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wall of the old city terminating in the deep fosse upon the fourth。 In
its little armoury； among other weapons they had found a great store
of arrows and some good bows； whereof Hugh took the best and longest。
Thus armed with these they placed themselves behind the loopholes of
the embattled gateway； whence they could sweep the space before them。
Or if danger threatened them elsewhere； there were embrasures whence
they could command the bases of the walls。 Lastly； also； there was the
central tower； whereof they could hold each landing with the sword。
Thrice they had been attacked； since there seemed to be hundreds of
folk in Avignon bent upon their destruction； but each time their
bitter arrows； that rarely seemed to miss； had repulsed the foe with
loss。 Even when an onslaught was delivered on the main gateway at
night； they had beaten their assailants by letting fall upon them
through the /machicoulis/ or overhanging apertures； great stones that
had been piled up there； perhaps generations before； when the place
was built。
Still the attacks did not slacken。 Indeed the hate of the citizens of
Avignon against these two bold Englishmen； whose courage and resource
they attributed to help given to them by the powers of evil； seemed to
grow from day to day； even as the plague grew in the streets of that
sore…afflicted city。 From their walls they could see friars preaching
a kind of crusade against them。 They pointed toward the tower with
crucifixes； invoking their hearers to pull it stone from stone and
slay the wizards within； the wizards who had conspired with the
accursed Jews even beneath the eyes of his Holiness the Pope； to bring
doom on Avignon。
The eighth morn broke at length； and its first red rays discovered
Hugh and Dick kneeling side by side behind the battlements of the
gateway。 Each of them was making petition to heaven in his own fashion
for forgiveness of his sins； since they were outworn and believed that
this day would be their last。
〃What did you pray for； Dick？〃 asked Hugh； glancing at his companion's
fierce face； which in that half light looked deathlike and unearthly。
〃What did I pray for？ Well； for the first part let it be； that's
betwixt me and whatever Power sent me out to do its business on the
earth。 But for the lastI'll tell you。 It was that we may go hence
with such a guard of dead French as never yet escorted two Englishmen
from Avignon to heavenor hell。 Ay； and we will； master； for to…day；
as they shouted to us； they'll storm this tower； but if our strength
holds out there's many a one who'll never win its crest。〃
〃Rather would I have died peacefully； Dick。 Yet the blood of these
hounds will not weigh upon my soul； seeing that they seek to murder us
for no fault except that we saved a woman and two children from their
cruel devilries。 Oh！ could I but know that Red Eve and Sir Andrew were
safe away； I'd die a happy man。〃
〃I think we shall know that and much more before to…morrow's dawn；
master； or never know anything again。 Look！ they gather yonder。 Now
let us eat； for perhaps later we shall find no time。〃
The afternoon drew on toward evening and still these two lived。 Of all
the hundreds of missiles which were shot or hurled at them； although a
few struck； not one of them had pierced their armour so as to do them
hurt。 The walls and battlements or some good Fate had protected them。
Thrice had the French come on； and thrice they had retreated before
those arrows that could not miss； and as yet bridge and doors were
safe。
〃Look；〃 said Dick as he set down a cup of wine that he had drained；
for his thirst was raging； 〃they send an embassy；〃 and he pointed to a
priest； the same mad…eyed fellow who preached in the square when the
notary Basil led them into a trap； and to a man with him who bore a
white cloth upon a lance。 〃Shall I shoot them？〃
〃Nay；〃 answered Hugh； 〃why kill crazed folk who think that they serve
God in their own fashion？ We will hear what they have to say。〃
Presently the pair stood within speaking distance； and the priest
called out：
〃Hearken； you wizards。 So far your master the devil has protected you；
but now your hour has come。 We have authority from those who rule this
city and from the Church to summon you to surrender； and if you will
not； then to slay you both。〃
〃That； you shameless friar；〃 answered Hugh； 〃you have been striving to
do these many days。 Yet it is not we who have been slain； although we
stand but two men against a multitude。 But if we surrender； what
then？〃
〃Then you shall be put upon your trial； wizards； and； if found guilty；
burned； if innocent； set free。〃
〃Put upon our trial before our executioners！ Why； I think those fires
are alight already。 Nay； nay； mad priest； go back and tell those whom
you have fooled that if they want us they can come and take us； which
they'll not do living。〃
Then the furious friar began to curse them； hurling at them the
anathemas of the Church； till at length Dick called to him to begone
or he would send an arrow to help him on the road。
So they went； and presently the sun sank。
〃Now let us beware；〃 said Dick。 〃The moon is near her full and will
rise soon。 They'll attack between times when we cannot see to shoot。〃
〃Ay；〃 answered Hugh； 〃moreover； now this gateway is no place for us。
Of arrows there are few left； nor could we see to use them in the
dark。 The stones too are all spent and therefore they can bridge the
moat and batter down the doors unharmed。〃
〃What then？〃 asked Dick。 〃As we cannot fly； where shall we die？〃
〃On the roof of the old tower； I think； whence we can hurl ourselves
at last and so perhaps escape being taken alive； and torment。 Look
you； Dick； that tower is mounted by three straight flights of steps。
The first two of these we'll hold with such arrows as remain to us
there are three and twenty； as I thinkand the last with axe and
sword。 Listen！ They come！ Take a brand from the hall hearth and let us
go light the flambeaux。〃
So they went and set fire to the great torches of wood and tallow that
were set in their iron holders to light the steps of the tower。 Ere
the last of them was burning they heard their enemies ravening
without。
〃Listen！〃 said Hugh as they descended to the head of the first flight
of stairs。 〃They are across the moat。〃
As he spoke the massive doors crashed in beneath the blows of a baulk
of timber。
〃Now；〃 said Hugh； as they strung their bows； 〃six arrows apiece here；
if we can get off so many； and the odd eleven at our next stand。 Ah；
they come。〃
The mob rushed into the hall below； waving torches and swords and
hunting it as dogs hunt a covert。
〃The English wizards have hid themselves away；〃 cried a voice。 〃Let us
burn the place； for so we are sure to catch them。〃
〃Nay； nay；〃 answered another voice； that of the mad friar。 〃We must
have them beneath the torture； that we may learn how to lift the curse
from Avignon； and the names of their accomplices on earth and in hell。
Search； search； search！〃
〃Little need to search；〃 said Grey Dick； stepping out on to the
landing。 〃Devil； go join your fellow…devils in that hell you talk of；〃
and