登陆注册
5421900000074

第74章 The Combat on the Bridge(4)

"Wulf will fall over him!" cried Rosamund.But Smoke did not fall; the stallion gathered itself together--the moonlight shone so clear that every watcher saw it--and since stop it could not, leapt straight over the fallen black horse--ay, and over the rider beyond--and sped on in its stride.Then the black found its feet again and galloped forward to the further gate, and Lozelle also found his feet and turned to run.

"Stand! Stand, coward!" yelled ten thousand voices, and, hearing them, he drew his sword and stood.

Within three great strides Wulf dragged his charger to its haunches, then wheeled it round.

"Charge him!" shouted the multitude; but Wulf remained seated, as though unwilling to attack a horseless man.Next he sprang from his saddle, and accompanied by the horse Smoke, which followed him as a dog follows its master, walked slowly towards Lozelle, as he walked casting away his lance and drawing the great, cross-hilted sword.

Again the silence fell, and through it rang the cry of Godwin:

"A D 'Arcy! A D 'Arcy!"

"A D'Arcy! A D'Arcy!" came back Wulf's answer from the bridge, and his voice echoed thin and hollow in the spaces of the gulf.

Yet they rejoiced to hear it, for it told them that he was sound and strong.

Wulf had no shield and Lozelle had no helm--the fight was even.

They crouched opposite each other, the swords flashed aloft in the moonlight; from far away came the distant clank of steel, a soft, continual clamour of iron on iron.A blow fell on Wulf's mail, who had nought wherewith to guard himself, and he staggered back.Another blow, another, and another, and back, still back he reeled--back to the edge of the bridge, back till he struck against the horse that stood behind him, and, resting there a moment, as it seemed, regained his balance.

Then there was a change.Look, he rushed forward, wielding the great blade in both hands.The stroke lit upon Lozelle's shield and seemed to shear it in two, for in that stillness all could hear the clang of its upper half as it fell upon the stones.

Beneath the weight of it he staggered, sank to his knee, gained his feet again, and in his turn gave back.Yes, now it was Lozelle who rocked and reeled.Ay, by St.Chad! Lozelle who went down beneath that mighty blow which missed the head but fell upon his shoulder, and lay there like a log, till presently the moonlight shone upon his mailed hand stretched upward in a prayer for mercy.From house-top and terrace wall, from soaring gates and battlements, the multitude of the people of the Assassins gathered on either side the gulf broke into a roar that beat up the mountain sides like a voice of thunder.And the roar shaped itself to these words:

"Kill him! kill him! kill him!"

Sinan held up his hand, and a sudden silence fell.Then he, too, screamed in his thin voice:

"Kill him! He is conquered!"

But the great Wulf only leaned upon the cross-handle of his brand, and looked at the fallen foe.Presently he seemed to speak with him; then Lozelle lifted the blade that lay beside him and gave it to him in token of surrender.Wulf handled it awhile, shook it on high in triumph, and whirled it about his head till it shone in the moonlight.Next, with a shout he cast it from him far into the gulf, where it was seen for a moment, an arc of gleaming light, and the next was gone.

Now, taking no more heed of the conquered knight, Wulf turned and began to walk towards his horse.

Scarcely was his back towards him when Lozelle was on his feet again, a dagger in his hand.

"Look behind you!" yelled Godwin; but the spectators, pleased that the fight was not yet done, broke into a roar of cheers.

Wulf heard and swung round.As he faced Lozelle the dagger struck him on the breast, and well must it have been for him that his mail was good.To use his sword he had neither space nor time, but ere the next stroke could fall Wulf's arms were about Lozelle, and the fight for life begun.

To and fro they reeled and staggered, whirling round and round, till none could tell which of them was Wulf or which his foe.Now they were on the edge of the abyss, and, in that last dread strain for mastery, seemed to stand there still as stone.Then one man began to bend down.See! his head hung over.Further and further he bent, but his arms could not be loosened.

"They will both go!" cried the multitude in their joy.

Look! A dagger flashed.Once, twice, thrice it gleamed, and those wrestlers fell apart, while from deep down in the gulf came the thud of a fallen body.

"Which--oh, which?" cried Rosamund from her battlement.

"Sir Hugh Lozelle," answered Godwin in a solemn voice.

Then the head of Rosamund fell forward on her breast, and for a while she seemed to sleep.

Wulf went to his horse, turned it about on the bridge, and throwing his arm around its neck, rested for a space.Then he mounted and walked slowly towards the inner gate.Pushing through the guard and officers, Godwin rode out to meet him.

"Bravely done, brother," he said, when they came face to face.

"Say, are you hurt?"

同类推荐
  • 大宋宣和遗事

    大宋宣和遗事

    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。
  • 旌异记

    旌异记

    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。
  • CLIGES

    CLIGES

    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。
  • Steep Trails

    Steep Trails

    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。
  • 辨非集

    辨非集

    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
  • 友情对白(读者精品)

    友情对白(读者精品)

    这过的是什么日子。我这心上压得多重呀!眉,我怎么好呢?刹那间有千百件事在方寸间起伏,是忧,是虑,是瞻前,是顾后,这笔上哪能写出?眉,我怕,我真怕世界与我们是不能并立的,不是我们把他们打毁成全我们的话,就是他打毁我们,逼迫我们的死。
  • 归元诀

    归元诀

    抱恨终生?碌碌无为?这是被废天才徐洪应该做的?不!偶然间得到的归元诀,让他重新成为天才!天地万物,皆可炼化;万千法诀,皆为我用!境界飞速提升,凭借霸气、不羁、和归元诀的妙用,徐洪纵横修真界无人可挡!肆无忌惮的他却没有感觉到黑暗中的危险,面临重重困难,他能否登临绝巅,开辟属于自己的时代?
  • 我型我塑

    我型我塑

    我的魅力我做主,我的形象我来塑! 我要美丽!我要魅力!我要品味! 他们不求最好、但求最贵, 他们为了形象一掷千金、冲动消费。 他们为了减肥、用尽千方百计,誓将自己的形象改造——进行到底! 成功人士、全职太太,公关白领、学校学生,各行各业、各种人士,每个人都在心底呼唤着魅力! 他们追求的:是自己的个人价值与外在价值,却忽略了自己才是最关键的! 这本书,带给你不一样的视觉冲击。 我敢以人格保证,你看完本书,你的形象、你的气质、你的品味、你的言谈举止、将会有非常大的提升。 因为你的魅力你开发,你的形象你来塑,别人全是外因,自己才是关键,别让自己成为别人赚钱的关键! 你的魅力与形象,靠的就是你自己! 本书虽然是一部小说,但带给你的却是最新最适合你的塑己方式! 耐心看完,你将受益匪浅!
  • 轩辕王姬

    轩辕王姬

    【本文1V1。女主聪颖坚韧,男主盖世风华。文风细腻,感情娓娓道来。不喜勿喷。】她前世平凡无奇,寒窗苦读十年,只愿平淡安定。一朝横祸因同名同姓被错杀,枉送了二十五岁的性命。没曾踏上奈何桥,望见彼岸花,饮下孟婆汤便携前世记忆再度降生。她今世是东麒左相嫡女玉胭儿,柔弱的外表柔弱的名姓柔弱的身躯,却容着一具坚韧不屈的灵魂。出生之时,胸口嵌有同心苣形灵物,一霎时满室霞光。如何?说她是神族所寻预言之女,身携轩辕王姬灵物降生,引各国争抢。她忍。韬光养晦十四载。上一世活的窝囊,这一世定要活的漂亮!师承百谷山医毒双绝,建商业帝国白玺山庄,筑紫云楼红颜阁掌管情报,养黑影门夺命杀手。还不足以与命运相抗?好,那若掌这一方天下,可有资格与你神族一较高下?【精彩小剧场----腹黑篇】夜黑风高,天朗气清。某男一身玄衣,凑到玉胭儿面前问道:“就这么放他走?你真信他的话?”玉胭儿挑了挑眉:“信任这东西就是一把双刃剑,给出去的时候就要做好两个准备,被捅,或者被珍惜。”某男点了点头又问:“我可是信你的,也需要做两个准备?”玉胭儿扬唇一笑,妖娆万分:“你嘛……”说罢抬手就是一刀,直插某男的腹部。“只需要做这一个准备就好。”“……女人,你狠。”【精彩小剧场----温情篇】一室静谧,某男望向帐中熟睡的女子,喃喃道:“我绸缪江山数十载,为家族荣耀再起兵戎,烽火刀戈,延续千年的恩仇却不忍将你掺与其中。你可知,倘若我不是我,又何苦机关算尽,将你拱手于人。只惟愿来世如花美眷,红袖添香,岁岁年年。”闪身出帐,熟睡女子的脸庞滑下一行清泪:“你又怎知我不愿与你共赴前路,你做你的旷世明主,我仍做你的绝代佳人。愿我如星君如月,夜夜流光相皎洁。”===========================喜欢本文的亲们收藏+留言,你们的支持是柒柒写文的最大动力。柒柒是心思细密的双鱼座,喜爱娓娓道来的感情故事,我相信只有经过一定时间和事情的洗礼,感情基础才更为牢靠。文文虽然有些许慢热,但也会在适当的时机爆发。倘若你入文,请静下心来,感受柒柒为你们打造的世界。此文绸缪已久,不必担心断更,放心大胆的入坑吧。群么。在此鸣谢乌鸦先生在写文之初给予的信心与鼓励,这对柒柒意义非凡。同时也虚心接受一切建议与意见。欢迎点评。
  • 恶魔首席的珠光宝妻(全本)

    恶魔首席的珠光宝妻(全本)

    她走投无路,无奈地签下一纸婚约,成为他的珠光宝妻。风光无限的生活背后,其实只是征服与被征服的较量、付出与收获的比拼……她发誓,自己不是故意降落在他的大腿上!可是他、他、他……居然趁机鄙夷她身材没料,这绝对是一种侮辱!可是唇枪舌战的结果,崇高的理想,不得不向现实低头。拿着他丢给她的一纸契约,委委屈屈地签上了自己的大名,从鲜花一朵,蜕变为宝妻一枚。在协议的保鲜期内,两人施展浑身解数,征服与被征服、侵略与反侵略的大战,从此拉开了帷幕。期限届满,她却傻了眼。法律白痴被精心设计,又落进了另一个陷阱,纠葛的大战,硝烟四起……-------------------------------------------本文涉及大量时尚与珠宝的话题,有意探讨的亲们,请加群:102343504推荐寞染其他文文:唯美虐文《冷酷少帅的乱世红颜》http://m.wkkk.net/a/122781/浪漫豪门《误惹无情冷总裁》http://m.wkkk.net/a/132719/穿越架空《美人策:不屑为妃》http://m.wkkk.net/a/187936/火热连载中《恶魔首席:娇妻,往哪逃》http://m.wkkk.net/a/223318/
  • 曾国藩家书

    曾国藩家书

    曾国藩是中国近代史上的一位重要人物,被称为晚清“第一名臣”,同时他又是被公认的中国近代最后一个集传统文化于一身的典型人物。其所著家书,涉及的内容广泛,本书特选取其中150余篇,编为修身劝学、持家理财、治军为政、交友处世四个部分。编者为每封家书注有准确的日期,并进行了现代文全译,以便读者能够深刻地了解道光、咸丰、同治三个不同时期的曾国藩,了解其真正智慧之所在,读者从此书中可见一个思想者对世道人心的深刻体察和感悟。
  • 末世蛊临

    末世蛊临

    陨星坠落,寒武再临;时空破碎,异族入侵。当人类面临真正的末世,才发现早已跌落神坛,彻底沦为肉食。而在这个疯狂的时代,一个白色幽灵游荡在尘世之外,与丧尸同行,与血族周旋,同魔鬼共舞,以虫族为奴。当万事俱备,再回末世之初,他,究竟是王者的崛起,还是恶魔的归来......
  • 一万种减肥方法

    一万种减肥方法

    医学博士权威验证,最科学、最安全、最有效,翻开本书,发现最适合您的减肥方法!
  • 小花仙之心愿记事簿

    小花仙之心愿记事簿

    此书主要以各类人物的心愿,以及她们的生辰花为主,然后......布拉布拉
  • 齐燕和张美凤的春天

    齐燕和张美凤的春天

    故事以描写两个女子间的情感为主题,让人想起已渐渐随时间流逝的稚嫩,青春一寸寸过去了,友谊永存,爱也还在,让我们一起用回忆感知少年的轻狂,用泪水感受生活的美好。