按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
found themselves as they rode to Guildford。
No one； as it chanced； was going the same way as themselves； but
they met one large drove of pilgrims returning from their journey
with pictures of Saint Thomas and snails' shells or little leaden
ampullae in their hats and bundles of purchases over their
shoulders。 They were a grimy； ragged； travel…stained crew； the
men walking； the women borne on asses。 Man and beast； they limped
along as if it would be a glad day when they saw their homes once
more。 These and a few beggars or minstrels； who crouched among
the heather on either side of the track in the hope of receiving
an occasional farthing from the passer…by； were the only folk they
met until they had reached the village of Puttenham。 Already
there； was a hot sun and just breeze enough to send the dust
flying down the road； so they were glad to clear their throats
with a glass of beer at the ale…stake in the village； where the
fair alewife gave Nigel a cold farewell because he had no
attentions for her； and Aylward a box on the ear because he had
too many。
On the farther side of Puttenham the road runs through thick woods
of oak and beech； with a tangled undergrowth of fern and bramble。
Here they met a patrol of sergeants…at…arms； tall fellows；
well…mounted； clad in studded…leather caps and tunics； with lances
and swords。 They walked their horses slowly on the shady side of
the road； and stopped as the travelers came up； to ask if they had
been molested on the way。
〃Have a care；〃 they added； 〃for the ‘Wild Man' and his wife are
out。 Only yesterday they slew a merchant from the west and took a
hundred crowns。〃
〃His wife； you say？〃
〃Yes； she is ever at his side； and has saved him many a time； for
if he has the strength it is she who has the wit。 I hope to see
their heads together upon the green grass one of these mornings。〃
The patrol passed downward toward Farnham； and so； as it proved；
away from the robbers； who had doubtless watched them closely from
the dense brushwood which skirted the road。 Coming round a curve；
Nigel and Aylward were aware of a tall and graceful woman who sat；
wringing her hands and weeping bitterly； upon the bank by the side
of the track。 At such a sight of beauty in distress Nigel pricked
Pommers with the spur and in three bounds was at the side of the
unhappy lady。
〃What ails you； fair dame？〃 he asked。 〃Is there any small matter
in which I may stand your friend； or is it possible that anyone
hath so hard a heart as to do you an injury。〃
She rose and turned upon him a face full of hope and entreaty。
〃Oh； save my poor； poor father！〃 she cried。 〃Have you perchance
seen the way…wardens？ They passed us； and I fear they are beyond
reach。〃
〃Yes； they have ridden onward； but we may serve as well。〃
〃Then hasten； hasten； I pray you！ Even now they may be doing him
to death。 They have dragged him into yonder grove and I have
heard his voice growing ever weaker in the distance。 Hasten； I
implore you！〃
Nigel sprang from his horse and tossed the rein to Aylward。
〃Nay； let us go together。 How many robbers were there； lady？〃
〃Two stout fellows。〃
〃Then I come also。〃
〃Nay； it is not possible；〃 said Nigel。 〃The wood is too thick for
horses； and we cannot leave them in the road。〃
〃I will guard them；〃 cried the lady。
〃Pommers is not so easily held。 Do you bide here； Aylward； until
you hear from me。 Stir not； I command you！〃 So saying； Nigel；
with the light； of adventure gleaming in his joyous eyes； drew his
sword and plunged swiftly into the forest。
Far and fast he ran； from glade to glade； breaking through the
bushes； springing over the brambles； light as a young deer；
peering this way and that； straining his ears for a sound； and
catching only the cry of the wood…pigeons。 Still on he went； with
the constant thought of the weeping woman behind and of the
captured man in front。 It was not until he was footsore and out
of breath that he stopped with his hand to his side； and
considered that his own business had still to be done； and that it
was time once more that he should seek the road to Guildford。
Meantime Aylward had found his own rough means of consoling the
woman in the road； who stood sobbing with her face against the
side of Pommers' saddle。
〃Nay； weep not； my pretty one；〃 said he。 〃It brings the tears to
my own eyes to see them stream from thine。〃
〃Alas！ good archer； he was the best of fathers； so gentle and so
kind！ Had you but known him； you must have loved him。〃
〃Tut； tut！ he will suffer no scathe。 Squire Nigel will bring him
back to you anon。〃
〃No； no； I shall never see him more。 Hold me； archer； or I fall！〃
Aylward pressed his ready arm round the supple waist。 The
fainting woman leaned with her hand upon his shoulder。 Her pale
face looked past him； and it was some new light in her eyes； a
flash of expectancy； of triumph； of wicked joy； which gave him
sudden warning of his danger。
He shook her off and sprang to one side； but only just in time to
avoid a crashing blow from a great club in the hands of a man even
taller and stronger than himself。 He had one quick vision of
great white teeth clenched in grim ferocity； a wild flying beard
and blazing wild…beast eyes。 The next instant he had closed；
ducking his head beneath another swing of that murderous cudgel。
With his arms round the robber's burly body and his face buried in
his bushy beard； Aylward gasped and strained and heaved。 Back and
forward in the dusty road the two men stamped and staggered； a
grim wrestling…match； with life for the prize。 Twice the great
strength of the outlaw had Aylward nearly down； and twice with his
greater youth and skill the archer restored his grip and his
balance。 Then at last his turn came。 He slipped his leg behind
the other's knee； and； giving a mighty wrench； tore him across it。
With a hoarse shout the outlaw toppled backward and had hardly
reached the ground before Aylward had his knee upon his chest and
his short sword deep in his beard and pointed to his throat。
〃By these ten finger…bones！〃 he gasped； 〃one more struggle and it
is your last！〃
The man lay still enough； for he was half…stunned by the crashing
fall。 Aylward looked round him； but the woman had disappeared。
At the first blow struck she had vanished into the forest。 He
began to have fears for his master； thinking that he perhaps had
been lured into some deathtrap； but his forebodings were soon at
rest； for Nigel himself came hastening down the road； which he had
struck some distance from the spot where he left it。
〃By Saint Paul！〃 he cried； 〃who is this man on whom you are
perched； and where is the lady who has honored us so far as to
crave our help？ Alas； that I have been unable to find her
father！〃
〃As well for you； fair sir；〃 said Aylward； 〃for I am of opinion
that her father was the Devil。 This woman is； as I believe； the
wife of the ‘Wild Man of Puttenham；' and this is the ‘Wild Man'
himself who set upon me and tried to brain me with his club。〃
The outlaw； who had opened his eyes； looked with a scowl from his
captor to the new…comer。 〃You are