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upon him who fears you not； for he is a free man； and the peer of
any save only the King himself。〃
The Abbot seemed for an instant taken aback by these bold words；
and by the high and strenuous voice in which they were uttered。
But the sterner sacrist came as ever to stiffen his will。 He held
up the old parchment in his hand。
〃The Lorings were indeed vavasors to the King；〃 said he； 〃but here
is the very seal of Eustace Loring which shows that he made
himself vassal to the Abbey and held his land from it。〃
〃Because he was gentle；〃 cried Nigel； 〃because he had no thought
of trick or guile。〃
〃Nay！〃 said the summoner。 〃If my voice may be heard； father
Abbot； upon a point of the law； it is of no weight what the causes
may have been why a deed is subscribed； signed or confirmed； but a
court is concerned only with the terms； articles； covenants and
contracts of the said deed。〃
〃Besides；〃 said the sacrist； 〃sentence is passed by the Abbey
court； and there is an end of its honor and good name if it be not
upheld。〃
〃Brother sacrist；〃 said the Abbot angrily； 〃methinks you show
overmuch zeal in this case； and certes； we are well able to uphold
the dignity and honor of the Abbey court without any rede of
thine。 As to you； worthy summoner； you will give your opinion
when we crave for it； and not before； or you may yourself get some
touch of the power of our tribunal。 But your case hath been
tried； Squire Loring； and judgment given。 I have no more to say。〃
He motioned with his hand； and an archer laid his grip upon the
shoulder of the prisoner。 But that rough plebeian touch woke
every passion of revolt in Nigel's spirit。 Of all his high line
of ancestors； was there one who had been subjected to such
ignominy as this？ Would they not have preferred death？ And
should he be the first to lower their spirit or their traditions？
With a quick； lithe movement； he slipped under the arm of the
archer； and plucked the short； straight sword from the soldier's
side as he did so。 The next instant he had wedged himself into
the recess of one of the narrow windows； and there were his pale
set face； his burning eyes； and his ready blade turned upon the
assembly。
〃By Saint Paul！〃 said he； 〃I never thought to find honorable
advancement under the roof of an abbey； but perchance there may；
be some room for it ere you hale me to your prison。〃
The chapter…house was in an uproar。 Never in the long and
decorous history of the Abbey had such a scene been witnessed
within its walls。 The monks themselves seemed for an instant to
be infected by this spirit of daring revolt。 Their own lifelong
fetters hung more loosely as they viewed this unheard…of defiance
of authority。 They broke from their seats on either side and
huddled half…scared； half…fascinated； in a large half…circle round
the defiant captive； chattering； pointing； grimacing； a scandal
for all time。 Scourges should fall and penance be done for many a
long week before the shadow of that day should pass from Waverley。
But meanwhile there was no effort to bring them back to their
rule。 Everything was chaos and disorder。 The Abbot had left his
seat of justice and hurried angrily forward； to be engulfed and
hustled in the crowd of his own monks like a sheep…dog who finds
himself entangled amid a flock。
Only the sacrist stood clear。 He had taken shelter behind the
half…dozen archers； who looked with some approval and a good deal
of indecision at this bold fugitive from justice。
〃On him！〃 cried the sacrist。 〃Shall he defy the authority of the
court； or shall one man hold six of you at bay？ Close in upon him
and seize him。 You； Baddlesmere； why do you hold back？〃
The man in question； a tall bushy…bearded fellow； clad like the
others in green jerkin and breeches with high brown boots；
advanced slowly； sword in hand； against Nigel。 His heart was not
in the business； for these clerical courts were not popular； and
everyone had a tender heart for the fallen fortunes of the house
of Loring and wished well to its young heir。
〃Come； young sir； you have caused scathe enough；〃 said he。 〃Stand
forth and give yourself up！〃
〃Come and fetch me； good fellow；〃 said Nigel； with a dangerous
smile。
The archer ran in。 There was a rasp of steel； a blade flickered
like a swift dart of flame； and the man staggered back； with blood
running down his forearm and dripping from his fingers。 He wrung
them and growled a Saxon oath。
〃By the black rood of Bromeholm！〃 he cried； 〃I had as soon put my
hand down a fox's earth to drag up a vixen from her cubs。〃
〃Standoff！〃 said Nigel curtly。 〃I would not hurt you； but by
Saint Paul！ I will not be handled； or some one will be hurt in
the handling。〃
So fierce was his eye and so menacing his blade as he crouched in
the narrow bay of the window that the little knot of archers were
at a loss what to do。 The Abbot had forced his way through the
crowd and stood； purple with outraged dignity； at their side。
〃He is outside the law；〃 said he。 〃He hath shed blood in a court
of justice； and for such a sin there is no forgiveness。 I will
not have my court so flouted and set at naught。 He who draws the
sword； by the sword also let him perish。 Forester Hugh lay a
shaft to your bow！〃
The man； who was one of the Abbey's lay servants； put his weight
upon his long bow and slipped the loose end of the string into the
upper notch。 Then； drawing one of the terrible three…foot arrows；
steel…tipped and gaudily winged； from his waist； he laid it to the
string。
〃Now draw your bow and hold it ready！〃 cried the furious Abbot。
〃Squire Nigel； it is not for Holy Church to shed blood； but there
is naught but violence which will prevail against the violent； and
on your head be the sin。 Cast down the sword which you hold in
your hand！〃
〃Will you give me freedom to leave your Abbey？〃
〃When you have abided your sentence and purged your sin。〃
〃Then I had rather die where I stand than give up my sword。〃
A dangerous flame lit in the Abbot's eyes。 He came of a fighting
Norman stock； like so many of those fierce prelates who； bearing a
mace lest they should be guilty of effusion of blood； led their
troops into battle； ever remembering that it was one of their own
cloth and dignity who； crosier in hand； had turned the long…drawn
bloody day of Hastings。 The soft accent of the churchman was gone
and it was the hard voice of a soldier which said …
〃One minute I give you； and no more。 Then when I cry 'Loose！'
drive me an arrow through his body。〃
The shaft was fitted； the bow was bent； and the stern eyes of the
woodman were fixed on his mark。 Slowly the minute passed； while
Nigel breathed a prayer to his three soldier saints； not that they
should save his body in this life； but that they should have a
kindly care for his soul in the next。 Some thought of a fierce
wildcat sally crossed his mind； but once out of his corner he was
lost indeed。 Yet at the last he would have rushed among his
enemies； and his body was bent for the spring； when with a deep
sonorous hum； like a breaking harp…string； the cord of the bow was
cloven in twain； and the arr