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nights； his companions； and sixno sevenmen…at…arms。 Also from the
other side of the grieve； Thomas of Kessland； and with him his marsh
men and verderers。〃
〃And what are they coming for？〃 he asked again。 〃Have they hounds； and
hawk on wrist？〃
〃Nay； but they have swords and knife on thigh；〃 and he let his pale
eyes fall on Eve。
〃Oh； have done！〃 she broke in。 〃They come to take me； and I'll not be
taken！ They come to kill you； and I'll not see you slain and live。 I
had words with my father this morning about the Frenchman and； I fear；
let out the truth。 He told me then that ere the Dunwich roses bloomed
again she who loved you would have naught but bones to kiss。 Dick； you
know the fen； where can we hide till nightfall？〃
〃Follow me；〃 said the man； 〃and keep low！〃
Plunging into the dense brake of reeds； through which he glided like a
polecat； Dick led them over ground whereon； save in times of hard
frost； no man could tread； heading toward the river bank。 For two
hundred paces or more they went thus； till； quite near to the lip of
the stream； they came to a patch of reeds higher and thicker than the
rest； in the centre of which was a little mound hid in a tangle of
scrub and rushes。 Once； perhaps a hundred or a thousand years before；
some old marsh dweller had lived upon this mound； or been buried in
it。 At any rate； on its southern side； hidden by reeds and a withered
willow； was a cavity of which the mouth could not be seen that might
have been a chamber for the living or the dead。
Thrusting aside the growths that masked it； Dick bade them enter and
lie still。
〃None will find us here；〃 he said as he lifted up the reeds behind
them； 〃unless they chance to have hounds； which I did not see。 Hist！
be still； they come！〃
CHAPTER II
THE FIGHT BY THE RIVER
For a while Hugh and Eve heard nothing； but Grey Dick's ears were
sharper than theirs； quick as these might be。 About half a minute
later； however； they caught the sound of horses' hoofs ringing on the
hard earth； followed by that of voices and the crackle of breaking
reeds。
Two of the speakers appeared and pulled up their horses near by in a
dry hollow that lay between them and the river bank。 Peeping between
the reeds that grew about the mouth of the earth…dwelling； Eve saw
them。
〃My father and the Frenchman；〃 she whispered。 〃Look！〃 And she slid
back a little so that Hugh might see。
Peering through the stems of the undergrowth； set as it were in a
little frame against the red and ominous sky； the eyes of Hugh de
Cressi fell upon Sir Edmund Acour； a gallant； even a splendid…looking
knightthat was his first impression of him。 Broad shouldered；
graceful； in age neither young nor old； clean featured； quick eyed；
with a mobile mouth and a little； square…cut beard； soft and languid
voiced； black haired； richly dressed in a fur robe； and mounted on a
fine black horse； such was the man。
Staring at Acour； and remembering that he； too； loved Red Eve； Hugh
grew suddenly ashamed。 How could a mere merchant compare himself with
this magnificent lord； this high…bred； many…titled favourite of courts
and of fortune？ How could he rival him； he who had never yet travelled
a hundred miles from the place where he was born； save once； when he
sailed on a trading voyage to Calais？ As well might a hooded crow try
to match a peregrine that swooped to snatch away the dove from beneath
its claws。 Yes； he； Hugh； was the grey crow； Eve was the dove whom he
had captured； and yonder shifty…eyed Count was the fleet； fierce
peregrine who soon would tear out his heart and bear the quarry far
away。 Hugh shivered a little as the thought struck him； not with fear
for himself； but at the dread of that great and close bereavement。
The girl at his side felt the shiver； and her mind； quickened by love
and peril； guessed its purport。 She said nothing； for words were
dangerous； only turning her beautiful face she pressed her lips upon
her lover's hand。 It was her message to him； thereby； as he knew well；
humble as he might be； she acknowledged him her lord forever。 I am
with you； said that kiss。 Have no fear； in life or in death none shall
divide us。 He looked at her with grateful eyes； and would have spoken
had she not placed her hand upon his mouth and pointed。
Acour was speaking in English； which he used with a strong French
accent。
〃Well； we do not find your beautiful runaway； Sir John；〃 he said； in a
clear and cultivated voice； 〃and although I am not vain； for my part I
cannot believe that she has come to such a place as this to meet a
merchant's clerk； she who should company with kings。〃
〃Yet I fear it is so； Sir Edmund；〃 answered Sir John Clavering； a
stout； dark man of middle age。 〃This girl of mine is very heady； as I
give warning you will find out when she is your wife。 For years she
has set her fancy upon Hugh de Cressi； yes； since they were boy and
girl together； as I think； and while he lives I doubt she'll never
change it。〃
〃While he livesthen why should he continue to live； Sir John？〃 asked
the Count indifferently。 〃Surely the world will not miss a chapman's
son！〃
〃The de Cressis are my kin； although I hate them； Sir Edmund。 Also
they are rich and powerful； and have many friends in high places。 If
this young man died by my command it would start a blood feud of which
none can tell the end； for； after all； he is nobly born。〃
〃Then； Sir John； he shall die by mine。 No； not at my own hands； since
I do not fight with traders。 But I have those about me who are pretty
swordsmen and know how to pick a quarrel。 Before a week is out there
will be a funeral in Dunwich。〃
〃I know nothing of your men； and do not want to hear of their
quarrels； past or future；〃 said Sir John testily。
〃Of course not；〃 answered the Count。 〃I pray you； forget my words。
Name of God！ what an accursed and ill…omened spot is this。 I feel as
though I were standing by my own graveit came upon me suddenly。〃 And
he shivered and turned pale。
Dick lifted his bow； but Hugh knocked the arrow aside ere he could
loose it。
〃To those who talk of death； death often draws near；〃 replied
Clavering； crossing himself； 〃though I find the place well enough；
seeing the hour and season。〃
〃Do youdo you； Sir John？ Look at that sky； look at the river beneath
which has turned to blood。 Hark to the howl of the wind in the reeds
and the cry of the birds we cannot see。 Ay； and look at our shadows on
the snow。 Mine lies flat by a great hole； and yours rising against
yonder bank is that of a hooded man with hollow eyesDeath himself as
I should limn him！ There； it is gone！ What a fool am I； or how strong
is that wine of yours！ Shall we be going also？〃
〃Nay； here comes my son with tidings。 Well； Jack； have you found your
sister？〃 he added； addressing a dark and somewhat saturnine young man
who now rode up to them from over the crest of the hollow。
〃No； sir； though we have beat the marsh through and through； so that
scarce an otter could have escaped us。 And yet she's here； for Thomas
of Kessland caught sight of her red cloak among the reeds； and what's
mor