|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 32
'"Then we do nothing?" said Hugh.
'"We wait," said De Aquila. "I am old, but still I find that the most
grievous work I know."
'And so we found it, but in the end De Aquila was right.
'A little later in the year, armed men rode over the hill, the Golden
Horseshoes flying behind the King's banner. Said De Aquila, at the
window of our chamber: "How did I tell you? Here comes Fulke himself to
spy out his new lands which our King hath promised him if he can bring
proof of my treason."
'"How dost thou know?" said Hugh.
'"Because that is what I would do if I were Fulke, but _I_ should have
brought more men. My roan horse to your old shoes," said he, "Fulke
brings me the King's Summons to leave Pevensey and join the war." He
sucked in his cheeks and drummed on the edge of the shaft, where the
water sounded all hollow.
'"Shall we go?" said I.
'"Go! At this time of year? Stark madness," said he. "Take _me_ from
Pevensey to fisk and flyte through fern and forest, and in three days
Robert's keels would be lying on Pevensey mud with ten thousand men! Who
would stop them--Fulke?"
'The horns blew without, and anon Fulke cried the King's Summons at the
great door, that De Aquila with all men and horse should join the King's
camp at Salisbury.
'"How did I tell you?" said De Aquila. "There are twenty Barons 'twixt
here and Salisbury could give King Henry good land service, but he has
been worked upon by Fulke to send South and call me--_me_!--off the Gate
of England, when his enemies stand about to batter it in. See that
Fulke's men lie in the big south barn," said he. "Give them drink, and
when Fulke has eaten we will drink in my chamber. The Great Hall is too
cold for old bones."
'As soon as he was off-horse Fulke went to the chapel with Gilbert to
give thanks for his safe coming, and when he had eaten--he was a fat
man, and rolled his eyes greedily at our good roast Sussex wheatears--we
led him to the little upper chamber, whither Gilbert had already gone
with the Manor-roll. I remember when Fulke heard the tide blow and
whistle in the shaft he leaped back, and his long down-turned
stirrup-shoes caught in the rushes and he stumbled, so that Jehan behind
him found it easy to knock his head against the wall.'
'Did you know it was going to happen?' said Dan.
'Assuredly,' said Sir Richard, with a sweet smile. 'I put my foot on his
sword and plucked away his dagger, but he knew not whether it was day or
night for awhile. He lay rolling his eyes and bubbling with his mouth,
and Jehan roped him like a calf. He was cased all in that newfangled
armour which we call lizard-mail. Not rings like my hauberk here'--Sir
Richard tapped his chest--but little pieces of dagger-proof steel
overlapping on stout leather. We stripped it off (no need to spoil good
harness by wetting it), and in the neck-piece De Aquila found the same
folden piece of parchment which we had put back under the hearthstone.
'At this Gilbert would have run out. I laid my hand on his shoulder. It
sufficed. He fell to trembling and praying on his beads.
'"Gilbert," said De Aquila, "here be more notable sayings and doings of
our Lord of Pevensey for thee to write down. Take pen and ink-horn,
Gilbert. We cannot all be Sacristans of Battle."
'Said Fulke from the floor, "Ye have bound a King's messenger. Pevensey
shall burn for this."
'"Maybe. I have seen it besieged once," said De Aquila, "but heart up,
Fulke. I promise thee that thou shalt be hanged in the middle of the
flames at the end of that siege, if I have to share my last loaf with
thee; and that is more than Odo would have done when we starved out him
and Mortain."
'Then Fulke sat up and looked long and cunningly at De Aquila.
'"By the Saints," said he, "why didst thou not say thou wast on the Duke
Robert's side at the first?"
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|