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sight so usual should draw their eyes。 Then after a few irresolute
moments the groups on the footpaths separated and went their ways
without bidding each other good night。 As they went many of them made
the sign with their fingers that these Italians believed could avert
evil； which gave them the appearance of all pointing at the boat or
its occupants。 Those in the balconies did the same thing and
disappeared through the open window…places。
More than any of the wonderful things that he had done； perhaps； this
effect of the Eastern stranger's presence struck terror and foreboding
to Hugh's heart。
At length they came to the end of that little street where they had
hired the boat； for； although none had told him the way； thither their
dread steersman brought them without fault。 The lad David laid down
his oars and mounted the steps that led to the street； which was quite
deserted； even the bordering houses being in darkness。
〃Hugh de Cressi and Richard the Fatherless；〃 said Murgh； 〃you have
seen wonderful things this night and made a strange friend； as you may
think by chance； although truly in all the wide universe there is no
room for such a thing as chance。 Now my counsel to you and your
companion is that you speak no word of these matters lest you should
be set upon as wizards。 We part； but we shall meet again twice more；
and after many years a third time； but that third meeting do not seek；
for it will be when the last grains of sand are running from the
glass。 Also you may see me at other times； but if so； unless I speak
to you； do not speak to me。 Now go your ways； fearing nothing。 However
great may seem your peril； I say to youfear nothing。 Soon you will
hear ill things spoken of me； yet〃and here a touch of human
wistfulness came into his inhuman voice〃I pray you believe them not。
When I am named Murgh the Fiend and Murgh the Sword； then think of me
as Murgh the Helper。 What I do is decreed by That which is greater
than I； and if you could understand it； leads by terrible ways to a
goal of good； as all things do。 Richard the Archer； I will answer the
riddle that you asked yourself upon the ship at Calais。 The Strength
which made your black bow an instrument of doom made you who loose its
shafts and me who can outshoot you far。 As the arrow travels whither
it is sent； and there does its appointed work； so do you travel and so
do I； and many another thing； seen and unseen； and therefore I told
you truly that although we differ in degree； yet we are one。 Yes； even
Murgh the Eating Fire； Murgh the Gate； and that bent wand of yours are
one in the Hand that shaped and holds us both。〃
Then divesting himself of the long robe which he had borrowed from the
lad； he handed it to Hugh； and； taking the oars； rowed away clad in
his rich； fantastic garb which now； as at first； could be seen by all。
He rowed away； and for a while the three whom he had left behind heard
the soughing of the innumerable wings that went ever with him； after
which came silence。
Silence； but not for long； for presently from the borders of the great
canal into which his skiff must enter； rose shouts of fear and rage；
near by at first； then farther and farther off； till these too were
lost in silence。
〃Oh！ Sir Hugh！〃 sobbed poor David Day； 〃who and what is that dreadful
man？〃
〃I think his name is Death；〃 answered Hugh solemnly； while Dick nodded
his head but said nothing。
〃Then we must die；〃 went on David in his terror； 〃and I am not fit to
die。〃
〃I think not；〃 said Hugh again。 〃Be comforted。 Death has passed us by。
Only be warned also and； as he bade you； say nothing of all that you
have heard and seen。〃
〃By Death himself； I'll say nothing for my life's sake；〃 he replied
faintly； for he was shaking in every limb。
Then they walked up the street to the yard door。 As they went Hugh
asked Dick what it was that he had in his mind as a mark for the arrow
that Murgh had shot； that arrow which to his charmed sight had seemed
to rush over Venice like a flake of fire。
〃I'll not tell you； master；〃 answered Dick； 〃lest you should think me
madder than I am； which to…night would be very mad indeed。 Stay；
though； I'll tell David here； that he may be a witness to my folly；〃
and he called the young man to him and spoke with him apart。
Then they unlocked the courtyard gate and entered the house by the
kitchen door； as it chanced quite unobserved； for now all the servants
were abed。 Indeed； of that household none ever knew that they had been
outside its walls this night； since no one saw them go or return； and
Sir Geoffrey and his lady thought that they had retired to their
chamber。
They came to the door of their room； David still with them； for the
place where he slept was at the end of this same passage。
〃Bide here a while；〃 said Dick to him。 〃My master and I may have a
word to say to you presently。〃
Then they lit tapers from a little Roman lamp that burned all night in
the passage and entered the room。 Dick walked at once to the window…
place； looked and laughed a little。
〃The arrow has missed；〃 he said； 〃or rather；〃 he added doubtfully；
〃the target is gone。〃
〃What target？〃 asked Hugh wearily； for now he desired sleep more than
he had ever done in all his life。 Then he turned； the taper in his
hand； and started back suddenly； pointing to something which hung upon
his bed…post that stood opposite to the window。
〃Who nails his helm upon my bed？〃 he said。 〃Is this a challenge from
some knight of Venice？〃
Dick stepped forward and looked。
〃An omen； not a challenge； I think。 Come and see for yourself；〃 he
said。
This is what Hugh saw： Fixed to the post by a shaft which pierced it
and the carved olivewood from side to side； was the helm that they had
stripped from the body of Sir Pierre de la Roche； the helm of Sir
Edmund Acour； which Sir Pierre had worn at Crecy and Dick had tumbled
out of his sack in the presence of the Doge before Cattrina's face。 On
his return to the house of Sir Geoffrey Carleon he had set it down in
the centre of the open window…place and left it there when they went
out to survey the ground where they must fight upon the morrow。
Having studied it for a moment； Dick went to the door and called to
David。
〃Friend；〃 he said； standing between him and the bed； so that he could
see nothing； 〃what was it that just now I told you was in my mind when
yonder Murgh asked me at what target he should shoot with my bow on
the Place of Arms？〃
〃A knight's helm；〃 answered David； 〃which stood in the window of your
room at the ambassador's housea knight's helmet that had a swan for
its crest。〃
〃You hear？〃 said Dick to Hugh； 〃now come； both of you； and see。 What
is that which hangs upon the bed…post？ Answer you； David； for
perchance my sight is bewitched。〃
〃A knight's helm；〃 answered David； 〃bearing the crest of a floating
swan and held there by an arrow which has pierced it through。〃
〃What was the arrow like which I gave this night to one Murgh；
master？〃 asked Dick again。
〃It was a war shaft having two black feathers and the third white but
chequered with four black spots and a smear of brown；〃 answered Hugh。