I
tell you that two such sorcerers who pass as Englishmen are in your city
now and have been consorting with the Jews, plotting your destruction.
One looks like a young knight, but the other has the face of Death
himself, and both of them wrought murders in a neighbouring town to
protect the Jews. Until you kill the accursed Jews this plague will
never pass. You will die, every one of you, with your wives and children
if you do not kill the Jews and their familiars."
Just then the man, rolling his wild eyes about, caught sight of Hugh and
Dick.
"See!" he screamed. "There are the wizards who in Venice were seen in
the company of the Enemy of Mankind. That good Christian, Basil, has
brought them face to face with you, as he promised me that he would."
As he heard these words Hugh drew his sword and leapt at Basil. But the
rogue was watching. With a yell of fear he threw himself among the crowd
and there vanished.
"Out weapons, and back to back!" cried Hugh, "for we are snared."
So the three of them ranged themselves together facing outward. In front
of them gleamed Grey Dick's axe, Hugh's sword and David's great knife.
In a moment the furious mob was surging round them like the sea,
howling, "Down with the foreign wizards! Kill the friends of the Jews!"
one solid wall of changing white faces.
A man struck at them with a halbert, but the blow fell short, for he was
afraid to come too near.
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