The great front doorway was so choked
with corpses that they could not pass it, since here had raged the last
fearful struggle to escape. Going to the little stable-yard, where they
found their horses unharmed in the stalls, although frightened by the
tumult and stiff from lack of exercise, they fed and saddled them and
led them out. So presently they looked their last upon the Bride's Tower
that had sheltered them so well.
"It has served our turn," said Hugh, glancing back at it from the other
side of the deserted square, "but oh, I pray heaven that we may never
see that charnel-house again!"
As he spoke a figure appeared from the shadow of a doorway, and ran
toward them. Thinking it was that of some foe, Dick lifted his axe to
cut him down, whereon a voice cried in English:
"Hold! I am David!"
"David!" exclaimed Hugh. "Then thanks be to God, for know, we thought
you dead these many days."
"Ay, sir," answered the young man, "as I thought you. The rumour reached
the Jews, among whom I have been hiding while I recovered of my hurts,
that the Mad Monk and his fellows had stormed the tower and killed you
both. Therefore I crept out to learn for myself. Now I have found you
by your voices, who never again hoped to look upon you living," and he
began to sob in his relief and joy.
"Come on, lad," said Grey Dick kindly, "this is no place for greetings.
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