the virgin of the sun-第7章

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scramble　over　sheer　ground。　What　is　more；　a　party　of　the　French；
seeing　our　plight；　followed　us。　Perhaps　some　of　them　guessed　who　the
lady　was；　for　there　were　many　spies　in　Hastings　who　might　have　told
them；　and　desired　to　capture　and　hold　her　to　ransom。

At　the　least　they　came　on　after　us　and　a　few　others；　women　all　of
them；　who　had　joined　our　company；　being　unable　to　travel　further；　or
trusting　to　William　Bull　and　myself　to　protect　them。

We　reached　the　cave；　and　thrusting　the　women　along　it；　William　and　I
stood　in　the　mouth　and　waited。　He　had　no　bow　and　all　my　arrows　were
gone　save　three；　but　of　these　I；　who　was　noted　for　my　archery；
determined　to　make　the　best　use　I　could。　So　I　drew　them　out；　and
having　strung　the　bow；　sat　down　to　get　my　breath。　On　came　the　French；
shouting　and　jabbering　at　us　to　the　effect　that　they　would　cut　our
throats　and　carry　off　/la　belle　dame/　to　be　their　sport。

〃She　shall　be　mine！〃　yelled　a　big　fellow　with　a　flattened　nose　and　a
wide　mouth　who　was　ahead　of　the　others；　and　not　more　than　fifty　yards
away。

I　rose；　and　praying　my　patron；　good　St。　Hubert　after　whom　I　was　named
because　I　first　saw　light　upon　his　day；　the　23rd　of　November；　to　give
me　skill；　I　drew　the　great　bow　to　my　ear；　aimed；　and　loosed。　Nor　did
St。　Hubert；　a　lover　of　fine　shooting；　fail　me　in　my　need；　for　that
arrow　rushed　out　and　found　its　home　in　the　big　mouth　of　the　Frenchman；
through　which　it　passed；　pinning　his　foul　tongue　to　his　neck　bone。

Down　he　went；　and　cheered　by　the　sight　I　refitted　and　loosed　at　the
next。　Him；　too；　the　arrow　caught；　so　that　he　fell　almost　on　the　other。

I　set　the　third　and　last　arrow　on　the　string　and　waited　a　space。
Behind　these　two　was　a　squat；　broad　man；　a　knight　I　suppose；　for　he
wore　armour；　and　had　a　shield　with　a　cock　painted　on　it。　This　man；
frightened　by　the　fate　of　his　companions；　yet　not　minded　to　give　up
the　venture　for　those　in　rear　of　him　urged　him　on；　bent　himself　almost
double；　and　holding　the　shield　over　his　helm　which　was　closed；　so　as
to　protect　his　head　and　body；　came　on　at　a　good　pace。

I　waited　till　he　was　within　five…and…twenty　yards　or　so；　hoping　that
the　roughness　of　the　ground　would　cause　him　to　stumble　and　the　shield
to　shift　so　that　I　could　get　a　chance　at　him　behind　it。　But　I　did　not；
so　at　last；　again　praying　to　St。　Hubert；　I　drew　the　big　bow　till　the
string　touched　my　ear；　and　let　drive。　The　shaft；　pointed　with　tempered
steel；　struck　the　shield　full　in　the　centre；　and　by　Heaven；　pierced
it；　aye；　and　the　mail　behind；　aye；　and　the　flesh　it　covered；　so　that
he；　too；　got　his　death。

〃A　great　shot；　Master；〃　said　William；　〃that　no　other　bow　in　Hastings
could　have　sped。〃

〃Not　so　ill；〃　I　answered；　〃but　it　is　my　last。　Now　we　must　fight　as　we
can　with　sword　and　axe　until　we　be　sped。〃

William　nodded；　and　the　women　in　the　cave　began　to　wail　while　I
unstrung　my　bow　and　set　it　in　its　case；　from　habit　I　think；　seeing
that　I　never　hoped　to　look　upon　it　again。

Just　then　from　the　French　ships　in　the　harbour　there　came　a　great
blaring　of　trumpets　giving　some　alarm；　and　the　Frenchmen　of　a　sudden；
ceasing　from　their　attack；　turned　and　ran　towards　the　shore。　I　stepped
out　of　the　cave　with　William　and　looked。　There　on　the　sea；　drawing
near　from　the　east　before　a　good　wind；　I　saw　ships；　and　saw；　too；　that
from　their　masts　flew　the　pennons　of　England；　for　the　golden　leopards
gleamed　in　the　sun。

〃It　is　our　fleet；　William；〃　I　said；　〃come　to　talk　with　these　French。〃

〃Then　I　would　that　it　had　come　sooner；〃　answered　William。　〃Still；
better　now　than　not　at　all。〃



Thus　were　we　saved；　through　Hamo　de　Offyngton；　the　Abbot　of　Battle
Abbey；　or　so　I　was　told　afterwards；　who　collected　a　force　by　land　and
sea　and　drove　off　the　French　after　they　had　ravaged　the　Isle　of　Wight；
attacked　Winchelsea；　and　burned　the　greater　part　of　Hastings。　So　it
came　about　that　in　the　end　these　pirates　took　little　benefit　by　their
wickedness；　since　they　lost　sundry　ships　with　all　on　board；　and　others
left　in　such　haste　that　their　people　remained　on　shore　where　they　were
slain　by　the　mob　that　gathered　as　soon　as　it　was　seen　that　they　were
deserted；　helped　by　a　company　of　the　Abbot's　men　who　had　marched　from
Battle。　But　with　all　this　I　had　nothing　to　do　who　now　that　the　fight
was　over；　felt　weak　as　a　child　and　could　think　of　little　save　that　I
had　seen　my　mother　burning。

Presently；　however；　that　happened　which　woke　me　from　my　grief　and
caused　my　blood　which　had　grown　sluggish　to　run　again。　For　when　she
knew　that　she　was　safe　the　lady　Blanche　came　out　of　the　cave　and
addressed　me　as　I　stood　there　leaning　against　the　rock　with　the　red
sword　Wave…Flame　in　my　hand；　as　I　had　drawn　it　to　make　ready　for　the
last　fight　to　the　death。　All　sorts　of　sweet　names　she　called　mea
hero；　her　deliverer；　and　I　know　not　what　besides。

In　the　end；　as　I　made　no　answer；　being　dazed；　also　hurt　by　an　axe　blow
on　the　breast　which　I　had　not　felt　before；　dealt　by　that　Frenchman
whom　I　slew　near　the　Castle；　she　did　more。　Throwing　her　arms　about　me
she　kissed　me　thrice；　on　either　cheek　and　on　the　lips；　doubtless
because　she　was　overwrought；　and　in　her　thankfulness　forgot　her
maidenly　reserve；　though　as　William　Bull　said　afterwards；　this
forgetfulness　did　not　cause　her　to　kiss　him　who　had　also　helped　her　up
the　hill。

Those　kisses　were　like　wine　to　me；　for　it　is　strange　how；　if　we　love
her；　by　the　decree　of　Nature　the　touch　of　a　beautiful　woman's　lips；
felt　for　the　first　time；　affects　us　in　our　youth。　Whatever　else　we
forget；　that　we　always　remember；　however　false　those　lips　afterwards
be　proved。　For　then　the　wax　is　soft　and　the　die　sinks　deep；　so　deep
that　no　after…heats　can　melt　its　stamp　and　no　fretting　wear　it　out
while　we　live　beneath　the　sun。

Now　my　young　blood　being　awakened；　I　was　minded　to　return　those
kisses；　and　began　to　do　so　with　a　Jew's　interest；　when　I　heard　a　rough
voice　swearing　many　strange　oaths；　and　heard　also　the　other　women　who
had　sheltered　with　us　in　the　cave　begin　to　titter；　for　the　moment
forgetting　all　their　private　woes；　as　those　of　their　sex　will　do　when
there　is　kissing　in　the　wind。

〃God's　blood！〃　said　the　rough　voice；　〃who　is　this　that　handles　my
daughter　as　though　they　had　been　but　an　hour　wed？　Take　those　lips　of
yours　from　her；　fellow；　or　I'll　cut　them　from　your　chops。〃

I　looked　round　astonished；　to　see　Sir　Robert　Aleys　mounted　on　a　grey
horse；　and　followed　by　a　company　of　men…at…arms　who　appeared　to　be
under　the　command　of　a　well…favoured；　dark…eyed　young　captain　with
long　hair；　and　dressed　more　wondrously　than　any　man　I　had　ever　seen
before。　Had　he　put　on　Joseph's　coat　over　his　mail；　he　could　not　have
worn　more　colours；　and　I　noted　that　the　toes　of　his　shoes　curled　up　so
high　that　I　wondered　however　he　worked　them　through　his　stirrups；　and
what　would　happen　to　him　if　by　chance　he　were　unhorsed。

Being　taken　aback　I　made　no　answer；　but　William　Bull；　who；　if　a　rough
fellow；　had　a　tongue　in　his　head　and　a　ready　wit；　spoke　up　for　me。

〃If　you　want　to　know；〃　he　said　in　his　Sussex　drawl；　〃I'll　tell　you　who
he　is；　Sir　Robert　Aleys。　He　is　my　worshipful　master；　Hubert　of
Hastings；　ship…owner；　householder；　and　trader　of　this　town。　Or　at
least　he　was　these　things；　but　now　it　seems　that　his　ships　and　house
are　burnt　and　his　mother　with　them；　also　that　there　will　be　no　trade
in　Hastings　for　many　a　day。〃

〃Mayhap；〃　answered　Sir　Robert；　adding　other　oaths；　〃but　why　does　he
buss　my　daughter？〃

〃Perchance　because　he　must　give　as　good　as　he　got；　which　is　a　law
among　honest　merchants；　noble　Sir　Robert。　Or　perchance　because　he　has
a　better　right　to　buss　her　than　any　man　alive；　seeing　that　but　for
him；　by　now　she　would　be　but　stinking　clay；　or　a　Frenchman's　leman。〃

Here　the　fine　young　captain　cut　in；　saying；

〃Whatever　else　this　worshipful　trader　may　need；　he　does　not　lack　a
trumpeter。〃

〃That　is　so；　my　Lord　Deleroy；〃　replied　William；　unmoved；　〃for　when　I
find　a　good　song　I　like　to　sing　it。　Go　now　and　look　at　those　three　men
who　lie　yonder　on　the　slope；　and　see　whether　the　arrows　in　them　bear
my　master's　mark。　Go　also　and　look　upon　the　Castle　hill　and　find　a
knight　with　his　head　well…nigh　hewn　from　his　shoulders；　and　see
whether　yonder　sword　fits　into　the　cut。　Aye；　and　at　others　that　I
could　tell　you　of；　slain；　every　one　of　them；　to　save　this　fair　lady。
Aye；　go　you　whose　garments　are　so　fine　and　unstained；　and　then　come
back　and　talk　of　trumpeters。〃

〃Pish！〃　said　my　Lord　Deleroy　with　a　shrug　of　his　shoulders；　〃a　lady
who　is　over…wrought　and　hangs　to　some　common　fellow；　like　one　who
kisses　the　feet　of　a　wooden　saint　that　she　thinks　has　saved　her　from
calamity！〃

At　these　words　I；　who　had　been　listening　like　a　man　in　a　dream；　awoke；
as　it　were；　for　they　stung　me。　Moreover；　I　had　heard　that　this　fine
Deleroy　was　one　of　those　who　owed　his　place　and　rank　to　the　King's
favour；　as　he　did　his　high　name；　being；　it　was　reported；　by　birth　but
a　prince's　bastard　sprung　from　some　relative　of　Sir　Robert　whom
therefore　he　called　cousin。

〃Sir；〃　I　said；　〃you　know　best　whether　I　am　more　common　than　you　are。
Let　that　be。　At　least　I　hold　in　my　hand　the　sword　of　one　who　begat　my
forefather　hundreds　of　years　ago；　a　certain　Thorgrimmer　who　was　great
in　his　time。　Now　I　have　had　my　fill　of　fighting　to…day；　and　you；
doubtless　through　no　fault　of　your　own；　have　had　none；　you　also　are
clad　in　mail　and　I；　a　common　fellow；　have　none。　Deign　then　to　descend
from　that　horse　and　take　a　turn　with　me　though　I　be　tired；　and　thus
prove　my　commonness　upon　my　body。　Of　your　nobility　do　this；　seeing
that　after　all　we　are　of　one　flesh。〃

Now；　stung　in　his　turn；　he　made　as　though　he　would　do　what　I　prayed；
when　for　the　first　time；　after　glancing　at　her　father　who　sat　still
puzzled；　it　would　seemthe　lady　Blanche　spoke。

〃Be　not　mad；　Cousin；〃　she　said。　〃I　tell　you　that　this　gentleman　has
saved　my　life　and　honour；　twice　at　least　to…day。　Is　it　wonderful；
then；　if　I　thanked　him　in　the　best　fashion　that　a　woman　can；　and　thus
brought　your　insults　on　him？〃

He　hesitated；　though　one　of　his　curled…up　shoes　was　out　of　the
stirrup；　when　suddenly　Sir　Robert　broke　in　in　his　big　voice；　saying：

〃God's　truth；　Cousin；　I　think　that　you　will　do　well　to　leave　this
young　cock　alone；　since　I　like　not　the　look　of　that　red　spur　of　his；〃
and　he　glanced　at　the　sword　Wave…Flame。　〃Though　he　be　weary；　he　may
have　a　kick　or　two　in　him　yet。〃

Then　he　turned　to　me　and　added：

〃Sir；　you　have　fought　well；　many　a　man　has　earned　knighthood　for　less；
and　if　a　fair　maid　thanked　you　in　her　own　fashion；　you　are　not　to
blame。　I；　her　father；　also　thank　you　and　wish　you　all　good　fortune
till　we　meet　again。　Farewell。　Daughter；　make　shift　to　share　this　horse
with　me；　and　let　us　away　out　of　this　stricken　town　to　Pevensey；　where
perchance　it　will　please　those　French　to　call　to…morrow。〃

A　minute　later　they　were　gone；　and　I　noted　with　a　pang　that　as　they
went　the　lady　Blanche；　having　waved　her　good…bye　to　me；　talked　fast　to
her　cousin　Deleroy　and　that　he　held　her　hand　to　steady　her　upon　her
father's　horse。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　III

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HUBERT　COMES　TO　LONDON

When　the　lady　Blanche　was　out