men of iron-第2章

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e　so　cooped　up。　I　wonder　what　the　boys　of　to…day　would　have　thought　of　Myles's　training。　With　him　that　training　was　not　only　of　the　mind；　but　of　the　body　as　well；　and　for　seven　years　it　was　almost　unremitting。　〃Thou　hast　thine　own　way　to　make　in　the　world；　sirrah；〃　his　father　said　more　than　once　when　the　boy　complained　of　the　grinding　hardness　of　his　life；　and　to　make　one's　way　in　those　days　meant　a　thousand　times　more　than　it　does　now；　it　meant　not　only　a　heart　to　feel　and　a　brain　to　think；　but　a　hand　quick　and　strong　to　strike　in　battle；　and　a　body　tough　to　endure　the　wounds　and　blows　in　return。　And　so　it　was　that　Myles's　body　as　well　as　his　mind　had　to　be　trained　to　meet　the　needs　of　the　dark　age　in　which　he　lived。

Every　morning；　winter　or　summer；　rain　or　shine　he　tramped　away　six　long　miles　to　the　priory　school；　and　in　the　evenings　his　mother　taught　him　French。

Myles；　being　prejudiced　in　the　school　of　thought　of　his　day；　rebelled　not　a　little　at　that　last　branch　of　his　studies。　〃Why　must　I　learn　that　vile　tongue？〃　said　he。

〃Call　it　not　vile；〃　said　the　blind　old　Lord；　grimly；　〃belike；　when　thou　art　grown　a　man；　thou'lt　have　to　seek　thy　fortune　in　France　land；　for　England　is　haply　no　place　for　such　as　be　of　Falworth　blood。〃　And　in　after…years；　true　to　his　father's　prediction；　the　〃vile　tongue〃　served　him　well。

As　for　his　physical　training；　that　pretty　well　filled　up　the　hours　between　his　morning　studies　at　the　monastery　and　his　evening　studies　at　home。　Then　it　was　that　old　Diccon　Bowman　took　him　in　hand；　than　whom　none　could　be　better　fitted　to　shape　his　young　body　to　strength　and　his　hands　to　skill　in　arms。　The　old　bowman　had　served　with　Lord　Falworth's　father　under　the　Black　Prince　both　in　France　and　Spain；　and　in　long　years　of　war　had　gained　a　practical　knowledge　of　arms　that　few　could　surpass。　Besides　the　use　of　the　broadsword；　the　short　sword；　the　quarter…staff；　and　the　cudgel；　he　taught　Myles　to　shoot　so　skilfully　with　the　long…　bow　and　the　cross…bow　that　not　a　lad　in　the　country…side　was　his　match　at　the　village　butts。　Attack　and　defence　with　the　lance；　and　throwing　the　knife　and　dagger　were　also　part　of　his　training。

Then；　in　addition　to　this　more　regular　part　of　his　physical　training；　Myles　was　taught　in　another　branch　not　so　often　included　in　the　military　education　of　the　daythe　art　of　wrestling。　It　happened　that　a　fellow　lived　in　Crosbey　village；　by　name　Ralph…the…Smith；　who　was　the　greatest　wrestler　in　the　country…side；　and　had　worn　the　champion　belt　for　three　years。　Every　Sunday　afternoon；　in　fair　weather；　he　came　to　teach　Myles　the　art；　and　being　wonderfully　adept　in　bodily　feats；　he　soon　grew　so　quick　and　active　and　firm…　footed　that　he　could　cast　any　lad　under　twenty　years　of　age　living　within　a　range　of　five　miles。

〃It　is　main　ungentle　armscraft　that　he　learneth；〃　said　Lord　Falworth　one　day　to　Prior　Edward。　〃Saving　only　the　broadsword；　the　dagger；　and　the　lance；　there　is　but　little　that　a　gentleman　of　his　strain　may　use。　Neth'less；　he　gaineth　quickness　and　suppleness；　and　if　he　hath　true　blood　in　his　veins　he　will　acquire　knightly　arts　shrewdly　quick　when　the　time　cometh　to　learn　them。〃

But　hard　and　grinding　as　Myles's　life　was；　it　was　not　entirely　without　pleasures。　There　were　many　boys　living　in　Crosbey…Dale　and　the　village；　yeomen's　and　farmers'　sons；　to　be　sure；　but；　nevertheless；　lads　of　his　own　age；　and　that；　after　all；　is　the　main　requirement　for　friendship　in　boyhood's　world。　Then　there　was　the　river　to　bathe　in；　there　were　the　hills　and　valleys　to　roam　over；　and　the　wold　and　woodland；　with　their　wealth　of　nuts　and　birds'…nests　and　what　not　of　boyhood's　treasures。

Once　he　gained　a　triumph　that　for　many　a　day　was　very　sweet　under　the　tongue　of　his　memory。　As　was　said　before；　he　had　been　three　times　to　the　market…town　at　fair…time；　and　upon　the　last　of　these　occasions　he　had　fought　a　bout　of　quarterstaff　with　a　young　fellow　of　twenty；　and　had　been　the　conqueror。　He　was　then　only　a　little　over　fourteen　years　old。

Old　Diccon；　who　had　gone　with　him　to　the　fair；　had　met　some　cronies　of　his　own；　with　whom　he　had　sat　gossiping　in　the　ale…booth；　leaving　Myles　for　the　nonce　to　shift　for　himself。　By…and…by　the　old　man　had　noticed　a　crowd　gathered　at　one　part　of　the　fair…ground；　and；　snuffing　a　fight；　had　gone　running；　ale…pot　in　hand。　Then；　peering　over　the　shoulders　of　the　crowd；　he　had　seen　his　young　master；　stripped　to　the　waist；　fighting　like　a　gladiator　with　a　fellow　a　head　taller　than　himself。　Diccon　was　about　to　force　his　way　through　the　crowd　and　drag　them　asunder；　but　a　second　look　had　showed　his　practised　eye　that　Myles　was　not　only　holding　his　own；　but　was　in　the　way　of　winning　the　victory。　So　he　had　stood　with　the　others　looking　on；　withholding　himself　from　any　interference　and　whatever　upbraiding　might　be　necessary　until　the　fight　had　been　brought　to　a　triumphant　close。　Lord　Falworth　never　heard　directly　of　the　redoubtable　affair；　but　old　Diccon　was　not　so　silent　with　the　common　folk　of　Crosbey…Dale；　and　so　no　doubt　the　father　had　some　inkling　of　what　had　happened。　It　was　shortly　after　this　notable　event　that　Myles　was　formally　initiated　into　squirehood。　His　father　and　mother；　as　was　the　custom；　stood　sponsors　for　him。　By　them；　each　bearing　a　lighted　taper；　he　was　escorted　to　the　altar。　It　was　at　St。　Mary's　Priory；　and　Prior　Edward　blessed　the　sword　and　girded　it　to　the　lad's　side。　No　one　was　present　but　the　four；　and　when　the　good　Prior　had　given　the　benediction　and　had　signed　the　cross　upon　his　forehead；　Myles's　mother　stooped　and　kissed　his　brow　just　where　the　priest's　finger　had　drawn　the　holy　sign。　Her　eyes　brimmed　bright　with　tears　as　she　did　so。　Poor　lady！　perhaps　she　only　then　and　for　the　first　time　realized　how　big　her　fledgling　was　growing　for　his　nest。　Henceforth　Myles　had　the　right　to　wear　a　sword。


Myles　had　ended　his　fifteenth　year。　He　was　a　bonny　lad；　with　brown　face；　curling　hair；　a　square；　strong　chin；　and　a　pair　of　merry　laughing　blue　eyes；　his　shoulders　were　broad；　his　chest　was　thick　of　girth；　his　muscles　and　thews　were　as　tough　as　oak。

The　day　upon　which　he　was　sixteen　years　old；　as　he　came　whistling　home　from　the　monastery　school　he　was　met　by　Diccon　Bowman。

〃Master　Myles；〃　said　the　old　man；　with　a　snuffle　in　his　voice〃Master　Myles；　thy　father　would　see　thee　in　his　chamber；　and　bade　me　send　thee　to　him　as　soon　as　thou　didst　come　home。　Oh；　Master　Myles；　I　fear　me　that　belike　thou　art　going　to　leave　home　to…morrow　day。〃

Myles　stopped　short。　〃To　leave　home！〃　he　cried。

〃Aye；〃　said　old　Diccon；　〃belike　thou　goest　to　some　grand　castle　to　live　there；　and　be　a　page　there　and　what　not；　and　then；　haply；　a　gentleman…　at…arms　in　some　great　lord's　pay。〃

〃What　coil　is　this　about　castles　and　lords　and　gentlemen…at…arms？〃　said　Myles。　〃What　talkest　thou　of；　Diccon？　Art　thou　jesting？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Diccon；　〃I　am　not　jesting。　But　go　to　thy　father；　and　then　thou　wilt　presently　know　all。　Only　this　I　do　say；　that　it　is　like　thou　leavest　us　to…　morrow　day。〃

And　so　it　was　as　Diccon　had　said；　Myles　was　to　leave　home　the　very　next　morning。　He　found　his　father　and　mother　and　Prior　Edward　together；　waiting　for　his　coming。

〃We　three　have　been　talking　it　over　this　morning；〃　said　his　father；　〃and　so　think　each　one　that　the　time　hath　come　for　thee　to　quit　this　poor　home　of　ours。　An　thou　stay　here　ten　years　longer；　thou'lt　be　no　more　fit　to　go　then　than　now。　To…morrow　I　will　give　thee　a　letter　to　my　kinsman；　the　Earl　of　Mackworth。　He　has　thriven　in　these　days　and　I　have　fallen　away；　but　time　was　that　he　and　I　were　true　sworn　companions；　and　plighted　together　in　friendship　never　to　be　sundered。　Methinks；　as　I　remember　him；　he　will　abide　by　his　plighted　troth；　and　will　give　thee　his　aid　to　rise　in　the　world。　So；　as　I　said；　to…morrow　morning　thou　shalt　set　forth　with　Diccon　Bowman；　and　shall　go　to　Castle　Devlen；　and　there　deliver　this　letter　which　prayeth　him　to　give　thee　a　place　in　his　household。　Thou　mayst　have　this　afternoon　to　thyself　to　make　read　such　things　as　thou　shalt　take　with　thee。　And　bid　me　Diccon　to　take　the　gray　horse　to　the　village　and　have　it　shod。〃

Prior　Edward　had　been　standing　looking　out　of　the　window。　As　Lord　Falworth　ended　he　turned。

〃And；　Myles；〃　said　he；　〃thou　wilt　need　some　money；　so　I　will　give　thee　as　a　loan　forty　shillings；　which　some　day　thou　mayst　return　to　me　an　thou　wilt。　For　this　know；　Myles；　a　man　cannot　do　in　the　world　without　money。　Thy　father　hath　it　ready　for　thee　in　the　chest；　and　will　give　it　thee　to…morrow　ere　thou　goest。〃

Lord　Falworth　had　the　grim　strength　of　manhood's　hard　sense　to　upbear　him　in　sending　his　son　into　the　world；　but　the　poor　lady　mother　had　nothing　of　that　to　uphold　her。　No　doubt　it　was　as　hard　then　as　it　is　now　for　the　mother　to　see　the　nestling　thrust　from　the　nest　to　shift　for　itself。　What　tears　were　shed；　what　words　of　love　were　spoken　to　the　only　man…child；　none　but　the　mother　and　the　son　ever　knew。

The　next　morning　Myles　and　the　old　bowman　rode　away；　and　no　doubt　to　the　boy　himself　the　dark　shadows　of　leave…taking　were　lost　in　the　golden　light　of　hope　as　he　rode　out　into　the　great　world　to　seek　his　fortune。



CHAPTER　3

WHAT　MYLES　remembered　of　Falworth　loomed　great　and　grand　and　big；　as　things　do　in　the　memory　of　childhood；　but　even　memory　could　not　make　Falworth　the　equal　of　Devlen　Castle；　when；　as　he　and　Diccon　Bowman　rode　out　of　Devlentown　across　the　great；　rude　stone　bridge　that　spanned　the　river；　he　first　saw；　rising　above　the　crowns　of　the　trees；　those　huge　hoary　walls；　and　the　steep　roofs　and　chimneys　clustered　thickly　together；　like　the　roofs　and　chimneys　of　a　town。

The　castle　was　built　upon　a　plateau…like　rise　of　ground；　which　was　enclosed　by　the　outer　wall。　It　was　surrounded　on　three　sides　by　a　loop…like　bend　of　the　river；　and　on　the　fourth　was　protected　by　a　deep；　broad；　artificial　moat；　almost　as　wide　as　the　stream　from　which　it　was　fed。　The　road　from　the　town　wound　for　a　little　distance　along　by　the　edge　of　this　moat。　As　Myles　and　the　old　bowman　galloped　by；　with　the　answering　echo　of　their　horses'　hoof…beats　rattling　back　from　the　smooth　stone　face　of　the　walls；　the　lad　looked　up；　wondering　at　the　height　and　strength　of　the　great　ancient　fortress。　In　his　air…castle　building　Myles　had　pictured　the　Earl　receiving　him　as　the　son　of　his　one…time　comrade　in　armsreceiving　him；　perhaps；　with　somewhat　of　the　rustic　warmth　that　he　knew　at　Crosbey…Dale；　but　now；　as　he　stared　at　those　massive　walls　from　below；　and　realized　his　own　insignificance　and　the　greatness　of　this　great　Earl；　he　felt　the　first　keen；　helpless　ache　of　homesickness　shoot　through　his　breast；　and　his　heart　yearned　for　Crosbey…Holt　again。

Then　they　thundered　across　the　bridge　that　spanned　the　moat；　and　through　the　dark　shadows　of　the　great　gaping　gate…way；　and　Diccon；　bidding　him　stay　for　a　moment；　rode　forward　to　bespeak　the　gate…keeper。

The　gate…keeper　gave　the　two　in　charge　of　one　of　the　men…at…arms　who　were　lounging　upon　a　bench　in　the　archway；　who　in　turn　gave　them　into　the　care　of　one　of　the　house…servants　in　the　outer　court…yard。　So；　having　been　passed　from　one　to　another；　and　having　answered　many　questions；　Myles　in　due　time　found　himself　in　the　outer　waiting…room　sitting　beside　Diccon　Bowman　upon　a　wooden　be