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landing。 〃Devil； go join your fellow…devils in that hell you talk of；〃
and he sent an arrow through his heart。
For a moment there followed the silence of consternation while the mob
stood staring at their fallen leader。 Then with a yell of rage they
charged the stair and that fray began which was told of in Avignon for
generations。 Hugh and Dick shot their arrows； nor could they miss；
seeing what was their target； indeed some of those from the great
black bow pinned foe to foe beneath them。 But so crowded were the
assailants on the narrow stair that they could not shoot back。 They
advanced helpless； thrust to their doom by the weight of those who
pressed behind。
Now they were near； the dead； still on their feet； being borne forward
by the living； to whom they served as shields。 Hugh and Dick ran to
the head of the second flight and thence shot off the arrows that
remained。
Dick loosed the last of them； and of this fearful shaft it was said
that it slew three men； piercing through the body of one； the throat
of the second and burying its barb in the skull of the third on the
lowest step。 Now Dick unstrung his bow； and thrust it into its case on
his shoulder； for he was minded that they should go together at the
last。
〃Shafts have sung their song；〃 he said； with a fierce laugh； 〃now it
is the turn of the axe and sword to make another music。〃
Then he gripped Sir Hugh by the hand； saying：
〃Farewell； master。 Oh； I hold this a merry death； such as the Saints
grant to few。 Ay； and so would you were you as free as I am。 Well；
doubtless your lady has gone before。 Or at worst soon she will follow
after and greet you in the Gate of Death； where Murgh sits and keeps
his count of passing souls。〃
〃Farewell； friend；〃 answered Hugh； 〃be she quick or dead； thus Red Eve
would wish that I should die。 /A Cressi！ A Cressi！/〃 he cried and
drove his sword through the throat of a soldier who rushed at him。
They fought a very good fight； as doubtless the dead were telling each
other while they passed from that red stair to such rest as they had
won。 They had fought a very good fight and it was hard to say which
had done the best； Hugh's white sword or Dick's grey axe。 And now；
unwounded still save for a bruise or two； they stood there in the
moonlight upon the stark edge of the tall tower； the foe in front and
black space beneath。 There they stood leaning on axe and sword and
drawing their breath in great sobs； those two great harvestmen who
that day had toiled so hard in the rich fields of death。
For a while the ever…gathering crowd of their assailants remained
still staring at them。 Then the leaders began to whisper to each
other； for they scarcely seemed to dare to talk aloud。
〃What shall we do？〃 asked one。 〃These are not men。 No men could have
fought as they have fought us for seven days and at last have slain us
like sparrows in a net and themselves remained unhurt。〃
〃No；〃 answered another； 〃and no mortal archer could send his shaft
through the bodies of three。 Still it is finished now unless they find
wings and fly away。 So let us take them。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 broke in Grey Dick with his hissing laugh； 〃come and take
us； you curs of Avignon。 Having our breath again； we are ready to be
taken；〃 and he lifted his axe and shook it。
〃Seize them；〃 shouted the leader of the French。 〃Seize them！〃 echoed
those who poured up the stairs behind。
But there the matter ended； since none could find stomach to face that
axe and sword。 So at length they took another counsel。
〃Bring bows and shoot them through the legs。 Thus we shall bring them
living to their trial；〃 commanded the captain of the men of Avignon。
He was their fourth captain on that one day； for the other three lay
upon the stairs or in the hall。
Now Hugh and Dick spoke together； few words and swift； as to whether
they should charge or leap from the wall and have done with it。 While
they spoke a little cloud floated over the face of the moon； so that
until it had gone the French could not see to shoot。
〃It's too risky；〃 said Hugh。 〃If they capture us we must die a death
to which I have no mind。 Let us hurl our weapons at them； then leap。〃
〃So be it；〃 whispered Dick。 〃Do you aim at the captain on the left and
I will take the other。 Ready now！ I think one creeps near to us。〃
〃I think so； too；〃 Hugh whispered back； 〃I felt the touch of his
garments。 Only he seemed to pass us from behind； which cannot be。〃
The cloud passed； and once again they were bathed in silver light。 It
showed the men of Avignon already bending their bows； it showed Hugh
and Grey Dick lifting axe and sword to hurl them。 But between them and
their mark it showed also a figure that they knew well； a stern and
terrible figure； wearing a strange cap of red and yellow and a cape of
rich； black fur。
〃O God of Heaven！ 'tis Murgh the Helper；〃 gasped Hugh。
〃Ay； Murgh the Fire； Murgh the Sword；〃 said Dick； adding quietly； 〃it
is true I was wondering whether he would prove as good as his word。
Look now； look！ they see him also！〃
See him they did； indeed； and for a moment there was silence on that
crowded tower top where stood at least a score of men； while their
fellows packed the hall and stair below by hundreds。 All stared at
Murgh； and Murgh stared back at them with his cold eyes。 Then a voice
screamed：
〃Satan！ Satan come from hell to guard his own！ Death himself is with
you！ Fly； men of Avignon； fly！〃
Small need was there for this command。 Already； casting down their
bows； those on the tower top were rushing to the mouth of the stair；
and； since it was blocked with men； using their swords upon them to
hew a road。 Now those below； thinking that it was the English wizards
who slew them； struck back。
Presently all that stair and the crowded hall below； black as the
mouth of the pit； for such lights as still burned soon were swept
away； rang with the screams and curses and stifled groans of the
trodden down or dying。 In the pitchy darkness brother smote brother；
friend trampled out the life of friend； till the steep steps were
piled high and the doorways blocked with dead。 So hideous were the
sounds indeed； that Hugh and Grey Dick crossed themselves； thinking
that hell had come to Avignon； or Avignon sunk down to hell。 But Murgh
only folded his white…gloved hands upon his breast and smiled。
At length； save for the moaning of those hurt men who still lived； the
dreadful tumult sank to silence。 Then Murgh turned and spoke in his
slow and icy voice：
〃You were about to seek me in the fosse of this high tower； were you
not； Hugh de Cressi and Richard Archer？ A foolish thought； in truth；
and a sinful； so sinful that it would have served you well if I had
let you come。 But your strait was sore and your faith was weak； and I
had no such command。 Therefore I have come to others whose names were
written in my book。 Ay； and being half human after allfor does not
your creed tell you that I was born of Sin？ I rejoice that it is given
to me to protect those who would have protected /me/ when /I/ seemed
to stand helpless in the hands of cruel men。 Nay； thank me not。 What
need have I of your thank