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！
with his blade over his knees； until the first beginning of the summer dawn was in the sky； then he began to nod； and presently lay aback and slept soundly。 Simon slept not； but durst not move。 So they lay till it was broad day； and the sunbeams came thrusting through the boughs of the thicket。
CHAPTER VIII。
CHRISTOPHER COMES TO THE TOFTS。
When they arose in the sunshine； Simon went straightway to see to the horses； while Christopher stayed by the fire to dight their victuals； he was merry enough； and sang to himself the while； but when Simon came back again； Christopher looked on him sharply； but for a while Simon would not meet his eye； though he asked divers questions of him concerning little matters； as though he were fain to hear Christopher's voice； at last he raised his eyes； and looked on him steadily； and then Christopher said： 〃Well； wayfarer mine； and whither away this morning？〃
Said Simon： 〃As thou wottest； to the Long Pools。〃
Said the lad： 〃Well； thou keepest thy tidings so close； that I will ask thee no more till we come to the Long Pools； since there； forsooth； thou must needs tell me； unless we sunder company there； whereof I were nought grieving。〃
〃Mayhappen thou shalt fare a long way to…day；〃 muttered Simon。
But the lad cried out aloud； while his eye glittered and his cheek flushed： 〃Belike thou hadst well…nigh opened the door thereto last night！〃 And therewith he leapt to his feet and drew his short…sword； and with three deft strokes sheared asunder an overhanging beech…bough as thick as a man's wrist； that it fell crashing down； and caught Simon amongst the fall of its leafy twigs； while Christopher stood laughing on him； but with a dangerous lofty look in his eyes： then he turned away quietly toward the horses and mounted his nag； and Simon followed and did the like； silently； crestfallen he looked； with brooding fierceness in his face。
So they rode their ways； and spake but little each to each till they came to where the trees of the wood thinned speedily； and gave out at last at the foot of a low stony slope but little grassed； and when they had ridden up to the brow and could see below； Christopher stretched out his hand； and said： 〃Lo thou the Long Pools； fellow wayfarer！ and lo some of the tramping； horses that woke thee and not me last night。〃
Forsooth there lay below them a great stretch of grass； which whiles ran into mere quagmire； and whiles was sound and better grassed； and the said plain was seamed by three long shallow pools； with； as it were； grassy causeways between them； grown over here and there with ancient alder trees； but the stony slope whereon they had reined up bent round the plain mostly to the east； as though it were the shore of a great water； and far away to the south the hills of the forest rose up blue； and not so low at the most； but that they were somewhat higher than the crest of the White Horse as ye may see it from the little Berkshire hills above the Thames。 Down on the firm greensward there was indeed a herd of wild horses feeding； mallard and coot swam about the waters； the whimbrel laughed from the bent…sides； and three herons stood on the side of the causeway seeking a good fishing…stead。
Simon sat a…horseback looking askance from the marish to Christopher； and said nothing a while； then he spake in a low croaking voice； and said： 〃So； little King； we have come to the Long Pools； now I will ask thee； hast thou been further southward than this marish land？〃
〃That have I；〃 said the lad； 〃a day's journey further； but according to the tales of men it was at the peril of my life。〃
Simon seemed as if he had not noted his last word； he said： 〃Well then； since thou knowest the wild and the wood； knowest thou amidst of the thickets there； two lumps of bare hills； like bowls turned bottom up； that rise above the trees； and on each a tower； and betwixt them a long house。〃
〃Save us； Allhallows！〃 quoth Christopher； 〃but thou wilt mean the Tofts！ Is it so； sir squire？〃
〃Even so；〃 said Simon。
〃And thou knowest what dwellest there； and wouldst have me lead thee thither？〃 said the lad。
〃I am so bidden；〃 said Simon； 〃if thou wilt not do my bidding； seek thou some place to hide thee in from the hand of the Earl Marshal。〃
Said the youngling： 〃Knowest thou not Jack of the Tofts and his seven sons； and what he is； and that he dwelleth there？〃
Said Simon： 〃I know of him； yea； and himself I know； and that he dwelleth there； and I wot that men call him an outlaw； and that many rich men shall lack ere he lacks。 What then？〃
〃This；〃 said Christopher； 〃that； as all tales tell； he will take my life if I ride thither。 And；〃 said he； turning to Simon； 〃this is belike what thou wouldest with me？〃 And therewith he drew out his sword； for his bow was unstrung。
But Simon sat still and let his sword abide； and said； sourly enough： 〃Thou art a fool to think I am training thee to thy death by him； for I have no will to die； and why shall he not slay me also？ Now again I say unto thee； thou hast the choice； either to lead me to the Tofts； where shall be the deed for thee to do； or to hide thee in some hole； as I said afore； from the vengeance of the Lord of Oakenrealm。 But as for thy sword； thou mayst put it up； for I will not fight with thee； but rather let thee go with a string to thy leg； if thou wilt not be wise and do as thy lords ordain for thee。〃
Christopher sheathed his sword； and a smile came into his face； as if some new thought were stirring in him； and he said： 〃Well； since thou wilt not fight with me； and I but a lad； I will e'en do thy will and thine errand to Jack of the Tofts。 Maybe he is not so black as he is painted； and not all tales told of him are true。 But some of them I will tell thee as we ride along。〃
〃And some thereof I know already； O woodland knight；〃 said Simon； as they rode down the bent； and Christopher led on toward the green causeway betwixt the waters。 〃Tell me；〃 quoth he； when they had ridden awhile； 〃is this one of thy tales； how Jack of the Tofts went to the Yule feast of a great baron in the guise of a minstrel； and； even as they bore in the boar's head； smote the said baron on the neck； so that his head lay by the head of the swine on the Christmas board？〃
〃Yea；〃 said Christopher； 〃and how Jack cried out： 'Two heads of swine； one good to eat； one good to burn。' But； my master； thou shalt know that this manslaying was not for nought： whereas the Baron of Greenlake had erewhile slain Jack's father in felon wise； where he could strike no stroke for life； and two of his brethren also had he slain； and made the said Jack an outlaw； and he all sackless。 In the Uttermost March we deem that he had a case against the baron。〃
〃Hah！〃 said Simon。 〃Is this next tale true； that this Jack o' the Tofts slew a good knight before the altar； so that the priest's mass…hackle was all wet with his blood； whereas the said priest was in the act of putting the holy body into the open mouth of the said knight？〃
Christopher said eagerly： 〃True was it； by the Rood！ and well was it done； for that same Sir Raoul was an ugly traitor； who had knelt down where he died to wed the Body of the Lord to a foul lie in his mouth； whereas the man who knelt beside him he had trained to his destruction； and was even then doing the first deal of his treason by forswearing him there。〃
〃And that man who knelt with him there；〃 said Simon； 〃what betid to him？〃
Said Christopher： 〃He went out of the church with Jack of the Tofts that minute of the stroke； and to the Tofts he went with him； and abode with him freely： and a valiant man he was。。。and is。〃
〃Hah！〃 said Simon again。 〃And then there is this： that the seven sons of Jack of the Tofts bore off perforce four fair maidens of gentle blood from the castle wherein they dwelt； serving a high dame in all honour； and that moreover； they hanged the said dame over the battlements of her own castle。 Is this true； fair sir？〃
〃True is it as the gospel；〃 said Christopher： 〃yet many say that the hanged dame had somewhat less than her deserts； for a foul & cruel whore had she been； and had done many to be done to death； and stood by while they were pined。 And the like had she done with those four damsels； had there not been the stout sons of Jack of the Tofts； so that the dear maidens were somewhat more than willing to be borne away。〃
Simon grinned： 〃Well； lad；〃 said he； 〃I see that thou knowest Jack of the Tofts even better than I do； so why in the devil's name thou art loth to lead me to him； I wot not。〃
Christopher reddened； and held his peace awhile； then he said： 〃Well fellow…farer； at least I shall know something of him ere next midnight。〃
〃Yea；〃 said Simon； 〃and shall we not come to the Tofts before nightfall？〃
〃Let us essay it；〃 said Christopher； 〃and do our best； it yet lacketh three hours of noon。〃 Therewith he spurred on； for the greensward was hard under the hooves； and they had yet some way to go before they should come amongst the trees and thickets。
Into the said wood they came； and rode all day diligently； but night fell on them before they saw either house or man or devil； then said Simon： 〃Why should we go any further before dawn？ Will