Read The Branding Needle; or, The Monastery of Charolles Page 4
CHAPTER III.
ON THE WATCH AT THE RIVER.
The river that rose in the Valley of Charolles crossed it in its fulllength, then parted into two arms, and thus served both for boundary andnatural defense to the territory of the colony. As a matter ofprecaution, Loysik ordered a punt that served as the only means ofcommunication with the opposite territory, belonging to the diocese ofChalon, to be beached every evening and tied on the Charolles side ofthe stream. A little lodge, where two brothers of the community alwayswere on guard, was constructed near the landing place of the punt.
The limpid waters of the stream, which was at its widest at that point,reflected that night the mellow light of the moon at its fullest; thetwo priests who fraternally offered to take the places of the monks andmount guard in their stead walked uneasily up and down near the lodge.
"Placidus, do you see anything? Do you hear anything?" his companioninquired.
"Nothing. I see and hear nothing."
"And yet the moon is high--it must be nearly midnight--and no one yet."
"Let us not lose hope, Felibien."
"It will be a great misfortune if they break their appointment. It willbe long before we have another such opportunity to install ourselves asthe watchmen of the punt."
"It is only on such a night that the monastery could be safelyattacked."
"And yet no one comes."
"Listen--listen--"
"Do you hear anything?"
"No, I was mistaken--it is the rippling of the water on the pebbles ofthe river bank."
"Perhaps our bishop renounced his project of attacking the monastery."
"That is not likely, seeing that he obtained the consent of QueenBrunhild."
"Listen--listen--this time I am not mistaken. Look yonder, on theopposite bank--do you notice anything sparkling?"
"It is the reflection of the moon on the armor of the warriors."
"Now they are coming! Do you hear the three bugle blasts?"
"It is the signal agreed upon. Quick, now, quick! Let us unfasten thepunt and cross over to the other side."
The ropes were unfastened; pushed by Placidus and Felibien by means oflong poles the punt arrived at the opposite bank. Mounted on a mule aman awaited them on the opposite shore. He was a Catholic priest. Hisface was hard and imperious. At his side was a Frankish chief onhorseback and escorted by about a score of riders cased in iron. A wagonfilled with baggage, drawn by four oxen and followed by several slaveson foot attended the Frankish chief.
"Reverend archdeacon," said Placidus to the man on horseback and in theblack robe, "we began to despair of your arrival; but you are still ontime. The whole colony--men, women, girls and children--is assembled atthe monastery, and only God knows the abominations that are taking placethere under the very eyes of Loysik, who incites these sacrilegiousexcesses!"
"These scandals are about to come to an end and to receive condignpunishment, my sons. Can the horses of these riders and the wagon thatcarries my baggage be risked in that punt?"
"Reverend archdeacon, the cavalry is too numerous for one trip; we shallhave to make three or four passages before they can all be transportedto the opposite bank."
"Gondowald," said the archdeacon to the Frankish chief, "how would itbe if we leave your horses and my mule and wagon temporarily on thisside of the river? We could march straight upon the monastery with yourhorsemen following you on foot."
"Whether on foot or on horseback, they will be enough to execute theorders of my glorious mistress, Queen Brunhild, and to dust with theshafts of their lances the backs of those monks of Satan and of thoserustic plebs if they dare offer any resistance."
"Reverend archdeacon, we who know what the monks and people of theValley are capable of, we are of the opinion that, should theyrebelliously resist the orders of our holy bishop of Chalon, twentywarriors will not suffice to overpower them."
Gondowald cast a disdainful look at the priest, and did not even consentto make an answer.
"I do not share your fears, my dear sons; and I have good reasons for myopinion," answered the archdeacon haughtily. "Here we are all in thepunt--push off!"
A short while later the archdeacon, Gondowald the chamberlain of QueenBrunhild, and the Queen's twenty warriors landed on the Valley shore,casqued, cuirassed and armed with lances and swords. From theirshoulders hung their gilt and painted bucklers.
"Is the distance long from here to the monastery?" inquired thearchdeacon as he set foot on land.
"No, father; it is at the most a half hour's walk if we move briskly."
"Lead the way, my dear sons--we will follow."
"Oh, father, the impious people of this community little dream at thishour that the punishment of heaven is ready to descend upon theirheads!"
"Move quickly, my sons--justice will soon be done."
"Hermanfred," said the chief of the warriors turning to one of the menin his troop, "have you with you the rope and iron manacles?"