red eve-第44章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


one　hand　and　a　blacksmith's　hammer　in　the　other。

Then　they　drew　back；　taking　the　dead　man　with　them；　but　as　they　went
one　cried：

〃The　Jews　shall　not　save　you　again；　wizards；　for　if　we　cannot　come　at
you　to　kill　you；　we'll　starve　you　till　you　die。　Stay　there　and　rot；　or
step　forth　and　be　torn　to　pieces；　as　it　pleases　you；　English　wizards。〃

Then　they　all　slunk　back　and　vanished；　or　seemed　to　vanish；　down　the
mouths　of　the　dark　streets　that　ran　into　the　open　place　in　front　of
the　dwelling　which　Hugh　had　named　the　Bride's　Tower。

〃Now；〃　said　Dick；　wiping　the　sweat　from　his　brow　as　they　barred　the
massive　door　of　the　house；　〃we　are　safe　for　this　night　at　least；　and
can　eat　and　sleep　in　peace。　See　you；　master；　I　have　taken　stock　of
this　old　place；　which　must　have　been　built　in　rough　times；　for　scarce
a　wall　of　it　is　less　than　five　feet　thick。　The　moat　is　deep　all　round。
Fire　cannot　harm　it；　and　it　is　loop…holed　for　arrows　and　not　commanded
by　any　other　building；　having　the　open　place　in　front　and　below　the
wide　fosse　of　the　ancient　wall；　upon　which　it　stands。　Therefore；　even
with　this　poor　garrison　of　two；　it　can　be　taken　only　by　storm。　This；
while　we　have　bows　and　arrows；　will　cost　them　something；　seeing　that
we　could　hold　the　tower　from　stair　to　stair。〃

〃Ay；　Dick；〃　answered　Hugh　sadly；　〃doubtless　we　can　make　a　fight　for　it
and　take　some　with　us　to　a　quieter　world；　if　they　are　foolish　enough
to　give　us　a　chance。　But　what　did　that　fellow　shout　as　to　starving　us
out？　How　stand　we　for　provisions？〃

〃Foreseeing　something　of　the　sort；　I　have　reckoned　that　up；　master。
There's　good　water　in　the　courtyard　well　and　those　who　owned　this
tower；　whoever　they　may　have　been；　laid　in　great　store；　perchance　for
the　marriage　feast；　or　perchance　when　the　plague　began；　knowing　that
it　would　bring　scarcity。　The　cupboards　and　the　butteries　are　filled
with　flour；　dried　flesh；　wine；　olives　and　oil　for　burning。　Even　if
these　should　fail　us　there　are　the　horses　in　the　stable；　which　we　can
kill　and　cook；　for　of　forage　and　fuel　I　have　found　enough。〃

〃Then　the　Pope　should　not　be　more　safe　than　we；　Dick；〃　said　Hugh　with
a　weary　smile；　〃if　any　are　safe　in　Avignon　to…day。　Well；　let　us　go　and
eat　of　all　this　plenty；　but　oh！　I　wish　I　had　told　Sir　Andrew　where　we
dwelt；　or　could　be　sure　in　which　of　that　maze　of　streets　he　and　Red
Eve　are　lodged。　Dick；　Dick；　that　knave　Basil　has　fooled　us　finely。〃

〃Ay；　master；〃　said　Dick；　setting　his　grim　lips；　〃but　let　him　pray　his
Saint　that　before　all　is　done　I　do　not　fool　him。〃



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XVIII

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　PLAGUE　PIT

Seven　long　days　had　gone　by　and　still　Hugh　and　Grey　Dick　held　out　in
their　Tower　fortress。　Though　as　yet　unhurt；　they　were　weary　indeed；
since　they　must　watch　all　night　and　could　only　sleep　by　snatches　in
the　daytime；　one　lying　down　to　rest　while　the　other　kept　guard。

As　they　had　foreseen；　except　by　direct　assault；　the　place　proved
impregnable；　its　moat　protecting　it　upon　three　sides　and　the　sheer
wall　of　the　old　city　terminating　in　the　deep　fosse　upon　the　fourth。　In
its　little　armoury；　among　other　weapons　they　had　found　a　great　store
of　arrows　and　some　good　bows；　whereof　Hugh　took　the　best　and　longest。
Thus　armed　with　these　they　placed　themselves　behind　the　loopholes　of
the　embattled　gateway；　whence　they　could　sweep　the　space　before　them。
Or　if　danger　threatened　them　elsewhere；　there　were　embrasures　whence
they　could　command　the　bases　of　the　walls。　Lastly；　also；　there　was　the
central　tower；　whereof　they　could　hold　each　landing　with　the　sword。

Thrice　they　had　been　attacked；　since　there　seemed　to　be　hundreds　of
folk　in　Avignon　bent　upon　their　destruction；　but　each　time　their
bitter　arrows；　that　rarely　seemed　to　miss；　had　repulsed　the　foe　with
loss。　Even　when　an　onslaught　was　delivered　on　the　main　gateway　at
night；　they　had　beaten　their　assailants　by　letting　fall　upon　them
through　the　/machicoulis/　or　overhanging　apertures；　great　stones　that
had　been　piled　up　there；　perhaps　generations　before；　when　the　place
was　built。

Still　the　attacks　did　not　slacken。　Indeed　the　hate　of　the　citizens　of
Avignon　against　these　two　bold　Englishmen；　whose　courage　and　resource
they　attributed　to　help　given　to　them　by　the　powers　of　evil；　seemed　to
grow　from　day　to　day；　even　as　the　plague　grew　in　the　streets　of　that
sore…afflicted　city。　From　their　walls　they　could　see　friars　preaching
a　kind　of　crusade　against　them。　They　pointed　toward　the　tower　with
crucifixes；　invoking　their　hearers　to　pull　it　stone　from　stone　and
slay　the　wizards　within；　the　wizards　who　had　conspired　with　the
accursed　Jews　even　beneath　the　eyes　of　his　Holiness　the　Pope；　to　bring
doom　on　Avignon。

The　eighth　morn　broke　at　length；　and　its　first　red　rays　discovered
Hugh　and　Dick　kneeling　side　by　side　behind　the　battlements　of　the
gateway。　Each　of　them　was　making　petition　to　heaven　in　his　own　fashion
for　forgiveness　of　his　sins；　since　they　were　outworn　and　believed　that
this　day　would　be　their　last。

〃What　did　you　pray　for；　Dick？〃　asked　Hugh；　glancing　at　his　companion's
fierce　face；　which　in　that　half　light　looked　deathlike　and　unearthly。

〃What　did　I　pray　for？　Well；　for　the　first　part　let　it　be；　that's
betwixt　me　and　whatever　Power　sent　me　out　to　do　its　business　on　the
earth。　But　for　the　lastI'll　tell　you。　It　was　that　we　may　go　hence
with　such　a　guard　of　dead　French　as　never　yet　escorted　two　Englishmen
from　Avignon　to　heavenor　hell。　Ay；　and　we　will；　master；　for　to…day；
as　they　shouted　to　us；　they'll　storm　this　tower；　but　if　our　strength
holds　out　there's　many　a　one　who'll　never　win　its　crest。〃

〃Rather　would　I　have　died　peacefully；　Dick。　Yet　the　blood　of　these
hounds　will　not　weigh　upon　my　soul；　seeing　that　they　seek　to　murder　us
for　no　fault　except　that　we　saved　a　woman　and　two　children　from　their
cruel　devilries。　Oh！　could　I　but　know　that　Red　Eve　and　Sir　Andrew　were
safe　away；　I'd　die　a　happy　man。〃

〃I　think　we　shall　know　that　and　much　more　before　to…morrow's　dawn；
master；　or　never　know　anything　again。　Look！　they　gather　yonder。　Now
let　us　eat；　for　perhaps　later　we　shall　find　no　time。〃



The　afternoon　drew　on　toward　evening　and　still　these　two　lived。　Of　all
the　hundreds　of　missiles　which　were　shot　or　hurled　at　them；　although　a
few　struck；　not　one　of　them　had　pierced　their　armour　so　as　to　do　them
hurt。　The　walls　and　battlements　or　some　good　Fate　had　protected　them。
Thrice　had　the　French　come　on；　and　thrice　they　had　retreated　before
those　arrows　that　could　not　miss；　and　as　yet　bridge　and　doors　were
safe。

〃Look；〃　said　Dick　as　he　set　down　a　cup　of　wine　that　he　had　drained；
for　his　thirst　was　raging；　〃they　send　an　embassy；〃　and　he　pointed　to　a
priest；　the　same　mad…eyed　fellow　who　preached　in　the　square　when　the
notary　Basil　led　them　into　a　trap；　and　to　a　man　with　him　who　bore　a
white　cloth　upon　a　lance。　〃Shall　I　shoot　them？〃

〃Nay；〃　answered　Hugh；　〃why　kill　crazed　folk　who　think　that　they　serve
God　in　their　own　fashion？　We　will　hear　what　they　have　to　say。〃

Presently　the　pair　stood　within　speaking　distance；　and　the　priest
called　out：

〃Hearken；　you　wizards。　So　far　your　master　the　devil　has　protected　you；
but　now　your　hour　has　come。　We　have　authority　from　those　who　rule　this
city　and　from　the　Church　to　summon　you　to　surrender；　and　if　you　will
not；　then　to　slay　you　both。〃

〃That；　you　shameless　friar；〃　answered　Hugh；　〃you　have　been　striving　to
do　these　many　days。　Yet　it　is　not　we　who　have　been　slain；　although　we
stand　but　two　men　against　a　multitude。　But　if　we　surrender；　what
then？〃

〃Then　you　shall　be　put　upon　your　trial；　wizards；　and；　if　found　guilty；
burned；　if　innocent；　set　free。〃

〃Put　upon　our　trial　before　our　executioners！　Why；　I　think　those　fires
are　alight　already。　Nay；　nay；　mad　priest；　go　back　and　tell　those　whom
you　have　fooled　that　if　they　want　us　they　can　come　and　take　us；　which
they'll　not　do　living。〃

Then　the　furious　friar　began　to　curse　them；　hurling　at　them　the
anathemas　of　the　Church；　till　at　length　Dick　called　to　him　to　begone
or　he　would　send　an　arrow　to　help　him　on　the　road。

So　they　went；　and　presently　the　sun　sank。

〃Now　let　us　beware；〃　said　Dick。　〃The　moon　is　near　her　full　and　will
rise　soon。　They'll　attack　between　times　when　we　cannot　see　to　shoot。〃

〃Ay；〃　answered　Hugh；　〃moreover；　now　this　gateway　is　no　place　for　us。
Of　arrows　there　are　few　left；　nor　could　we　see　to　use　them　in　the
dark。　The　stones　too　are　all　spent　and　therefore　they　can　bridge　the
moat　and　batter　down　the　doors　unharmed。〃

〃What　then？〃　asked　Dick。　〃As　we　cannot　fly；　where　shall　we　die？〃

〃On　the　roof　of　the　old　tower；　I　think；　whence　we　can　hurl　ourselves
at　last　and　so　perhaps　escape　being　taken　alive；　and　torment。　Look
you；　Dick；　that　tower　is　mounted　by　three　straight　flights　of　steps。
The　first　two　of　these　we'll　hold　with　such　arrows　as　remain　to　us
there　are　three　and　twenty；　as　I　thinkand　the　last　with　axe　and
sword。　Listen！　They　come！　Take　a　brand　from　the　hall　hearth　and　let　us
go　light　the　flambeaux。〃

So　they　went　and　set　fire　to　the　great　torches　of　wood　and　tallow　that
were　set　in　their　iron　holders　to　light　the　steps　of　the　tower。　Ere
the　last　of　them　was　burning　they　heard　their　enemies　ravening
without。

〃Listen！〃　said　Hugh　as　they　descended　to　the　head　of　the　first　flight
of　stairs。　〃They　are　across　the　moat。〃

As　he　spoke　the　massive　doors　crashed　in　beneath　the　blows　of　a　baulk
of　timber。

〃Now；〃　said　Hugh；　as　they　strung　their　bows；　〃six　arrows　apiece　here；
if　we　can　get　off　so　many；　and　the　odd　eleven　at　our　next　stand。　Ah；
they　come。〃

The　mob　rushed　into　the　hall　below；　waving　torches　and　swords　and
hunting　it　as　dogs　hunt　a　covert。

〃The　English　wizards　have　hid　themselves　away；〃　cried　a　voice。　〃Let　us
burn　the　place；　for　so　we　are　sure　to　catch　them。〃

〃Nay；　nay；〃　answered　another　voice；　that　of　the　mad　friar。　〃We　must
have　them　beneath　the　torture；　that　we　may　learn　how　to　lift　the　curse
from　Avignon；　and　the　names　of　their　accomplices　on　earth　and　in　hell。
Search；　search；　search！〃

〃Little　need　to　search；〃　said　Grey　Dick；　stepping　out　on　to　the
landing。　〃Devil；　go　join　your　fellow…devils　in　that　hell　you　talk　of；〃
and　he　sent　an　arrow　through　his　heart。

For　a　moment　there　followed　the　silence　of　consternation　while　the　mob
stood　staring　at　their　fallen　leader。　Then　with　a　yell　of　rage　they
charged　the　stair　and　that　fray　began　which　was　told　of　in　Avignon　for
generations。　Hugh　and　Dick　shot　their　arrows；　nor　could　they　miss；
seeing　what　was　their　target；　indeed　some　of　those　from　the　great
black　bow　pinned　foe　to　foe　beneath　them。　But　so　crowded　were　the
assailants　on　the　narrow　stair　that　they　could　not　shoot　back。　They
advanced　helpless；　thrust　to　their　doom　by　the　weight　of　those　who
pressed　behind。

Now　they　were　near；　the　dead；　still　on　their　feet；　being　borne　forward
by　the　living；　to　whom　they　served　as　shields。　Hugh　and　Dick　ran　to
the　head　of　the　second　flight　and　thence　shot　off　the　arrows　that
remained。

Dick　loosed　the　last　of　them；　and　of　this　fearful　shaft　it　was　said
that　it　slew　three　men；　piercing　through　the　body　of　one；　the　throat
of　the　second　and　burying　its　barb　in　the　sku