One-eyed Hans smote3 his hand upon his thigh4. Look said he, “here is what comes of having a soft heart in one’s bosom5. I overcame and bound a watchman up yonder, and forced him to tell me where our young Baron6 lay. It was on my mind to run my knife into him after he had told me every thing, but then, bethinking how the young Baron hated the thought of bloodshed, I said to myself, ‘No, Hans, I will spare the villain’s life.’ See now what comes of being merciful; here, by hook or by crook8, the fellow has loosed himself from his bonds, and brings the whole castle about our ears like a nest of wasps9.”
“We must fly,” said the Baron; “for nothing else in the world is left me, now that all have deserted10 me in this black time of trouble, excepting these six faithful ones.”
His voice was bitter, bitter, as he spoke11; then stooping, he raised Otto in his arms, and bearing him gently, began rapidly descending12 the rocky slope to the level road that ran along the edge of the hill beneath. Close behind him followed the rest; Hans still grimed with soot13 and in his bare feet. A little distance from the road and under the shade of the forest trees, seven horses stood waiting. The Baron mounted upon his great black charger, seating little Otto upon the saddle in front of him. “Forward!” he cried, and away they clattered14 and out upon the road. Then—“To St. Michaelsburg,” said Baron Conrad, in his deep voice, and the horses’ heads were turned to the westward15, and away they galloped16 through the black shadows of the forest, leaving Trutz-Drachen behind them.
But still the sound of the alarm bell rang through the beating of the horses’ hoofs17, and as Hans looked over his shoulder, he saw the light of torches flashing hither and thither18 along the outer walls in front of the great barbican.
In Castle Trutz-Drachen all was confusion and uproar19: flashing torches lit up the dull gray walls; horses neighed and stamped, and men shouted and called to one another in the bustle20 of making ready. Presently Baron Henry came striding along the corridor clad in light armor, which he had hastily donned when roused from his sleep by the news that his prisoner had escaped. Below in the courtyard his horse was standing21, and without waiting for assistance, he swung himself into the saddle. Then away they all rode and down the steep path, armor ringing, swords clanking, and iron-shod hoofs striking sparks of fire from the hard stones. At their head rode Baron Henry; his triangular22 shield hung over his shoulder, and in his hand he bore a long, heavy, steel-pointed lance with a pennant23 flickering24 darkly from the end.
At the high-road at the base of the slope they paused, for they were at a loss to know which direction the fugitives25 had taken; a half a score of the retainers leaped from their horses, and began hurrying about hither and thither, and up and down, like hounds searching for the lost scent26, and all the time Baron Henry sat still as a rock in the midst of the confusion.
Suddenly a shout was raised from the forest just beyond the road; they had come upon the place where the horses had been tied. It was an easy matter to trace the way that Baron Conrad and his followers27 had taken thence back to the high-road, but there again they were at a loss. The road ran straight as an arrow eastward28 and westward—had the fugitives taken their way to the east or to the west?
Baron Henry called his head-man, Nicholas Stein, to him, and the two spoke together for a while in an undertone. At last the Baron’s lieutenant29 reined30 his horse back, and choosing first one and then another, divided the company into two parties. The baron placed himself at the head of one band and Nicholas Stein at the head of the other. “Forward!” he cried, and away clattered the two companies of horsemen in opposite directions.
It was toward the westward that Baron Henry of Trutz-Drachen rode at the head of his men.
The early springtide sun shot its rays of misty32, yellow light across the rolling tops of the forest trees where the little birds were singing in the glory of the May morning. But Baron Henry and his followers thought nothing of the beauty of the peaceful day, and heard nothing of the multitudinous sound of the singing birds as, with a confused sound of galloping33 hoofs, they swept along the highway, leaving behind them a slow-curling, low-trailing cloud of dust.
As the sun rose more full and warm, the misty wreaths began to dissolve, until at last they parted and rolled asunder34 like a white curtain and there, before the pursuing horsemen, lay the crest35 of the mountain toward which they were riding, and up which the road wound steeply.
“Yonder they are,” cried a sudden voice behind Baron Henry of Trutz-Drachen, and at the cry all looked upward.
Far away upon the mountain-side curled a cloud of dust, from the midst of which came the star-like flash of burnished36 armor gleaming in the sun.
Baron Henry said never a word, but his lips curled in a grim smile.
And as the mist wreaths parted One-eyed Hans looked behind and down into the leafy valley beneath. “Yonder they come,” said he. “They have followed sharply to gain so much upon us, even though our horses are wearied with all the travelling we have done hither and yon these five days past. How far is it, Lord Baron, from here to Michaelsburg?”
“About ten leagues,” said the Baron, in a gloomy voice.
Hans puckered37 his mouth as though to whistle, but the Baron saw nothing of it, for he was gazing straight before him with a set and stony38 face. Those who followed him looked at one another, and the same thought was in the mind of each—how long would it be before those who pursued would close the distance between them?
When that happened it meant death to one and all.
They reached the crest of the hill, and down they dashed upon the other side; for there the road was smooth and level as it sloped away into the valley, but it was in dead silence that they rode. Now and then those who followed the Baron looked back over their shoulders. They had gained a mile upon their pursuers when the helmeted heads rose above the crest of the mountain, but what was the gain of a mile with a smooth road between them, and fresh horses to weary ones?
On they rode and on they rode. The sun rose higher and higher, and hotter and hotter. There was no time to rest and water their panting horses. Only once, when they crossed a shallow stretch of water, the poor animals bent39 their heads and caught a few gulps41 from the cool stream, and the One-eyed Hans washed a part of the soot from his hands and face. On and on they rode; never once did the Baron Conrad move his head or alter that steadfast42 look as, gazing straight before him, he rode steadily43 forward along the endless stretch of road, with poor little Otto’s yellow head and white face resting against his steel-clad shoulder—and St. Michaelsburg still eight leagues away.
A little rise of ground lay before them, and as they climbed it, all, excepting the baron, turned their heads as with one accord and looked behind them. Then more than one heart failed, for through the leaves of the trees below, they caught the glint of armor of those who followed—not more than a mile away. The next moment they swept over the crest, and there, below them, lay the broad shining river, and nearer a tributary44 stream spanned by a rude, narrow, three-arched, stone bridge where the road crossed the deep, slow-moving water.
The others stood bewildered. What did he mean to do? He turned to Hans and his blue eyes shone like steel.
“Hans,” said he, in his deep voice, “thou hast served me long and truly; wilt46 thou for this one last time do my bidding?”
“Swear it,” said the Baron.
“I swear it,” said Hans, and he drew the sign of the cross upon his heart.
“That is good,” said the Baron, grimly. “Then take thou this child, and with the others ride with all the speed that thou canst to St. Michaelsburg. Give the child into the charge of the Abbot Otto. Tell him how that I have sworn fealty48 to the Emperor, and what I have gained thereby—my castle burnt, my people slain49, and this poor, simple child, my only son, mutilated by my enemy.
“And thou, my Lord Baron?” said Hans.
“I will stay here,” said the Baron, quietly, “and keep back those who follow as long as God will give me grace so to do.”
A murmur50 of remonstrance51 rose among the faithful few who were with him, two of whom were near of kin7. But Conrad of Drachenhausen turned fiercely upon them.
“How now,” said he, “have I fallen so low in my troubles that even ye dare to raise your voices against me? By the good Heaven, I will begin my work here by slaying52 the first man who dares to raise word against my bidding.” Then he turned from them. “Here, Hans,” said he, “take the boy; and remember, knave53, what thou hast sworn.”
He pressed Otto close to his breast in one last embrace. “My little child,” he murmured, “try not to hate thy father when thou thinkest of him hereafter, even though he be hard and bloody54 as thou knowest.”
But with his suffering and weakness, little Otto knew nothing of what was passing; it was only as in a faint flickering dream that he lived in what was done around him.
“Farewell, Otto,” said the Baron, but Otto’s lips only moved faintly in answer. His father kissed him upon either cheek. “Come, Hans,” said he, hastily, “take him hence;” and he loosed Otto’s arms from about his neck.
Hans took Otto upon the saddle in front of him.
“Oh! my dear Lord Baron,” said he, and then stopped with a gulp40, and turned his grotesquely55 twitching56 face aside.
“Go,” said the Baron, harshly, “there is no time to lose in woman’s tears.”
“Farewell, Conrad! farewell, Conrad!” said his two kinsmen57, and coming forward they kissed him upon the cheek then they turned and rode away after Hans, and Baron Conrad was left alone to face his mortal foe58.
点击收听单词发音
1 starry | |
adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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2 hoarse | |
adj.嘶哑的,沙哑的 | |
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3 smote | |
v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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4 thigh | |
n.大腿;股骨 | |
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5 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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6 baron | |
n.男爵;(商业界等)巨头,大王 | |
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7 kin | |
n.家族,亲属,血缘关系;adj.亲属关系的,同类的 | |
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8 crook | |
v.使弯曲;n.小偷,骗子,贼;弯曲(处) | |
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9 wasps | |
黄蜂( wasp的名词复数 ); 胡蜂; 易动怒的人; 刻毒的人 | |
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10 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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11 spoke | |
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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12 descending | |
n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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13 soot | |
n.煤烟,烟尘;vt.熏以煤烟 | |
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14 clattered | |
发出咔哒声(clatter的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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15 westward | |
n.西方,西部;adj.西方的,向西的;adv.向西 | |
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16 galloped | |
(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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17 hoofs | |
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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18 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
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19 uproar | |
n.骚动,喧嚣,鼎沸 | |
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20 bustle | |
v.喧扰地忙乱,匆忙,奔忙;n.忙碌;喧闹 | |
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21 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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22 triangular | |
adj.三角(形)的,三者间的 | |
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23 pennant | |
n.三角旗;锦标旗 | |
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24 flickering | |
adj.闪烁的,摇曳的,一闪一闪的 | |
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25 fugitives | |
n.亡命者,逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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26 scent | |
n.气味,香味,香水,线索,嗅觉;v.嗅,发觉 | |
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27 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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28 eastward | |
adv.向东;adj.向东的;n.东方,东部 | |
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29 lieutenant | |
n.陆军中尉,海军上尉;代理官员,副职官员 | |
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30 reined | |
勒缰绳使(马)停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 ); 驾驭; 严格控制; 加强管理 | |
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31 rein | |
n.疆绳,统治,支配;vt.以僵绳控制,统治 | |
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32 misty | |
adj.雾蒙蒙的,有雾的 | |
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33 galloping | |
adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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34 asunder | |
adj.分离的,化为碎片 | |
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35 crest | |
n.顶点;饰章;羽冠;vt.达到顶点;vi.形成浪尖 | |
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36 burnished | |
adj.抛光的,光亮的v.擦亮(金属等),磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 );被擦亮,磨光 | |
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37 puckered | |
v.(使某物)起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38 stony | |
adj.石头的,多石头的,冷酷的,无情的 | |
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39 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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40 gulp | |
vt.吞咽,大口地吸(气);vi.哽住;n.吞咽 | |
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41 gulps | |
n.一大口(尤指液体)( gulp的名词复数 )v.狼吞虎咽地吃,吞咽( gulp的第三人称单数 );大口地吸(气);哽住 | |
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42 steadfast | |
adj.固定的,不变的,不动摇的;忠实的;坚贞不移的 | |
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43 steadily | |
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
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44 tributary | |
n.支流;纳贡国;adj.附庸的;辅助的;支流的 | |
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45 plodded | |
v.沉重缓慢地走(路)( plod的过去式和过去分词 );努力从事;沉闷地苦干;缓慢进行(尤指艰难枯燥的工作) | |
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46 wilt | |
v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎;(指人)疲倦,衰弱 | |
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47 briefly | |
adv.简单地,简短地 | |
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48 fealty | |
n.忠贞,忠节 | |
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49 slain | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
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50 murmur | |
n.低语,低声的怨言;v.低语,低声而言 | |
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51 remonstrance | |
n抗议,抱怨 | |
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52 slaying | |
杀戮。 | |
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53 knave | |
n.流氓;(纸牌中的)杰克 | |
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54 bloody | |
adj.非常的的;流血的;残忍的;adv.很;vt.血染 | |
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55 grotesquely | |
adv. 奇异地,荒诞地 | |
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56 twitching | |
n.颤搐 | |
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57 kinsmen | |
n.家属,亲属( kinsman的名词复数 ) | |
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58 foe | |
n.敌人,仇敌 | |
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