Читать «Айвенго / Ivanhoe» онлайн - страница 51

“Venerable father,” said Ivanhoe, “I feel ready to travel and it is necessary for me to travel. I have a feeling the knight who left me here is in danger, and I ask you to give me a horse with a soft step.”

“You will have my own horse,” said the worthy churchman.

“Thank you, reverend father. And now, farewell!”

Ivanhoe jumped on the horse and commanded Gurth to keep close by his side. They followed the track of the Black Knight into the forest.

In the meantime, the Black Champion and his guide were pacing at their leisure through the recesses of the forest.

“There are,” said Wamba, coming close up to the Knight’s side, “companions who are far more dangerous for travellers to meet than the bandits we have just left.”

“And who may they be?” said the Knight.

“I mean Malvoisin’s soldiers,” said Wamba; “and let me tell you, that, in time of civil war, six of these are worth a band of wolves at any time. They are now reinforced with the soldiers that escaped from Torquilstone. So that, should we meet with a band of them, we are like to pay for our feats of arms. – Now, I pray you, Sir Knight, what would you do if we met two of them?”

“Attack them with my lance, Wamba, if they offered us any impediment.”

“But what if there were four of them?”

“They would drink of the same cup,” answered the Knight.

“What if six,” continued Wamba, “and we as we now are, barely two—would you not remember Locksley’s horn?”

“What! Call for help,” exclaimed the Knight, “against six of these bandits?”

“Then,” said Wamba, “I will ask you to have a look at that horn.”

The Knight took off the horn and gave it to the Jester, who immediately hung it round his own neck.

“What are you doing, knave?” said the Knight, “Give it back.”

“Don’t worry, Sir Knight, it is safe. When a knight and a fool travel together, the fool should bear the horn, because he can blow the best. And now let the knight prepare for battle, because if I am not mistaken, there are company in these trees that is on the look-out for us. I have twice noticed the glance of a motion from amongst the green leaves. These trees are ideal for an ambush.”

At that moment three arrows shot from the suspected trees, but they could not penetrate the knight’s armour.

“Wamba,” said the Knight, “let us attack them,”—and he rode straight to the trees. He was met by six or seven soldiers, who rode against him with their lances at full career. Three of the weapons struck against him, and splintered with as little effect as if they had been driven against a tower of steel. The Black Knight’s eyes seemed to flash fire even through the aperture of his visor. He raised himself in his stirrups with an air of inexpressible dignity, and exclaimed, “What means this, my masters!”. The men made no other reply than by drawing their swords and attacking him on every side, crying, “Die, tyrant!”

“Ha! Saint Edward! Ha! Saint George!” said the Black Knight, striking down a man with every exclamation; “do we have traitors here?”