Kabanata Kabanata 15 · THE SLAYING OF THE QUARRY

. THE SLAYING OF THE QUARRY

So they walked on quietly thence some half a mile, and ever the Lady

would have Walter to walk by her side, and not follow a little behind

her, as was meet for a servant to do; and she touched his hand at whiles

as she showed him beast and fowl and tree, and the sweetness of her body

overcame him, so that for a while he thought of nothing save her.

Now when they were come to the thicket-side, she turned to him and said:

"Squire, I am no ill woodman, so that thou mayst trust me that we shall

not be brought to shame the second time; and I shall do sagely; so nock

an arrow to thy bow, and abide me here, and stir not hence; for I shall

enter this thicket without the hounds, and arouse the quarry for thee;

and see that thou be brisk and clean-shooting, and then shalt thou have a

reward of me."

Therewith she drew up her skirts through her girdle again, took her bent

bow in her hand, and drew an arrow out of the quiver, and stepped lightly

into the thicket, leaving him longing for the sight of her, as he

hearkened to the tread of her feet on the dry leaves, and the rustling of

the brake as she thrust through it.

Thus he stood for a few minutes, and then he heard a kind of gibbering

cry without words, yet as of a woman, coming from the thicket, and while

his heart was yet gathering the thought that something had gone amiss, he

glided swiftly, but with little stir, into the brake.

He had gone but a little way ere he saw the Lady standing there in a

narrow clearing, her face pale as death, her knees cleaving together, her

body swaying and tottering, her hands hanging down, and the bow and arrow

fallen to the ground; and ten yards before her a great-headed yellow

creature crouching flat to the earth and slowly drawing nigher.

He stopped short; one arrow was already notched to the string, and

another hung loose to the lesser fingers of his string-hand. He raised

his right hand, and drew and loosed in a twinkling; the shaft flew close

to the Lady's side, and straightway all the wood rung with a huge roar,

as the yellow lion turned about to bite at the shaft which had sunk deep

into him behind the shoulder, as if a bolt out of the heavens had smitten

him. But straightway had Walter loosed again, and then, throwing down

his bow, he ran forward with his drawn sword gleaming in his hand, while

the lion weltered and rolled, but had no might to move forward. Then

Walter went up to him warily and thrust him through to the heart, and

leapt aback, lest the beast might yet have life in him to smite; but he

left his struggling, his huge voice died out, and he lay there moveless

before the hunter.

Walter abode a little, facing him, and then turned about to the Lady, and

she had fallen down in a heap whereas she stood, and lay there all

huddled up and voiceless. So he knelt down by her, and lifted up her

head, and bade her arise, for the foe was slain. And after a little she

stretched out her limbs, and turned about on the grass, and seemed to

sleep, and the colour came into her face again, and it grew soft and a

little smiling. Thus she lay awhile, and Walter sat by her watching her,

till at last she opened her eyes and sat up, and knew him, and smiling on

him said: "What hath befallen, Squire, that I have slept and dreamed?"

He answered nothing, till her memory came back to her, and then she

arose, trembling and pale, and said: "Let us leave this wood, for the

Enemy is therein."

And she hastened away before him till they came out at the thicket-side

whereas the hounds had been left, and they were standing there uneasy and

whining; so Walter coupled them, while the Lady stayed not, but went away

swiftly homeward, and Walter followed.

At last she stayed her swift feet, and turned round on Walter, and said:

"Squire, come hither."

So did he, and she said: "I am weary again; let us sit under this quicken-

tree, and rest us."

So they sat down, and she sat looking between her knees a while; and at

last she said: "Why didst thou not bring the lion's hide?"

He said: "Lady, I will go back and flay the beast, and bring on the

hide."

And he arose therewith, but she caught him by the skirts and drew him

down, and said: "Nay, thou shalt not go; abide with me. Sit down again."

He did so, and she said: "Thou shalt not go from me; for I am afraid: I

am not used to looking on the face of death."

She grew pale as she spoke, and set a hand to her breast, and sat so a

while without speaking. At last she turned to him smiling, and said:

"How was it with the aspect of me when I stood before the peril of the

Enemy?" And she laid a hand upon his.

"O gracious one," quoth he, "thou wert, as ever, full lovely, but I

feared for thee."

She moved not her hand from his, and she said: "Good and true Squire, I

said ere I entered the thicket e'en now that I would reward thee if thou

slewest the quarry. He is dead, though thou hast left the skin behind

upon the carcase. Ask now thy reward, but take time to think what it

shall be."

He felt her hand warm upon his, and drew in the sweet odour of her

mingled with the woodland scents under the hot sun of the afternoon, and

his heart was clouded with manlike desire of her. And it was a near

thing but he had spoken, and craved of her the reward of the freedom of

her Maid, and that he might depart with her into other lands; but as his

mind wavered betwixt this and that, the Lady, who had been eyeing him

keenly, drew her hand away from him; and therewith doubt and fear flowed

into his mind, and he refrained him of speech.

Then she laughed merrily and said: "The good Squire is shamefaced; he

feareth a lady more than a lion. Will it be a reward to thee if I bid

thee to kiss my cheek?"

Therewith she leaned her face toward him, and he kissed her

well-favouredly, and then sat gazing on her, wondering what should betide

to him on the morrow.

Then she arose and said: "Come, Squire, and let us home; be not abashed,

there shall be other rewards hereafter."

So they went their ways quietly; and it was nigh sunset against they

entered the house again. Walter looked round for the Maid, but beheld

her not; and the Lady said to him: "I go to my chamber, and now is thy

service over for this day."

Then she nodded to him friendly and went her ways.