XVIII. HOW BLACK SIMON CLAIMED FORFEIT FROM THE KING OF SARK
For a day and a half the small fleet made good progress, but on thesecond morning, after sighting Cape de la Hague, there came a brisk landwind which blew them out to sea. It grew into a squall with rain and fogso that they were two more days beating back. Next morning they foundthemselves in a dangerous rock studded sea with a small island upontheir starboard quarter. It was girdled with high granite cliffs ofa reddish hue, and slopes of bright green grassland lay above them. Asecond smaller island lay beside it. Dennis the shipman shook his headas he looked.
"That is Brechou," said he, "and the larger one is the Island of Sark.If ever I be cast away, I pray the saints that I may not be upon yondercoast!"
Knolles gazed across at it. "You say well, master-shipman," said he. "Itdoes appear to be a rocky and perilous spot."
"Nay, it is the rocky hearts of those who dwell upon it that I had inmy mind," the old sailor answered. "We are well safe in three goodlyvessels, but had we been here in a small craft I make no doubt that theywould have already had their boats out against us."
"Who then are these people, and how do they live upon so small andwindswept an island?" asked the soldier.
"They do not live from the island, fair sir, but from what they cangather upon the sea around it. They are broken folk from all countries,justice-fliers, prison-breakers, reavers, escaped bondsmen, murderersand staff-strikers who have made their way to this outland place andhold it against all comers. There is one here who could tell you ofthem and of their ways, for he was long time prisoner amongst them."The seaman pointed to Black Simon, the dark man from Norwich, whowas leaning against the side lost in moody thought and staring with abrooding eye at the distant shore.
"How now, fellow?" asked Knolles. "What is this I hear? Is it indeedsooth that you have been a captive upon this island?"
"It is true, fair sir. For eight months I have been servant to the manwhom they call their King. His name is La Muette, and he comes fromJersey nor is there under God's sky a man whom I have more desire tosee."
"Has he then mishandled you?"
Black Simon gave a wry smile and pulled off his jerkin. His lean sinewyback was waled and puckered with white scars. "He has left his sign ofhand upon me," said he. "He swore that he would break me to his will,and thus he tried to do it. But most I desire to see him because he hathlost a wager to me and I would fain be paid."
"This is a strange saying," said Knolles. "What is this wager, and whyshould he pay you?"
"It is but a small matter," Simon answered; "but I am a poor man and thepayment would be welcome. Should it have chanced that we stopped at thisisland I should have craved your leave that I go ashore and ask for thatwhich I have fairly won."
Sir Robert Knolles laughed. "This business tickleth my fancy," said he."As to stopping at the island, this shipman tells me that we must needswait a day and a night, for that we have strained our planks. But if youshould go ashore, how will you be sure that you will be free to depart,or that you will see this King of whom you speak?"
Black Simon's dark face was shining with a fierce joy. "Fair sir, I willever be your debtor if you will let me go. Concerning what you ask, Iknow this island even as I know the streets of Norwich, as you may wellbelieve seeing that it is but a small place and I upon it for near ayear. Should I land after dark, I could win my way to the King's house,and if he be not dead or distraught with drink I could have speech withhim alone, for I know his ways and his hours and how he may be found. Iwould ask only that Aylward the archer may go with me, that I may haveone friend at my side if things should chance to go awry."
Knolles thought awhile. "It is much that you ask," said he, "for byGod's truth I reckon that you and this friend of yours are two of my menwhom I would be least ready to lose. I have seen you both at grips withthe Spaniards and I know you. But I trust you, and if we must indeedstop at this accursed place, then you may do as you will. If you havedeceived me, or if this is a trick by which you design to leave me, thenGod be your friend when next we meet, for man will be of small avail!"
It proved that not only the seams had to be calked but that the cogThomas was out of fresh water. The ships moored therefore near the Isleof Brechou, where springs were to be found. There were no people uponthis little patch, but over on the farther island many figures could beseen watching them, and the twinkle of steel from among them showed thatthey were armed men. One boat had ventured forth and taken a good lookat them, but had hurried back with the warning that they were too strongto be touched.
Black Simon found Aylward seated under the poop with his back, againstBartholomew the bowyer. He was whistling merrily as he carved a girl'sface upon the horn of his bow.
"My friend," said Simon, "will you come ashore to-night--for I have needof your help?"
Aylward crowed lustily. "Will I come, Simon? By my hilt, I shall beright glad to put my foot on the good brown earth once more. All my lifeI have trod it, and yet I would never have learned its worth had I notjourneyed in these cursed ships. We will go on shore together, Simon,and we will seek out the women, if there be any there, for it seems along year since I heard their gentle voices, and my eyes are weary ofsuch faces as Bartholomew's or thine."
Simon's grim features relaxed into a smile. "The only face that you willsee ashore, Samkin, will bring you small comfort," said he, "and I warnyou that this is no easy errand, but one which may be neither sweet norfair, for if these people take us our end will be a cruel one."
"By my hilt," said Aylward, "I am with you, gossip, wherever you may go!Say no more, therefore, for I am weary of living like a cony in a hole,and I shall be right glad to stand by you in your venture."
That night, two hours after dark, a small boat put forth from theBasilisk. It contained Simon, Aylward and two seamen. The soldierscarried their swords, and Black Simon bore a brown biscuit-bag overhis shoulder. Under his direction the rowers skirted the dangeroussurf which beat against the cliffs until they came to a spot where anoutlying reef formed a breakwater. Within was a belt of calm water and ashallow cover with a sloping beach. Here the boat was dragged up and theseamen were ordered to wait, while Simon and Aylward started on theirerrand.
With the assured air of a man who knows exactly where he is and whitherhe is going, the man-at-arms began to clamber up a narrow fern-linedcleft among the rocks. It was no easy ascent in the darkness, but Simonclimbed on like an old dog hot upon a scent, and the panting Aylwardstruggled after as best he might. At last they were at the summit andthe archer threw himself down upon the grass.
"Nay, Simon, I have not enough breath to blow out a candle," said he."Stint your haste for a minute, since we have a long night before us.Surely this man is a friend indeed, if you hasten so to see him."
"Such a friend," Simon answered, "that I have often dreamed of our nextmeeting. Now before that moon has set it will have come."
"Had it been a wench I could have understood it," said Aylward. "Bythese ten finger-bones, if Mary of the mill or little Kate of Comptonhad waited me on the brow of this cliff, I should have come up it andnever known it was there. But surely I see houses and hear voices overyonder in the shadow?"
"It is their town," whispered Simon. "There are a hundred asbloody-minded cutthroats as are to be found in Christendom beneath thoseroofs. Hark to that!"
A fierce burst of laughter came out of the darkness, followed by a longcry of pain.
"All-hallows be with us!" cried Aylward. "What is that?"
"As like as not some poor devil has fallen into their clutches, even asI did. Come this way, Samkin, for there is a peat-cutting where we mayhide. Aye, here it is, but deeper and broader than of old. Now follow meclose, for if we keep within it we shall find ourselves a stone cast offthe King's house."
Together they crept along the dark cutting. Suddenly Simon seizedAylward by the shoulder and pushed him into the shadow of the bank.Crouching in the darkness, they heard footsteps and voices upon thef
arther side of the trench. Two men sauntered along it and stoppedalmost at the very spot where the comrades were lying. Aylward could seetheir dark figures outlined against the starry sky.
"Why should you scold, Jacques," said one of them, speaking a strangehalf-French, half-English lingo. "Le diable t'emporte for a grumblingrascal. You won a woman and I got nothing. What more would you have?"
"You will have your chance off the next ship, mon garcon, but mine ispassed. A woman, it is true--an old peasant out of the fields, with aface as yellow as a kite's claw. But Gaston, who threw a nine against myeight, got as fair a little Normandy lass as ever your eyes have seen.Curse the dice, I say! And as to my woman, I will sell her to you for afirkin of Gascony."
"I have no wine to spare, but I will give you a keg of apples," saidthe other. "I had it out of the Peter and Paul, the Falmouth boat thatstruck in Creux Bay."
"Well, well your apples may be the worse for keeping, but so is oldMarie, and we can cry quits on that. Come round and drink a cup over thebargain."
They shuffled onward in the darkness.
"Heard you ever such villainy?" cried Aylward, breathing fierce andhard. "Did you hear them, Simon? A woman for a keg of apples! And myheart's root is sad for the other one, the girl of Normandy. Surely wecan land to-morrow and burn all these water-rats out of their nest."
"Nay, Sir Robert will not waste time or strength ere he reach Brittany."
"Sure I am that if my little master Squire Loring had the handlingof it, every woman on this island would be free ere another day hadpassed."
"I doubt it not," said Simon. "He is one who makes an idol of woman,after the manner of those crazy knight errants. But Sir Robert is a truesoldier and hath only his purpose in view."
"Simon," said Aylward, "the light is not overgood and the place iscramped for sword-play, but if you will step out into the open I willteach you whether my master is a true soldier or not."
"Tut, man! you are as foolish yourself," said Simon. "Here we are withour work in hand, and yet you must needs fall out with me on our way toit. I say nothing against your master save that he hath the way of hisfellows who follow dreams and fancies. But Knolles looks neither toright nor left and walks forward to his mark. Now, let us on, for thetime passes."
"Simon, your words are neither good nor fair. When we are back onshipboard we will speak further of this matter. Now lead on, I pray you,and let us see some more of this ten-devil island."
For half a mile Simon led the way until they came to a large house whichstood by itself. Peering at it from the edge of the cutting, Aylwardcould see that it was made from the wreckage of many vessels, for ateach corner a prow was thrust out. Lights blazed within, and there camethe sound of a strong voice singing a gay song which was taken up by adozen others in the chorus.
"All is well, lad!" whispered Simon in great delight. "That is the voiceof the King. It is the very song he used to sing. 'Les deux filles dePierre.' 'Fore God, my back tingles at the very sound of it. Here wewill wait until his company take their leave."
Hour after hour they crouched in the peat-cutting, listening to thenoisy songs of the revelers within, some French, some English, and allgrowing fouler and less articulate as the night wore on. Once aquarrel broke out and the clamor was like a cageful of wild beasts atfeeding-time. Then a health was drunk and there was much stamping andcheering.
Only once was the long vigil broken. A woman came forth from the houseand walked up and down, with her face sunk upon her breast. She was talland slender, but her features could not be seen for a wimple over herhead. Weary sadness could be read in her bowed back and dragging steps.Once only they saw her throw her two hands up to Heaven as one who isbeyond human aid. Then she passed slowly into the house again. A momentlater the door of the hall was flung open, and a shouting stumblingthrong came crowding forth, with whoop and yell, into the silentnight. Linking arms and striking up a chorus, they marched past thepeat-cutting, their voices dwindling slowly away as they made for theirhomes.
"Now, Samkin, now!" cried Simon, and jumping out from the hiding-placehe made for the door. It had not yet been fastened. The two comradessprang inside. Then Simon drew the bolts so that none might interruptthem.
A long table littered with flagons and beakers lay before them. It waslit up by a line of torches, which flickered and smoked in their ironsconces. At the farther end a solitary man was seated. His head restedupon his two hands, as if he were befuddled with wine, but at the harshsound of the snapping bolts he raised his face and looked angrily aroundhim. It was a strange powerful head, tawny and shaggy like a lion's,with a tangled beard and a large harsh face, bloated and blotched withvice. He laughed as the newcomers entered, thinking that two of his booncompanions had returned to finish a flagon. Then he stared hard and hepassed his hand over his eyes like one who thinks he may be dreaming.
"Mon Dieu!" he cried. "Who are you and whence come you at this hour ofthe night? Is this the way to break into our royal presence?"
Simon approached up one side of the table and Aylward up the other. Whenthey were close to the King, the man-at-arms plucked a torch from itssocket and held it to his own face. The King staggered back with a cry,as he gazed at that grim visage.
"Le diable noir!" he cried. "Simon, the Englishman! What make you here?"
Simon put his hand upon his shoulder. "Sit here!" said he, and he forcedthe King into his seat. "Do you sit on the farther side of him, Aylward.We make a merry group, do we not? Often have I served at this table,but never did I hope to drink at it. Fill your cup, Samkin, and pass theflagon."
The King looked from one to the other with terror in his bloodshot eyes."What would you do?" he asked. "Are you mad, that you should come here.One shout and you are at my mercy."
"Nay, my friend, I have lived too long in your house not to know theways of it. No man-servant ever slept beneath your roof, for you fearedlest your throat would be cut in the night-time. You may shout andshout, if it so please you. It chanced that I was passing on my way fromEngland in those ships which lie off La Brechou, and I thought I wouldcome in and have speech with you."
"Indeed, Simon, I am right glad to see you," said the King, cringingaway from the fierce eyes of the soldier. "We were good friends in thepast, were we not, and I cannot call to mind that I have ever done youinjury. When you made your way to England by swimming to the Levantinethere was none more glad in heart than I!"
"If I cared to doff my doublet I could show you the marks of what yourfriendship has done for me in the past," said Simon. "It is printed onmy back as clearly as on my memory. Why, you foul dog, there are thevery rings upon the wall to which my hands were fastened, and there thestains upon the boards on which my blood has dripped! Is it not so, youking of butchers?"
The pirate chief turned whiter still. "It may be that life here wassomewhat rough, Simon, but if I have wronged you in anyway, I willsurely make amends. What do you ask?"
"I ask only one thing, and I have come hither that I may get it. It isthat you pay me forfeit for that you have lost your wager."
"My wager, Simon! I call to mind no wager."
"But I will call it to your mind, and then I will take my payment. Oftenhave you sworn that you would break my courage. 'By my head!' you havecried to me. 'You will crawl at my feet!' and again: 'I will wager myhead that I will tame you!' Yes, yes, a score of times you have said so.In my heart, as I listened, I have taken up your gage. And now, dog, youhave lost and I am here to claim the forfeit."
His long heavy sword flew from its sheath. The King, with a howl ofdespair, flung his arms round him, and they rolled together under thetable. Aylward sat with a ghastly face, and his toes curled with horrorat the sight, for he was still new to scenes of strife and his blood wastoo cold for such a deed. When Simon rose he tossed something into hisbag and sheathed his bloody sword.
"Come, Samkin, our work is well done," said he.
"By my hilt, if I had known what it was I would have been less ready tocome wi
th you," said the archer. "Could you not have clapped a sword inhis fist and let him take his chance in the hall?"
"Nay, Samkin, if you had such memories as I, you would have wished thathe should die like a sheep and not like a man. What chance did he giveme when he had the power? And why should I treat him better? But, HolyVirgin, what have we here?"
At the farther end of the table a woman was standing. An open doorbehind her showed that she had come from the inner room of the house.By her tall figure the comrades knew that she was the same that they hadalready seen. Her face had once been fair, but now was white and haggardwith wild dark eyes full of a hopeless terror and despair. Slowly shepaced up the room, her gaze fixed not upon the comrades, but upon thedreadful thing beneath the table. Then as she stooped and was sure sheburst into loud laughter and clapped her hands.
"Who shall say there is no God?" she cried. "Who shall say that prayeris unavailing? Great sir, brave sir, let me kiss that conquering hand!"
"Nay, nay, dame, stand back! Well, if you must needs have one of them,take this which is the clean one."
"It is the other I crave--that which is red with his blood! Oh! joyfulnight when my lips have been wet with it! Now I can die in peace!"
"We must go, Aylward," said Simon. "In another hour the dawn will havebroken. In daytime a rat could not cross this island and pass unseen.Come, man, and at once!"
But Aylward was at the woman's side. "Come with us, fair dame," said he."Surely we can, at least, take you from this island, and no such changecan be for the worse."
"Nay," said she, "the saints in Heaven cannot help me now until theytake me to my rest. There is no place for me in the world beyond, andall my friends were slain on the day I was taken. Leave me, brave men,and let me care for myself. Already it lightens in the east, and blackwill be your fate if you are taken. Go, and may the blessing of one whowas once a holy nun go with you and guard you from danger!"
Sir Robert Knolles was pacing the deck in the early morning, when heheard the sound of oars, and there were his two night-birds climbing upthe side.
"So, fellow," said he, "have you had speech with the King of Sark?"
"Fair sir, I have seen him."
"And he has paid his forfeit?"
"He has paid it, sir!"
Knolles looked with curiosity at the bag which Simon bore. "What carryyou there?" he asked.
"The stake that he has lost."
"What was it then? A goblet? A silver plate?"
For answer Simon opened his bag and shook it on the deck.
Sir Robert turned away with a whistle. "'Fore God!" said he, "it is inmy mind that I carry some hard men with me to Brittany."