men of iron-第37章
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Before； he had been conscious of the critical multitude looking down upon him； now it was a conflict of man to man； and such a conflict had no terrors for his young heart of iron。
The spectators had somehow come to the knowledge that this was to be a more serious encounter than the two which had preceded it； and a breathless silence fell for the moment or two that the knights stood in place。
Once more he breathed a short prayer； 〃Holy Mary； guard me！〃
Then again； for the third time； the Marshal raised his baton； and the horn sounded； and for the third time Myles drove his spurs into his horse's flanks。 Again he saw the iron figure of his opponent rushing nearer； nearer； nearer。 He centred； with a straining intensity； every faculty of soul； mind； and body upon one pointthe cross of the occularium； the mark he was to strike。 He braced himself for the tremendous shock which he knew must meet him； and then in a flash dropped lance point straight and true。 The next instant there was a deafening stunning crasha crash like the stroke of a thunder…bolt。 There was a dazzling blaze of blinding light； and a myriad sparks danced and flickered and sparkled before his eyes。 He felt his horse stagger under him with the recoil； and hardly knowing what he did； he drove his spurs deep into its sides with a shout。 At the same moment there resounded in his ears a crashing rattle and clatter； he knew not of what； and then； as his horse recovered and sprang forward； and as the stunning bewilderment passed； he found that his helmet had been struck off。 He heard a great shout arise from all； and thought； with a sickening； bitter disappointment； that it was because he had lost。 At the farther end of the course he turned his horse； and then his heart gave a leap and a bound as though it would burst； the blood leaped to his cheeks tingling； and his bosom thrilled with an almost agonizing pang of triumph； of wonder； of amazement。
There； in a tangle of his horse's harness and of embroidered trappings； the Sieur de la Montaigne lay stretched upon the ground； with his saddle near by； and his riderless horse was trotting aimlessly about at the farther end of the lists。
Myles saw the two squires of the fallen knight run across to where their master lay； he saw the ladies waving their kerchiefs and veils； and the castle people swinging their hats and shouting in an ecstasy of delight。 Then he rode slowly back to where the squires were now aiding the fallen knight to arise。 The senior squire drew his dagger； cut the leather points； and drew off the helm； disclosing the knight's facea face white as death； and convulsed with rage； mortification； and bitter humiliation。
〃I was not rightly unhorsed！〃 he cried； hoarsely and with livid lips； to the Marshal and his attendants； who had ridden up。 〃I unhelmed him fairly enough； but my over…girth and breast…strap burst； and my saddle slipped。 I was not unhorsed； I say； and I lay claim that I unhelmed him。〃
〃Sir；〃 said the Marshal calmly； and speaking in French； 〃surely thou knowest that the loss of helmet does not decide an encounter。 I need not remind thee； my Lord； that it was so awarded by John of Gaunt； Duke of Lancaster； when in the jousting match between Reynand de Roye and John de Holland； the Sieur Reynand left every point of his helm loosened； so that the helm was beaten off at each stroke。 If he then was justified in doing so of his own choice； and wilfully suffering to be unhelmed； how then can this knight be accused of evil who suffered it by chance？〃
〃Nevertheless；〃 said the Sieur de la Montaigne； in the same hoarse； breathless voice； 〃I do affirm； and will make my affirmation good with my body； that I fell only by the breaking of my girth。 Who says otherwise lies！〃
〃It is the truth he speaketh；〃 said Myles。 〃I myself saw the stitches were some little what burst； and warned him thereof before we ran this course。
〃Sir；〃 said the Marshal to the Sieur de la Montaigne； 〃how can you now complain of that thing which your own enemy advised you of and warned you against？ Was it not right knightly for him so to do？〃
The Sieur de la Montaigne stood quite still for a little while； leaning on the shoulder of his chief squire； looking moodily upon the ground； then； without making answer； he turned； and walked slowly away to his pavilion； still leaning on his squire's shoulder； whilst the other attendant followed behind； bearing his shield and helmet。
Gascoyne had picked up Myles's fallen helmet as the Sieur de la Montaigne moved away； and Lord George and Sir James Lee came walking across the lists to where Myles still sat。 Then； the one taking his horse by the bridle…rein； and the other walking beside the saddle； they led him before the raised dais where the King sat。
Even the Comte de Vermoise； mortified and amazed as he must have been at the overthrow of his best knight； joined in the praise and congratulation that poured upon the young conqueror。 Myles； his heart swelling with a passion of triumphant delight； looked up and met the gaze of Lady Alice fixed intently upon him。 A red spot of excitement still burned in either cheek； and it flamed to a rosier red as he bowed his head to her before turning away。
Gascoyne had just removed Myles's breastplate and gorget； when Sir James Lee burst into the pavilion。 All his grim coldness was gone； and he flung his arms around the young man's neck； hugging him heartily； and kissing him upon either cheek。
Ere he let him go； 〃Mine own dear boy；〃 he said； holding him off at arm's…length； and winking his one keen eye rapidly； as though to wink away a dampness of which he was ashamed〃mine own dear boy； I do tell thee truly this is as sweet to me as though thou wert mine own son； sweeter to me than when I first broke mine own lance in triumph； and felt myself to be a right knight。〃
〃Sir；〃 answered Myles； 〃what thou sayest doth rejoice my very heart。 Ne'theless； it is but just to say that both his breast…piece and over…girth were burst in the stitches before he ran his course； for so I saw with mine own eyes。〃
〃Burst in the stitches！〃 snorted Sir James。 〃Thinkest thou he did not know in what condition was his horse's gearing？ I tell thee he went down because thou didst strike fair and true； and he did not so strike thee。 Had he been Guy of Warwick he had gone down all the same under such a stroke and in such case。〃
CHAPTER 28
It waS not until more than three weeks after the King had left Devlen Castle that Lord George and his company of knights and archers were ready for the expedition to France。 Two weeks of that time Myles spent at Crosbey…Dale with his father and mother。 It was the first time that he had seen them since； four years ago； he had quitted the low； narrow； white…walled farmhouse for the castle of the great Earl of Mackworth。 He had never appreciated before how low and narrow and poor the farm…house was。 Now； with his eyes trained to the bigness of Devlen Castle； he looked around him with wonder and pity at his father's humble surroundings。 He realized as he never else could have realized how great was the fall in fortune that had cast the house of Falworth down from its rightful station to such a level as that upon which it now rested。 And at the same time that he thus recognized how poor was their lot； how dependent upon the charity of others； he also recognized how generous was the friendship of Prior Edward； who perilled his own safety so greatly in affording the family of the attainted Lord an asylum in its bitter hour of need and peril。
Myles paid many visits to the gentle old priest during those two weeks' visit； and had many long and serious talks with him。 One warm bright afternoon； as he and the old man walked together in the priory garden； after a game or two of draughts； the young knight talked more freely and openly of his plans； his hopes； his ambitions； than perhaps he had ever done。 He told the old man all that the Earl had disclosed to him concerning the fallen fortunes of his father's house； and of how all who knew those circumstances looked to him to set the family in its old place once more。 Prior Edward added many things to those which Myles already knewthings of which the Earl either did not know
