men of iron-第7章

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to　any　of　these　new　friends　of　thine；　nor　who　he　is；　nor　what　he　is。〃

〃But　how　came　my　father　to　be　so　banned？〃　said　Myles；　in　a　constrained　and　husky　voice；　and　after　a　long　time　of　silence。

〃That　I　may　not　tell　thee　just　now；〃　said　the　old　knight；　〃only　thisthat　I　have　been　bidden　to　make　it　known　to　thee　that　thy　father　hath　an　enemy　full　as　powerful　as　my　Lord　the　Earl　himself；　and　that　through　that　enemy　all　his　ill…fortune　his　blindness　and　everythinghath　come。　Moreover；　did　this　enemy　know　where　thy　father　lieth；　he　would　slay　him　right　speedily。〃

〃Sir；〃　cried　Myles；　violently　smiting　his　open　palm　upon　the　table；　〃tell　me　who　this　man　is；　and　I　will　kill　him！〃

Sir　James　smiled　grimly。　〃Thou　talkest　like　a　boy；〃　said　he。　〃Wait　until　thou　art　grown　to　be　a　man。　Mayhap　then　thou　mayst　repent　thee　of　these　bold　words；　for　one　time　this　enemy　of　thy　father's　was　reckoned　the　foremost　knight　in　England；　and　he　is　now　the　King's　dear　friend　and　a　great　lord。〃

〃But；〃　said　Myles；　after　another　long　time　of　heavy　silence；　〃will　not　my　Lord　then　befriend　me　for　the　sake　of　my　father；　who　was　one　time　his　dear　comrade？〃

Sir　James　shook　his　head。　〃It　may　not　be；〃　said　he。　〃Neither　thou　nor　thy　father　must　look　for　open　favor　from　the　Earl。　An　he　befriended　Falworth；　and　it　came　to　be　known　that　he　had　given　him　aid　or　succor；　it　might　belike　be　to　his　own　undoing。　No；　boy；　thou　must　not　even　look　to　be　taken　into　the　household　to　serve　with　gentlemen　as　the　other　squires　do　serve；　but　must　even　live　thine　own　life　here　and　fight　thine　own　way。〃

Myles's　eyes　blazed。　〃Then；〃　cried　he；　fiercely；　〃it　is　shame　and　attaint　upon　my　Lord　the　Earl；　and　cowardice　as　well；　and　never　will　I　ask　favor　of　him　who　is　so　untrue　a　friend　as　to　turn　his　back　upon　a　comrade　in　trouble　as　he　turneth　his　back　upon　my　father。〃

〃Thou　art　a　foolish　boy；〃　said　Sir　James　with　a　bitter　smile；　〃and　knowest　naught　of　the　world。　An　thou　wouldst　look　for　man　to　befriend　man　to　his　own　danger；　thou　must　look　elsewhere　than　on　this　earth。　Was　I　not　one　time　Mackworth's　dear　friend　as　well　as　thy　father？　It　could　cost　him　naught　to　honor　me；　and　here　am　I　fallen　to　be　a　teacher　of　boys。　Go　to！　thou　art　a　fool。〃

Then；　after　a　little　pause　of　brooding　silence；　he　went　on　to　say　that　the　Earl　was　no　better　or　worse　than　the　rest　of　the　world。　That　men　of　his　position　had　many　jealous　enemies；　ever　seeking　their　ruin；　and　that　such　must　look　first　of　all　each　to　himself；　or　else　be　certainly　ruined；　and　drag　down　others　in　that　ruin。　Myles　was　silenced；　but　the　bitterness　had　entered　his　heart；　and　abided　with　him　for　many　a　day　afterwards。

Perhaps　Sir　James　read　his　feelings　in　his　frank　face；　for　he　sat　looking　curiously　at　him；　twirling　his　grizzled　mustache　the　while。　〃Thou　art　like　to　have　hard　knocks　of　it；　lad；　ere　thou　hast　gotten　thee　safe　through　the　world；〃　said　he；　with　more　kindness　in　his　harsh　voice　than　was　usual。　〃But　get　thee　not　into　fights　before　thy　time。〃　Then　he　charged　the　boy　very　seriously　to　live　at　peace　with　his　fellow…squires；　and　for　his　father's　sake　as　well　as　his　own　to　enter　into　none　of　the　broils　that　were　so　frequent　in　their　quarters。

It　was　with　this　special　admonition　against　brawling　that　Myles　was　dismissed；　to　enter；　before　five　minutes　had　passed；　into　the　first　really　great　fight　of　his　life。


Besides　Gascoyne　and　Wilkes；　he　found　gathered　in　the　dormitory　six　or　eight　of　the　company　of　squires　who　were　to　serve　that　day　upon　household　duty；　among　others；　Walter　Blunt　and　three　other　bachelors；　who　were　changing　their　coarse　service　clothes　for　others　more　fit　for　the　household。

〃Why　didst　thou　tarry　so　long；　Myles？〃　said　Gascoyne；　as　he　entered。　〃Methought　thou　wert　never　coming。〃

〃Where　goest　thou；　Falworth？〃　called　Blunt　from　the　other　end　of　the　room；　where　he　was　lacing　his　doublet。

Just　now　Myles　had　no　heart　in　the　swimming　or　sport　of　any　sort；　but　he　answered；　shortly；　〃I　go　to　the　river　to　swim。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　Blunt；　〃thou　goest　not　forth　from　the　castle　to…day。　Hast　thou　forgot　how　thou　didst　answer　me　back　about　fetching　the　water　this　morning？　This　day　thou　must　do　penance；　so　go　thou　straight　to　the　armory　and　scour　thou　up　my　breastplate。〃

From　the　time　he　had　arisen　that　morning　everything　had　gone　wrong　with　Myles。　He　had　felt　himself　already　outrated　in　rendering　service　to　the　bachelors；　he　had　quarrelled　with　the　head　of　the　esquires；　he　had　nearly　quarrelled　with　Gascoyne；　and　then　had　come　the　bitterest　and　worst　of　all；　the　knowledge　that　his　father　was　an　outlaw；　and　that　the　Earl　would　not　stretch　out　a　hand　to　aid　him　or　to　give　him　any　countenance。　Blunt's　words　brought　the　last　bitter　cut　to　his　heart；　and　they　stung　him　to　fury。　For　a　while　he　could　not　answer；　but　stood　glaring　with　a　face　fairly　convulsed　with　passion　at　the　young　man；　who　continued　his　toilet；　unconscious　of　the　wrath　of　the　new　recruit。

Gascoyne　and　Wilkes；　accepting　Myles's　punishment　as　a　thing　of　course；　were　about　to　leave　the　dormitory　when　Myles　checked　them。

〃Stop；　Francis！〃　he　cried；　hoarsely。　〃Thinkest　thou　that　I　will　stay　behind　to　do　yon　dog's　dirty　work？　No；　I　go　with　ye。〃

A　moment　or　two　of　dumb；　silent　amazement　followed　his　bold　words；　then　Blunt　cried；　〃Art　thou　mad？〃

〃Nay；〃　answered　Myles　in　the　same　hoarse　voice；　〃I　am　not　mad。　I　tell　thee　a　better　man　than　thou　shouldst　not　stay　me　from　going　an　I　list　to　go。

〃I　will　break　thy　cockerel　head　for　that　speech；〃　said　Blunt；　furiously。　He　stooped　as　he　spoke；　and　picked　up　a　heavy　clog　that　lay　at　his　feet。

It　was　no　insignificant　weapon　either。　The　shoes　of　those　days　were　sometimes　made　of　cloth；　and　had　long　pointed　toes　stuffed　with　tow　or　wool。　In　muddy　weather　thick　heavy　clogs　or　wooden　soles　were　strapped；　like　a　skate；　to　the　bottom　of　the　foot。　That　clog　which　Blunt　had　seized　was　perhaps　eighteen　or　twenty　inches　long；　two　or　two　and　a　half　inches　thick　at　the　heel；　tapering　to　a　point　at　the　toe。　As　the　older　lad　advanced；　Gascoyne　stepped　between　him　and　his　victim。

〃Do　not　harm　him；　Blunt；〃　he　pleaded。　〃Bear　thou　in　mind　how　new…come　he　is　among　us。　He　knoweth　not　our　ways　as　yet。〃

〃Stand　thou　back；　Gascoyne；〃　said　Blunt；　harshly；　as　he　thrust　him　aside。　〃I　will　teach　him　our　ways　so　that　he　will　not　soon　forget　them。〃

Close　to　Myles's　feet　was　another　clog　like　that　one　which　Blunt　held。　He　snatched　it　up；　and　set　his　back　against　the　wall；　with　a　white　face　and　a　heart　beating　heavily　and　tumultuously；　but　with　courage　steeled　to　meet　the　coming　encounter。　There　was　a　hard；　grim　look　in　his　blue　eyes　that；　for　a　moment　perhaps；　quelled　the　elder　lad。　He　hesitated。　〃Tom！　Wat！　Ned！〃　he　called　to　the　other　bachelors；　〃come　hither；　and　lend　me　a　hand　with　this　knave。〃

〃An　ye　come　nigh　me；〃　panted　Myles；　〃I　will　brain　the　first　within　reach。〃

Then　Gascoyne　dodged　behind　the　others；　and；　without　being　seen；　slipped　out　of　the　room　for　help。

The　battle　that　followed　was　quick；　sharp；　and　short。　As　Blunt　strode　forward；　Myles　struck；　and　struck　with　might　and　main；　but　he　was　too　excited　to　deliver　his　blow　with　calculation。　Blunt　parried　it　with　the　clog　he　held；　and　the　next　instant；　dropping　his　weapon；　gripped　Myles　tight　about　the　body；　pinning　his　arms　to　his　sides。

Myles　also　dropped　the　clog　he　held；　and；　wrenching　out　his　right　arm　with　a　sudden　heave；　struck　Blunt　full　in　the　face；　and　then　with　another　blow　sent　him　staggering　back。　It　all　passed　in　an　instant；　the　next　the　three　other　bachelors　were　upon　him；　catching　him　by　the　body；　the　arms；　the　legs。　For　a　moment　or　two　they　swayed　and　stumbled　hither　and　thither；　and　then　down　they　fell　in　a　struggling　heap。

Myles　fought　like　a　wild…cat；　kicking；　struggling；　scratching；　striking　with　elbows　and　fists。　He　caught　one　of　the　three　by　his　collar；　and　tore　his　jacket　open　from　the　neck　to　the　waist；　he　drove　his　foot　into　the　pit　of　the　stomach　of　another；　and　knocked　him　breathless。　The　other　lads　not　in　the　fight　stood　upon　the　benches　and　the　beds　around；　but　such　was　the　awe　inspired　by　the　prestige　of　the　bachelors　that　not　one　of　them　dared　to　lend　hand　to　help　him；　and　so　Myles　fought　his　fierce　battle　alone。

But　four　to　one　were　odds　too　great；　and　though　Myles　struggled　as　fiercely　as　ever；　by…and…by　it　was　with　less　and　less　resistance。

Blunt　had　picked　up　the　clog　he　had　dropped　when　he　first　attacked　the　lad；　and　now　stood　over　the　struggling　heap；　white　with　rage；　the　blood　running　from　his　lip；　cut　and　puffed　where　Myles　had　struck　him；　and　murder　looking　out　from　his　face；　if　ever　it　looked　out　of　the　face　of　any　mortal　being。

〃Hold　him　a　little；〃　said　he；　fiercely；　〃and　I　will　still　him　for　you。〃

Even　yet　it　was　no　easy　matter　for　the　others　to　do　his　bidding；　but　presently　he　got　his　chance　and　struck　a　heavy；　cruel　blow　at　Myles's　head。　Myles　only　partly　warded　it　with　his　arm。　Hitherto　he　had　fought　in　silence；　now　he　gave　a　harsh　cry。

〃Holy　Saints！〃　cried　Edmund　Wilkes。　〃They　will　kill　him。〃

Blunt　struck　two　more　blows；　both　of　them　upon　the　body；　and　then　at　last　they　had　the　poor　boy　down；　with　his　face　upon　the　ground　and　his　arms　pinned　to　his　sides；　and　Blunt；　bracing　himself　for　the　stroke；　with　a　grin　of　rage　raised　a　heavy　clog　for　one　terrible　blow　that　should　finish　the　fight。



CHAPTER　9

〃How　now；　messieurs？〃　said　a　harsh　voice；　that　fell　upon　the　turmoil　like　a　thunder…clap；　and　there　stood　Sir　James　Lee。　Instantly　the　struggle　ceased；　and　the　combatants　scrambled　to　their　feet。

The　older　lads　stood　silent　before　their　chief；　but　Myles　was　deaf　and　blind　and　mad　with　passion；　he　knew　not　where　he　stood　or　what　he　said　or　did。　White　as　death；　he　stood　for　a　while　glaring　about　him；　catching　his　breath　convulsively。　Then　he　screamed　hoarsely。

〃Who　struck　me？　Who　struck　me　when　I　was　down？　I　will　have　his　blood　that　struck　me！〃　He　caught　sight　of　Blunt。　〃It　was　he　that　struck　me！〃　he　cried。　〃Thou　foul　traitor！　thou　coward！〃　and　thereupon　leaped　at　his　enemy　like　a　wild…cat。

〃Stop！〃　cried　Sir　James　Lee；　clutching　him　by　the　arm。

Myles　was　too　blinded　by　his　fury　to　see　who　it　was　that　held　him。　〃I　will　not　stop！〃　he　cried；　struggling　and　striking　at　the　knight。　〃Let　me　go！　I　will　have　his　life　that　struck　me　when　I　was　down！〃

The　next　moment　he　found　himself　pinned　close　against　the　wall；　and　then；　as　though　his　sight　came　back；　he　saw　the　grim　face　of　the　old　one…　eyed　knight　looking　into　his。

〃Dost　thou　know　who　I　am？〃　said　a　stern；　harsh　voice。

Instantly　Myles　ceased　struggling；　and　his　arms　fell　at　his　side。　〃Aye；〃　he　said；　in　a　gasping　voice；　〃I　know　thee。〃　He　swallowed　spasmodically　for　a　moment　or　two；　and　then；　in　the　sudden　revulsion　of　feeling；　burst　out　sobbing　convulsively。

Sir　James　marched　the　two　off　to　his　office；　he　himself　walking　between　them；　holding　an　arm　of　each；　the　other　lads　following　behind；　awe…struck　and　silent。　Entering　the　office；　Sir　James　shut　the　door　behind　him；　leaving　the　group　of　squires　clustered　outside　about　the　stone　steps；　speculating　in　whispers　as　to　what　would　be　the　outcome　of　the　matter。

After　Sir　James　had　seated　himself；　the　two　standing　facing　him；　he　regarded　them　for　a　while　in　silence。　〃