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Each of us sins in his own fashion； and perchance sin is born of the
blood and not of the will。 If ever I meet Murgh again I'll ask him。
But perhaps he will not answer。〃
Thus reflected Dick； half to David； who feared and did not understand
him； and half to himself。 Ere ever he had finished with his thoughts；
which were not such as Sir Andrew would have approved； Father Nicholas
began to die。
It was not a pleasant sight this death of his； though of its physical
part nothing shall be written。 Let that be buried with other records
of the great plague。 Only in this case his mind triumphed for a while
over the dissolution of his body。 When there was little left of him
save bone and sinew； still he found strength to cry out to God for
mercy。 Yes； and to raise himself and cast what had been arms about the
ivory rood and kiss its feet with what had been lips； and in his last
death struggle to drag it down and pant out his ultimate breath
beneath its weight。
So there they left him； a horrible； huddled heap upon which gleamed
the ivory crucifix； and went their way； gasping； into the air。
CHAPTER XVI
AT AVIGNON
Hard upon two months had gone by when at length these three； Hugh；
Grey Dick； and David Day； set eyes upon the towers of stately Avignon
standing red against the sunset and encircled by the blue waters of
the Rhone。 Terrible beyond imagination had been the journey of these
men； who followed in the footsteps of Murgh。 They saw him not； it is
true； but always they saw his handiwork。 Death； death； everywhere
death； nothing but death！
One night they supped at an inn with the host； his family and
servants； twelve folk in all； in seeming health。 When they rose in the
morning one old woman and a little child alone remained； the rest were
dead or dying。 One day they were surprised and taken by robbers；
desperate outcasts of the mountains； who gave them twenty…four hours
to 〃make their peace with heaven〃ere they hanged them because they
had slain so many of the band before they were overpowered。
But when those twenty…four hours of grace had elapsed； it would have
been easy for them to hang all who remained of those robbers
themselves。 So they took the best of their horses and their ill…gotten
gold and rode on again； leaving the murderers murdered by a stronger
power than man。
They went through desolate villages； where the crops rotted in the
fields； they went through stricken towns whereof the moan and the
stench rose in a foul incense to heaven； they crossed rivers where the
very fish had died by thousands； poisoned of the dead that rolled
seaward in their waters。 The pleasant land had become a hell； and
untouched； unharmed； they plodded onward through those deeps of hell。
But a night or two before they had slept in a city whereof the
population； or those who remained alive of them； seemed to have gone
mad。 In one place they danced and sang and made love in an open
square。 In another bands of naked creatures marched the streets
singing hymns and flogging themselves till the blood ran down to their
heels； while the passers…by prostrated themselves before them。 These
were the forerunners of the 〃Mad Dancers〃 of the following year。
In a field outside of this city they came upon even a more dreadful
sight。 Here forty or fifty frenzied people； most of them drunk； were
engaged in burning a poor Jew； his wife and two children upon a great
fire made of the staves of wine…casks； which they had plundered from
some neighbouring cellars。 When Hugh and his companions came upon the
scene the Jew had already burned and this crowd of devils were
preparing to cast his wife and children into the flames； which they
had been forced to see devour their husband and father。 Indeed； with
yells of brutal laughter； they were thrusting the children into two
great casks ere they rolled them into the heart of the fire； while the
wretched mother stood by and shrieked。
〃What do you； sirs？〃 asked Hugh； riding up to them。
〃We burn wizards and their spawn； Sir Knight；〃 answered the
ringleader。 〃Know that these accursed Jews have poisoned the wells of
our townwe have witnesses who saw them do itand thus brought the
plague upon us。 Moreover； she；〃 and he pointed to the woman〃was seen
talking not fourteen days ago to the devil in a yellow cap； who
appears everywhere before the Death begins。 Now； roll them in； roll
them in！〃
Hugh drew his sword； for this sight was more than his English flesh
and blood could bear。 Dick also unsheathed the black bow； while young
David produced a great knife which he carried。
〃Free those children！〃 said Hugh to the man with whom he had spoken； a
fat fellow； with rolling； bloodshot eyes。
〃Get you to hell； stranger；〃 he answered； 〃or we'll throw you on the
fire also as a Jew in knight's dress。〃
〃Free those children！〃 said Hugh again in a terrible voice； 〃or I send
you before them。 Be warned！ I speak truth。〃
〃Be you warned； stranger； for I speak truth also；〃 replied the man；
mimicking him。 〃Now friends；〃 he added； 〃tuck up the devil's brats in
their warm bed。〃
They were his last words； for Hugh thrust with his sword and down he
went。
Now a furious clamour arose。 The mob snatched up burning staves；
bludgeons； knives or whatever they had at hand； and prepared to kill
the three。 Without waiting for orders； Dick began to shoot。 David； a
bold young man； rushed at one of the most violent and stabbed him； and
Hugh； who had leapt from his horse； set himself back to back with the
other two。 Thrice Dick shot； and at the third deadly arrow these
drunken fellows grew sober enough to understand that they wished no
more of them。
Suddenly； acting on a common impulse； they fled away； every one； only
leaving behind them those who had fallen beneath the arrows and the
sword。 But some who were so full of wine that they could not run；
tumbled headlong and lay there helpless。
〃Woman；〃 said Hugh when they had departed； 〃your husband is lost； but
you and your children are saved。 Now go your ways and thank whatever
God you worship for His small mercies。〃
〃Alas！ Sir Knight；〃 the poor creature； a still young and not
unhandsome Jewess； wailed in answer； 〃whither shall I go？ If I return
to that town those Christian men will surely murder me and my children
as they have already murdered my husband。 Kill us now by the sword or
the bowit will be a kindnessbut leave us not here to be tortured
by the Christian men according to their fashion with us poor Jews。〃
〃Are you willing to go to Avignon？〃 asked Hugh； after thinking awhile。
〃Ay； Sir Knight； or anywhere away from these Christians。 Indeed； at
Avignon I have a brother who perchance will protect us。〃
〃Then mount my horse；〃 said Hugh。 〃Dick and David； draw those two
youngsters from the tubs and set them on your beasts； we can walk。〃
So the children； two comely little girls of eight and six years of
age； or thereabout； were dragged out of their dreadful prisons and
lifted to the saddle。 The wretched widow； running to the bonfire；
snatched from it her husband's burnt…off hand and hid it in the bosom
of her fil