saint george for england-第6章

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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　taken　precautions　which　would　have　prevented　this　foul　deed　from　taking　place。　　However；　I　can　understand　your　wanting　to　accomplish　the　adventure　without　my　aid；　but　we　must　think　now　what　had　best　be　said　and　done。　As　the　lady　belongs　to　the　court；　there　is　sure　to　be　a　fine　pother　about　the　matter；　and　you　and　all　who　were　there　will　be　examined　touching　your　share　of　the　adventure；　and　how　you　came　to　be　upon　the　spot。　The　others　will；　of　course；　say　that　they　were　there　under　your　direction；　and　we　had　best　think　how　much　of　your　story　you　had　better　tell。〃

〃Why　should　I　not　tell　it　all？〃　Walter　asked　indignantly。

〃You　should　never　tell　a　lie；　Walter；　but　in　days　like　these　it　is　safer　sometimes　not　to　tell　more　than　is　necessary。　It　is　a　good　rule　in　life；　my　boy；　to　make　no　more　enemies　than　may　be　needful。　This　knight；　who　is　doubtless　a　great　villain；　has　maybe　powerful　friends；　and　it　is　as　well；　if　it　can　be　avoided；　that　you　should　not　embroil　yourself　with　these。　Many　a　man　has　been　knocked　on　head　or　stabbed　on　a　dark　night；　because　he　could　not　keep　his　tongue　from　wagging。　　'Least　said；　the　sooner　mended；'　is　a　good　proverb；　but　I　will　think　it　over　tonight；　and　tell　you　in　the　morning。〃

When　they　met　again　in　the　workshop　the　armourer　said：　〃Clean　yourself　up　after　breakfast；　Walter；　and　put　on　your　best　clothes。　I　will　go　with　you　before　the　mayor；　and　then　you　shall　tell　him　your　story。　There　is　sure　to　be　a　stir　about　it　before　the　day　is　done。　As　we　walk　thither　we　can　settle　how　much　of　your　story　it　is　good　to　tell。〃

On　their　way　over　the　bridge　Geoffrey　told　Walter　that　he　thought　he　had　better　tell　the　whole　story　exactly　as　it　had　occurred；　concealing　only　the　fact　that　he　had　recognized　the　knight's　face。　〃You　had　best　too；〃　he　said；　〃mention　nought　about　the　white　cloak。　If　we　can　catch　the　man　of　the　hut　in　the　swamp；　likely　enough　the　rack　will　wring　from　him　the　name　of　his　employer；　and　in　that　case；　if　you　are　brought　up　as　a　witness　against　him　you　will　of　course　say　that　you　recognize　his　face；　but　'tis　better　that　the　accusation　should　not　come　from　you。　No　great　weight　would　be　given　to　the　word　of　a　'prentice　boy　as　against　that　of　a　noble。　It　is　as　bad　for　earthen　pots　to　knock　against　brass　ones；　as　it　is　for　a　yeoman　in　a　leathern　jerkin　to　stand　up　against　a　knight　in　full　armour。

〃But　unless　the　lady　knows　her　enemy　she　may　fall　again　into　his　snares。

〃I　have　thought　of　that；〃　Geoffrey　said；　〃and　we　will　take　measures　to　prevent　it。〃

〃But　how　can　we　prevent　it？〃　Walter　asked；　surprised。

〃We　must　find　out　who　this　knight　may　be；　which　should；　methinks；　not　be　difficult。　Then　we　will　send　to　him　a　message　that　his　share　in　this　night's　work　is　known　to　several；　and　that　if　any　harm　should　ever　again　be　attempted　against　the　lady　or　her　daughter；　he　shall　be　denounced　before　King　Edward　himself　as　the　author　of　the　wrong。　I　trust；　however；　that　we　may　capture　the　man　of　the　swamp；　and　that　the　truth　may　be　wrung　from　him。〃

By　this　time　they　had　arrived　at　the　Guildhall；　and　making　their　way　into　the　court；　Geoffrey　demanded　private　speech　with　the　Lord　Mayor。

〃Can　you　not　say　in　open　court　what　is　you　business？〃　the　Lord　Mayor　asked。



〃I　fear　that　if　I　did　it　would　defeat　the　ends　of　justice。〃

Retiring　with　the　chief　magistrate　into　an　inner　room；　Geoffrey　desired　Walter　to　tell　his　story。　This　he　did；　ending　by　saying　that　he　regretted　much　that　he　had　not　at　once　told　his　master　what　he　had　heard；　but　that；　although　he　deemed　evil　was　intended；　he　did　not　know　that　murder　was　meant；　and　thought　it　but　concerned　the　carrying　off　of　some　damsel；　and　that　this　he　had　intended；　by　the　aid　of　his　comrades；　to　prevent。

〃You　have　done　well；　Master　Walter；　since　that　be　your　name；〃　the　magistrate　said。　〃That　you　might　have　done　better　is　true；　for　had　you　acted　otherwise　you　might　have　prevented　murder　from　being　done。　Still；　one　cannot　expect　old　heads　upon　young　shoulders。　Give　me　the　names　of　those　who　were　with　you；　for　I　shall　doubtless　receive　a　message　from　Westminster　this　morning　to　know　if　I　have　heard　aught　of　the　affair。　In　the　meantime　we　must　take　steps　to　secure　these　pirates　of　the　marsh。　The　ground　is　across　the　river；　and　lies　out　of　my　jurisdiction。〃

〃It　is　for　that　reason；〃　Geoffrey　said；　〃that　I　wished　that　the　story　should　be　told　to　you　privately；　since　the　men　concerned　might　well　have　sent　a　friend　to　the　court　to　hear　if　aught　was　said　which　might　endanger　them。〃

〃I　will　give　you　a　letter　to　a　magistrate　of　Surrey；　and　he　will　despatch　some　constables　under　your　guidance　to　catch　these　rascals。　I　fear　there　have　been　many　murders　performed　by　them　lately　besides　that　in　question；　and　you　will　be　doing　a　good　service　to　the　citizens　by　aiding　in　the　capture　of　these　men。

〃I　will　go　willingly；〃　the　smith　assented。

The　Lord　Mayor　said；　after　a　moment's　thought。　〃It　will　be　quicker；　I　will　tell　the　justice　that　if　he　will　come　to　the　meeting　of　the　roads　on　Kennington　Common；　at　seven　this　evening；　you　will　be　there　with　your　apprentice　to　act　as　a　guide。〃

〃I　will；〃　the　armourer　said；　〃and　will　bring　with　me　two　or　three　of　my　men　who　are　used　to　hard　blows；　for；　to　tell　you　the　truth；　I　have　no　great　belief　in　the　valour　of　constables；　and　we　may　meet　with　a　stout　resistance。〃

〃So　be　it；〃　the　Lord　Mayor　said；　〃and　luck　be　with　you；　for　these　men　are　the　scourges　of　the　river。〃

That　evening　the　armourer　shut　up　his　shop　sooner　than　usual；　and　accompanied　by　Walter　and　four　of　his　workmen；　and　all　carrying　stout　oaken　cudgels；　with　hand…　axes　in　their　girdles；　started　along　the　lonely　road　to　Kennington。　Half　an　hour　after　their　arrival　the　magistrate；　with　ten　men；　rode　up。　He　was　well　pleased　at　the　sight　of　the　reinforcement　which　awaited　him；　for　the　river　pirates　might　be　expected　to　make　a　desperate　resistance。　Geoffrey　advised　a　halt　for　a　time　until　it　should　be　well…nigh　dark；　as　the　marauders　might　have　spies　set　to　give　notice　should　strangers　enter　the　marsh。

They　started　before　it　was　quite　dark；　as　Walter　doubted　whether　he　should　be　able　to　lead　them　straight　to　the　hut　after　the　night　had　completely　fallen。　He　felt；　however；　tolerably　sure　of　his　locality；　for　he　had　noticed　that　two　trees　grew　on　the　edge　of　the　swamp　just　at　the　spot　where　he　had　left　it。　He　had　no　difficulty　in　finding　these；　and　at　once　led　the　way。　The　horses　of　the　magistrate　and　his　followers　were　left　in　charge　of　three　of　their　number。

〃You　are　sure　you　are　going　right？〃　the　magistrate　said　to　Walter。　〃The　marsh　seems　to　stretch　everywhere；　and　we　might　well　fall　into　a　quagmire；　which　would　swallow　us　all　up。

〃I　am　sure　of　my　way；〃　Walter　answered；　〃and　see；　yonder　clump　of　bushes；　which　you　can　just　observe　above　the　marsh；　a　quarter　of　a　mile　away；　is　the　spot　where　the　house　of　their　leader　is　situated。〃

With　strict　injunctions　that　not　a　word　was　to　be　spoken　until　the　bush　was　surrounded；　and　that　all　were　to　step　noiselessly　and　with　caution；　the　party　moved　forward。　It　was　now　nearly　dark；　and　as　they　approached　the　hut　sounds　of　laughter　and　revelry　were　heard。

〃They　are　celebrating　their　success　in　a　carouse；〃　Geoffrey　said。　〃We　shall　catch　them　nicely　in　a　trap。〃

When　they　came　close；　a　man　who　was　sitting　just　at　the　low　mouth　of　the　hut　suddenly　sprang　to　his　feet　and　shouted；　〃Who　goes　there？〃　He　had　apparently　been　placed　as　sentry；　but　had　joined　in　the　potations　going　on　inside；　and　had　forgotten　to　look　round　from　time　to　time　to　see　that　none　were　approaching。

At　his　challenge　the　whole　party　rushed　forward；　and　as　they　reached　the　hut　the　men　from　within　came　scrambling　out；　sword　in　hand。　For　two　or　three　minutes　there　was　a　sharp　fight；　and　had　the　constables　been　alone　they　would　have　been　defeated；　for　they　were　outnumbered　and　the　pirates　were　desperate。

The　heavy　clubs　of　the　armourers　decided　the　fight。　　One　or　two　of　the　band　alone　succeeded　in　breaking　through；　the　rest　were　knocked　down　and　bound；　not；　however；　until　several　severe　wounds　had　been　inflicted　on　their　assailants。

When　the　fray　was　over；　it　was　found　that　nine　prisoners　had　been　captured。　　Some　of　these　were　stunned　by　the　blows　which　the　smiths　had　dealt　them；　and　two　or　three　were　badly　wounded；　all　were　more　or　less　injured　in　the　struggle。　When　they　recovered　their　senses　they　were　made　to　get　on　their　feet；　and　with　their　hands　tied　securely　behind　them　were　marched　between　a　double　line　of　their　captors　off　the　marsh。

〃Thanks　for　your　services；〃　the　justice　said　when　they　had　gained　the　place　where　they　had　left　their　horses。　〃Nine　of　my　men　shall　tie　each　one　of　these　rascals　to　their　stirrups　by　halters　round　their　necks；　and　we　will　give　them　a　smart　run　into　Richmond；　where　we　will　lodge　them　in　the　jail。　Tomorrow　is　Sunday；　on　Monday　they　will　be　brought　before　me；　and　I　shall　want　the　evidence　of　Master　Walter　Fletcher　and　of　those　who　were　in　the　boat　with　him　as　to　what　took　place　on　the　river。　Methinks　the　evidence　on　that　score；　and　the　resistance　which　they　offered　to　us　this　evening；　will　be　sufficient　to　put　a　halter　round　their　necks；　but　from　what　I　have　heard　by　the　letter　which　the　Lord　Mayor　sent　me；　there　are　others　higher　in　rank　concerned　in　the　affair；　doubtless　we　shall　find　means　to　make　these　ruffians　speak。〃

Accordingly；　at　the　justice's　orders；　halters　were　placed　round　the　necks　of　the　prisoners；　the　other　ends　being　attached　to　the　saddles；　and　the　party　set　off　at　a　pace　which　taxed　to　the　utmost　the　strength　of　the　wounded　men。　　Geoffrey　and　his　party　returned　in　high　spirits　to　Southwark。


On　the　Monday　Walter　went　over　to　Richmond；　accompanied　by　the　armourers　and　by　the　lads　who　had　been　in　the　boat　with　him。　The　nine　ruffians；　strongly　guarded；　were　brought　up　in　the　justice　room。　Walter　first　gave　his　evidence；　and　related　how　he　had　overheard　a　portion　of　the　conversation；　which　led　him　to　believe　that　an　attack　would　be　made　upon　the　boat　coming　down　the　river。

〃Can　you　identify　either　of　the　prisoners　as　being　the　man　whom　you　saw　at　the　door　of　the　hut？〃

〃No；〃　Walter　said。　〃When　I　first　saw　him　I　was　too　far　off　to　make　out　his　face。　　When　he　left　the　hut　it　was　dark。〃

〃Should　you　know　the　other　man；　the　one　who　was　addressed　as　sir　knight；　if　you　saw　him　again？〃

〃I　should；〃　Walter　replied。　He　then　gave　an　account　of　the　attack　upon　the　boat；　but　said　that　in　the　suddenness　of　the　affair　and　the　growing　darkness　he　noticed　none　of　the　figures　distinctly　enough　to　recognize　them　again。　Two　or　three　of　the　other　apprentices　gave　similar　testimony　as　to　the　attack。

A　gentleman　then　presented　himself；　and　gave　his　name　as　Sir　William　de　Hertford。　He　said　that　he　had　come　at　the　request　of　the　Lady　Alice　Vernon；　who　was　still　suffering　from　the　effects　of　the　wound　and　immersion。　She　had　requested　him　to　say　that　at　some　future　occasion　she　would　appear　to　testify；　but　that　in　the　confusion　and　suddenness　of　the　attack　she　had　noticed　no　faces　in　the　boat　which　assailed　them；　and　could　identify　none　conc