saint george for england-第49部分

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Without　a　word　the　men　sprang　upon　him。　For　a　minute　he　defended　himself　against　their　attacks；　but　he　was　still　weak；　his　guard　was　beaten　down；　and　a　blow　felled　him　to　the　ground。

〃Now　settle　her；〃　the　masked　man　exclaimed；　and　the　band　rushed　into　the　adjoining　room。　They　paused；　however；　at　the　door　at　the　sight　of　the　lifeless　figure　on　the　couch。

〃We　are　saved　that　trouble；〃　one　said；　〃we　have　come　too　late。〃

The　masked　figure　approached　the　couch　and　bent　over　the　figure。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃she　is　dead；　and　so　much　the　better。〃

Then　he　returned　with　the　others　to　Walter。

〃He　breathes　yet；〃　he　said。　〃He　needs　a　harder　blow　than　that　you　gave　him　to　finish　him。　Let　him　lie　here　for　a　while；　while　you　gather　your　booty　together；　then　we　will　carry　him　off。　There　is　scarcely　a　soul　alive　in　the　country　round；　and　none　will　note　us　as　we　pass。　I　would　not　despatch　him　here；　seeing　that　his　body　would　be　found　with　wounds　upon　it；　and　even　in　these　times　some　inquiry　might　be　made；　therefore　it　were　best　to　finish　him　elsewhere。　When　he　is　missed　it　will　be　supposed　that　he　went　mad　at　the　death　of　his　wife；　and　has　wandered　out　and　died；　may　be　in　the　woods；　or　has　drowned　himself　in　a　pond　or　stream。　　Besides；　I　would　that　before　he　dies　he　should　know　what　hand　has　struck　the　blow；　and　that　my　vengeance；　which　he　slighted　and　has　twice　escaped；　has　overtaken　him　at　last。〃

After　ransacking　the　principal　rooms　and　taking　all　that　was　valuable；　the　band　of　marauders　lifted　the　still　insensible　body　of　Walter；　and　carrying　it　down…　stairs　flung　it　across　a　horse。　One　of　the　ruffians　mounted　behind　it；　and　the　others　also　getting　into　their　saddles　the　party　rode　away。

They　were　mistaken；　however；　in　supposing　that　the　Lady　Edith　was　dead。　She　was　indeed　very　nigh　the　gates　of　death；　and　had　it　not　been　for　the　disturbance　would　assuredly　have　speedily　entered　them。　The　voice　of　her　husband　raised　in　anger；　the　clash　of　steel；　followed　by　the　heavy　fall；　had　awakened　her　deadened　brain。　Consciousness　had　at　once　returned　to　her；　but　as　yet　no　power　of　movement。　　As　at　a　great　distance　she　had　heard　the　words　of　those　who　entered　her　chamber；　and　had　understood　their　import。　More　and　more　distinctly　she　heard　their　movements　about　the　room　as　they　burst　open　her　caskets　and　appropriated　her　jewels；　but　it　was　not　until　silence　was　restored　that　the　gathering　powers　of　life　asserted　themselves；　then　with　a　sudden　rush　the　blood　seemed　to　course　through　her　veins；　her　eyes　opened；　and　her　tongue　was　loosed；　and　with　a　scream　she　sprang　up　and　stood　by　the　side　of　her　bed。

Sustained　as　by　a　supernatural　power　she　hurried　into　the　next　room。　A　pool　of　blood　on　the　floor　showed　her　that　what　she　had　heard　had　not　been　a　dream　or　the　fiction　of　a　disordered　brain。　Snatching　up　a　cloak　of　her　husband's　which　lay　on　a　couch；　she　wrapped　it　round　her；　and　with　hurried　steps　made　her　way　along　the　passages　until　she　reached　the　apartment　occupied　by　Ralph。　The　latter　sprang　up　in　bed　with　a　cry　of　astonishment。　He　had　heard　but　an　hour　before　from　Walter　that　all　hope　was　gone；　and　thought　for　an　instant　that　the　appearance　was　an　apparition　from　the　dead。　　The　ghastly　pallor　of　the　face；　the　eyes　burning　with　a　strange　light；　the　flowing　hair；　and　disordered　appearance　of　the　girl　might　well　have　alarmed　one　living　in　even　less　superstitious　times；　and　Ralph　began　to　cross　himself　hastily　and　to　mutter　a　prayer　when　recalled　to　himself　by　the　sound　of　Edith's　voice。

〃Quick；　Ralph！〃　she　said；　〃arise　and　clothe　yourself。　　Hasten；　for　your　life。　My　lord's　enemies　have　fallen　upon　him　and　wounded　him　grievously；　even　if　they　have　not　slain　him；　and　have　carried　him　away。　They　would　have　slain　me　also　had　they　not　thought　I　was　already　dead。　Arise　and　mount；　summon　everyone　still　alive　in　the　village；　and　follow　these　murderers。　I　will　pull　the　alarm…bell　of　the　castle。〃

Ralph　sprang　from　his　bed　as　Edith　left。　He　had　heard　the　sound　of　many　footsteps　in　the　knight's　apartments；　but　had　deemed　them　those　of　the　priest　and　his　acolytes　come　to　administer　the　last　rites　of　the　church　to　his　dying　mistress。　　Rage　and　anxiety　for　his　master　gave　strength　to　his　limbs。　　He　threw　on　a　few　clothes　and　rushed　down　to　the　stables；　where　the　horses　stood　with　great　piles　of　forage　and　pails　of　water　before　them；　placed　there　two　days　before；　by　Walter　when　their　last　attendant　died。　Without　waiting　to　saddle　it；　Ralph　sprang　upon　the　back　of　one　of　the　animals；　and　taking　the　halters　of　four　others　started　at　a　gallop　down　to　the　village。

His　news　spread　like　wild　fire；　for　the　ringing　of　the　alarm…bell　of　the　castle　had　drawn　all　to　their　doors　and　prepared　them　for　something　strange。　Some　of　the　men　had　already　taken　their　arms　and　were　making　their　way　up　to　the　castle　when　they　met　Ralph。　There　were　but　five　men　in　the　village　who　had　altogether　escaped　the　pestilence；　others　had　survived　its　attacks；　but　were　still　weak。　　Horses　there　were　in　plenty。　The　five　men　mounted　at　once；　with　three　others　who；　though　still　weak；　were　able　to　ride。

So　great　was　the　excitement　that　seven　women　who　had　escaped　the　disease　armed　themselves　with　their　husbands'　swords　and　leaped　on　horseback；　declaring　that；　women　though　they　were；　they　would　strike　a　blow　for　their　beloved　lord；　who　had　been　as　an　angel　in　the　village　during　the　plague。　Thus　it　was　scarcely　more　than　ten　minutes　after　the　marauders　had　left　the　castle　before　a　motley　band；　fifteen　strong；　headed　by　Ralph；　rode　off　in　pursuit；　while　some　of　the　women　of　the　village　hurried　up　to　the　castle　to　comfort　Edith　with　the　tidings　that　the　pursuit　had　already　commenced。　Fortunately　a　lad　in　the　fields　had　noticed　the　five　men　ride　away　from　the　castle；　and　was　able　to　point　out　the　direction　they　had　taken。

At　a　furious　gallop　Ralph　and　his　companions　tore　across　the　country。　Mile　after　mile　was　passed。　Once　or　twice　they　gained　news　from　labourers　in　the　field　of　the　passage　of　those　before　them；　and　knew　that　they　were　on　the　right　track。　　They　had　now　entered　a　wild　and　sparsely　inhabited　country。　It　was　broken　and　much　undulated；　so　that　although　they　knew　that　the　band　they　were　pursuing　were　but　a　short　distance　ahead　they　had　not　yet　caught　sight　of　them；　and　they　hoped　that；　having　no　reason　to　dread　any　immediate　pursuit；　these　would　soon　slacken　their　pace。　This　expectation　was　realized；　for　on　coming　over　a　brow　they　saw　the　party　halted　at　a　turf…burner's　cottage　in　the　hollow　below。　Three　of　the　men　had　dismounted；　two　of　them　were　examining　the　hoof　of　one　of　the　horses；　which　had　apparently　cast　a　shoe　or　trodden　upon　a　stone。　Ralph　had　warned　his　party　to　make　no　sound　when　they　came　upon　the　fugitives。　The　sound　of　the　horses'　hoofs　was　deadened　by　the　turf；　and　they　were　within　a　hundred　yards　of　the　marauders　before　they　were　perceived；　then　Ralph　uttered　a　shout　and　brandishing　their　swords　the　party　rode　down　at　a　headlong　gallop。

The　dismounted　men　leaped　to　their　saddles　and　galloped　off　at　full　speed；　but　their　pursuers　were　now　close　upon　them。　Ralph　and　two　of　his　companions；　who　were　mounted　upon　Walter's　best　horses；　gained　upon　them　at　every　stride。　Two　of　them　were　overtaken　and　run　through。

The　man　who　bore　Walter　before　him；　finding　himself　being　rapidly　overtaken；　threw　his　burden　on　to　the　ground　just　as　the　leader　of　the　party　had　checked　his　horse　and　was　about　to　deliver　a　sweeping　blow　at　the　insensible　body。

With　a　curse　at　his　follower　for　ridding　himself　of　it；　he　again　galloped　on。　　The　man's　act　was　unavailing　to　save　himself；　for　he　was　overtaken　and　cut　down　before　he　had　ridden　many　strides；　then　Ralph　and　his　party　instantly　reined　up　to　examine　the　state　of　Walter；　and　the　two　survivors　of　the　band　of　murderers　continued　their　flight　unmolested。



CHAPTER　XIX：　BY　LAND　AND　SEA


Walter　was　raised　from　the　ground；　water　was　fetched　from　the　cottage；　and　the　blood　washed　from　his　head　by　Ralph；　aided　by　two　of　the　women。　　It　had　at　once　been　seen　that　he　was　still　living；　and　Ralph　on　examining　the　wound　joyfully　declared　that　no　great　harm　was　done。

〃Had　Sir　Walter　been　strong　and　well；〃　he　said；　〃such　a　clip　as　this　would　not　have　knocked　him　from　his　feet；　but　he　would　have　answered　it　with　a　blow　such　as　I　have　often　seen　him　give　in　battle；　but　he　was　but　barely　recovering　and　was　as　weak　as　a　girl。　He　is　unconscious　from　loss　of　blood　and　weakness。　I　warrant　me　that　when　he　opens　his　eyes　and　hears　that　the　lady　Edith　has　risen　from　her　bed　and　came　to　send　me　to　his　rescue；　joy　will　soon　bring　the　blood　into　his　cheeks　again。　Do　one　of　you　run　to　the　hut　and　see　if　they　have　any　cordial　waters；　since　the　plague　has　been　raging　there　are　few　houses　but　have　laid　in　a　provision　in　case　the　disease　should　seize　them。〃

The　man　soon　returned　with　a　bottle　of　cordial　water　compounded　of　rosemary；　lavender；　and　other　herbs。　By　this　time　Walter　had　opened　his　eyes。　The　cordial　was　poured　down　his　throat；　and　he　was　presently　able　to　speak。

〃Be　of　good　cheer；　Sir　Walter；〃　Ralph　said；　〃three　of　your　rascally　assailants　lie　dead；　and　the　other　two　have　fled；　but　I　have　better　news　still　for　you。　　Lady　Edi