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！
Hugh heard and drew his sword。 Acour drew his sword also； then cried
out； pointing to Grey Dick：
〃Here be two against one。 If I conquer he will shoot me with his bow。〃
〃Have no fear； Sir Thief and Liar；〃 hissed Grey Dick； 〃for that shaft
will not be needed。 Slay the master if you can and go safe from the
squire；〃 and he unstrung his black bow and hid it in its case。
Now Hugh stepped to where Red Eve stood； the wounded Sir Andrew
leaning on her shoulder。 Bending down he kissed her on the lips；
saying：
〃Soon； very soon； my sweet； whom I have lost and found again； you will
be mine on earth； or I shall be yours in heaven。 This； then； in
greeting or farewell。〃
〃In greeting； beloved； not in farewell；〃 she answered as she kissed
him back； 〃for if you die； know that I follow hard upon your road。 Yet
I say that yonder grave was not dug for you。〃
〃Nay； not for you； son； not for you；〃 said Sir Andrew lifting his
faint head。 〃One fights for you whom you do not see； and against Him
Satan and his servant cannot stand；〃 and letting fall the sword hilt
he stretched out his thin hand and blessed him。
Now when Acour saw that embrace his jealous fury prevailed against his
fears。 With a curse upon his lips he leapt at Hugh and smote； thinking
to take him unawares。 But Hugh was watching； and sprang back； and then
the fray began； if fray it can be called。
A wild joy shining in his eyes； Hugh grasped his long sword with both
hands and struck。 So great was that blow that it bit through Acour's
armour； beneath his right arm； deep into the flesh and sent him
staggering back。 Again he struck and wounded him in the shoulder； a
third time and clove his helm so that the blood poured down into his
eyes and blinded him。
Back reeled Acour； back to the very edge of the grave； and stood there
swaying to and fro。 At the sight of his helplessness Hugh's fury
seemed to leave him。 His lifted sword sank downward。
〃Let God deal with you； knave；〃 he said； 〃for I cannot。〃
For a while there was silence。 There they stood and stared at the
smitten man waiting the end； whatever it might be。 They all stared
save Murgh； who fixed his stony eyes upon the sky。
Presently it came。 The sword； falling from Acour's hand into the
grave； rested there point upward。 With a last effort he drew his
dagger。 Dashing the blood from his eyes； he hurled it with all his
dying strength； not at Hugh； but at Red Eve。 Past her ear it hissed；
severing a little tress of her long hair； which floated down on to the
snow。
Then Acour threw his arms wide and fell backwardfell backward and
vanished in the grave。
Dick ran to look。 There he lay dead； pierced through back and bosom by
the point of his own sword。
For one brief flash of time a black dove…shaped bird was seen hovering
round the head of Murgh。
〃Finished！〃 said Dick straightening himself。 〃Well； I had hoped to see
a better fight； but cowards die as cowards live。〃
Leaning on Red Eve's shoulder Sir Andrew limped to the side of the
grave。 They both looked down on that which lay therein。
〃Daughter；〃 said the old man； 〃through many dangers it has come about
as I foretold。 The bond that in your drugged sleep bound you to this
highborn knave is severed by God's sword of death。 Christ have pity on
his sinful soul。 Now； Sir Hugh de Cressi； come hither and be swift；
for my time is short。〃
Hugh obeyed； and at a sign took Eve by the hand。 Then； speaking very
low and as quickly as he might for all his life was draining from him
through the red wound in his side； the old priest spoke the hallowed
words that bound these two together till death should part them。 Yes；
there by the graveside； over the body of the dead Acour； there in the
red light of the morning； amidst the lonely snows； was celebrated the
strangest marriage the world has ever seen。 In nature's church it was
celebrated； with the grim； grey Archer for a clerk； and Death's own
fearful minister for congregation。
It was done and with uplifted； trembling hands Sir Andrew blessed them
boththem and the fruit of their bodies which was to be。 He blessed
them in the name of the all…seeing God he served。 He bade them put
aside their grief for those whom they had lost。 Soon； he said； their
short day done； the lost would be found again； made glorious； and with
them himself； who； loving them both on earth； would love them through
eternity。
Then； while their eyes grew blind with tears； and even the fierce
archer turned aside his face； Sir Andrew staggered to where he stood
who in the Land of Sunrise had been called Gateway of the Gods。 Before
him he bent his grey and ancient head。
〃O thou who dwellest here below to do the will of heaven； to thee I
come as once thou badest me；〃 he said； and was silent。
Murgh let his eyes rest on him。 Then stretching out his hand； he
touched him very gently on the breast； and as he touched him smiled a
sweet and wondrous smile。
〃Good and faithful servant；〃 he said； 〃thy work is done on earth。 Now
I； whom all men fear； though I be their friend and helper； am bidden
by the Lord of life and death to call thee home。 Look up and pass！〃
The old priest obeyed。 It seemed to those who watched that the
radiance on the face of Murgh had fallen upon him also。 He smiled； he
stretched his arms upward as though to clasp what they might not see。
Then down he sank gently； as though upon a bed； and lay white and
still in the white； still snow。
The Helper turned to the three who remained alive。
〃Farewell for a little time；〃 he said。 〃I must be gone。 But when we
meet again； as meet we shall； then fear me not； for have you not seen
that to those who love me I am gentle？〃
Hugh de Cressi and Red Eve made no answer； for they knew not what to
say。 But Grey Dick spoke out boldly。
〃Sir Lord； or Sir Spirit；〃 he said； 〃save once at the beginning； when
the arrow burst upon my string； I never feared you。 Nor do I fear your
gifts；〃 and he pointed to the grave and to dead Sir Andrew； 〃which of
late have been plentiful throughout the world； as we of Dunwich know。
Therefore I dare to ask you one question ere we part for a while。 Why
do you take one and leave another？ Is it because you must； or because
every shaft does not hit its mark？〃
Now Murgh looked him up and down with his sunken eyes； then answered：
〃Come hither； archer； and I will lay my hand upon your heart also and
you shall learn。〃
〃Nay；〃 cried Grey Dick； 〃for now I have the answer to the riddle；
since I know you cannot lie。 When we die we still live and know；
therefore I'm content to wait。〃
Again that smile swept across Murgh's awful face though that smile was
cold as the winter dawn。 Then he turned and slowly walked away toward
the west。
They watched him go till he became but a blot of fantastic colour that
soon vanished on the moorland。
Hugh spoke to Red Eve and said：
〃Wife； let us away from this haunted place and take what joy we can。
Who knows when Murgh may return again and make us as are all the
others whom we love！〃
〃Ay； husband won at last；〃 she answered； 〃who knows？ Yet； after so
much fear and sorrow； first I would rest a while with you。〃
So hand in hand they went till they； too； grew small and vanished on
the snowy marsh。
But Grey Dick stayed there alone with the dead； and presently spoke
aloud for company。
〃The woman has him heart and soul；〃 he said； 〃as is fitting； and
where's the room between the two for an archer…churl to lodge？ Mayhap；
after all； I should have done well to take yonder Murgh for lord when
I had the chance。 Man； or god； or ghost； he's a fellow to my liking；
and once he had led me through the Gates no woman would have dared to
come to part us。 Well； good…bye； Hugh de Cressi； till you are sick of
kisses and the long shafts begin to fly again； for then you will
bethink you of a certain bow and of him who alone can bend it。〃
Having spoken thus in his hissing voice； whereof the sound resembled
that of an arrow in its flight； Grey Dick descended into the grave and
trod the earth over Acour's false and handsome face； hiding it from
the sight of men forever。
Then he lifted up the dead Sir Andrew in his strong arms and slowly
bore him thence to burial。
End