登陆注册
5188000000130

第130章

Letters of fire on the church wall had just inquired, with an appearance of genuine curiosity, why there was no mass for the duke in this time of trouble.The supernatural expostulation had been seen by many, and had gradually faded, leaving the spectators glued there gaping.The upshot was, that the corporation, not choosing to be behind the angelic powers in loyalty to a temporal sovereign, invested freely in masses.By this an old friend of ours, the cure, profited in hard cash; for which he had a very pretty taste.But for this I would not of course have detained you over so trite an occurrence as a miracle.

Denys begged for his arms."Why disgrace him as well as break his heart?""Then swear on the cross of thy sword not to leave the bastard's service until the sedition shall be put down." He yielded to necessity, and delivered three volleys of oaths, and recovered his arms and liberty.

The troops halted at "The Three Fish," and Marion at sight of him cried out, "I'm out of luck; who would have thought to see you again?" Then seeing he was sad, and rather hurt than amused at this blunt jest, she asked him what was amiss? He told her.She took a bright view of the case.Gerard was too handsome and well-behaved to come to harm.The women too would always be on his side.Moreover, it was clear that things must either go well or ill with him.In the former case he would strike in with some good company going to Rome; in the latter he would return home, perhaps be there before his friend; "for you have a trifle of fighting to do in Flanders by all accounts." She then brought him his gold pieces, and steadily refused to accept one, though he urged her again and again.Denys was somewhat convinced by her argument, because she concurred with his own wishes, and was also cheered a little by finding her so honest.It made him think a little better of that world in which his poor little friend was walking alone.

Foot soldiers in small bodies down to twos and threes were already on the road, making lazily towards Flanders, many of them penniless, but passed from town to town by the bailiffs, with orders for food and lodging on the innkeepers.

Anthony of Burgundy overtook numbers of these, and gathered them under his standard, so that he entered Flanders at the head of six hundred men.On crossing the frontier he was met by his brother Baldwyn, with men, arms, and provisions; he organized his whole force and marched on in battle array through several towns, not only without impediment, but with great acclamations.This loyalty called forth comments not altogether gracious.

"This rebellion of ours is a bite," growled a soldier called Simon, who had elected himself Denys's comrade.

Denys said nothing, but made a little vow to St.Mars to shoot this Anthony of Burgundy dead, should the rebellion, that had cost him Gerard, prove no rebellion.

That afternoon they came in sight of a strongly fortified town;and a whisper went through the little army that this was a disaffected place.

But when they came in sight, the great gate stood open, and the towers that flanked it on each side were manned with a single sentinel apiece.So the advancing force somewhat broke their array and marched carelessly.

When they were within a furlong, the drawbridge across the moat rose slowly and creaking till it stood vertical against the fort and the very moment it settled into this warlike attitude, down rattled the portcullis at the gate, and the towers and curtains bristled with lances and crossbows.

A stern hum ran through the bastard's front rank and spread to the rear.

"Halt!" cried he.The word went down the line, and they halted.

"Herald to the gate!" A pursuivant spurred out of the ranks, and halting twenty yards from the gate, raised his bugle with his herald's flag hanging down round it, and blew a summons.A tall figure in brazen armour appeared over the gate.A few fiery words passed between him and the herald, which were not audible, but their import clear, for the herald blew a single keen and threatening note at the walls, and came galloping back with war in his face.The bastard moved out of the line to meet him, and their heads had not been together two seconds ere he turned in his saddle and shouted, "Pioneers, to the van!" and in a moment hedges were levelled, and the force took the field and encamped just out of shot from the walls; and away went mounted officers flying south, east, and west, to the friendly towns, for catapults, palisades, mantelets, raw hides, tar-barrels, carpenters, provisions, and all the materials for a siege.

The bright perspective mightily cheered one drooping soldier.At the first clang of the portcullis his eyes brightened and his temple flushed; and when the herald came back with battle in his eye he saw it in a moment, and for the first time this many days cried, "Courage, tout le monde, le diable est mort."If that great warrior heard, how he must have grinned!

The besiegers encamped a furlong from the walls, and made roads;kept their pikemen in camp ready for an assault when practicable;and sent forward their sappers, pioneers.catapultiers, and crossbowmen.These opened a siege by filling the moat, and mining, or breaching the wall, etc.And as much of their work had to be done under close fire of arrows, quarels, bolts, stones, and little rocks, the above artists "had need of a hundred eyes," and acted in concert with a vigilance, and an amount of individual intelligence, daring, and skill, that made a siege very interesting, and even amusing: to lookers on.

同类推荐
  • 送朴处士归新罗

    送朴处士归新罗

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 还冤记

    还冤记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Keziah Coffin

    Keziah Coffin

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 幽梦续影

    幽梦续影

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说受岁经

    佛说受岁经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 凤城琐录

    凤城琐录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 小小姐班花朵朵系列:我是艺术生

    小小姐班花朵朵系列:我是艺术生

    初中,是启发思想的求学时光;初中,是友情滋长的甜蜜时光;初中,是少年成长的重要时光;初中,是令人难忘的美好时光。女主角夏梦正处于升读初中的人生关键时刻,差强人意的成绩差点儿让她跟心仪的中学绝缘,幸好她没有放弃对美术的热爱,鼓起勇气投考城中有名的艺校——“艺林附中”。夏梦梦想成为出色的漫画家,可是没有接受过正规的美术训练,她在学习路途上困难重重,频频撞板,笑料百出。尽管如此,她的中学生涯依旧是美好的,她认识了一帮个性独特的好朋友,大家一起欢笑,一起悲伤,一起奔跑,一路向前。青春是一支画笔,夏梦用它画出了一道美丽的彩虹。
  • 念君眉眼情深

    念君眉眼情深

    那一年她十五岁,他二十九岁,她认识他,他不认识她。后来她十九岁,他三十三岁“你好,我叫林夏,双木林的林,夏天的夏,能帮我签个名么?”林夏:我喜欢过你。时木:略有耳闻!林夏:现在还喜欢。时木:荣幸之至!林夏:余生太长,可否一起。时木:心之所向!他对她说:“我将违背我的本能,忤逆我的天性,永远的去爱你!”她对他说:“你是我心脏的四分之二。”
  • 书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 人生如戏慌的一匹

    人生如戏慌的一匹

    一穷,二白,三傻,的倒霉作死穷小子谢好仁,一次偶然的机遇,让他开始脱离人生轨迹。人生开始翻天覆地的变化!获得技能饿虎扑食———以前捡垃圾用的。获得技能妖言惑众———以前自己骗自己用的。面对异兽,怪物,妖魔复苏的世界,谢好仁怎么样苟住发育。别人不敢打的架,他也不动手。别人敢打的架,他看热闹。必须要动手的时候,大佬们上呀!我给你们打辅助!本书类型,异能,半东方玄幻,搞笑,无雷点,请各位放心观看(?>?<?)
  • 王朝金主

    王朝金主

    世间多情总被无情负,既然老天让我重新活了一次,必定要成为能挥金如土挥斥方遒的人,从此他踏上了金钱与权利至高点上,俯视芸芸众生。
  • 敢教日月换新天:毛泽东与当代中国经济

    敢教日月换新天:毛泽东与当代中国经济

    在中国共产党的历史上,以毛泽东为核心的第一代中央领导集体,领导全党和全国各族人民,经过长期奋斗,找到有中国特色的革命道路,夺取了新民主主义革命的胜利,进而建立起社会主义基本制度,解放和发展了生产力,把100多年来受尽外国侵略欺凌的半殖民地半封建的中国,变成了独立的人民当家做主的社会主义新中国。这是中国有史以来最伟大的一场革命,开辟了中国历史的新纪元。20世纪中国发生的历史性的伟大变化,都同毛泽东的名字相联系的。
  • 青涩年华遇见他

    青涩年华遇见他

    一个普通的初中女孩,遇到了她心爱的男孩,男孩并不是多么优秀,但她就是抑制不住地喜欢他....
  • 天文馆的穹幕电影(科学知识游览车)

    天文馆的穹幕电影(科学知识游览车)

    《天文馆的穹幕电影》本书为你讲述天文馆里的各种科普知识。本书知识全面、内容精炼、通俗易懂,能够培养读者的科学兴趣和爱好,达到普及科学知识的目的,具有很强的可读性、启发性和知识性,是广大读者了解科技、增长知识、开阔视野、提高素质、激发探索和启迪智慧的良好科普读物。
  • 苍天有泪之无语问苍天

    苍天有泪之无语问苍天

    在一夕之间,雨凤和雨鹃这对绝色的姐妹,竟尝尽人间最大的悲剧!展家二少爷的一把火,烧毁了寄傲山庄、烧死了父亲、更烧掉全部的希望。带着三个年幼的弟妹,纤弱的雨凤和倔强的雨鹃怎么挑得起这样沉重的担子?接着,又会有什么不同的命运降临在她们身上?问苍天,天无语......