“I pray Heaven that Capper make good speed!” said Dick. “I vow3 a candle to St. Mary of Shoreby if he come before the hour!”
“Y’ are in a hurry, Master Dick?” asked Greensheve.
“Ay, good fellow,” answered Dick; “for in that house lieth my lady, whom I love, and who should these be that lie about her secretly by night? Unfriends, for sure!”
“Well,” returned Greensheve, “an John come speedily, we shall give a good account of them. They are not two score at the outside—I judge so by the spacing of their sentries—and, taken where they are, lying so widely, one score would scatter4 them like sparrows. And yet, Master Dick, an she be in Sir Daniel’s power already, it will little hurt that she should change into another’s. Who should these be?”
“I do suspect the Lord of Shoreby,” Dick replied. “When came they?”
“They began to come, Master Dick,” said Greensheve, “about the time ye crossed the wall. I had not lain there the space of a minute ere I marked the first of the knaves5 crawling round the corner.”
The last light had been already extinguished in the little house when they were wading6 in the wash of the breakers, and it was impossible to predict at what moment the lurking8 men about the garden wall might make their onslaught. Of two evils, Dick preferred the least. He preferred that Joanna should remain under the guardianship9 of Sir Daniel rather than pass into the clutches of Lord Shoreby; and his mind was made up, if the house should be assaulted, to come at once to the relief of the besieged10.
But the time passed, and still there was no movement. From quarter of an hour to quarter of an hour the same signal passed about the garden wall, as if the leader desired to assure himself of the vigilance of his scattered11 followers12; but in every other particular the neighbourhood of the little house lay undisturbed.
Presently Dick’s reinforcements began to arrive. The night was not yet old before nearly a score of men crouched13 beside him in the gorse.
Separating these into two bodies, he took the command of the smaller himself, and entrusted14 the larger to the leadership of Greensheve.
“Now, Kit,” said he to this last, “take me your men to the near angle of the garden wall upon the beach. Post them strongly, and wait till that ye hear me falling on upon the other side. It is those upon the sea front that I would fain make certain of, for there will be the leader. The rest will run; even let them. And now, lads, let no man draw an arrow; ye will but hurt friends. Take to the steel, and keep to the steel; and if we have the uppermost, I promise every man of you a gold noble when I come to mine estate.”
Out of the odd collection of broken men, thieves, murderers, and ruined peasantry, whom Duckworth had gathered together to serve the purposes of his revenge, some of the boldest and the most experienced in war had volunteered to follow Richard Shelton. The service of watching Sir Daniel’s movements in the town of Shoreby had from the first been irksome to their temper, and they had of late begun to grumble15 loudly and threaten to disperse16. The prospect17 of a sharp encounter and possible spoils restored them to good humour, and they joyfully18 prepared for battle.
Their long tabards thrown aside, they appeared, some in plain green jerkins, and some in stout19 leathern jacks20; under their hoods21 many wore bonnets22 strengthened by iron plates; and, for offensive armour23, swords, daggers24, a few stout boar-spears, and a dozen of bright bills, put them in a posture26 to engage even regular feudal27 troops. The bows, quivers, and tabards were concealed28 among the gorse, and the two bands set resolutely29 forward.
Dick, when he had reached the other side of the house, posted his six men in a line, about twenty yards from the garden wall, and took position himself a few paces in front. Then they all shouted with one voice, and closed upon the enemy.
These, lying widely scattered, stiff with cold, and taken at unawares, sprang stupidly to their feet, and stood undecided. Before they had time to get their courage about them, or even to form an idea of the number and mettle30 of their assailants, a similar shout of onslaught sounded in their ears from the far side of the enclosure. Thereupon they gave themselves up for lost and ran.
In this way the two small troops of the men of the Black Arrow closed upon the sea front of the garden wall, and took a part of the strangers, as it were, between two fires; while the whole of the remainder ran for their lives in different directions, and were soon scattered in the darkness.
For all that, the fight was but beginning. Dick’s outlaws31, although they had the advantage of the surprise, were still considerably32 outnumbered by the men they had surrounded. The tide had flowed, in the meanwhile; the beach was narrowed to a strip; and on this wet field, between the surf and the garden wall, there began, in the darkness, a doubtful, furious, and deadly contest.
The strangers were well armed; they fell in silence upon their assailants; and the affray became a series of single combats. Dick, who had come first into the mellay, was engaged by three; the first he cut down at the first blow, but the other two coming upon him, hotly, he was fain to give ground before their onset33. One of these two was a huge fellow, almost a giant for stature34, and armed with a two-handed sword, which he brandished35 like a switch. Against this opponent, with his reach of arm and the length and weight of his weapon, Dick and his bill were quite defenceless; and had the other continued to join vigorously in the attack, the lad must have indubitably fallen. This second man, however, less in stature and slower in his movements, paused for a moment to peer about him in the darkness, and to give ear to the sounds of the battle.
The giant still pursued his advantage, and still Dick fled before him, spying for his chance. Then the huge blade flashed and descended36, and the lad, leaping on one side and running in, slashed37 sideways and upwards38 with his bill. A roar of agony responded, and, before the wounded man could raise his formidable weapon, Dick, twice repeating his blow, had brought him to the ground.
The next moment he was engaged, upon more equal terms, with his second pursuer. Here there was no great difference in size, and though the man, fighting with sword and dagger25 against a bill, and being wary39 and quick of fence, had a certain superiority of arms, Dick more than made it up by his greater agility40 on foot. Neither at first gained any obvious advantage; but the older man was still insensibly profiting by the ardour of the younger to lead him where he would; and presently Dick found that they had crossed the whole width of the beach, and were now fighting above the knees in the spume and bubble of the breakers. Here his own superior activity was rendered useless; he found himself more or less at the discretion41 of his foe42; yet a little, and he had his back turned upon his own men, and saw that this adroit43 and skilful44 adversary45 was bent46 upon drawing him farther and farther away.
Dick ground his teeth. He determined47 to decide the combat instantly; and when the wash of the next wave had ebbed48 and left them dry, he rushed in, caught a blow upon his bill, and leaped right at the throat of his opponent. The man went down backwards49, with Dick still upon the top of him; and the next wave, speedily succeeding to the last, buried him below a rush of water.
While he was still submerged, Dick forced his dagger from his grasp, and rose to his feet, victorious50.
“Yield ye!” he said. “I give you life.”
“I yield me,” said the other, getting to his knees. “Ye fight, like a young man, ignorantly and foolhardily; but, by the array of the saints, ye fight bravely!”
Dick turned to the beach. The combat was still raging doubtfully in the night; over the hoarse51 roar of the breakers steel clanged upon steel, and cries of pain and the shout of battle resounded52.
“Lead me to your captain, youth,” said the conquered knight53. “It is fit this butchery should cease.”
“Sir,” replied Dick, “so far as these brave fellows have a captain, the poor gentleman who here addresses you is he.”
There was something noble both in the voice and manner of his late opponent, and Dick instantly dismissed all fears of treachery.
“Lay down your arms, men!” cried the stranger knight. “I have yielded me, upon promise of life.”
The tone of the stranger was one of absolute command, and almost instantly the din7 and confusion of the mellay ceased.
“Lawless,” cried Dick, “are ye safe?”
“Light me the lantern,” said Dick.
“Is not Sir Daniel here?” inquired the knight.
“Sir Daniel?” echoed Dick. “Now, by the rood, I pray not. It would go ill with me if he were.”
“Ill with you, fair sir?” inquired the other. “Nay, then, if ye be not of Sir Daniel’s party, I profess56 I comprehend no longer. Wherefore, then, fell ye upon mine ambush57? in what quarrel, my young and very fiery58 friend? to what earthly purpose? and, to make a clear end of questioning, to what good gentleman have I surrendered?”
But before Dick could answer, a voice spoke59 in the darkness from close by. Dick could see the speaker’s black and white badge, and the respectful salute60 which he addressed to his superior.
“My lord,” said he, “if these gentlemen be unfriends to Sir Daniel, it is pity, indeed, we should have been at blows with them; but it were tenfold greater that either they or we should linger here. The watchers in the house—unless they be all dead or deaf—have heard our hammering this quarter-hour agone; instantly they will have signalled to the town; and unless we be the livelier in our departure, we are like to be taken, both of us, by a fresh foe.”
“Hawksley is in the right,” added the lord. “How please ye, sir? Whither shall we march?”
“Nay, my lord,” said Dick, “go where ye will for me. I do begin to suspect we have some ground of friendship, and if, indeed, I began our acquaintance somewhat ruggedly61, I would not churlishly continue. Let us, then, separate, my lord, you laying your right hand in mine; and at the hour and place that ye shall name, let us encounter and agree.”
“Y’ are too trustful, boy,” said the other; “but this time your trust is not misplaced. I will meet you at the point of day at St. Bride’s Cross. Come, lads, follow!”
The strangers disappeared from the scene with a rapidity that seemed suspicious; and, while the outlaws fell to the congenial task of rifling the dead bodies, Dick made once more the circuit of the garden wall to examine the front of the house. In a little upper loophole of the roof he beheld62 a light set; and as it would certainly be visible in town from the back windows of Sir Daniel’s mansion63, he doubted not that this was the signal feared by Hawksley, and that ere long the lances of the Knight of Tunstall would arrive upon the scene.
He put his ear to the ground, and it seemed to him as if he heard a jarring and hollow noise from townward. Back to the beach he went hurrying. But the work was already done; the last body was disarmed64 and stripped to the skin, and four fellows were already wading seaward to commit it to the mercies of the deep.
A few minutes later, when there debauched out of the nearest lanes of Shoreby some two score horsemen, hastily arrayed and moving at the gallop65 of their steeds, the neighbourhood of the house beside the sea was entirely66 silent and deserted67.
Meanwhile, Dick and his men had returned to the ale-house of the Goat and Bagpipes68 to snatch some hours of sleep before the morning tryst69.
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1
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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2
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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3
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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5
knaves
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| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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wading
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的现在分词 ) | |
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7
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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8
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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guardianship
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| n. 监护, 保护, 守护 | |
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besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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12
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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13
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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16
disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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17
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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18
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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20
jacks
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| n.抓子游戏；千斤顶( jack的名词复数 )；（电）插孔；[电子学]插座；放弃 | |
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21
hoods
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| n.兜帽( hood的名词复数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩v.兜帽( hood的第三人称单数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩 | |
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22
bonnets
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| n.童帽( bonnet的名词复数 )；（烟囱等的）覆盖物；（苏格兰男子的）无边呢帽；（女子戴的）任何一种帽子 | |
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23
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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24
daggers
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| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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25
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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26
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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28
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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30
mettle
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| n.勇气，精神 | |
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31
outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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32
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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33
onset
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| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
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34
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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35
brandished
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| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
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36
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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37
slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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38
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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39
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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40
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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41
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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42
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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43
adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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44
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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45
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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46
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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47
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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48
ebbed
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的过去式和过去分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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49
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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50
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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51
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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52
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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53
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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54
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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55
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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56
profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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57
ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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58
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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59
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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60
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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61
ruggedly
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| 险峻地； 粗暴地； （面容）多皱纹地； 粗线条地 | |
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62
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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63
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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64
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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65
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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66
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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67
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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68
bagpipes
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| n.风笛；风笛( bagpipe的名词复数 ) | |
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69
tryst
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| n.约会；v.与…幽会 | |
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