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！
and soft touch of the Lady Mary had changed suddenly to the harsh
accents and rough grip of Black Simon； the fierce Norfolk
man…at…arms。
〃Surely you are the Squire Loring；〃 he said； peering close to his
face in the darkness。
〃I am he。 What then？〃
〃I have searched through the camp for you； but when I saw the
great horse tethered near these bushes； I thought you would be
found hard by。 I would have a word with you。〃
〃Speak on。〃
〃This man Aylward the bowman was my friend； and it is the nature
that God has given me to love my friends even as I hate my foes。
He is also thy servant； and it has seemed to me that you love him
also。〃
〃I have good cause so to do。〃
〃Then you and I； Squire Loring； have more reason to strive on his
behalf than any of these others； who think more of taking the
castle than of saving those who are captives within。 Do you not
see that such a man as this robber lord would； when all else had
failed him； most surely cut the throats of his prisoners at the
last instant before the castle fell； knowing well that come what
might he would have short shrift himself ？ Is that not certain？〃
〃By Saint Paul！ I had not thought of it。〃
〃I was with you； hammering at the inner gate；〃 said Simon； 〃and
yet once when I thought that it was giving way I said in my heart：
‘Good…by； Samkin！ I shall never see you more。' This Baron has
gall in his soul； even as I have myself； and do you think that I
would give up my prisoners alive； if I were constrained so to do？
No； no； had we won our way this day it would have been the
death…stroke for them all。〃
〃It may be that you are right； Simon；〃 said Nigel； 〃and the
thought of it should assuage our grief。 But if we cannot save
them by taking the castle； then surely they are lost indeed。〃
〃It may be so； or it may not；〃 Simon answered slowly。 〃It is in
my mind that if the castle were taken very suddenly； and in such a
fashion that they could not foresee it； then perchance we might
get the prisoners before they could do them scathe。〃
Nigel bent forward eagerly； his hand on the soldier's arm。
〃You have some plan in your mind； Simon。 Tell me what it is。〃
〃I had wished to tell Sir Robert； but he is preparing the assault
for to…morrow and will not be turned from his purpose。 I have
indeed a plan； but whether it be good or not I cannot say until I
have tried it。 But first I will tell you what put it into my
thoughts。 Know then that this morning when I was in yonder ditch
I marked one of their men upon the wall。 He was a big man with a
white face； red hair and a touch of Saint Anthony's fire upon the
cheek。〃
〃But what has this to do with Aylward？〃
〃I will show you。 This evening after the assault I chanced to
walk with some of my fellows； round yonder small fort upon the
knoll to see if we could spy a weak spot in it。 Some of them came
to the wall to curse us； and among them whom should I see but a
big man with a white face； red hair and a touch of Anthony's fire
upon his cheek？ What make you of that； Squire Nigel？〃
〃That this man had crossed from the castle to the fort。〃
〃In good sooth； it must indeed be so。 There are not two such
ken…speckled men in the world。 But if he crossed from the castle
to the fort； it was not above the ground； for our own people were
between。〃
〃By Saint Paul！ I see your meaning！〃 cried Nigel。 〃It is in your
mind that there is a passage under the earth from one to the
other。〃
〃I am well sure of it。〃
〃Then if we should take the small fort we may pass down this
tunnel； and so carry the great castle also。〃
〃Such a thing might happen；〃 said Simon； 〃and yet it is dangerous
also； for surely those in the castle would hear our assault upon
the fort and so be warned to bar the passage against us； and to
slay the prisoners before we could come。〃
〃What then is your rede？〃
〃Could we find where the tunnel lay； Squire Nigel； I know not what
is to prevent us from digging down upon it and breaking into it so
that both fort and castle are at our mercy before either knows
that we are there。〃
Nigel clapped his hands with joy。 〃'Fore God！〃 he cried。 〃It is
a most noble plan！ But alas！ Simon； I see not how we can tell
the course of this passage or where we should dig。〃
〃I have peasants yonder with spades；〃 said Simon。 〃There are two
of my friends； Harding of Barnstable and West…country John who are
waiting for us with their gear。 If you will come to lead us；
Squire Nigel； we are ready to venture our bodies in the attempt。〃
What would Knolles say in case they failed？ The thought flashed
through Nigel's mind； but another came swiftly behind it。 He
would not venture further unless he found hopes of success。 And
if he did venture further he would put his life upon it。 Giving
that； he made amends for all errors。 And if on the other hand
success crowned their efforts； then Knolles would forgive his
failure at the gateway。 A minute later； every doubt banished from
his mind； he was making his way through the darkness under the
guidance of Black Simon。
Outside the camp the two other men…at…arms were waiting for them；
and the four advanced together。 Presently a little group of
figures loomed up in the darkness。 It was a cloudy night； and a
thin rain was falling which obscured both the castle and the fort；
but a stone had been placed by Simon in the daytime which assured
that they were between the two。
〃Is blind Andreas there？〃 asked Simon。
〃Yes； kind sir； I am here；〃 said a voice。
〃This man；〃 said Simon； 〃was once rich and of good repute； but he
was beggared by this robber lord； who afterwards put out his eyes
so that he has lived for many years in darkness at the charity of
others。〃
〃How can he help us in our enterprise if he be indeed blind？〃
asked Nigel。
〃It is for that very reason； fair lord； that he can be of greater
service than any other man；〃 Simon answered； 〃for it often happens
that when a man has lost a sense the good God will strengthen
those that remain。 Hence it is that Andreas has such ears that he
can hear the sap in the trees or the cheep of the mouse in its
burrow。 He has come to help us to find the tunnel。〃
〃And I have found it；〃 said the blind man proudly。 〃Here I have
placed my staff upon the line of it。 Twice as I lay there with my
ear to the ground I have heard footsteps pass beneath me。〃
〃I trust you make no mistake； old man；〃 said Nigel。
For answer the blind man raised his staff and smote twice upon the
ground； once to the right and once to the left。 The one gave a
dull thud； the other a hollow boom。
〃Can you not hear that？〃 he asked。 〃Will you ask me now if I make
a mistake？〃
〃Indeed； we are much beholden to you！〃 cried Nigel。 〃Let the
peasants dig then； and as silently as they may。 Do you keep your
ear upon the ground； Andreas； so that if anyone pass beneath us we
shall be warned。〃
So； amid the driving rain； the little group toiled in the
darkness。 The blind man lay silent； flat upon his face； and twice
they heard his warning hiss and stopped their work； whilst some
one passed beneath。 In an hour they had dug down to a stone arch
which was clearly the outer side of the tunnel roof。 Here was a
sad obstacle； for it might take long to loosen a stone； and if
their work was not done by the break of day then their enterprise
was indeed hopeless。 They loosened the mortar with a dagger； and
at last dislodged one small stone which enabled them to get at the
others。 Presently a dark hole blacker than the night around them
yawned at their feet； and their swords could touch no bottom to
it。 They had opened the tunnel。
〃I would fain enter it first；〃 said Nigel。 〃I pray you to lower
me down。〃 They held him to the full length of their arms and then
letting him drop they heard him land safely beneath them。 An
instant later the blind man started up with a low cry of alarm。
〃I hear steps coming；〃 said he。 〃They are far off； but they draw
nearer。〃
Simon thrust his head and neck down the hole。 〃Squire Nigel；〃 he
whispered； 〃can you hear me？〃
〃I can hear you； Simon。〃
〃Andreas says that some one comes。〃
〃Then cover over the hole；〃 came the answer。 〃Quick； I pray you；
cover it over！〃
A mantle was stretched across it； so that no glimmer of light
should warn the new…comer。 The fear was that he might have heard；
the sound of Nigel's descent。 But soon it was clear that he had
not done so； for Andreas announced that he was still advancing。
Presently Nigel could hear the distant thud of his feet。 If he
bore a lantern all was lost。 But no gleam of light appeared in
the black tunnel； and still the footsteps drew nearer。
Nigel breathed a prayer of thanks to all his guardian saints as he
crouched close to the slimy wall and waited breathless； his dagger
in his hand。 Nearer yet and nearer came the steps。 He could hear
the stranger's coarse breathing in the darkness。 Then as he
brushed past Nigel bounded upon him with a tiger spring。 There
was one gasp of astonishment； and not a sound more； for the
Squire's grip was on the man's throat and his body was pinned
motionless against the wall。
〃Simon！ Simon！〃 cried Ni