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chequered with four black spots and a smear of brown；〃 answered Hugh。
〃Then is that the same arrow； master； which this Murgh loosed from
more than a mile away？〃
Hugh examined it with care。 Thrice he examined it； point and shaft and
feathers。 Then in a low voice he answered：
〃/Yes！/〃
CHAPTER XIV
AT THE PLACE OF ARMS
Notwithstanding all that has been told； Hugh and Dick never slept more
soundly than they did that night； nor was their rest broken by any
dreams。 At half past five in the morningfor they must be stirring
earlyDavid came to call them。 He too； it seemed； had slept well。
Also in the light of day the worst of his fear had left him。
〃I am wondering； Sir Hugh；〃 he said； looking at him curiously；
〃whether I saw certain things last night down yonder at the Place of
Arms and in the boat； or whether I thought I saw them。〃
〃Doubtless you thought you saw them； David；〃 answered Hugh； adding
with meaning； 〃and it is not always well to talk of things we think
that we have seen。〃
The lad； who was sharp enough； nodded。 But as he turned to hand Hugh
some garment his eye fell upon the swan…crested helm that was still
nailed by the long war…shaft with two black feathers and one white to
the carved olivewood post of the bed。
〃It must have been a mighty arm that shot this arrow； Sir Hugh；〃 he
said reflectively； 〃which could pierce a casque of Milan steel from
side to side and a hardwood post beyond。 Well for the owner of the
helm that his head was not inside of it。〃
〃Very well； and a very mighty arm； David。 So mighty that I should say
nothing about it for fear lest it should set another arrow upon
another string and shoot again。〃
〃God's truth； not I！〃 exclaimed David； 〃and for your comfort； sir；
know that none saw us leave this house or re雗ter it last night。〃
Then Hugh and Dick clothed themselves and saw to their weapons and
mail； but this they did not don as yet； fearing lest the weight of it
should weary them in that great heat。 Although the day was so young；
this heat was terrible； more oppressive indeed than any they had yet
known in Venice。
When they were ready David left them to see to the horse which de
Cressi would ride in his combat with Cattrina。 Hugh； as became a God…
fearing knight whom Sir Andrew Arnold had instructed from childhood；
crossed himself； knelt down and said his prayers； which that morning
were long and earnest。 Indeed he would have confessed himself also if
he could； only there was no priest at hand who knew his language； Sir
Geoffrey's chaplain being away。 After watching him a while even Grey
Dick； whose prayers were few； followed his example； kneeling in front
of his bow as though it were an image that he worshipped。 When they
had risen again； he said：
〃You grieve that there is none to shrive us； master； but I hold
otherwise； since when it was told what company we kept last night
absolution might be lacking。 This would weigh on you if not on me；
who； after what I have learned of Father Nicholas and others； love but
one priest； and he far away。〃
〃Yet it is well to have the blessings of Holy Church ere such a
business as ours； Dick； that is； if it can be come by。〃
〃Mayhap； master。 But for my part I am content with that of Murgh；
which he gave us； you may remember； or so I understood him。 Moreover；
did he not teach that he and all are but ministers of Him above？
Therefore I go straight to the head of the stair；〃 and he nodded
toward the sky。 〃I am content to skip all those steps which are called
priests and altars and popes and saints and such…like folk； living or
dead。 If Murgh's wisdom be true； as I think； these are but garnishings
to the dish which can well be spared by the hungry soul。〃
〃That may be；〃 Hugh answered dubiously； for his faith in such matters
was that of his time。 〃Yet were I you； Dick； I'd not preach that
philosophy too loud lest the priests and popes should have something
to say to it。 The saints also； for aught I know； since I have always
heard that they love not to be left out of our account with heaven。〃
〃Well； if so；〃 answered Dick； 〃I'll quote St。 Murgh to them； who is a
very fitting patron for an archer。〃 Then once again he glanced at the
helm and the arrow with something not unlike fear in his cold eye。
Presently they went down to the eating chamber where they had been
told that breakfast would be ready for them at seven of the clock。
There they found Sir Geoffrey awaiting them。
〃I trust that you have slept well； Sir Hugh；〃 he said。 〃You were a
wise knight to go to rest so early； having before you such a trial of
your strength and manhood； and； so to speak； the honour of our King
upon your hands。〃
〃Very well indeed； thank you； sir；〃 answered Hugh。 〃And you？〃
〃Oh； ill； extremely ill。 I do not know what is the matter with me or
Venice either； whereof the very air seems poisoned。 Feel the heat and
see the haze！ It is most unnatural。 Moreover； although in your bed
doubtless you saw it not； a great ball of fire blazed and burnt over
the city last night。 So bright was it that even in a darkened room
each of us could see the colour of the other's eyes。 Later； too； as I
watched at the window； there came a thin streak of flame that seemed
to alight on or about this very house。 Indeed I thought I heard a
sound as of iron striking upon iron； but could find no cause for it。〃
〃Wondrous happenings； sir；〃 said Grey Dick。 〃Glad am I that we were
not with you； lest the sight of them should have made us fearful on
this morning of combat。〃
〃Wondrous happenings indeed； friend Richard；〃 said Sir Geoffrey
excitedly； 〃but you have not heard the half of them。 The herald； who
has just been here with the final articles of your fray signed by the
Doge and Cattrina； has told me much that I can scarce believe。 He says
that the great galley from this port which is called /Light of the
East/ drifted up to the quay at the Place of Arms last night on her
return voyage from Cyprus； filled with dead and with no living thing
aboard her save the devil himself in a yellow robe and a many…hued
head…dress like a cock's…comb with a red eye。 He swears that this
fiend landed and that the mob set on him； whereon two； some say three；
other devils clad in long black gowns appeared out of the water and
drove them back。 Also； it seems that this same cock's…combed Satan
stole a boat and rowed about the city afterward； but now none can find
him； although they have got the boat。〃
〃Then they should be well satisfied；〃 said Hugh； 〃since its owner has
lost nothing but the hire； which with Satan at the oars is better than
might be hoped。 Perhaps he was not there after all； Sir Geoffrey。〃
〃I know not； but at least the galley /Light of the East/ is there； for
ever since the dawn they have been taking the dead out of her to bury
them。 Of these they say things too terrible to repeat； for no doctor
can tell of what sickness they died； never having seen its like。 For
my part I pray it may not be catching。 Were I the Doge I would have
towed her out to sea and scuttled her； cargo and all。 Well； well；
enough of these wild tales； of