red eve- 第40部分

Presently　Hugh　halted；　taking　shelter　with　his　two　companions　behind
the　stone　wall　of　a　shed　that　the　earthquake　had　shattered；　for　here
they　could　not　be　trodden　down　by　the　mob　of　fugitives。

〃The　wave　has　spent　itself；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　the　line　of　foam
that　now　retreated　toward　the　ocean；　taking　with　it　many　drowned　or
drowning　men。　〃Let　us　return　and　seek　for　Sir　Geoffrey。　It　will　be
shameful　if　we　leave　him　trapped　yonder　like　a　rat。〃

Dick　nodded；　and　making　a　wide　circuit　to　avoid　the　maddened　crowd；
they　came　safely　to　the　wrecked　stand　where　they　had　last　seen　Sir
Geoffrey　talking　with　the　Doge。　Every　minute　indeed　the　mob　grew
thinner；　since　the　most　of　them　had　already　passed；　treading　the　life
out　of　those　who　fell　as　they　went。

From　this　stand　more　than　three　fourths　of　those　who　were　seated　there
had　already　broken　out；　since　it　had　not　fallen　utterly；　and　by　good
fortune　was　open　on　all　sides。　Some；　however；　tangled　in　the　canvas
roof；　were　still　trying　to　escape。　Other　poor　creatures　had　been
crushed　to　death；　or；　broken…limbed；　lay　helpless；　or；　worse　still；
were　held　down　beneath　the　fallen　beams。

Several　of　these　they　freed；　whereon　those　who　were　unharmed　at　once
ran　away　without　thanking　them。　But　for　a　long　while　they　could　find
no　trace　of　Sir　Geoffrey。　Indeed；　they　were　near　to　abandoning　their
search；　for　the　sights　and　sounds　were　sickening　even　to　men　who　were
accustomed　to　those　of　battlefields；　when　Dick's　quick　ears　caught　the
tones　of　an　English　voice　calling　for　help。　Apparently　it　came　from
the　back　of　the　Doge's　tribune；　where　lay　a　heap　of　dead。　Gaily
dressed　folk　who　had　fallen　in　the　flight　and　been　crushed；　not　by　the
earthquake；　but　by　the　feet　of　their　fellows。　These　blackened　and
disfigured　men　and　women　they　dragged　away　with　much　toil；　and　at
last；　to　their　joy；　beneath　them　all　found　Sir　Geoffrey　Carleon。　In
another　few　minutes　he　must　have　died；　for　he　was　almost　suffocated。

Indeed　he　would　certainly　have　perished　with　the　others　had　he　not
been　thrown　under　a　fixed　bench；　whence　one　leg　projected；　which；　as
they　could　see　at　once；　was　crushed　and　broken。　They　drew　him　out　as
gently　as　they　could　and　gave　him　water　to　drink；　whereof；　mercifully
for　them　all；　since　by　now　they　were　utterly　parched　with　thirst；　they
had　discovered　a　large　silver　pitcher　full；　standing　in　the　corner　of
a　little　ante…chamber　to　the　tribune。　It　was　half　hidden　with
fragments　of　fine　dresses　and　even　jewels　torn　from　the　persons　of　the
lords　and　ladies。

〃I　thank　you；　friends；〃　he　said　faintly。　〃I　prayed　them　to　keep
seated；　but　they　went　mad　and　would　not　listen。　Those　behind　trod　down
those　in　front；　till　that　doorway　was　choked　and　I　was　hurled　beneath
the　bench。　Oh；　it　was　terrible　to　hear　them　dying　about　me　and　to　know
that　soon　I　must　follow！　This；　had　it　not　been　for　you；　I　should　have
done；　for　my　leg　is　crushed　and　there　was　no　air。〃

Then；　having　drunk　and　drunk　until　even　their　raging　thirst　was
satisfied；　they　found　a　plank。　Laying　Sir　Geoffrey　on　it；　they
departed　from　that　human　shambles；　whence　the　piteous　cries　of　those
still　imprisoned　there；　whom　they　could　not　reach；　pursued　them
horribly。

Thus；　slowly　enough；　for　there　were　but　three　of　them；　two　hampered　by
their　mail；　they　bore　Sir　Geoffrey　across　the　Place　of　Arms。　Save　for
the　dead　and　dying；　and　some　ghoul…like　knaves　who　plundered　them；　by
this　time　it　was　almost　deserted。

Indeed；　a　large　band　of　these　wretches；　who　had　emerged　like　wolves
from　their　lairs　in　the　lowest　quarters　of　the　great　city；　catching
sight　of　the　gold　chain　Sir　Geoffrey　wore；　ran　up　with　drawn　daggers
to　kill　and　rob　them。

Seeing　them　come　Grey　Dick　slipped　the　black　bow　from　its　case　and
sent　an　arrow　singing　through　the　heart　of　the　one…eyed　villain　who
captained　them。　Thereon　the　rest　left　him　where　he　fell　and　ran　off　to
steal　and　slay　elsewhere。　Then　without　a　word　Dick　unstrung　the　bow
and　once　more　laid　hold　of　an　end　of　the　plank。

They　came　to　the　mouth　of　that　street　where　the　bravoes　had　waylaid
them　on　the　previous　night；　only　to　find　that　they　could　not　pass　this
way。　Here　most　of　the　houses　were　thrown　down；　and　from　their　ruins
rose　smoke　and　the　hideous　screams　of　those　who　perished。　It　was　this
part　of　Venice；　the　home　of　the　poorer　folk；　which　suffered　most　from
the　earthquake；　that　had　scarcely　touched　many　of　the　finer　quarters。
Still；　it　was　reckoned　afterward　that　in　all　it　took　a　toll　of　nearly
ten　thousand　lives。

Turning　from　this　street；　they　made　their　way　to　the　banks　of　a　great
canal　that　here　ran　into　the　harbour；　that　on　which　they　had　been
rowed　to　the　Place　of　Arms。　Here　by　good　luck　they　found　a　small　boat
floating　keep　uppermost；　for　it　had　been　overturned　by　the　number　of
people　who　crowded　into　it。　This　boat　they　righted　with　much　toil　and
discovered　within　it　a　drowned　lady；　also　an　oar　caught　beneath　the
seat。　After　this　their　dreadful　journey　was　easy；　at　least　by
comparison。　For　now　all　the　gloom　had　rolled　away；　the　sun　shone　out
and　a　fresh　and　pleasant　wind　blew　from　the　sea　toward　the　land。

So；　at　last；　passing　many　sad　and　strange　scenes　that　need　not　be
described；　they　came　safely　to　the　steps　of　the　ambassador's　beautiful
house　which　was　quite　uninjured。　Here　they　found　several　of　his
servants　wringing　their　hands　and　weeping；　for　word　had　been　brought
to　them　that　he　was　dead。　Also　in　the　hall　they　were　met　by　another
woe；　for　there　on　a　couch　lay　stretched　the　Lady　Carleon　smitten　with
some　dread　sickness　which　caused　blood　to　flow　from　her　mouth　and
ears。　A　physician　was　bending　over　her；　for　by　good　fortune　one　had
been　found。

Sir　Geoffrey　asked　him　what　ailed　his　wife。　He　answered　that　he　did
not　know；　having　never　seen　the　like　till　that　morning；　when　he　had
been　called　in　to　attend　three　such　cases　in　houses　far　apart；　whereof
one　died　within　ten　minutes　of　being　struck。

Just　then　Lady　Carleon's　senses　returned；　and　opening　her　eyes　she　saw
Sir　Geoffrey；　whom　they　had　laid　down　upon　another　couch　close　to　her。

〃Oh；　they　told　me　that　you　were　dead；　husband；〃　she　said；　〃crushed　or
swallowed　in　the　earthquake！　But　I　thank　God　they　lied。　Yet　what　ails
you；　sweetheart；　that　you　do　not　stand　upon　your　feet？〃

〃Little；　dear　wife；　little；〃　he　answered　in　a　cheerful　voice。　〃My　foot
is　somewhat　crushed；　that　is　all。　Still　'tis　true　that　had　it　not　been
for　this　brave　knight　and　his　squire　I　must　have　lain　where　I　was　till
I　perished。〃

Now　Lady　Carleon　raised　herself　slightly　and　looked　at　Hugh　and　Dick；
who　stood　together；　bewildered　and　overwhelmed。

〃Heaven's　blessings　be　on　your　heads；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃for　these
Venetians　would　surely　have　left　him　to　his　doom。　Ah；　I　thought　that
it　was　you　who　must　die　to…day；　but　now　I　know　it　is　I；　and　perchance
my　lord。　Physician；〃　she　added　after　a　pause；　〃trouble　not　with　me；
for　my　hour　has　come；　I　feel　it　at　my　heart。　Tend　my　lord　there；　who；
unless　this　foul　sickness　takes　him　also；　may　yet　be　saved。〃

So　they　carried　them　both　to　their　own　large　sleeping　chamber　on　the
upper　floor。　There　the　surgeon　set　Sir　Geoffrey's　broken　bone
skilfully　enough；　though　when　he　saw　the　state　of　the　crushed　limb；　he
shook　his　head　and　said　it　would　be　best　to　cut　it　off。　This；　however；
Sir　Geoffrey　would　not　suffer　to　be　done。

〃It　will　kill　me；　I　am　sure；　or　if　not；　then　the　pest　which　that　ship；
/Light　of　the　East/；　has　brought　here　from　Cyprus；　will　do　its　work　on
me。　But　I　care　nothing；　for　since　you　say　that　my　wife　must　die　I
would　die　with　her　and　be　at　rest。〃

At　sunset　Lady　Carleon　died。　Ere　she　passed　away　she　sent　for　Hugh　and
Dick。　Her　bed　by　her　command　had　been　moved　to　an　open　window；　for　she
seemed　to　crave　air。　By　it　was　placed　that　of　Sir　Geoffrey　so　that　the
two　of　them　could　hold　each　other's　hand。

〃I　would　die　looking　toward　England；　Sir　Hugh；〃　she　said；　with　a　faint
smile；　〃though　alas！　I　may　not　sleep　in　that　churchyard　on　the　Sussex
downs　where　I　had　hoped　that　I　might　lie　at　last。　Now；　Sir　Hugh；　I
pray　this　of　your　Christian　charity　and　by　the　English　blood　which
runs　in　us；　that　you　will　swear　to　me　that　you　and　your　squire　will
not　leave　my　lord　alone　among　these　Southern　folk；　but　that　you　will
bide　with　him　and　nurse　him　till　he　recovers　or　dies；　as　God　may　will。
Also　that　you　will　see　me　buried　by　the　bones　of　my　childthey　will
tell　you　where。〃

〃Wife；〃　broke　in　Sir　Geoffrey；　〃this　knight　is　not　of　our　kin。
Doubtless　he　has　business　elsewhere。　How　can　he　bide　with　me　here；
mayhap　for　weeks？〃

But　Lady　Carleon；　who　could　speak　no　more；　only　looked　at　Hugh；　who
answered：

〃Fear　nothing。　Here　we　will　stay　until　he　recoversunless；〃　he　added；
〃we　ourselves　should　die。〃

She　smiled　at　him　gratefully；　then　turned　her　face　toward　Sir　Geoffrey
and　pressed　his　hand。　So　presently　she　passed　away；　the　tears　running
from　her　faded　eyes。

When　it　was　over　and　the　women　had　covered　her；　Hugh　and　Dick　left　the
room；　for　they　could　bear　no　more。

〃I　have　seen　sad　sights；〃　said　Hugh；　with　something　like　a　sob；　〃but
never　before　one　so　sad。〃

〃Ay；〃　answered　Dick；　〃that　of　the　wounded　dying　on　Crecy　field　was　a
May　Day　revel　compared　to　this；　though　it　is　but　one　old　woman　who　has
gone。　Oh；　how　heavily　they　parted　who　have　dwelt　together　these　forty
years！　And　'twas　my　careless　tongue　this　morning　that　foretold　it　as　a
jest！〃

In　the　hall　they　met　the　physician；　who　rushed　wild…eyed　through　the
doorway　to　ask　how　his　patients　fared。

〃Ah！〃　he　said　to　them　in　French　when　he　knew。　〃Well；　signors；　that
noble　lady　has　not　gone　alone。　I　tell　you　that　scores　of　whom　I　know
are　already　dead　in　Venice；　swept　off　by　this　swift　and　horrible
plague。　Death　and　all　his　angels　stalk　through　the　city。　They　say　that
he　himself　appeared　last　night；　and　this　morning　on　the　tilting　ground
by　the　quay；　and　by　God's　mercyif　He　has　any　left　for　usI　can　well
believe　it。　The　Doge　and　his　Council　but　now　have　issued　a　decree　that
all　who　perish　must　be　buried　at　once。　See　to　it；　signors；　lest　the
officers　come　and　bear　her　away　to　some　common　grave；　from　which　her
rank　will　not　protect　her。〃

Then　he