westward ho-第27节

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utside　the　southwest　wind　blew　fresh　and　strong；　and　the　moonlight　danced　upon　a　thousand　crests　of　foam；　but　within　the　black　jagged　point　which　sheltered　the　town；　the　sea　did　but　heave；　in　long　oily　swells　of　rolling　silver；　onward　into　the　black　shadow　of　the　hills；　within　which　the　town　and　pier　lay　invisible；　save　where　a　twinkling　light　gave　token　of　some　lonely　fisher's　wife；　watching　the　weary　night　through　for　the　boat　which　would　return　with　dawn。　　Here　and　there　upon　the　sea；　a　black　speck　marked　a　herring…boat；　drifting　with　its　line　of　nets；　and　right　off　the　mouth　of　the　glen；　Amyas　saw；　with　a　beating　heart；　a　large　two…masted　vessel　lying…tothat　must　be　the　〃Portugal〃！　　Eagerly　he　looked　up　the　glen；　and　listened；　but　he　heard　nothing　but　the　sweeping　of　the　wind　across　the　downs　five　hundred　feet　above；　and　the　sough　of　the　waterfall　upon　the　rocks　below；　he　saw　nothing　but　the　vast　black　sheets　of　oak…wood　sloping　up　to　the　narrow　blue　sky　above；　and　the　broad　bright　hunter's　moon；　and　the　woodcocks；　which；　chuckling　to　each　other；　hawked　to　and　fro；　like　swallows；　between　the　tree…tops　and　the　sky。

At　last　he　heard　a　rustle　of　the　fallen　leaves；　he　shrank　closer　and　closer　into　the　darkness　of　the　bank。　　Then　swift　light　steps　not　down　the　path；　from　above；　but　upward；　from　below；　his　heart　beat　quick　and　loud。　　And　in　another　half…minute　a　man　came　in　sight；　within　three　yards　of　Frank's　hiding…place。

Frank　sprang　out　instantly。　　Amyas　saw　his　bright　blade　glance　in　the　clear　October　moonlight。

〃Stand　in　the　queen's　name！〃

The　man　drew　a　pistol　from　under　his　cloak；　and　fired　full　in　his　face。　　Had　it　happened　in　these　days　of　detonators；　Frank's　chance　had　been　small；　but　to　get　a　ponderous　wheel…lock　under　weigh　was　a　longer　business；　and　before　the　fizzing　of　the　flint　had　ceased；　Frank　had　struck　up　the　pistol　with　his　rapier；　and　it　exploded　harmlessly　over　his　head。　　The　man　instantly　dashed　the　weapon　in　his　face　and　closed。

The　blow；　luckily；　did　not　take　effect　on　that　delicate　forehead；　but　struck　him　on　the　shoulder：　nevertheless；　Frank；　who　with　all　his　grace　and　agility　was　as　fragile　as　a　lily；　and　a　very　bubble　of　the　earth；　staggered；　and　lost　his　guard；　and　before　he　could　recover　himself；　Amyas　saw　a　dagger　gleam；　and　one；　two；　three　blows　fiercely　repeated。

Mad　with　fury；　he　was　with　them　in　an　instant。　　They　were　scuffling　together　so　closely　in　the　shade　that　he　was　afraid　to　use　his　sword　point；　but　with　the　hilt　he　dealt　a　single　blow　full　on　the　ruffian's　cheek。　　It　was　enough；　with　a　hideous　shriek；　the　fellow　rolled　over　at　his　feet；　and　Amyas　set　his　foot　on　him；　in　act　to　run　him　through。

〃Stop！　stay！〃　almost　screamed　Frank；　〃it　is　Eustace！　our　cousin　Eustace！〃　and　he　leant　against　a　tree。

Amyas　sprang　towards　him：　but　Frank　waved　him　off。

〃It　is　nothinga　scratch。　　He　has　papers：　I　am　sure　of　it。　　Take　them；　and　for　God's　sake　let　him　go！〃

〃Villain！　give　me　your　papers！〃　cried　Amyas；　setting　his　foot　once　more　on　the　writhing　Eustace；　whose　jaw　was　broken　across。

〃You　struck　me　foully　from　behind；〃　moaned　he；　his　vanity　and　envy　even　then　coming　out；　in　that　faint　and　foolish　attempt　to　prove　Amyas　not　so　very　much　better　a　man。

〃Hound；　do　you　think　that　I　dare　not　strike　you　in　front？　　Give　me　your　papers；　letters；　whatever　Popish　devilry　you　carry；　or　as　I　live；　I　will　cut　off　your　head；　and　take　them　myself；　even　if　it　cost　me　the　shame　of　stripping　your　corpse。　　Give　them　up！　Traitor；　murderer！　give　them；　I　say！〃　　And　setting　his　foot　on　him　afresh；　he　raised　his　sword。

Eustace　was　usually　no　craven：　but　he　was　cowed。　　Between　agony　and　shame；　he　had　no　heart　to　resist。　　Martyrdom；　which　looked　so　splendid　when　consummated　selon　les　regles　on　Tower　Hill　or　Tyburn；　before　pitying；　or　（still　better）　scoffing　multitudes；　looked　a　confused；　dirty；　ugly　business　there　in　the　dark　forest；　and　as　he　lay；　a　stream　of　moonlight　bathed　his　mighty　cousin's　broad　clear　forehead；　and　his　long　golden　locks；　and　his　white　terrible　blade；　till　he　seemed；　to　Eustace's　superstitious　eye；　like　one　of　those　fair　young　St。　Michaels　trampling　on　the　fiend；　which　he　had　seen　abroad　in　old　German　pictures。　　He　shuddered；　pulled　a　packet　from　his　bosom；　and　threw　it　from　him；　murmuring；　〃I　have　not　given　it。〃

〃Swear　to　me　that　these　are　all　the　papers　which　you　have　in　cipher　or　out　of　cipher。　　Swear　on　your　soul；　or　you　die！〃

Eustace　swore。

〃Tell　me；　who　are　your　accomplices？〃

〃Never！〃　said　Eustace。　　〃Cruel！　have　you　not　degraded　me　enough　already？〃　and　the　wretched　young　man　burst　into　tears；　and　hid　his　bleeding　face　in　his　hands。

One　hint　of　honor　made　Amyas　as　gentle　as　a　lamb。　　He　lifted　Eustace　up；　and　bade　him　run　for　his　life。

〃I　am　to　owe　my　life；　then；　to　you？〃

〃Not　in　the　least；　only　to　your　being　a　Leigh。　　Go；　or　it　will　be　worse　for　you！〃　　And　Eustace　went；　while　Amyas；　catching　up　the　precious　packet；　hurried　to　Frank。　　He　had　fainted　already；　and　his　brother　had　to　carry　him　as　far　as　the　park　before　he　could　find　any　of　the　other　watchers。　　The　blind；　as　far　as　they　were　concerned；　was　complete。　　They　had　heard　and　seen　nothing。　Whosoever　had　brought　the　packet　had　landed　they　knew　not　where；　and　so　all　returned　to　the　court；　carrying　Frank；　who　recovered　gradually；　having　rather　bruises　than　wounds；　for　his　foe　had　struck　wildly；　and　with　a　trembling　hand。

Half…an…hour　after；　Amyas；　Mr。　Cary；　and　his　son　Will　were　in　deep　consultation　over　the　following　epistle；　the　only　paper　in　the　packet　which　was　not　in　cipher：


〃'DEAR　BROTHER　N。　S。　in　Chto。　et　Ecclesia。

〃This　is　to　inform　you　and　the　friends　of　the　cause；　that　S。　Josephus　has　landed　in　Smerwick；　with　eight　hundred　valiant　Crusaders；　burning　with　holy　zeal　to　imitate　last　year's　martyrs　of　Carrigfolium；　and　to　expiate　their　offences　（which　I　fear　may　have　been　many）　by　the　propagation　of　our　most　holy　faith。　　I　have　purified　the　fort　（which　they　are　strenuously　rebuilding）　with　prayer　and　holy　water；　from　the　stain　of　heretical　footsteps；　and　consecrated　it　afresh　to　the　service　of　Heaven；　as　the　first…fruits　of　the　isle　of　saints；　and　having　displayed　the　consecrated　banner　to　the　adoration　of　the　faithful；　have　returned　to　Earl　Desmond；　that　I　may　establish　his　faith；　weak　as　yet；　by　reason　of　the　allurements　of　this　world：　though　since；　by　the　valor　of　his　brother　James；　he　that　hindered　was　taken　out　of　the　way　（I　mean　Davils　the　heretic；　sacrifice　well…pleasing　in　the　eyes　of　Heaven！）；　the　young　man　has　lent　a　more　obedient　ear　to　my　counsels。　　If　you　can　do　anything；　do　it　quickly；　for　a　great　door　and　effectual　is　opened；　and　there　are　many　adversaries。　　But　be　swift；　for　so　do　the　poor　lambs　of　the　Church　tremble　at　the　fury　of　the　heretics；　that　a　hundred　will　flee　before　one　Englishman。　And；　indeed；　were　it　not　for　that　divine　charity　toward　the　Church　（which　covers　the　multitude　of　sins）　with　which　they　are　resplendent；　neither　they　nor　their　country　would　be；　by　the　carnal　judgment；　counted　worthy　of　so　great　labor　in　their　behalf。　　For　they　themselves　are　given　much　to　lying；　theft；　and　drunkenness；　vain　babbling；　and　profane　dancing　and　singing；　and　are　still；　as　S。　Gildas　reports　of　them；　'more　careful　to　shroud　their　villainous　faces　in　bushy　hair；　than　decently　to　cover　their　bodies；　while　their　land　（by　reason　of　the　tyranny　of　their　chieftains；　and　the　continual　wars　and　plunderings　among　their　tribes；　which　leave　them　weak　and　divided；　an　easy　prey　to　the　myrmidons　of　the　excommunicate　and　usurping　Englishwoman）　lies　utterly　waste　with　fire；　and　defaced　with　corpses　of　the　starved　and　slain。　　But　what　are　these　things；　while　the　holy　virtue　of　Catholic　obedience　still　flourishes　in　their　hearts？　　The　Church　cares　not　for　the　conservation　of　body　and　goods；　but　of　immortal　souls。

〃If　any　devout　lady　shall　so　will；　you　may　obtain　from　her　liberality　a　shirt　for　this　worthless　tabernacle；　and　also　a　pair　of　hose；　for　I　am　unsavory　to　myself　and　to　others；　and　of　such　luxuries　none　here　has　superfluity；　for　all　live　in　holy　poverty；　except　the　fleas；　who　have　that　consolation　in　this　world　for　which　this　unhappy　nation；　and　those　who　labor　among　them；　must　wait　till　the　world　to　come。*

〃Your　loving　brother；

〃N。　S。〃


*　See　note　at　end　of　chapter。


〃Sir　Richard　must　know　of　this　before　daybreak；〃　cried　old　Cary。　〃Eight　hundred　men　landed！　　We　must　call　out　the　Posse　Comitatus；　and　sail　with　them　bodily。　　I　will　go　myself；　old　as　I　am。　Spaniards　in　Ireland？　not　a　dog　of　them　must　go　home　again。〃

〃Not　a　dog　of　them；〃　answered　Will；　〃but　where　is　Mr。　Winter　and　his　squadron？〃

〃Safe　in　Milford　Haven；　a　messenger　must　be　sent　to　him　too。〃

〃I'll　go；〃　said　Amyas：　〃but　Mr。　Cary　is　right。　　Sir　Richard　must　know　all　first。〃

〃And　we　must　have　those　Jesuits。〃

〃What？　　Mr。　Evans　and　Mr。　Morgans？　　God　help　usthey　are　at　my　uncle's！　　Consider　the　honor　of　our　family！〃

〃Judge　for　yourself；　my　dear　boy；〃　said　old　Mr。　Cary；　gently：　〃would　it　not　be　rank　treason　to　let　these　foxes　escape；　while　we　have　this　damning　proof　against　them？〃

〃I　will　go　myself；　then。〃

〃Why　not？　　You　may　keep　all　straight；　and　Will　shall　go　with　you。　Call　a　gro