按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
first； and broke cover very near where the Lady Emma and her brother
were stationed。 An inexperienced varlet； who was nearer to them；
instantly unloosed two tall greyhounds； who sprung after the fugitive with
all the fleetness of the north wind。 Gregory； restored a little to spirits by
the enlivening scene around him； followed； encouraging the hounds with a
loud tayout； for which he had the hearty curses of the huntsman； as well
* _Tailliers…hors；_ in modern phrase； Tally…ho！
as of the Baron； who entered into the spirit of the chase with all the
juvenile ardour of twenty。 ‘‘May the fould fiend； booted and spurred； ride
down his bawling throat； with a scythe at his girdle！'' quoth Albert
Drawslot； ‘‘here have I been telling him； that all the marks were those
of a buck of the first head； and he has halloed the hounds upon a velvet…headed
knobbler！ By Saint Hubert； if I break not his pate with my
cross…bow； may I never cast off hound more！ But； to it； my lords and
masters！ the noble beast is here yet； and； thank the saints； we have
enough of hounds。''
The cover being now thoroughly beat by the attendants； the stag was
compelled to abandon it； and trust to his speed for his safety。 Three
greyhounds were slipped upon him； whom he threw out； after running a
couple of miles； by entering an extensive furzy brake； which extended
along the side of a hill。 The horsemen soon came up； and casting off a
sufficient number of slow…hounds； sent them with the prickers into the
cover； in order to drive the game from his strength。 This object being
accomplished； afforded another severe chase of several miles； in a direction
almost circular； during which the poor animal tried every wile to get rid
of his persecutors。 He crossed and traversed all such dusty paths as were
likely to retain the least scent of his footsteps； he laid himself close to
the ground； drawing his feet under his belly； and clapping his nose close
to the earth； lest he should be betrayed to the hounds by his breath
and hoofs。 When all was in vain； and he found the hounds coming fast
in upon him； his own strength failing； his mouth embossed with foam；
and the tears dropping from his eyes； he turned in despair upon his
pursuers； who then stood at gaze； making an hideous clamour； and
awaiting their two…footed auxiliaries。 Of these； it chanced that the Lady
Eleanor； taking more pleasure in the sport than Matilda； and being a less
burden to her palfrey than the Lord Boteler； was the first who arrived at
spot； and taking a cross…bow from an attendant； discharged a bolt at the
stag。 When the infuriated animal felt himself wounded； he pushed franticly
towards her from whom he had received the shaft； and Lady Eleanor might
have had occasion to repent of her enterprise； had not young Fitzallen；
who had kept near her during the whole day； at that instant galloped
briskly in； and ere the stag could change his object of assault； dispatched
him with his short hunting sword。
Albert Drawslot； who had just come up in terror for the young lady's
safety； broke out into loud encomiums upon Fitzallen's strength and
gallantry。 ‘‘By'r Lady；'' said he； taking off his cap； and wiping his sunburnt
face with his sleeve； ‘‘well struck； and in good time！…But now；
boys； doff your bonnets； and sound the mort。''
The sportsmen then sounded a treble mort； and set up a general whoop；
which； mingled with the yelping of the dogs； made the welkin ring again。
The huntsman then offered his knife to Lord Boteler； that he might take
the say of the deer； but the Baron courteously insisted upon Fitzallen
going through that ceremony。 The Lady Matilda was now come up； with
most of the attendants； and the interest of the chase being ended； it
excited some surprise； that neither St。 Clere nor his sister made their
appearance。 The Lord Boteler commanded the horns again to sound the
recheat； in hopes to call in the stragglers； and said to Fitzallen； ‘‘Methinks
St。 Clere； so distinguished for service in war； should have been more
forward in the chase。''
‘‘I trow；'' said Peter Lanaret； ‘‘I know the reason of the noble lord's
absence； for when that mooncalf； Gregory； hallooed the dogs upon the
knobbler； and galloped like a green hilding； as he is； after them； I saw the
Lady Emma's palfrey follow apace after that varlet； who should be trashed
for over…running； and I think her noble brother has followed her； lest she
should come to harm…But here； by the rood； is Gregory； to answer for
himself。 ''
At this moment Gregory entered the circle which had been formed round
the deer； out of breath； and his face covered with blood。 He kept for
some time uttering inarticulate cries of ‘‘Harrow！'' and ‘‘Well…away！''
and other exclamations of distress and terror； pointing all the while to a
thicket at some distance from the spot where the deer had been killed。
‘‘By my honour；'' said the Baron； ‘‘I would gladly know who has dared
to array the poor knave thus； and I trust he should dearly abye his outrecuidance；
were he the best； save one； in England。''
Gregory； who had now found more breath； cried； ‘‘Help！ an' ye be
men！ Save Lady Emmna and her brother； whom they are murdering in
Brockenhurst thicket。''
This put all in motion。 Lord Boteler hastily commanded a small party
of his men to abide for the defence of the ladies； while he himself； Fitzallen；
and the rest； made what speed they could towards the thicket； guided by
Gregory； who for that purpose was mounted behind Fabian。 Pushing
through a narrow path； the first object they encountered was a man of
small stature lying； on the ground； mastered and almost strangled by two
dogs； which were instantly recognised to be those that had accompanied
Gregory。 A little farther was an open space； where lay three bodies of
dead or wounded men； beside these； was Lady Emma； apparently lifeless；
her brother and a young forester bending over and endeavouring to recover
her。 By using the usual remedies； this was soon accomplished； while
Lord Boteler； astonished at such a scene； anxiously inquired at St。 Clere
the meaning of what he saw； and whether more danger was to be expected？
‘‘For the present； I trust not；'' said the young warrior； who they now
observed was slightly wounded； ‘‘but I pray you； of your nobleness； let
the woods here be searched； for we were assailed by four of these base
assassins； and I see three only on the sward。''
The attendants now brough forward the person whom they had rescued
from the dogs； and Henry； with disgust； shame； and astonishment； recognised
his kinsman； Gaston St。 Clere。 This discovery he communicated in
a whisper to Lord Boteler； who commanded the prisoner to be conveyed to
Queenhoo…Hall； and closely guarded； meanwhile he anxiously inquired of
young St。 Clere about his wound。
‘‘A scratch； a trifle！'' cried Henry； ‘‘I am in less haste to bind it than
to introduce to you one； without whose aid that of the leech would have
come too late…Where is he？ where is my brave deliverer？''
‘‘Here； most noble lord；'' said Gregory； sliding from his palfrey； and
stepping forward； ‘‘ready to receive the guerdon which your bounty would
h