the virgin of the sun-第7部分

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〃Then　here　you　must　bide；　Lady　Blanche；〃　I　answered；　cutting　her
short。　〃Cling　to　me　and　I　will　save　you　if　I　can；　even　if　it　costs　me
my　life。〃

Certainly　she　did　cling　to　me　for　all　the　rest　of　that　terrible　day；
as　will　be　seen。

From　this　height　we　saw　Hastings　beginning　to　burn；　for　the　Frenchmen
had　fired　the　town　in　sundry　places；　and　being　built　of　wood；　it　burnt
furiously。　Also　we　saw　and　heard　horrible　scenes　and　sounds　of　rapine；
such　as　chance　in　this　Christian　world　of　ours　where　a　savage　foe
finds　peaceful　folk　of　another　race　at　his　mercy。　In　the　houses　people
were　burnt；　in　the　streets　they　were　being　murdered；　or　worse。　Yes；
even　children　were　murdered；　for　afterwards　I　saw　the　bodies　of　some
of　them。

Awhile　later　through　the　wreaths　of　smoke　we　perceived　companies　of
the　French　advancing　to　attack　the　Castle。　There　may　have　been　three
hundred　of　them　in　all；　and　we　did　not　count　more　than　fifty　men；　some
of　us　ill…armed；　together　with　a　mob　of　aged　people　and　many　women　and
children。　What　had　become　of　the　other　men　I　do　not　know；　but　orders
had　been　shouted　from　all　quarters；　and　some　had　gone　this　way　and
some　that。　Some；　too；　I　think；　had　fled；　lacking　leaders。

The　French　having　climbed　the　hill；　began　to　attack　our　ill…fenced
gateways；　bringing　up　beams　of　timber　to　force　them　in。　Those　of　us
who　had　bows　shot　some　of　them；　though；　their　armour　being　good；　for
the　most　part　the　arrows　glanced。　But　few　had　bows。　Moreover；　whenever
we　showed　ourselves　they　poured　such　a　rain　of　quarrels　and　other
shafts　upon　us　that　we　could　not　face　it；　lacking　mail　as　we　did；　and
a　number　of　us　were　killed　or　wounded。　At　last　they　forced　the
easternmost　gate　which　was　the　weakest；　and　got　in　there　and　over　a
place　in　the　wall　were　it　was　broken。　We　fought　them　as　well　as　we
could；　myself　I　cut　down　two　with　the　sword；　Wave…Flame；　hewing　right
through　the　helm　of　one；　for　the　steel　of　that　sword　was　good。　Here；
too；　Jack　Grieves　was　killed　by　my　side　by　a　pike　thrust；　and　died
calling　to　me　to　fight　on　for　old　England　and　Hastings　town；　after
which　he　said　something　about　beer　and　breathed　his　last。

The　end　of　it　was　that　those　who　were　left　were　driven　out　of　the
Castle　together　with　the　women　and　children；　the　murdering　French
killing　every　man　who　fell　wounded　where　he　lay；　and　trying　to　make
prisoner　any　women　they　thought　young　and　fair　enough。　Especially　did
they　seek　to　capture　the　lady　Blanche　because　they　saw　that　she　was
beautiful　and　of　high　station。　But　by　good　fortune　more　than　aught
else；　I　saved　her　from　this　fate。

As　it　chanced　we　were　among　the　last　to　leave　the　Castle；　whence；　to
tell　the　truth；　I　was　loath　to　go；　for　by　now　my　blood　was　up；　and
with　a　few　others　fought　till　I　was　driven　out。　I　prayed　the　lady
Blanche　to　run　forward　with　the　other　women。　But　she　would　not；
answering　that　she　trusted　no　one　else；　but　would　stay　to　die　with　me；
as　though　that　would　help　either　of　us。

Thus　it　came　about　that　a　tall　French　knight　who　had　set　his　eyes　on
her；　outclimbed　his　fellows　upon　the　slope　of　the　hill；　for　they　were
weary　and　gathering　to　re…form；　and　catching　her　round　the　middle；
strove　to　drag　her　away。　I　fell　on　him　and　we　fought。　He　had　fine
armour　and　a　shield　while　I　had　none；　but　I　held　the　long　sword　while
he　only　wielded　a　battle…axe。　I　knew　that　if　he　could　get　in　a　blow
with　that　battle…axe；　I　was　sped；　since　the　bull's　hide　of　my　jerkin
would　never　stand　against　it。　Therefore　it　was　my　business　to　keep　out
of　his　reach。　This；　being　young　and　active；　for　the　most　part　I　made
shift　to　do；　especially　as　he　could　not　move　very　quickly　in　his　mail。
The　end　of　it　was　that　I　cut　him　on　the　arm　through　a　joint　in　his
harness；　whereon　he　rushed　at　me；　swearing　French　oaths。

I　leapt　on　one　side　and　as　he　passed；　smote　with　all　my　strength。　The
blow　fell　between　neck　and　shoulder；　from　behind　as　it　were；　and　such
was　the　temper　of　that　sword　named　Wave…Flame　that　it　shore　through
his　mail　deep　into　the　flesh　beneath；　to　the　backbone　as　I　believe。　At
least　he　went　down　in　a　heapI　remember　the　rattle　of　his　armour　as
he　fell；　and　there　lay　still。　Then　we　fled　on　down　the　steep　path；　I
holding　the　bloody　sword　with　one　hand　and　Lady　Blanche　with　the
other；　while　she　thanked　me　with　her　eyes。

At　length　we　were　in　the　town　again；　running　up　my　own　street。　On
either　side　of　us　the　houses　burned；　and　behind　us　came　another　body
of　the　French。　The　reek　got　into　our　eyes　and　we　stumbled　over　dead　or
fainting　people。

Looking　to　the　left　I　caught　sight　of　the　elm　tree　of　which　I　have
spoken；　that　grew　in　front　of　our　door；　and　saw　that　the　house　behind
it　was　burning。　Yes；　and　I　saw　more；　for　at　the　attic　window；　which
was　open；　the　flames　making　an　arch　round　her；　sat　my　mother。
Moreover；　she　was　singing　for　I　heard　her　voice　and　the　wild　words　she
sang；　though　this　was　a　strange　thing　for　a　woman　to　do　in　the　hour　of
such　a　death。　Further；　she　saw　and　knew　me；　for　she　waved　her　hands　to
me；　then　pointed　towards　the　sea；　why；　I　did　not　guess　at　the　time。　I
stopped；　purposing　to　try　to　rescue　her　though　the　front　of　the　house
was　flaming；　and　the　attempt　must　have　ended　in　my　death。　But　at　that
moment　the　roof　fell　in；　causing　the　fire　to　spout　upwards　and
outwards。　This　was　the　last　that　I　saw　of　my　mother；　though　afterwards
we　found　her　body　and　gave　it　burial　with　those　of　many　other　victims。

There　was　no　time　to　stay；　for　the　conquering　French　were　pouring　up
the　street　behind　us；　shooting　as　they　came　and　murdering　any　laggards
whom　they　could　catch。　On　we　went　up　the　steep　slope　of　the　Minnes
Rock。　I　would　have　fled　on　into　the　open　country；　but　the　lady　Blanche
had　no　strength　left。　Twice　she　sank　to　the　ground；　stricken　with
terror　and　weariness；　and　each　time　prayed　me　not　to　leave　her；　nor
indeed　did　I　wish　to　do　so。　The　end　of　it　was　that　William　Bull　and　I
between　us　half　carried　her　with　much　toil　to　the　cave　of　which　I　had
spoken　to　my　mother。　The　task　was　heavy　and　slow；　since　always　we　must
scramble　over　sheer　ground。　What　is　more；　a　party　of　the　French；
seeing　our　plight；　followed　us。　Perhaps　some　of　them　guessed　who　the
lady　was；　for　there　were　many　spies　in　Hastings　who　might　have　told
them；　and　desired　to　capture　and　hold　her　to　ransom。

At　the　least　they　came　on　after　us　and　a　few　others；　women　all　of
them；　who　had　joined　our　company；　being　unable　to　travel　further；　or
trusting　to　William　Bull　and　myself　to　protect　them。

We　reached　the　cave；　and　thrusting　the　women　along　it；　William　and　I
stood　in　the　mouth　and　waited。　He　had　no　bow　and　all　my　arrows　were
gone　save　three；　but　of　these　I；　who　was　noted　for　my　archery；
determined　to　make　the　best　use　I　could。　So　I　drew　them　out；　and
having　strung　the　bow；　sat　down　to　get　my　breath。　On　came　the　French；
shouting　and　jabbering　at　us　to　the　effect　that　they　would　cut　our
throats　and　carry　off　/la　belle　dame/　to　be　their　sport。

〃She　shall　be　mine！〃　yelled　a　big　fellow　with　a　flattened　nose　and　a
wide　mouth　who　was　ahead　of　the　others；　and　not　more　than　fifty　yards
away。

I　rose；　and　praying　my　patron；　good　St。　Hubert　after　whom　I　was　named
because　I　first　saw　light　upon　his　day；　the　23rd　of　November；　to　give
me　skill；　I　drew　the　great　bow　to　my　ear；　aimed；　and　loosed。　Nor　did
St。　Hubert；　a　lover　of　fine　shooting；　fail　me　in　my　need；　for　that
arrow　rushed　out　and　found　its　home　in　the　big　mouth　of　the　Frenchman；
through　which　it　passed；　pinning　his　foul　tongue　to　his　neck　bone。

Down　he　went；　and　cheered　by　the　sight　I　refitted　and　loosed　at　the
next。　Him；　too；　the　arrow　caught；　so　that　he　fell　almost　on　the　other。

I　set　the　third　and　last　arrow　on　the　string　and　waited　a　space。
Behind　these　two　was　a　squat；　broad　man；　a　knight　I　suppose；　for　he
wore　armour；　and　had　a　shield　with　a　cock　painted　on　it。　This　man；
frightened　by　the　fate　of　his　companions；　yet　not　minded　to　give　up
the　venture　for　those　in　rear　of　him　urged　him　on；　bent　himself　almost
double；　and　holding　the　shield　over　his　helm　which　was　closed；　so　as
to　protect　his　head　and　body；　came　on　at　a　good　pace。

I　waited　till　he　was　within　five…and…twenty　yards　or　so；　hoping　that
the　roughness　of　the　ground　would　cause　him　to　stumble　and　the　shield
to　shift　so　that　I　could　get　a　chance　at　him　behind　it。　But　I　did　not；
so　at　last；　again　praying　to　St。　Hubert；　I　drew　the　big　bow　till　the
string　touched　my　ear；　and　let　drive。　The　shaft；　pointed　with　tempered
steel；　struck　the　shield　full　in　the　centre；　and　by　Heaven；　pierced
it；　aye；　and　the　mail　behind；　aye；　and　the　flesh　it　covered；　so　that
he；　too；　got　his　death。

〃A　great　shot；　Master；〃　said　William；　〃that　no　other　bow　in　Hastings
could　have　sped。〃

〃Not　so　ill；〃　I　answered；　〃but　it　is　my　last。　Now　we　must　fight　as　we
can　with　sword　and　axe　until　we　be　sped。〃

William　nodded；　and　the　women　in　the　cave　began　to　wail　while　I
unstrung　my　bow　and　set　it　in　its　case；　from　habit　I　think；　seeing
that　I　never　hoped　to　look　upon　it　again。

Just　then　from　the　French　ships　in　the　harbour　there　came　a　great
blaring　of　trumpets　giving　some　alarm；　and　the　Frenchmen　of　a　sudden；
ceasing　from　their　attack；　turned　and　ran　towards　the　shore。　I　stepped
out　of　the　cave　with　William　and　looked。　There　on　the　sea；　drawing
near　from　the　east　before　a　good　wind；　I　saw　ships；　and　saw；　too；　that
from　their　masts　flew　the　pennons　of　England；　for　the　golden　leopards
gleamed　in　the　sun。

〃It　is　our　fleet；　William；〃　I　said；　〃come　to　talk　with　these　French。〃

〃Then　I　would　that　it　had　come　sooner；〃　answered　William。　〃Still；
better　now　than　not　at　all。〃



Thus　were　we　saved；　through　Hamo　de　Offyngton；　the　Abbot　of　Battle
Abbey；　or　so　I　was　told　afterwards；　who　collected　a　force　by　land　and
sea　and　drove　off　the　French　after　they　had　ravaged　the　Isle　of　Wight；
attacked　Winchelsea；　and　burned　the　greater　part　of　Hastings。　So　it
came　about　that　in　the　end　these　pirates　took　little　benefit　by　their
wickedness；　since　they　lost　sundry　ships　with　all　on　board；　and　others
left　in　such　haste　that　their　people　remained　on　shore　where　they　were
slain　by　the　mob　that　gathered　as　soon　as　it　was　seen　that　th