saint george for england-第5章

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〃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；　and　if　one　boat　runs　into　another　no　one　need　be　surprised。　Such　accidents　will　happen。〃

〃They　will　be　here　just　before　nightfall；〃　the　other　said；　〃and　you　will　know　the　boat　by　the　white　mantle　the　lady　will　wear。　The　reward　will　be　fifty　pieces　of　gold；　of　which　you　have　received　ten　as　earnest。　You　can　trust　me；　and　if　the　job　be　well　done　I　shall　take　no　count　of　the　earnest　money。

〃You　may　consider　it　as　good　as　done；〃　the　other　replied。　　〃If　the　boat　is　there　the　matter　is　settled。　Now　I　will　lead　you　back　across　the　swamps。　I　would　not　give　much　for　your　life　if　you　tried　to　find　the　way　alone。　Who　would　have　thought　when　you　got　me　off　from　being　hung；　after　that　little　affair　at　Bruges；　that　I　should　be　able　to　make　myself　useful　to　your　worship？〃

〃You　may　be　sure；〃　the　knight　replied；　〃that　it　was　just　because　I　foresaw　that　you　might　be　useful　that　I　opened　the　doors　of　your　cell　that　night。　It　is　always　handy　in　times　like　these　to　be　able　to　lay　one's　hand　on　a　man　whom　you　can　hang　if　you　choose　to　open　your　mouth。〃

〃Did　it　not　strike　you；　sir　knight；　that　it　might　enter　my　mind　that　it　would　be　very　advisable　for　me　to　free　myself　from　one　who　stands　towards　me　in　that　relation？〃

〃Certainly　it　did；〃　the　knight　replied；　〃but　as　I　happen　to　be　able　to　make　it　for　your　interest　to　serve　me；　that　matter　did　not　trouble　me。　I　knew　better　than　to　bring　money　into　this　swamp　of　yours；　when　I　might　be　attacked　by　half　a　dozen　ruffians　like　yourself；　and　I　took　the　precaution　of　informing　Peter；　the　captain　of　my　men…at…arms；　of　the　spot　to　which　I　was　going；　bidding　him；　in　case　I　came　not　back；　to　set　a　hue　and　cry　on　foot　and　hunt　down　all　who　might　be　found　here；　with　the　especial　description　of　your　worthy　self。〃

Walter　could　hear　no　more；　he　had　taken　off　his　shoes　and　followed　them　at　a　distance；　and　their　voices　still　acted　as　a　guide　to　him　through　the　swamp。　But　he　feared　to　keep　too　close；　as；　although　the　darkness　would　conceal　his　figure；　he　might　at　any　moment　tread　in　a　pool　or　ditch；　and　so　betray　his　presence。　　Putting　his　foot　each　time　to　the　ground　with　the　greatest　caution；　he　moved　quietly　after　them。　They　spoke　little　more；　but　their　heavy　footsteps　on　the　swampy　ground　were　a　sufficient　guidance　for　him。　At　last　these　ceased　suddenly。　　A　few　words　were　spoken；　and　then　he　heard　returning　steps。　He　drew　aside　a　few　feet　and　crouched　down；　saw　a　dim　figure　pass　through　the　mist；　and　then　resumed　his　way。　The　ground　was　firmer　now；　and；　replacing　his　shoes；　he　walked　briskly　on。　As　he　neared　the　higher　ground　along　which　the　road　ran　he　heard　two　horsemen　galloping　away　in　the　distance。　He　now　turned　his　face　east；　and　after　an　hour's　walking　he　reached　the　armourer's。

〃Why；　Walter；　you　are　late；〃　the　smith　said。　〃The　men　are　in　bed　this　hour　or　more；　and　I　myself　can　scarce　keep　awake。　Where　hast　thou　been；　my　boy？〃

〃I　have　been　in　the　swamps　and　lost　my　way；〃　Walter　replied。

〃It　is　a　bad　neighbourhood；　lad；　and　worse　are　the　people　who　live　there。　If　I　had　my　way　the　whole　posse　should　be　called　out；　and　the　marshes　searched　from　end　to　end；　and　all　found　there　should　be　knocked　on　head　and　thrown　into　their　own　ditches。　There　would　be　no　fear　of　any　honest　man　coming　to　his　end　thereby；　but　now　to　bed；　lad。　You　can　tell　me　all　about　it　tomorrow；　but　we　have　a　rare　day's　work　before　us；　and　the　fire　must　be　alight　at　daybreak。〃

On　his　way　back　Walter　had　debated　with　himself　whether　to　inform　his　master　of　what　had　happened。　He　was；　however；　bent　upon　having　an　adventure　on　his　own　account；　and　it　was　a　serious　thing　in　those　days　for　an　apprentice　lad　to　bring　an　accusation　against　a　noble。　The　city　would　not　indeed　allow　even　an　apprentice　to　be　overridden；　and　although　Geoffrey　Ward's　forge　stood　beyond　the　city　walls　it　was　yet　within　the　liberties；　the　city　allowing　its　craftsmen　to　open　shops　just　outside　the　gates；　and　to　enjoy　the　same　privileges　as　if　dwelling　actually　within　the　walls。

On　the　following　afternoon　Walter　asked　leave　to　cease　work　an　hour　earlier　than　usual；　as　he　wished　to　go　across　into　the　city。　The　armourer　was　surprised；　since　this　was　the　first　time　that　such　a　thing　had　happened　since　the　lad　had　worked　for　him。

〃What　are　you　up　to；　Walter？　…　some　mischief；　I　will　be　bound。　Go；　lad；　you　have　worked　so　steadily　that　you　have　well　earned　more　than　an　hour's　holiday　should　you　want　it。〃

Walter　crossed　the　bridge；　and　seeking　out　four　or　five　of　his　old　companions；　begged　them　to　bring　their　bows　and　clubs　and　rejoin　him　at　the　stairs　by　London　Bridge。　To　their　laughing　inquiries　whether　he　meant　to　go　a…shooting　of　fish；　he　told　them　to　ask　no　questions　until　they　joined　him。　　As　soon　as　work　was　over　the　boys　gathered　at　the　steps；　where　Walter　had　already　engaged　a　boat。　　There　were　some　mocking　inquiries　from　the　watermen　standing　about　as　to　where　they　were　going　shooting。　Walter　answered　with　some　light　chaff；　and；　two　of　the　party　taking　oars；　they　started　up　the　river。

〃Now　I　will　tell　you　what　we　are　bent　on；〃　Walter　said。　　〃From　some　words　I　overheard　I　believe　that　some　of　the　ruffians　over　in　the　marshes　are　this　evening　going　to　make　an　attack　upon　a　boat　with　a　lady　in　it　coming　down　the　river。　We　will　be　on　the　spot；　and　can　give　them　a　reception　such　as　they　do　not　expect。〃

〃Do　you　know　who　the　lady　is；　Walter？〃

〃I　have　not　the　least　idea。　I　only　caught　a　few　words；　and　may　be　wrong；　still；　it　will　do　no　harm　should　I　be　mistaken。〃

The　tide　was　running　down　strongly；　for　there　had　been　a　good　deal　of　rain　during　the　preceding　week；　and　all　night　it　had　poured　heavily。　It　was　fine　now；　but　the　stream　was　running　down　thick　and　turbid；　and　it　needed　all　the　boys'　efforts　to　force　the　wherry　against　it。　They　rowed　by　turns；　all　were　fairly　expert　at　the　exercise；　for　in　those　days　the　Thames　was　at　once　the　great　highway　and　playground　of　London。　To　the　wharves　below　the　bridge　ships　brought　the　rich　merchandise　of　Italy　and　the　Low　Countries；　while　from　above；　the　grain；　needed　for　the　wants　of　the　great　city　was　floated　down　in　barges　from　the　west。

Passing　the　Temple；　the　boys　rowed　along　by　the　green　banks　and　fields　as　far　as　Westminster；　which　at　that　time　was　almost　a　rival　of　the　city；　for　here　were　the　abbey　and　great　monastery；　here　were　the　king's　palace　and　court；　and　the　houses　of　many　of　his　nobles。　Then　they　went　along　by　the　low　shores　of　Millbank；　keeping　a　sharp　lookout　for　boats　going　down　with　the　stream。　It　was　already　getting　dark；　for　Walter　had　not　allowed　for　the　strength　of　the　stream；　and　he　was　full　of　anxiety　lest　he　should　arrive　too　late。



CHAPTER　III：　A　THWARTED　PLOT


A　boat　was　rowing　rapidly　down　the　stream。　It　had　passed　the　village　of　Chelsea；　and　the　men　were　doing　their　best　to　reach　their　destination　at　Westminster　before　nightfall。　Two　men　were　rowing；　in　the　stern　sat　a　lady　with　a　girl　about　eleven　years　old。　A　woman；　evidently　a　servant；　sat　beside　the　lady；　while　behind；　steering　the　boat；　was　an　elderly　retainer。



〃It　is　getting　dark；〃　the　lady　said；　〃I　would　that　my　cousin　James　had　not　detained　us　so　long　at　Richmond；　and　then　after　all　he　was　unable　to　accompany　us。　I　like　not　being　out　on　the　river　so　late。〃

〃No；　indeed；　my　lady；〃　the　woman　replied；　〃I　have　heard　tell　lately　much　of　the　doings　of　the　river　pirates。　They　say　that　boats　are　often　picked　up　stove　in　and　broken；　and　that　none　know　what　had　become　of　their　occupants；　and　that　bodies；　gashed　and　hewn；　are　often　found　floating　in　the　river。

〃How　horrible；〃　the　girl　said；　〃your　tale　makes　me　shiver；　Martha；　I　would　you　had　said　nothing　about　it　till　we　were　on　land　again。

〃Do　not　be　afraid；　Edith；〃　the　lady　said　cheerfully；　〃we　shall　soon　be　safe　at　Westminster。〃

There　were　now　only　two　or　three　boats　to　be　seen　on　the　river。　They　were　nearing　the　end　of　their　journey　now；　and　the　great　pile　of　the　Abbey　could　be　seen　through　the　darkness。　A　boat　with　several　men　in　it　was　seen　rowing　across　the　river　towards　the　Lambeth　side。　It　was　awkwardly　managed。

〃Look　out！〃　the　steersman　of　the　boat　coming　down　stream　shouted；　〃you　will　run　into　us　if　you　don't　mind。〃

An　order　was　given　in　the　other　boat；　the　men　strained　to　their　oars；　and　in　an　instant　the　boat　ran　with　a　crash　into　the　side　of　the　other；　cutting　it　down　to　the　water's　edge。　For　a　minute　there　was　a　wild　scene　of　confusion；　the　women　shrieked；　the　watermen　shouted；　and；　thinking　that　it　was　an　accident；　strove；　as　the　boat　sank　from　under　them；　to　climb　into　that　which　had　run　them　down。　　They　were　speedily　undeceived。　One　was　sunk　by　a　heavy　blow　with　an　oar；　the　other　was　stabbed　with　a　dagger；　while　the　assailants　struck　fiercely　at　the　old　man　and　the　women。

At　this　moment；　however；　a　third　boat　made　its　appearance　on　the　scene；　its　occupants　uttering　loud　shouts。　　As　they　rowed　towards　the　spot　their　approach　was　heralded　by　a　shower　of　arrows。　Two　of　the　ruffians　were　struck　…　one　fell　over　mortally　wounded；　the　other　sank　down　into　the　boat。


〃Row；　men；　row；〃　their　leader　shouted；　〃or　we　shall　all　be　taken。〃

Again　seizing　their　oars；　the　rowers　started　at　full　speed　towards　the　Lambeth　shore。　The　arrows　of　their　pursuers　still　fell　among　them；　two　more　of　their　number　being　wounded　before　they　reached　the　opposite　shore。　The　pursuit　was　not　continued；　the　newcomers　ceasing　to　row　at　the　spot　where　the　catastrophe　had　taken　place。　Walter　stood　up　in　the　boat　and　looked　round。　A　floating　oar；　a　stretcher；　and　a　sheepskin　which　had　served　as　a　cushion；　alone　floated。

Suddenly　there　was　a　choking　cry　heard　a　few　yards　down　stream；　and　Walter　leapt　into　the　river。　A　few　strokes　took　him　to　the　side　of　the　girl；　and　he　found；　on　throwing　his　arm　round　her；　that　she　was　still　clasped　in　her　mother's　arms。　　Seizing　them　both；　Walter　shouted　to　his　comrades。　They　had　already　turned　the　boat's　head；　and　in　a　minute　were　alongside。

It　was　a　difficult　task　to　get　the　mother　and　child　on　board；　as　the　girl　refused　to　loose　her　hold。　It　was；　however；　accomplished；　and　the　child　sat　still　and　quiet　by　Walter's　side；　while　his　comrades　endeavoured　to　stanch　the　blood　which　was　flowing　from　a　severe　wound　in　her　mother's　head。　　When　they　had　bound　it　up　they　rubbed　her　hands；　and　by　the　time　they　had　reached　the　steps　at　Westminster　the　lady　opened　her　eyes。　For　a　moment　she　looked　bewildered；　and　then；　on　glancing　round；　she　gave　a　low　cry　of　delight　at　seeing　her　child　sitting　by　Walter's　side。

On　reaching　the　steps　the　boys　handed　her　over　to　the　care　of　the　watermen　there；　who　soon　procured　a　litter　and　carried　her；　she　being　still　too　weak　to　walk；　to　the　dwelling　of　the　Earl　of　Talbot；　where　she　said　she　was　expected。　　The　apprentices　rowed　back　to　London　Bridge；　elated　at　the　success　of　their　enterprise；　but　regretting　much　that　they　had　arrived　too　late　to　hinder　the　outrage；　or　to　prevent　the　escape　of　its　perpetrators。



Walter　on　his　return　home　related　the　whole　circumstance　to　his　master。

〃I　would　you　had　told　me；　Walter；〃　the　latter　said；　〃since　we　might　have　ta