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
the second morning, after sighting Cape de la Hague, there came a
brisk land wind which blew them out to sea. It grew into a squall
with rain and fog so that they were two more days beating back.
Next morning they found themselves in a dangerous rock studded sea
with a small island upon their starboard quarter. It was girdled
with high granite cliffs of a reddish hue, and slopes of bright
green grassland lay above them. A second smaller island lay
beside it. Dennis the shipman shook his head as 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 yonder coast!"
Knolles gazed across at it. "You say well, master-shipman," said
he. "It does appear to be a rocky and perilous spot."
"Nay, it is the rocky hearts of those who dwell upon it that I had
in my mind," the old sailor answered. "We are well safe in three
goodly vessels, but had we been here in a small craft I make no
doubt that they would have already had their boats out against
us."
"Who then are these people, and how do they live upon so small and
windswept an island?" asked the soldier.
"They do not live from the island, fair sir, but from what they
can gather upon the sea around it. They are broken folk from all
countries, justice-fliers, prison-breakers, reavers, escaped
bondsmen, murderers and staff-strikers who have made their way to
this outland place and hold it against all comers. There is one
here who could tell you of them and of their ways, for he was long
time prisoner amongst them." The seaman pointed to Black Simon,
the dark man from Norwich, who was leaning against the side lost
in moody thought and staring with a brooding eye at the distant
shore.
"How now, fellow?" asked Knolles. "What is this I hear? Is it
indeed sooth that you have been a captive upon this island?"
"It is true, fair sir. For eight months I have been servant to
the man whom they call their King. His name is La Muette, and he
comes from Jersey nor is there under God's sky a man whom I have
more desire to see."
"Has he then mishandled you?"
Black Simon gave a wry smile and pulled off his jerkin. His lean
sinewy back was waled and puckered with white scars. "He has left
his sign of hand 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 hath lost a wager to me and I would fain be
paid."
"This is a strange saying," said Knolles. "What is this wager,
and why should he pay you?"
"It is but a small matter," Simon answered; "but I am a poor man
and the payment would be welcome. Should it have chanced that we
stopped at this island I should have craved your leave that I go
ashore and ask for that which 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 needs wait a day and a night, for that we have
strained our planks. But if you should 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 will ever be your debtor if you will let me go. Concerning what
you ask, I know this island even as I know the streets of Norwich,
as you may well believe seeing that it is but a small place and I
upon it for near a year. 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 with him alone, for I know his ways and
his hours and how he may be found. I would ask only that Aylward
the archer may go with me, that I may have one friend at my side
if things should chance to go awry."
Knolles thought awhile. "It is much that you ask," said he, "for
by God's truth I reckon that you and this friend of yours are two
of my men whom I would be least ready to lose. I have seen you
both at grips with the Spaniards and I know you. But I trust you,
and if we must indeed stop at this accursed place, then you may do
as you will. If you have deceived me, or if this is a trick by
which you design to leave me, then God 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
cog Thomas was out of fresh water. The ships moored therefore
near the Isle of Brechou, where springs were to be found. There
were no people upon this little patch, but over on the farther
island many figures could be seen watching them, and the twinkle
of steel from among them showed that they were armed men. One
boat had ventured forth and taken a good look at them, but had
hurried back with the warning that they were too strong to be
touched.
Black Simon found Aylward seated under the poop with his back,
against Bartholomew the bowyer. He was whistling merrily as he
carved a girl's face upon the horn of his bow.
"My friend," said Simon, "will you come ashore to-night - for I
have need of your help?"
Aylward crowed lustily. "Will I come, Simon? By my hilt, I shall
be right glad to put my foot on the good brown earth once more.
All my life I have trod it, and yet I would never have learned its
worth had I not journeyed 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 a long year since I heard their gentle
voices, and my eyes are weary of such faces as Bartholomew's or
thine."
Simon's grim features relaxed into a smile. "The only face that
you will see ashore, Samkin, will bring you small comfort," said
he, "and I warn you that this is no easy errand, but one which may
be neither sweet nor fair, 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 the
Basilisk. It contained Simon, Aylward and two seamen. The
soldiers carried their swords, and Black Simon bore a brown
biscuit-bag over his shoulder. Under his direction the rowers
skirted the dangerous surf which beat against the cliffs until
they came to a spot where an outlying reef formed a breakwater.
Within was a belt of calm water and a shallow cover with a sloping
beach. Here the boat was dragged up and the seamen were ordered
to wait, while Simon and Aylward started on their errand.
With the assured air of a man who knows exactly where he is and
whither he is going, the man-at-arms began to clamber up a narrow
fern-lined cleft among the rocks. It was no easy ascent in the
darkness, but Simon climbed on like an old dog hot upon a scent,
and the panting Aylward struggled after as best he might. At last
they were at the summit and the 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
next meeting. Now before that moon has set it will have come."
"Had it been a wench I could have understood it," said Aylward.
"By these ten finger-bones, if Mary of the mill or little Kate of
Compton had waited me on the brow of this cliff, I should have
come up it and never known it was there. But surely I see houses
and hear voices over yonder in the shadow?"
"It is their town," whispered Simon. "There are a hundred as
bloody-minded cutthroats as are to be found in Christendom beneath
those roofs. Hark to that!"
A fierce burst of laughter came out of the darkness, followed by a
long cry 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 as I did. Come this way, Samkin, for there is a peat-cutting
where we may hide. Aye, here it is, but deeper and broader than
of old. Now follow me close, for if we keep within it we shall
find ourselves a stone cast off the King's house."
Together they crept along the dark cutting. Suddenly Simon seized
Aylward by the shoulder and pushed him into the shadow of the
bank. Crouching in the darkness, they heard footsteps and voices
upon the farther side of the trench. Two men sauntered along it
and stopped almost at the very spot where the comrades were lying.
Aylward could see their dark figures outlined against the starry
sky.
"Why should you scold, Jacques," said one of them, speaking a
strange half-French, half-English lingo. "Le diable t'emporte for
a grumbling rascal. 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
is passed. A woman, it is true - an old peasant out of the
fields, with a face as yellow as a kite's claw. But Gaston, who
threw a nine against my eight, 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 a firkin of Gascony:'
"I have no wine to spare, but I will give you a keg of apples,"
said the other. "I had it out of the Peter and Paul, the Falmouth
boat that struck in Creux Bay."
"Well, well your apples may be the worse for keeping, but so is
old Marie, and we can cry quits on that. Come round and drink a
cup over the bargain."
They shuffled onward in the darkness.
"Heard you ever such villainy?" cried Aylward, breathing fierce
and hard. "Did you hear them, Simon? A woman for a keg of
apples! And my heart's root is sad for the other one, the girl of
Normandy. Surely we can 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 handling
of it, every woman on this island would be free ere another day
had passed."
"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 true soldier and hath only his purpose in view."
"Simon," said Aylward, "the light is not overgood and the place is
cramped for sword-play, but if you will step out into the open I
will teach you whether my master is a true soldier or not."
"Tut, man! you are as foolish yourself," said Simon. "Here we are
with our work in hand, and yet you must needs fall out with me on
our way to it. I say nothing against your master save that he
hath the way of his fellows who follow dreams and fancies. But
Knolles looks neither to right nor left and walks forward to his
mark. Now, let us on, for the time passes."
"Simon, your words are neither good nor fair. When we are back on
shipboard 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
which stood by itself. Peering at it from the edge of the
cutting, Aylward could see that it was made from the wreckage of
many vessels, for at each corner a prow was thrust out. Lights
blazed within, and there came the sound of a strong voice singing
a gay song which was taken up by a dozen others in the chorus.
"All is well, lad!" whispered Simon in great delight. "That is
the voice of the King. It is the very song he used to sing. 'Les
deux filles de Pierre.' 'Fore God, my back tingles at the very
sound of it. Here we will wait until his company take their
leave."
Hour after hour they crouched in the peat-cutting, listening to
the noisy songs of the revelers within, some French, some English,
and all growing fouler and less articulate as the night wore on.
Once a quarrel broke out and the clamor was like a cageful of wild
beasts at feeding-time. Then a health was drunk and there was
much stamping and cheering.
Only once was the long vigil broken. A woman came forth from the
house and walked up and down, with her face sunk upon her breast.
She was tall and slender, but her features could not be seen for a
wimple over her head. 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 is beyond human aid. Then she
passed slowly into the house again. A moment later the door of
the hall was flung open, and a shouting stumbling throng came
crowding forth, with whoop and yell, into the silent night.
Linking arms and striking up a chorus, they marched past the
peat-cutting, their voices dwindling slowly away as they made for
their homes.
"Now, Samkin, now!" cried Simon, and jumping out from the
hiding-place he made for the door. It had not yet been fastened.
The two comrades sprang inside. Then Simon drew the bolts so that
none might interrupt them.
A long table littered with flagons and beakers lay before them.
It was lit up by a line of torches, which flickered and smoked in
their iron sconces. At the farther end a solitary man was seated.
His head rested upon his two hands, as if he were befuddled with
wine, but at the harsh sound of the snapping bolts he raised his
face and looked angrily around him. 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 with vice. He laughed as
the newcomers entered, thinking that two of his boon companions
had returned to finish a flagon. Then he stared hard and he
passed 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 of the night? Is this the way to break into our royal
presence?"
Simon approached up one side of the table and Aylward up the
other. When they were close to the King, the man-at-arms plucked
a torch from its socket 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
forced the 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 the flagon."
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
the ways of it. No man-servant ever slept beneath your roof, for
you feared lest your throat would be cut in the night-time. You
may shout and shout, if it so please you. It chanced that I was
passing on my way from England in those ships which lie off La
Brechou, and I thought I would come in and have speech with you."
"Indeed, Simon, I am right glad to see you," said the King,
cringing away from the fierce eyes of the soldier. "We were good
friends in the past, were we not, and I cannot call to mind that I
have ever done you injury. When you made your way to England by
swimming to the Levantine there was none more glad in heart than!"
"If I cared to doff my doublet I could show you the marks of what
your friendship has done for me in the past," said Simon. "It is
printed on my back as clearly as on my memory. Why, you foul dog,
there are the very rings upon the wall to which my hands were
fastened, and there the stains upon the boards on which my blood
has dripped! Is it not so, you king of butchers?"
The pirate chief turned whiter still. "It may be that life here
was somewhat rough, Simon, but if I have wronged you in anyway, I
will surely make amends. What do you ask?"
"I ask only one thing, and I have come hither that I may get it.
It is that 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.
Often have you sworn that you would break my courage. `By my
head!' you have cried to me. `You will crawl at my feet!' and
again: `I will wager my head 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, you have lost and I am
here to claim the forfeit."
His long heavy sword flew from its sheath. The King, with a howl
of despair, flung his arms round him, and they rolled together
under the table. Aylward sat with a ghastly face, and his toes
curled with horror at the sight, for he was still new to scenes of
strife and his blood was too cold for such a deed. When Simon
rose he tossed something into his bag 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 to come with you," said the archer. "Could you not have
clapped a sword in his fist and let him take his chance in the
hall?"
"Nay, Samkin, if you had such memories as I, you would have wished
that he should die like a sheep and not like a man. What chance
did he give me when he had the power? And why should I treat him
better? But, Holy Virgin, what have we here?"
At the farther end of the table a woman was standing. An open
door behind 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 had already seen. Her face had once been fair, but
now was white and haggard with wild dark eyes full of a hopeless
terror and despair. Slowly she paced up the room, her gaze fixed
not upon the comrades, but upon the dreadful thing beneath the
table. Then as she stooped and was sure she burst into loud
laughter and clapped her hands.
"Who shall say there is no God?" she cried. "Who shall say that
prayer is 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!
joyful night 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
have broken. 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 change can be for the worse."
"Nay," said she, the saints in Heaven cannot help me now until
they take me to my rest. There is no place for me in the world
beyond, and all 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 black will be your fate if you are
taken. Go, and may the blessing of one who was once a holy nun go
with you and guard you from danger!"
Sir Robert Knolles was pacing the deck in the early morning, when
he heard the sound of oars, and there were his two night-birds
climbing up the 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
carry you 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 in my mind that I carry some hard men with me to Brittany."
