　always　feeleth　in　coming　out　from　a　sore　battle　when　one　hath　suffered　wounds　and　lost　blood。　An　thou　wouldst　keep　thyself　hale；　keep　thyself　from　needless　fighting。　Now　go　thou　to　the　dormitory；　and；　as　I　said；　come　thou　not　forth　again　for　a　week。　Stay；　sirrah！〃　he　added；　〃I　will　send　Georgebarber　to　thee　to　look　to　thy　sores。　Green　wounds　are　best　drawn　and　salved　ere　they　grow　cold。〃

I　wonder　what　Myles　would　have　thought　had　he　known　that　so　soon　as　he　had　left　the　office；　Sir　James　had　gone　straight　to　the　Earl　and　recounted　the　whole　matter　to　him；　with　a　deal　of　dry　gusto；　and　that　the　Earl　listened　laughing。

〃Aye；〃　said　he；　when　Sir　James　had　done；　〃the　boy　hath　mettle；　sure。　Nevertheless；　we　must　transplant　this　fellow　Blunt　to　the　office　of　gentleman…　in…waiting。　He　must　be　old　enough　now；　and　gin　he　stayeth　in　his　present　place；　either　he　will　do　the　boy　a　harm；　or　the　boy　will　do　him　a　harm。〃

So　Blunt　never　came　again　to　trouble　the　squires'　quarters；　and　thereafter　the　youngsters　rendered　no　more　service　to　the　elders。

Myles's　first　great　fight　in　life　was　won。



CHAPTER　17

The　summer　passed　away；　and　the　bleak　fall　came。　Myles　had　long　since　accepted　his　position　as　one　set　apart　from　the　others　of　his　kind；　and　had　resigned　himself　to　the　evident　fact　that　he　was　never　to　serve　in　the　household　in　waiting　upon　the　Earl。　I　cannot　say　that　it　never　troubled　him；　but　in　time　there　came　a　compensation　of　which　I　shall　have　presently　to　speak。

And　then　he　had　so　much　the　more　time　to　himself。　The　other　lads　were　sometimes　occupied　by　their　household　duties　when　sports　were　afoot　in　which　they　would　liked　to　have　taken　part。　Myles　was　always　free　to　enter　into　any　matter　of　the　kind　after　his　daily　exercise　had　been　performed　at　the　pels；　the　butts；　or　the　tilting…court。

But　even　though　he　was　never　called　to　do　service　in　〃my　Lord's　house；〃　he　was　not　long　in　gaining　a　sort　of　second…hand　knowledge　of　all　the　family。　My　Lady；　a　thin；　sallow；　faded　dame；　not　yet　past　middle　age；　but　looking　ten　years　older。　The　Lady　Anne；　the　daughter　of　the　house；　a　tall；　thin；　dark…eyed；　dark…haired；　handsome　young　dame　of　twenty　or　twenty…one　years　of　age；　hawk…nosed　like　her　father；　and　silent；　proud；　and　haughty；　Myles　heard　the　squires　say。　Lady　Alice；　the　Earl　of　Mackworth's　niece　and　ward；　a　great　heiress　in　her　own　right；　a　strikingly　pretty　black…eyed　girl　of　fourteen　or　fifteen。

These　composed　the　Earl's　personal　family；　but　besides　them　was　Lord　George　Beaumont；　his　Earl's　brother；　and　him　Myles　soon　came　to　know　better　than　any　of　the　chief　people　of　the　castle　excepting　Sir　James　Lee。

For　since　Myles's　great　battle　in　the　armory；　Lord　George　had　taken　a　laughing　sort　of　liking　to　the　lad；　encouraging　him　at　times　to　talk　of　his　adventures；　and　of　his　hopes　and　aspirations。

Perhaps　the　Earl's　younger　brotherwho　was　himself　somewhat　a　soldier　of　fortune；　having　fought　in　Spain；　France；　and　Germanyfelt　a　certain　kinship　in　spirit　with　the　adventurous　youngster　who　had　his　unfriended　way　to　make　in　the　world。　However　that　might　have　been；　Lord　George　was　very　kind　and　friendly　to　the　lad；　and　the　willing　service　that　Myles　rendered　him　reconciled　him　not　a　little　to　the　Earl's　obvious　neglect。

Besides　these　of　the　more　immediate　family　of　the　Earl　were　a　number　of　knights；　ladies；　and　gentlemen；　some　of　them　cadets；　some　of　them　retainers；　of　the　house　of　Beaumont；　for　the　princely　nobles　of　those　days　lived　in　state　little　less　royal　than　royalty　itself。

Most　of　the　knights　and　gentlemen　Myles　soon　came　to　know　by　sight；　meeting　them　in　Lord　George's　apartments　in　the　south　wing　of　the　great　house；　and　some　of　them；　following　the　lead　of　Lord　George；　singled　him　out　for　friendly　notice；　giving　him　a　nod　or　a　word　in　passing。


Every　season　has　its　pleasures　for　boys；　and　the　constant　change　that　they　bring　is　one　of　the　greatest　delights　of　boyhood's　days。

All　of　us；　as　we　grow　older；　have　in　our　memory　pictures　of　by…gone　times　that　are　somehow　more　than　usually　vivid；　the　colors　of　some　not　blurring　by　time　as　others　do。　One　of　which；　in　remembe