the caged lion- 第23部分

'It　is　not　the　time；'　said　James；　'nor　will　I　do　Scotland　the　wrong　of　striking　for　her　with　a　dishonoured　hand。'

'That　will　we　see　when　we　have　him　at　Hermitage　Castle；'　quoth　Douglas　to　his　followers。　　'Now；　Sir　King；　best　give　your　sword　without　more　grimace。　　Living　or　dead　you　are　ours。'

'I　yield　not；'　said　James。　　'Dead　you　may　take　mealive；　never。'　Then　turning　his　eyes　to　the　faces　that　gazed　on　him　so　earnestly　in　disappointment；　in　affection；　or　in　scorn；　he　spoke：　　'Brave　friends；　who　may　perchance　love　me　the　better　that　I　have　been　a　captive　half　my　life　and　all　my　reign；　you　can　believe　how　sair　my　heart　burns　for　my　bonnie　land's　sake；　and　how　little　I'd　reck　of　my　life　for　her　weal。　　But　broken　oaths　are　ill　beginnings。　　For　me；　so　notably　trusted　by　King　Henry；　to　break　my　bonds；　would　shame　both　Scots　and　kings；　and　it　were　yet　more　paltry　to　feign　to　yield　to　my　Lord　of　Douglas。　　Rescue　or　no　rescue；　I　am　England's　captive。　　Gentles；　kindly　brother　Scots；　in　one　way　alone　can　you　free　me。　　Give　up　this　wretched　land　of　France；　whose　troubles　are　but　lengthened　by　your　valour。　　Let　me　gang　to　King　Harry　and　tell　him　your　swords　are　at　his　service；　so　soon　as　I　am　free。　　Then　am　I　your　King　indeed；　we　return　together；　staunch　hearts　and　strong　hands；　and　the　key　shall　keep　the　castle；　and　the　bracken　bush　keep　the　cow；　though　I　lead　the　life　of　a　dog　to　bring　it　about。'

His　tawny　eye　flashed　with　falcon　light；　and　as　he　stood　towering　above　all　the　tall　men　around；　there　were　few　who　did　not　in　heart　own　him　indeed　their　king。　　But　his　picture　of　royal　power　accorded　ill　with　the　notions　of　a　Black　Douglas；　in　the　most　masterful　days　of　that　family；　and　Earl　Archibald；　who　had　come　to　regard　kings　as　beings　meant　to　be　hectored　by　Douglases；　resentfully　exclaimed；　'Hear　him；　comrades；　he　has　avouched　himself　a　Southron　at　heart。　Has　he　reckoned　how　little　it　would　cost　to　give　a　thrust　to　the　caitiff　who　has　lost　heart　in　his　prison；　and　clear　the　way　for　Albany；　who　is　at　least　a　true　Scot？'

'Do　so；　Lord　Earl；'　said　James；　'and　end　a　long　captivity。　　But　let　these　go　scatheless。'

With　one　voice；　Percy；　Kitson；　Trenton；　and　Brewster；　shouted　their　resolve　to　defend　him　to　the　last；　and　Malcolm；　flinging　himself　on　Patrick　Drummond；　adjured　him　to　save　the　King。

'Thou　here；　laddie！'　said　Patrick；　amazed；　and　while　several　more　knights　exclaimed；　'Sir；　Sir；　we'll　see　no　hand　laid　on　you！'　he　thrust　forward；　'Take　my　horse；　Sir；　ride　on；　and　I'll　see　no　scathe　befall　you。'

'Thanks；'　said　James；　'but　my　feet　will　serve　me　best；　we　will　keep　together。'

The　Scottish　force　seemed　dividing　into　two：　　Douglas　and　his　friends　and　retainers；　mounted　and　holding　together；　as　though　still　undecided　whether　to　grapple　with　the　King　and　his　half…dozen　companions；　while　Drummond　and　about　ten　more　lances　were　disposed　to　guard　him　at　all　risks。

'Now；'　said　James　to　his　English　friends；　and　therewith；　sword　in　hand；　he　moved　with　a　steady　but　swift　stride　towards　the　camp；　nor　did　Douglas　attempt　pursuit；　some　of　the　other　horsemen　hovered　between；　and　Patrick　Drummond；　with　a　puzzled　face；　kept　near　on　foot。　　So　they　proceeded　till　they　reached　a　bank　and　willow　hedge；　through　which　horses　could　hardly　have　pursued　them。

On　the　other　side　of　this；　James　turned　round　and　said；　'Thanks；　Sir　Knight；　I　suppose　I　may　not　hope　that　you　will　become　a　follower　of　the　knight　adventurer。'

'I　cannot　fight　under　the　English　banner；　my　liege。　　Elsewhere　I　would　fellow　you　to　the　death。'

'This　is　no　time　to　show　your　error；'　said　James；　'and　I　therefore　counsel　you　to　come　no　farther。　　The　English　will　be　pricking　forth　in　search　of　us：　　so　I　will　but　thank　you　for　your　loyal　aid。'

'I　entreat　you；　Sir；'　cried　Patrick；　'not　to　believe　that　we　meant　this　matter　to　go　as　it　has　done！　　It　had　long　been　our　desireof　all　of　us；　that　is；　save　my　Lord　Buchan's　retainersto　find　you　and　release　you；　but　never　did　we　deem　that　Lord　Douglas　would　have　dared　to　conduct　matters　thus。'

'You　would　be　little　the　better　for　me　did　Lord　Douglas　bring　me　back　on　his　own　terms；'　said　James；　smiling。　　'No；　no；　when　I　go　home；　it　shall　be　as　a　free　king；　able　to　do　justice　to　all　alike；　and　for　that　I　am　content　to　bide　my　time；　and　trust　to　such　as　you　to　back　me　when　it　comes。'

'And　with　all　my　heart；　Sir；'　said　Patrick。　　'Would　that　you　were　where　I　could　do　so　now。　　Ah！　laddie；'　to　Malcolm；　'ye're　in　good　hands。　　My　certie；　I　kenned　ye　but　by　your　voice！　　Ye're　verily　grown　into　a　goodly　ship　after　all；　and　ye　stood　as　brave　as　the　rest。　　My　poor　father　would　have　been　fain　to　see　this　day！'

Malcolm　flushed　to　the　ears；　somehow　Patrick's　praise　was　not　as　pleasant　to　him　as　he　would　have　expected；　and　he　only　faltered；　'You　know'

'I　ken　but　what　Johnnie　Swinton　brought　me　in　a　letter　frae　the　Abbot　of　Coldingham；　that　my　fatherthe　saints　be　with　him！had　been　set　on　and　slain　by　yon　accursed　Master　of　Albanywould　that　his　thrapple　were　in　my　grip！that　he　had　sent　you　southwards　to　the　King；　and　that　your　sister　was　in　St。　Abbs。　　Is　it　so？'

Malcolm　had　barely　time　to　make　a　sign　of　affirmation；　when　the　King　hurried　him　on。　　'I　grieve　to　balk　you　of　your　family　tidings；　but　delay　will　be　ill　for　one　or　other　of　us；　so　fare　thee　well；　Sir　Patrick；　till　better　times。'

He　shook　the　knight's　hand　as　he　spoke；　cut　short　his　protestations；　and　leapt　down　the　bank；　saying　in　a　low　voice；　as　he　stretched　out　his　hand　and　helped　Malcolm　down　after　him；　'He　would　have　known　me　again　for　your　guest　if　we　had　stood　many　moments　longer；　he　looked　hard　at　me　as　it　was；　and　neither　in　England　nor　Scotland　may　that　journey　of　mine　be　blazed　abroad。'

Malcolm　was　on　the　whole　rather　relieved；　he　could　not　help　feeling　guilty　towards　Patrick；　and　unless　he　could　have　full　time　for　explanation；　he　preferred　not　falling　in　with　him。

And　at　the　same　moment　Kitson　stepped　towards　the　King。　　'Sir；　you　are　an　honest　man；　and　we　crave　your　pardon　if　we　said　aught　that　seemed　in　doubt　thereof。'

James　laughed；　shaking　each　honest　hand；　and　saying；　'At　least；　good　sirs；　do　not　always　think　Scot　and　traitor　the　same　word；　and　thank　you　for　backing　me　so　gallantly。'

'I'd　wish　no　better　than　to　back　such　as　you；　Sir；'　said　Kitson　heartily；　and　James　then　turned　to　Ralf　Percy；　and　asked　him　what　he　thought　of　the　Douglas　face　to　face。

'A　dour　old　block！'　said　Ralf。　　'If　those　runaways　had　but　stayed　within　us；　the　hoary　ruffian　should　have　had　his　lesson　from　a　Percy。'

James　smiled；　for　the　grim　giant　was　still　a　good　deal　more　than　a　match　for　the　slim；　rosy…faced　stripling　of　the　house　of　Percy；　who　nevertheless　simply　deemed　his　nation　and　family　made　him　invincible　by　either　Scot　or　Frenchman。

The　difficulties　of　their　progress；　however；　entirely　occupied　them。　Having　diverged　from　the　regular　track；　they　had　to　make　their　way　through　the　inundated　meadows；　sometimes　among　deep　pools；　sometimes　in　quagmires；　or　ever　hedges；　while　the　water　that　drenched　them　was　fast　freezing；　and　darkness　came　down　on　them。　　All　stumbled　or　were　bogged　at　different　times；　and　Malcolm；　shorter　and　weaker　than　the　rest；　and　his　lameness　becoming　more　felt　than　usual；　could　not　help　impeding　their　progress；　and　at　last　was　so　spent　that　but　for　the　King's　strong　arm　he　would　have　spent　the　night　in　a　bog…hole。

At　last　the　lights　were　near；　the　outskirts　were　gained；　the　pass…　word　given　to　the　watch；　and　the　rough　but　welcome　greeting　was　heard'That's　well！　　More　of　you　come　in！　　How　got　you　off？'

'The　rogues　got　back；　then？'　said　Kitson。

'Some　score　of　them；'　was　the　answer；　'but　'tis　thought　most　are　drowned　or　stuck　by　the　French。　　The　King　is　in　a　proper　rage；　as　well　he　may　be；　but　what　else　could　come　of　a　false　Scot　in　the　camp？'

'Have　a　care；　you　foul　tongue！'　Percy　was　the　first　to　cry；　and　as　torches　were　now　brought　out　and　cast　their　light　on　the　well…known　faces；　the　soldiers　stood　abashed；　but　James　tarried　not　for　their　excuses；　his　heart　was　hot　at　the　words　which　implied　that　Henry　suspected　him；　and　he　strode　hastily　on　to　the　convent；　where　the　quadrangle　was　full　of　horses　and　men；　and　the　windows　shone　with　lights。　　At　the　door　of　the　refectory　stood　a　figure　whose　armour　flashed　with　light；　and　his　voice　sounded　through　the　closed　visor　'I　tell　you；　March；　I　cannot　rest　till　I　knew　what　his　hap　has　been。　If　he　have　done　this　thing　'

'What　then？'　answered　James　out　of　the　darkness；　in　a　voice　deep　with　wrath；　but　Henry　started。

'You　there！　you　safe！　　Speak　again！　　Come　here　that　I　may　see。　　Where　is　he？'

'Here；　Sir　King；'　said　James；　gravely。

'Now　the　saints　be　thanked！'　cried　Henry；　joyously。　　'Where　be　the　caitiffs　that　brought　me　their　false　tale？　　They　shall　hang　for　it　at　once。'

'It　was　the　less　wonder；'　said　James；　still　coldly；　'that　they　should　have　thought　themselves　betrayed；　since　their　king　believed　it　of　me。'

'Nay；　'twas　but　for　a　hot　momentay；　and　the　bitterest　I　ever　spent。　What　could　I　do　when　the　villains　swore　that　there　were　signals　and　I　know　not　what　devices　passing？　　I　hoped　yet　'twas　but　a　plea　for　their　own　cowardice；　and　was　mounting　to　come　and　see　for　you。　　Come；　I　should　have　known　you　better；　I'd　rather　the　whole　world　deceived　me　than　have　distrusted　you；　Jamie。'

There　was　that　in　his　tone　which　ended　all　resentment；　and　James's　hand　was　at　once　clasped　in　his；　while　Henry　added；　'Ho；　Provost…　marshal！　to　the　gallows　with　these　knaves！'

'Nay；　Harry；'　said　James；　'let　me　plead　for　them。　　There　was　more　than　ordinary　to　dismay　them。'

'Dismay！　ay；　the　more　cause　they　should　have　stood　like　honest　men。　If　a　rogue　be　not　to　hang　for　deserting　his　captain　and　then　maligning　him；　soon　would　knavery　be　master　of　all。'

'Hear　me　first；　Hal。'

'I'll　hear　when　I　return　and　you　are　dried。　　Why；　man；　thou　art　an　icicle　errant；　change　thy　garments　while　I　go　round　the　posts；　or　I　shall　hear　nought　for　the　chattering　of　thy　teeth。'

'Nor　I　for　your　cough；　if　you　go；　Harry。　　Surely；　'tis　Salisbury's　night！'

'The　more　cause　that　I　be　on　the　alert！　　Could　I　be　everywhere；　mayhap　a　few　winter　blasts　would　not　have　chilled　and　frozen　all　the　manhood　out　of　the　host。'