Dick plunged2 into the nearest cover. It was a tall grove3 of oaks, firm under foot and clear of underbrush, and as it lay down hill, they made good speed. There followed next a piece of open, which Dick avoided, holding to his left. Two minutes after, and the same obstacle arising, the lads followed the same course. Thus it followed that, while the lads, bending continually to the left, drew nearer and nearer to the high road and the river which they had crossed an hour or two before, the great bulk of their pursuers were leaning to the other hand, and running towards Tunstall.
The lads paused to breathe. There was no sound of pursuit. Dick put his ear to the ground, and still there was nothing; but the wind, to be sure, still made a turmoil4 in the trees, and it was hard to make certain.
“On again,” said Dick; and, tired as they were, and Matcham limping with his injured foot, they pulled themselves together, and once more pelted5 down the hill.
Three minutes later, they were breasting through a low thicket6 of evergreen7. High overhead, the tall trees made a continuous roof of foliage8. It was a pillared grove, as high as a cathedral, and except for the hollies9 among which the lads were struggling, open and smoothly10 swarded.
On the other side, pushing through the last fringe of evergreen, they blundered forth11 again into the open twilight12 of the grove.
“Stand!” cried a voice.
And there, between the huge stems, not fifty feet before them, they beheld13 a stout14 fellow in green, sore blown with running, who instantly drew an arrow to the head and covered them. Matcham stopped with a cry; but Dick, without a pause, ran straight upon the forester, drawing his dagger15 as he went. The other, whether he was startled by the daring of the onslaught, or whether he was hampered16 by his orders, did not shoot; he stood wavering; and before he had time to come to himself, Dick bounded at his throat, and sent him sprawling17 backward on the turf. The arrow went one way and the bow another with a sounding twang. The disarmed18 forester grappled his assailant; but the dagger shone and descended19 twice. Then came a couple of groans20, and then Dick rose to his feet again, and the man lay motionless, stabbed to the heart.
“On!” said Dick; and he once more pelted forward, Matcham trailing in the rear. To say truth, they made but poor speed of it by now, labouring dismally21 as they ran, and catching22 for their breath like fish. Matcham had a cruel stitch, and his head swam; and as for Dick, his knees were like lead. But they kept up the form of running with undiminished courage.
Presently they came to the end of the grove. It stopped abruptly23; and there, a few yards before them, was the high road from Risingham to Shoreby, lying, at this point, between two even walls of forest.
At the sight Dick paused; and as soon as he stopped running, he became aware of a confused noise, which rapidly grew louder. It was at first like the rush of a very high gust24 of wind, but soon it became more definite, and resolved itself into the galloping25 of horses; and then, in a flash, a whole company of men-at-arms came driving round the corner, swept before the lads, and were gone again upon the instant. They rode as for their lives, in complete disorder26; some of them were wounded; riderless horses galloped27 at their side with bloody28 saddles. They were plainly fugitives29 from the great battle.
The noise of their passage had scarce begun to die away towards Shoreby, before fresh hoofs31 came echoing in their wake, and another deserter clattered33 down the road; this time a single rider and, by his splendid armour34, a man of high degree. Close after him there followed several baggage-waggons35, fleeing at an ungainly canter, the drivers flailing36 at the horses as if for life. These must have run early in the day; but their cowardice37 was not to save them. For just before they came abreast38 of where the lads stood wondering, a man in hacked39 armour, and seemingly beside himself with fury, overtook the waggons, and with the truncheon of a sword, began to cut the drivers down. Some leaped from their places and plunged into the wood; the others he sabred as they sat, cursing them the while for cowards in a voice that was scarce human.
All this time the noise in the distance had continued to increase; the rumble40 of carts, the clatter32 of horses, the cries of men, a great, confused rumour41, came swelling42 on the wind; and it was plain that the rout43 of a whole army was pouring, like an inundation44, down the road.
Dick stood sombre. He had meant to follow the highway till the turn for Holywood, and now he had to change his plan. But above all, he had recognised the colours of Earl Risingham, and he knew that the battle had gone finally against the rose of Lancaster. Had Sir Daniel joined, and was he now a fugitive30 and ruined? or had he deserted45 to the side of York, and was he forfeit46 to honour? It was an ugly choice.
“Come,” he said, sternly; and, turning on his heel, he began to walk forward through the grove, with Matcham limping in his rear.
For some time they continued to thread the forest in silence. It was now growing late; the sun was setting in the plain beyond Kettley; the tree-tops overhead glowed golden; but the shadows had begun to grow darker and the chill of the night to fall.
Matcham sat down and began to weep.
“Ye can weep for your own supper, but when it was to save men’s lives, your heart was hard enough,” said Dick, contemptuously. “Y’ ’ave seven deaths upon your conscience, Master John; I’ll ne’er forgive you that.”
“Conscience!” cried Matcham, looking fiercely up. “Mine! And ye have the man’s red blood upon your dagger! And wherefore did ye slay48 him, the poor soul? He drew his arrow, but he let not fly; he held you in his hand, and spared you! ’Tis as brave to kill a kitten, as a man that not defends himself.”
Dick was struck dumb.
“It was a coward blow,” returned Matcham. “Y’ are but a lout50 and bully51, Master Dick; ye but abuse advantages; let there come a stronger, we will see you truckle at his boot! Ye care not for vengeance52, neither—for your father’s death that goes unpaid53, and his poor ghost that clamoureth for justice. But if there come but a poor creature in your hands that lacketh skill and strength, and would befriend you, down she shall go!”
Dick was too furious to observe that “she.”
“Marry!” he cried, “and here is news! Of any two the one will still be stronger. The better man throweth the worse, and the worse is well served. Ye deserve a belting, Master Matcham, for your ill-guidance and unthankfulness to meward; and what ye deserve ye shall have.”
And Dick, who, even in his angriest temper, still preserved the appearance of composure, began to unbuckle his belt.
“Here shall be your supper,” he said, grimly. Matcham had stopped his tears; he was as white as a sheet, but he looked Dick steadily54 in the face, and never moved. Dick took a step, swinging the belt. Then he paused, embarrassed by the large eyes and the thin, weary face of his companion. His courage began to subside55.
“Nay58,” said Matcham, “I was in the right. Come, cruel! I be lame57; I be weary; I resist not; I ne’er did thee hurt; come, beat me—coward!”
Dick raised the belt at this last provocation59, but Matcham winced60 and drew himself together with so cruel an apprehension61, that his heart failed him yet again. The strap62 fell by his side, and he stood irresolute63, feeling like a fool.
“A plague upon thee, shrew!” he said. “An ye be so feeble of hand, ye should keep the closer guard upon your tongue. But I’ll be hanged before I beat you!” and he put on his belt again. “Beat you I will not,” he continued; “but forgive you?—never. I knew ye not; ye were my master’s enemy; I lent you my horse; my dinner ye have eaten; y’ ’ave called me a man o’ wood, a coward, and a bully. Nay, by the mass! the measure is filled, and runneth over. ’Tis a great thing to be weak, I trow: ye can do your worst, yet shall none punish you; ye may steal a man’s weapons in the hour of need, yet may the man not take his own again;—y’ are weak, forsooth! Nay, then, if one cometh charging at you with a lance, and crieth he is weak, ye must let him pierce your body through! Tut! fool words!”
“And yet ye beat me not,” returned Matcham.
“Let be,” said Dick—“let be. I will instruct you. Y’ ’ave been ill-nurtured, methinks, and yet ye have the makings of some good, and, beyond all question, saved me from the river. Nay, I had forgotten it; I am as thankless as thyself. But, come, let us on. An we be for Holywood this night, ay, or to-morrow early, we had best set forward speedily.”
But though Dick had talked himself back into his usual good-humour, Matcham had forgiven him nothing. His violence, the recollection of the forester whom he had slain—above all, the vision of the upraised belt, were things not easily to be forgotten.
“I will thank you, for the form’s sake,” said Matcham. “But, in sooth, good Master Shelton, I had liever find my way alone. Here is a wide wood; prithee, let each choose his path; I owe you a dinner and a lesson. Fare ye well!”
Each turned aside, and they began walking off severally, with no thought of the direction, intent solely65 on their quarrel. But Dick had not gone ten paces ere his name was called, and Matcham came running after.
“Dick,” he said, “it were unmannerly to part so coldly. Here is my hand, and my heart with it. For all that wherein you have so excellently served and helped me—not for the form, but from the heart, I thank you. Fare ye right well.”
“Well, lad,” returned Dick, taking the hand which was offered him, “good speed to you, if speed you may. But I misdoubt it shrewdly. Y’ are too disputatious.” So then they separated for the second time; and presently it was Dick who was running after Matcham.
“Here,” he said, “take my cross-bow; shalt not go unarmed.”
“A cross-bow!” said Matcham. “Nay, boy, I have neither the strength to bend nor yet the skill to aim with it. It were no help to me, good boy. But yet I thank you.”
The night had now fallen, and under the trees they could no longer read each other’s face.
“I will go some little way with you,” said Dick. “The night is dark. I would fain leave you on a path, at least. My mind misgiveth me, y’ are likely to be lost.”
Without any more words, he began to walk forward, and the other once more followed him. The blackness grew thicker and thicker. Only here and there, in open places, they saw the sky, dotted with small stars. In the distance, the noise of the rout of the Lancastrian army still continued to be faintly audible; but with every step they left it farther in the rear.
At the end of half an hour of silent progress they came forth upon a broad patch of heathy open. It glimmered66 in the light of the stars, shaggy with fern and islanded with clumps67 of yew68. And here they paused and looked upon each other.
“Y’ are weary?” Dick said.
“Nay, I am so weary,” answered Matcham, “that methinks I could lie down and die.”
The ground sloped down gently; and, sure enough, in the bottom, they found a little murmuring river, running among willows70. Here they threw themselves down together by the brink71; and putting their mouths to the level of a starry72 pool, they drank their fill.
“Dick,” said Matcham, “it may not be. I can no more.”
“I saw a pit as we came down,” said Dick. “Let us lie down therein and sleep.”
“Nay, but with all my heart!” cried Matcham.
The pit was sandy and dry; a shock of brambles hung upon one hedge, and made a partial shelter; and there the two lads lay down, keeping close together for the sake of warmth, their quarrel all forgotten. And soon sleep fell upon them like a cloud, and under the dew and stars they rested peacefully.
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收听单词发音
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1
outstripped
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| v.做得比…更好，（在赛跑等中）超过( outstrip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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2
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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3
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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4
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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5
pelted
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| （连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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7
evergreen
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| n.常青树；adj.四季常青的 | |
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8
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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9
hollies
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| n.冬青（常绿灌木，叶尖而硬，有光泽，冬季结红色浆果）( holly的名词复数 )；（用作圣诞节饰物的）冬青树枝 | |
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10
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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12
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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13
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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15
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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16
hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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18
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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19
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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20
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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21
dismally
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| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
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22
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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23
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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24
gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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25
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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26
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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27
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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28
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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29
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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30
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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31
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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32
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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33
clattered
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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34
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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35
waggons
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| 四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 )； 铁路货车； 小手推车 | |
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36
flailing
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| v.鞭打( flail的现在分词 )；用连枷脱粒；（臂或腿）无法控制地乱动；扫雷坦克 | |
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37
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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38
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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39
hacked
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| 生气 | |
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40
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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41
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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42
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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43
rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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44
inundation
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| n.the act or fact of overflowing | |
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45
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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46
forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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47
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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48
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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49
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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50
lout
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| n.粗鄙的人；举止粗鲁的人 | |
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51
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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52
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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53
unpaid
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| adj.未付款的，无报酬的 | |
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54
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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55
subside
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| vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降 | |
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56
lamely
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| 一瘸一拐地，不完全地 | |
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57
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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58
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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59
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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60
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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62
strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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63
irresolute
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| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
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64
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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65
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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66
glimmered
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| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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68
yew
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| n.紫杉属树木 | |
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69
chiding
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| v.责骂，责备( chide的现在分词 ) | |
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70
willows
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| n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木 | |
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71
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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72
starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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