saint george for england-第4章

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uiet　man；　and　the　high　spirits　and　somewhat　turbulent　disposition　of　his　young　charge　gave　him　so　much　uneasiness；　that　he　was　not　sorry　the　responsibility　of　keeping　him　in　order　should　be　undertaken　by　Geoffrey。　Moreover；　he　could　not　but　agree　with　the　argument；　that　the　promise　of　the　Prince　of　Wales　offered　a　more　favourable　opportunity　for　Walter　to　enter　upon　the　career　of　arms　and　so；　perhaps；　someday　to　win　his　way　back　to　rank　and　honours　than　could　have　been　looked　for。　Therefore；　on　the　following　week　Walter　was　indentured　to　the　armourer；　and；　as　was　usual　at　the　time；　left　his　abode　in　Aldgate　and　took　up　his　residence　with　his　master。　He　threw　himself　with　his　whole　heart　into　the　work；　and　by　the　time　he　was　fifteen　was　on　the　way　to　become　a　skilful　craftsman。　His　frame　and　muscles　developed　with　labour；　and　he　was　now　able　to　swing　all　save　the　very　heaviest　hammers　in　the　shop。　He　had　never　abated　in　his　practice　at　arms；　and　every　day　when　work　was　over；　he　and　his　master　had　a　long　bout　together　with　cudgel　or　quarterstaff；　sword　or　axe；　Walter　of　course　used　light　weapons；　but　so　quick　was　he　with　them　that　Geoffrey　Ward　acknowledged　that　he　needed　to　put　out　all　his　skill　to　hold　his　own　with　his　pupil。　　But　it　was　not　alone　with　Geoffrey　that　Walter　had　an　opportunity　of　learning　the　use　of　arms。　Whenever　a　soldier；　returned　from　the　wars；　came　to　have　a　weapon　repaired　by　the　armourer；　he　would　be　sure　of　an　invitation　to　come　in　in　the　evening　and　take　a　stoup　of　ale；　and　tell　of　the　battles　and　sieges　he　had　gone　through；　and　in　the　course　of　the　evening　would　be　asked　to　have　a　bout　of　arms　with　the　young　apprentice；　whom　Geoffrey　represented　as　being　eager　to　learn　how　to　use　the　sword　as　well　as　how　to　make　it。

Thus　Walter　became　accustomed　to　different　styles　of　fighting；　but　found　that　very　few；　indeed；　of　their　visitors　were　nearly　so　well　skilled　with　their　arms　as　his　master。　Some　of　the　soldiers　were　mortified　at　finding　themselves　unable　to　hold　their　own　with　a　boy；　others　would　take　their　reverses　in　good　part　and　would　come　again；　bringing　with　them　some　comrade　known　to　be　particularly　skilled　with　his　weapons；　to　try　the　temper　of　the　armourer's　apprentice。　At　the　age　of　fifteen　Walter　had　won　the　prize　at　the　sports；　both　for　the　best　cudgel　play　and　the　best　sword…and…buckler　play　among　the　apprentices；　to　the　great　disgust　of　many　who　had　almost　reached　the　age　of　manhood　and　were　just　out　of　their　time。

On　Sundays　Walter　always　spent　the　day　with　Giles　Fletcher　and　his　wife；　going　to　mass　with　them　and　walking　in　the　fields；　where；　after　service；　the　citizens　much　congregated。　Since　Walter　had　gone　to　work　he　had　taken　no　part　in　the　fights　and　frolics　of　his　former　comrades；　he　was　in　fact；　far　too　tired　at　the　end　of　his　day's　work　to　have　any　desire　to　do　aught　but　to　sit　and　listen　to　the　tales　of　the　wars；　of　the　many　old　soldiers　who　pervaded　the　country。　　Some　of　these　men　were　disabled　by　wounds　or　long　service；　but　the　greater　portion　were　idle　scamps；　who　cared　not　for　the　hard　blows　and　sufferings　of　a　campaign；　liking　better　to　hang　about　taverns　drinking；　at　the　expense　of　those　to　whom　they　related　fabulous　tales　of　the　gallant　actions　they　had　performed。　Many；　too；　wandered　over　the　country；　sometimes　in　twos　or　threes；　sometimes　in　large　bands；　robbing　and　often　murdering　travelers　or　attacking　lonely　houses。　When　in　one　part　or　another　their　ill　deeds　became　too　notorious；　the　sheriffs　would　call　out　a　posse　of　men　and　they　would　be　hunted　down　like　wild　beasts。　It　was　not；　however；　easy　to　catch　them；　for　great　tracts　of　forests　still　covered　a　large　portion　of　the　country　and　afforded　them　shelter。

In　the　country　round　London　these　pests　were　very　numerous；　for　here；　more　than　anywhere　else；　was　there　a　chance　of　plunder。　The　swamps　on　the　south　side　of　the　river　had　an　especially　evil　reputation。　From　Southwark　to　Putney　stretches　a　marshy　country　over　which；　at　high　tides；　the　river　frequently　flowed。　Here　and　there　were　wretched　huts；　difficult　of　access　and　affording　good　hiding…　places　for　those　pursued　by　justice；　since　searchers　could　be　seen　approaching　a　long　way　off；　and　escape　could　be　made　by　paths　across　the　swamp　known　only　to　the　dwellers　there；　and　where　heavily…armed　men　dared　not　follow。　Further　south；　in　the　wild　country　round　Westerham；　where　miles　of　heath　and　forest　stretched　away　in　all　directions；　was　another　noted　place　where　the　robber　vagrants　mustered　thickly；　and　the　Sheriff　of　Kent　had　much　trouble　with　them。

The　laws　in　those　days　were　extremely　severe；　and　death　was　the　penalty　of　those　caught　plundering。　The　extreme　severity　of　the　laws；　however；　operated　in　favour　of　its　breakers；　since　the　sympathy　of　the　people　who　had　little　to　lose　was　with　them；　and　unless　caught　red…handed　in　the　act　they　could　generally　escape；　since　none　save　those　who　had　themselves　been　robbed　would　say　aught　that　would　place　the　pursuers　on　their　traces；　or　give　testimony　which　would　cost　the　life　of　a　fellow…creature。　The　citizens　of　London　were　loud　in　their　complaints　against　the　discharged　soldiers；　for　it　was　upon　them　that　the　loss　mainly　fell；　and　it　was　on　their　petitions　to　the　king　that　the　sheriffs　of　Middlesex　and　Hertford；　Essex；　Surrey；　and　Kent；　were　generally　stirred　up　to　put　down　the　ill…doers。

Sometimes　these　hunts　were　conducted　in　a　wholesale　way；　and　the　whole　posse　of　a　county　would　be　called　out。　　Then　all　found　within　its　limits　who　had　not　land　or　visible　occupation　were　collected。　Any　against　whom　charges　could　be　brought　home　were　hung　without　more　ado；　and　the　rest　were　put　on　board　ship　and　sent　across　the　sea　to　the　army。　　Sometimes；　when　they　found　the　country　becoming　too　hot　for　them；　these　men　would　take　service　with　some　knight　or　noble　going　to　the　war；　anxious　to　take　with　him　as　strong　a　following　as　might　be；　and　not　too　particular　as　to　the　character　of　his　soldiers。

Walter；　being　of　an　adventurous　spirit；　was　sometimes　wont　of　a　summer　evening；　when　his　work　was　done；　to　wander　across　the　marshes；　taking　with　him　his　bow　and　arrows；　and　often　bringing　home　a　wild　duck　or　two　which　he　shot　in　the　pools。　More　than　once　surly　men　had　accosted　him；　and　had　threatened　to　knock　him　on　the　head　if　they　again　found　him　wandering　that　way；　but　Walter　laughed　at　their　threats；　and　seeing；　that　though　but　an　apprentice　lad；　he　might　be　able　to　send　an　arrow　as　straight　to　the　mark　as　another；　they　were　content　to　leave　him　alone。

One　day　when　he　was　well…nigh　in　the　heart　of　the　swamp　of　Lambeth　he　saw　a　figure　making　his　way　across。　　The　hour　was　already　late　and　the　night　was　falling；　and　the　appearance　of　the　man　was　so　different　from　that　of　the　usual　denizens　of　the　swamp　that　Walter　wondered　what　business　there　might　be。　　Scarcely　knowing　why　he　did　so；　Walter　threw　himself　down　among　some　low　brushwood　and　watched　the　approaching　figure。　When　he　came　near　he　recognized　the　face；　and　saw；　to　his　surprise；　that　it　was　a　knight　who　had　but　the　day　before　stopped　at　the　armourer's　shop　to　have　two　rivets　put　in　his　hauberk。　He　had　particularly　noticed　him　because　of　the　arrogant　manner　in　which　he　spoke。　　Walter　had　himself　put　in　the　rivets；　and　had　thought；　as　he　buckled　on　the　armour　again；　how　unpleasant　a　countenance　was　that　of　its　wearer。　He　was　a　tall　and　powerful　man；　and　would　have　been　handsome　had　not　his　eyes　been　too　closely　set　together；　his　nose　was　narrow；　and　the　expression　of　his　face　reminded　Walter　of　a　hawk。　He　had　now　laid　aside　his　helmet；　and　his　figure　was　covered　with　a　long　cloak。

〃He　is　up　to　no　good；〃　Walter　said　to　himself；　〃for　what　dealings　could　a　knight　honestly　have　with　the　ruffians　who　haunt　these　swamps。　It　is　assuredly　no　business　of　mine；　but　it　may　lead　to　an　adventure；　and　I　have　had　no　real　fun　since　I　left　Aldgate。　I　will　follow　and　see　if　I　can　get　to　the　bottom　of　the　mystery。〃

When　he　came　close　to　the　spot　where　Walter　was　lying　the　knight　paused　and　looked　round　as　if　uncertain　of　his　way。　For　four　or　five　minutes　he　stood　still；　and　then　gave　a　shout　of　〃Humphrey〃　at　the　top　of　his　voice。　It　was　answered　by　a　distant　〃Hallo！〃　and　looking　in　the　direction　from　which　the　answer　had　come；　Walter　saw　a　figure　appear　above　some　bushes　some　four　hundred　yards　distant。　The　knight　at　once　directed　his　steps　in　that　direction；　and　Walter　crept　cautiously　after　him。

〃A　pest　upon　these　swamps　and　quagmires；〃　the　knight　said　angrily　as　he　neared　the　other。　〃Why　didst　not　meet　me　and　show　me　the　way　through；　as　before？〃

〃I　thought　that　as　you　had　come　once　you　would　be　able　to　find　your　way　hither　again；〃　the　man　said。　〃Had　I　thought　that　you　would　have　missed　it　I　would　have　come　ten　times　as　far；　rather　than　have　had　my　name　shouted　all　over　the　country。　However；　there　is　no　one　to　hear；　did　you　shout　thrice　as　loud；　so　no　harm　is　done。〃

〃I　thought　I　saw　a　figure　a　short　time　since；〃　the　knight　said。

The　man　looked　round　in　all　directions。

〃I　see　none；〃　he　said；　〃and　you　may　have　been　mistaken；　for　the　light　is　waning　fast。　It　were　ill　for　anyone　I　caught　prying　about　here。　But　come　in；　sir　knight；　my　hovel　is　not　what　your　lordship　is　accustomed　to；　but　we　may　as　well　talk　there　as　here　beneath　the　sky。〃

The　two　men　disappeared　from　Walter's　sight。　The　latter　in　much　surprise　crept　forward；　but　until　he　reached　the　spot　where　he　had　last　seen　the　speakers　he　was　unable　to　account　for　their　disappearance。　Then　he　saw　that　the　spot；　although　apparently　a　mere　clump　of　bushes　no　higher　than　the　surrounding　country；　was　really　an　elevated　hummock　of　ground。　Anyone　might　have　passed　close　to　the　bushes　without　suspecting　that　aught　lay　among　them。　In　the　centre；　however；　the　ground　had　been　cut　away；　and　a　low　doorway；　almost　hidden　by　the　bushes；　gave　access　into　a　half　subterranean　hut；　the　roof　was　formed　of　an　old　boat　turned　bottom　upwards；　and　this　had　been　covered　with　brown　turf。　　It　was　an　excellent　place　of　concealment；　as　searchers　might　have　passed　within　a　foot　of　the　bushes　without　suspecting　that　aught　lay　concealed　within　them。

〃A　clever　hiding　place；〃　Walter　thought　to　himself。　〃No　wonder　the　posse　search　these　swamps　in　vain。　This　is　the　lowest　and　wettest　part　of　the　swamp；　and　would　be　but　lightly　searched；　for　none　would　suspect　that　there　was　a　human　habitation　among　these　brown　ditches　and　stagnant　pools。〃

To　his　disappointment　the　lad　could　hear　nothing　of　the　conversation　which　was　going　on　within　the　hut。　The　murmur　of　voices　came　to　his　ear；　but　no　words　were　audible；　however；　he　remained　patiently；　thinking　that　perhaps　as　they　came　out　a　word　might　be　said　which　would　give　him　a　clue　to　the　object　of　the　mysterious　interview　between　a　knight　and　one　who　was　evidently　a　fugitive　from　justice。

His　patience　was　rewarded。　In　the　half　hour　which　he　waited　the　night　had　fallen；　and　a　thick　fog　which　was　rising　over　the　swamps　rendered　it　difficult　to　discern　anything　at　the　distance　of　a　few　paces。

〃You　are　quite　sure　that　you　can　manage　it？〃　a　voice　said　as　the　two　men　issued　from　the　hut。

〃There　is　no　difficulty　in　managing　it；〃　the　other　replied；　〃if　the　boat　is　punctual　to　the　hour　named。　It　will　be　getting　dusk　then；