red eve-第22章

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Abbeville。　〃Oh；　without　doubt　well　enough。　It　is　she　who　should　wonder
how　it　fares　with　us。　Let　us　hope　that；　having　naught　else　to　do；　she
remembers　us　in　her　prayers；　since　in　such　a　case　even　one　woman's
prayers　are　worth　something；　for　does　not　a　single　feather　sometimes
turn　the　scale？〃

〃I　think　that　Eve　would　rather　fight　than　pray；〃　answered　Hugh；　with　a
smile；　〃like　old　Sir　Andrew；　who　would　give　half　his　remaining　days　to
sit　here　with　us　this　afternoon。　Well；　he　is　better　where　he　is。　Dick；
that　knave　Acour　sent　only　insolent　words　in　answer　to　my　challenge；
which　I　despatched　to　him　by　the　knight　I　took　and　spared　at　Caen。〃

〃Why　should　he　do　more；　master？　He　can　find　plenty　of　ways　of　dying
without　risking　a　single　combat　with　one　whom　he　has　wronged　and　who
is　therefore　very　dangerous。　You　remember　his　crest；　mastera　silver
swan　painted　on　his　shield。　I　knew　it；　and　that　is　why　I　shot　that
poor　fowl　just　before　you　killed　young　Clavering　on　the　banks　of
Blythe；　to　teach　him　that　swans　are　not　proof　against　arrows。　Watch
for　the　swan　crest；　master；　when　the　battle　joins；　and　so　will　I；　I
promise　you。〃

〃Ay；　I'll　watch；〃　said　Hugh　grimly。　〃God　help　all　swans　that　come　my
way。　Let　us　pray　that　this　one　has　not　taken　wing；　for　if　so　I；　too；
must　learn　to　fly。〃

Thus　they　talked　of　these　and　other　things　amongst　the　hum　of　the
great　camp；　which　was　like　to　that　of　bees　on　a　lime…tree　in　summer；
and　whilst　they　talked　the　blue　August　sky　became　suddenly　overcast。
Dense　and　heavy　clouds　hid　up　its　face；　a　cold　and　fitful　wind　began
to　blow；　increasing　presently　to　a　gale　which　caused　the　planted
standards；　blazoned　with　lions　rampant　and　with　fleurs…de…lis；　and　the
pennons　of　a　hundred　knights　set　here　and　there　among　the　long　battle
lines；　first　to　flap　and　waver　and　then　to　stand　out　straight　as
though　they　were　cut　of　iron。

A　word　of　command　was　called　from　rank　to　rank。

〃Sheath　bows！〃　it　said；　and　instantly　thousands　of　slender　points　were
lifted　and　sank　again；　vanishing　into　the　leathern　cases　which　the
archers　bore。

Scarcely　were　these　snug　when　the　storm　broke。　First　fell　a　few　heavy
drops；　to　be　followed　by　such　a　torrent　that　all　who　had　cloaks　were
glad　to　wear　them。　From　the　black　clouds　above　leapt　lightnings　that
were　succeeded　by　the　deep　and　solemn　roll　of　thunder。　A　darkness　fell
upon　the　field　so　great　that　men　wondered　what　it　might　portend；　for
their　minds　were　strained。　That　which　at　other　times　would　have　passed
without　remark；　now　became　portentous。　Indeed；　afterward　some　declared
that　through　it　they　had　seen　angels　or　demons　in　the　air；　and　others
that　they　had　heard　a　voice　prophesying　woe　and　death；　to　whom　they
knew　not。

〃It　is　nothing　but　a　harvest　tempest；〃　said　Dick　presently；　as　he
shook　the　wet　from　him　like　a　dog　and　looked　to　the　covering　of　his
quiver。　〃See；　the　clouds　break。〃

As　he　spoke　a　single　red　ray　from　the　westering　sun　shot　through　a
rift　in　the　sky　and　lay　across　the　English　host　like　a　sword　of　light；
whereof　the　point　hung　over　the　eastern　plain。　Save　for　this　flaming
sword　all　else　was　dark；　and　silent　also；　for　the　rain　and　thunder　had
died　away。　Only　thousands　of　crows；　frightened　from　the　woods；　wheeled
to　and　fro　above；　their　black　wings　turning　to　the　redness　of　blood　as
they　crossed　and　recrossed　that　splendid　path　of　light；　and　their
hoarse　cries　filling　the　solemn　air　with　clamour。　The　sight　and　sounds
were　strange；　nor　did　the　thickest…headed　fellow　crouched　upon　Crecy's
fateful　plain　ever　forget　them　till　his　dying　day。

The　sky　cleared　by　slow　degrees；　the　multitudes　of　crows　wheeled　off
toward　the　east　and　vanished；　the　sun　shone　out　again　in　quiet　glory。

〃Pray　God　the　French　fight　us　to…day；〃　said　Hugh　as　he　took　off　his
cloak　and　rolled　it　up。

〃Why；　master？〃

〃Because；　Dick；　it　is　written　that　the　rain　falls　on　the　just　and　the
unjust；　and　the　unjust；　that　is　the　French；　or　rather　the　Italians
whom　they　hire；　use　these　new…fangled　cross…bows　which　as　you　know
cannot　be　cased　like　ours；　and　therefore　stretch　their　strings　in
wet。〃

〃Master；〃　remarked　Dick；　〃I　did　not　think　you　had　so　much　witthat
is；　since　you　fell　in　love；　for　before　then　you　were　sharp　enough。
Well；　you　are　right；　and　a　little　matter　like　that　may　turn　a　battle。
Not　but　what　I　had　thought　of　it　already。〃

Hugh　was　about　to　answer　with　spirit；　when　a　sound　of　distant　shouting
broke　upon　their　ears；　a　very　mighty　sound；　and　next　instant　some
outposts　were　seen　galloping　in；　calling：　〃Arm！　Arm！　The　French！　The
French！〃

Suddenly　there　appeared　thousands　of　cross…bow　men；　in　thick；　wavering
lines；　and　behind　them　the　points　of　thousands　of　spears；　whose
bearers　as　yet　were　hidden　by　the　living　screen　of　the　Italian
archers。　Yes；　before　them　was　the　mighty　host　of　France　glittering　in
the　splendid　light　of　the　westering　sun；　which　shone　full　into　their
faces。

The　irregular　lines　halted。　Perhaps　there　was　something　in　the　aspect
of　those　bands　of　Englishmen　still　seated　in　silence　on　the　ground；
with　never　a　horse　among　them；　that　gave　them　pause。　Then；　as　though
at　a　word　of　command；　the　Genoese　cross…bow　men　set　up　a　terrific
shout。

〃Do　they　think　to　make　us　run　at　a　noise；　like　hares？〃　said　Hugh
contemptuously。

But　Grey　Dick　made　no　answer；　for　already　his　pale　eyes　were　fixed
upon　the　foe　with　a　stare　that　Hugh　thought　was　terrible；　and　his　long
fingers　were　playing　with　the　button　of　his　bow…case。　The　Genoese
advanced　a　little　way；　then　again　stood　and　shouted；　but　still　the
English　sat　silent。

A　third　time　they　advanced　and　shouted　more　loudly　than　before；　then
began　to　wind　up　their　cross…bows。

From　somewhere　in　the　English　centre　rose　a　heavy；　thudding　sound
which　was　new　to　war。　It　came　from　the　mouths　of　cannons　now　for　the
first　time　fired　on　a　field　of　battle；　and　at　the　report　of　them　the
Genoese；　frightened；　fell　back　a　little。　Seeing　that　the　balls　fell
short　and　did　but　hop　toward　them　slowly；　they　took　courage　again　and
began　to　loose　their　bolts。

〃You're　right；　master；〃　exclaimed　Grey　Dick　in　a　fierce　chuckle；
〃their　strings　/are/　wet；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　quarrels　that；　like
the　cannon　balls；　struck　short；　some　within　fifty　paces　of　those　who
shot　them；　so　that　no　man　was　hurt。

Now　came　a　swift　command；　and　the　English　ranks　rose　to　their　feet；
uncased　their　bows　and　strung　them　all　as　though　with　a　single　hand。　A
second　command　and　every　bow　was　bent。　A　third　and　with　a　noise　that
was　half　hiss　and　half　moan；　thousands　of　arrows　leapt　forward。
Forward　they　leapt；　and　swift　and　terrible　they　fell　among　the　ranks
of　the　advancing　Genoese。　Yes；　and　ere　ever　one　had　found　its　billet；
its　quiver…mate　was　hastening　on　its　path。　Thenoh！　the　sunlight
showed　it　allthe　Genoese　rolled　over　by　scores；　their　frail　armour
bitten　through　and　through　by　the　grey　English　arrows。　By　scores　that
grew　to　hundreds；　that　grew　till　the　poor；　helpless　men　who　were　yet
unhurt　among　them　wailed　out　in　their　fear；　and；　after　one　short；
hesitant　moment；　surged　back　upon　the　long　lines　of　men…at…arms
behind。

From　these　arose　a　great　shout：　〃/Trahison！　Trahison！　Tuez！　Tuez！/〃
Next　instant　the　appalling　sight　was　seen　of　the　chivalry　of　France
falling　upon　their　friends；　whose　only　crime　was　that　their　bow…
strings　were　wet；　and　butchering　them　where　they　stood。　So　awful　and
unexpected　was　this　spectacle　that　for　a　little　while　the　English
archers；　all　except　Grey　Dick　and　a　few　others　cast　in　the　same　iron
mould；　ceased　to　ply　their　bows　and　watched　amazed。

The　long　shafts　began　to　fly　again；　raining　alike　upon　the
slaughterers　and　the　slaughtered。　A　few　minutes；　five　perhaps；　and
this　terrible　scene　was　over；　for　of　the　seven　thousand　Genoese　but　a
tithe　remained　upon　their　feet；　and　the　interminable　French　lines；
clad　in　sparkling　steel　and　waving　lance　and　sword；　charged　down　upon
the　little　English　band。

〃Now　for　the　feast！〃　screamed　Grey　Dick。　〃That　was　but　a　snack　to
sharp　the　appetite；〃　and　as　he　said　the　words　a　gorgeous　knight　died
with　his　arrow　through　the　heart。

It　came；　the　charge　came。　Nothing　could　stop　it。　Down　went　man　and
horse；　line　upon　line　of　them　swept　to　death　by　the　pitiless　English
arrows；　but　still　more　rushed　on。　They　fell　in　the　pits　that　had　been
dug；　they　died　beneath　the　shafts　and　the　hoofs　of　those　that
followed；　but　still　they　struggled　on；　shouting：　〃Philip　and　St。
Denis！〃　and　waving　their　golden　banner；　the　Oriflamme　of　France。

The　charge　crept　up　as　a　reluctant；　outworn　wave　creeps　to　a　resisting
rock。　It　foamed　upon　the　rock。　The　archers　ceased　to　shoot　and　drew
their　axes。　The　men…at…arms　leapt　forward。　The　battle　had　joined　at
last！　Breast　to　breast　they　wrestled　now。　Hugh's　sword　was　red；　and
red　was　Grey　Dick's　axe。　Fight　as　they　would；　the　English　were　borne
back。　The　young　Prince　waved　his　arm；　screaming　something；　and　at　that
sight　the　English　line　checked　its　retreat；　stood　still；　and　next
plunged　forward　with　a　roar　of：

〃England　and　the　Prince！〃

That　assault　was　over。　Backward　rolled　the　ride　of　men；　those　who　were
left　living。　After　them　went　the　dark　Welsh。　Their　commanders　ordered
them　to　stand；　the　Earl　of　Warwick　ordered　them　to　stand。　The　Prince
himself　ordered　them　to　stand；　running　in　front　of　them；　only　to　be
swept　aside　like　a　straw　before　a　draught　of　wind。　Out　they　broke；
grinning　and　gnashing　their　teeth；　great　knives　in　their　hands。

The　red　Dragon　of　Merlin　which　a　giant　bore　led　them　on。　It　sank；　it
fell；　it　rose　again。　The　giant　was　down；　but　another　had　it。　They
scrambled　over　the　mass　of　dead　and　dying。　They　got　among　the　living
beyond。　With　eerie　screams　they　houghed　the　horses　and；　when　the
riders　fell；　hacked　open　the　lacings　of　their　helms；　and；　unheeding　of
any　cries　for　mercy；　drove　the　great　knives　home。　At　length　all　were
dead；　and　they　returned　again　waving　those　red　knives　and　singing　some
fierce　chant　in　their　unknown　tongue。

The　battle　was　not　over　yet。　Fresh　horses　of　Frenchmen　gathered　out　of
arrow　range；　and　charged　again　under　the　banners　of　Blois；　Alencon；
Lorraine；　and　Flanders。　Forward　they　swept；　and　with　them　came　one　who
looked　like　a　king；　for　he　wore　a　crown　upon　his　helm。　The　hawk…eyed
Dick　noted　him；　and　that　his　bridle　was　bound　to　those　of　the　knights
who　rode　upon　his　either　side。　On　them　he　rained　shafts　from　his　great
black　bow；　for　Grey　Dick　never　shot　without　an　aim；　and　after　the
battle　one　of　his　marked　arrows　was　found　fixed　in　the　throat　of　the
blind　king　of　Bohemia。

This　second　charge　could　not　be　stayed。　Step　by　step　the　English
knights　were　beaten　back；　the　line　of　archers　was　broken　through；　his
guard　formed　round　the　Prince；　Hugh　among　them。　Heavy　horses　swept　on
to　them。　Beneath　the　hoofs　of　one　of　these　Hugh　was　felled；　but；
stabbing　it　from　below；　caused　the　poor　beast　to　leap　aside。　He　gained
his　feet　again。　The　Prince　was　down；　a　splendid　knightit　was　the
Count　of　Flanderswho　had　sprung　from　his　horse；　stood　over　him；　his
sword　point　at　his　throat；　and　called　on　him　to　yield。　Up　ran　Robert
Fitzsimmon；　the　standard　bearer；　shouting：

〃To　the　son　of　the　King！　To　the　son　of　the　Ki