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we found you as it was appointed。〃
Murgh turned his eyes。 Following their glance； for the first time they
saw Hugh de Cressi and near him Grey Dick labouring at the grave。 Eve
stretched out her arms and so stood with head thrown back； the light
of the daybreak shining in her lovely eyes and on her outspread hair。
Hugh opened his lips to speak but Murgh lifted his hand and pointed
behind them。
They turned and there； not twenty paces from them； clad in armour and
seated on a horse was Edmund Acour； Count de Noyon； Seigneur of
Cattrina。
He saw； then wheeled round to fly。
〃Archer； to your work！〃 said Murgh； 〃you know it。〃
Ere the words had left his lips the great black bow was bent and ere
the echoes died away the horse； struck in its side by the keen arrow；
sank dying to the ground。
Then Murgh beckoned to the rider and he came as a man who must。 But；
throwing down the bow； Grey Dick once more began to labour at the
grave like one who takes no further heed of aught save his allotted
task。
Acour stood before Murgh like a criminal before his judge。
〃Man；〃 said the awful figure addressing him； 〃where have you been and
what have you done since last we spoke together in the midday dark at
Venice？〃
Now； dragged word by slow word from his unwilling lips； came the
answer of the traitor's heart。
〃I fled from the field at Venice because I feared this knight； and
you； O Spirit of Death。 I journeyed to Avignon； in France； and there
strove to possess myself of yonder woman whom here in England； with
the help of one Nicholas； I had wed； when she was foully drugged。 I
strove to possess myself of her by fraud and by violence。 But some
fate was against me。 She and that aged priest bribed the knave whom I
trusted。 He caused a dead man and woman dressed in their garments to
be borne from their lodging to the plague pit while they fled from
Avignon disguised。〃
Here for a moment Grey Dick paused from his labours at the grave and
looked up at Hugh。 Then he fell to them again； throwing out the peaty
soil with both hands。
〃My enemy and his familiar； for man he can scarcely be；〃 went on
Acour； pointing first to Hugh and then to Dick； 〃survived all my plans
to kill them and instead killed those whom I had sent after them。 I
learned that the woman and the priest were not dead； but fled； and
followed them； and after me came my enemy and his familiar。 Twice we
passed each other on the road； once we slept in the same house。 I knew
them but they knew me not and the Fate which blinded me from them；
saved them also from all my plots to bring them to their doom。 The
woman and the priest took ship to England； and I followed in another
ship； being made mad with desire and with jealous rage； for there I
knew my enemy would find and win her。 In the darkness before this very
dawn I overtook the woman and the priest at last and set my fellows on
to kill the man。 Myself I would strike no blow； fearing lest my death
should come upon me； and so I should be robbed of her。 But God fought
with His aged servant who in his youth was the first of knights。 He
slew my men； then fled on with the woman； Eve of Clavering。 I
followed； knowing that he was sore wounded and must die； and that then
the beauty which has lured me to shame and ruin would be mine； if only
for an hour。 I followed； and here at this place of evil omen； where
first I saw my foe； I found /you/； O Incarnate Sword of Vengeance。〃
Murgh unfolded his bare arms and lifted his head； which was sunk upon
his breast。
〃Your pardon；〃 he said gently； 〃my name is Hand of Fate and not Sword
of Vengeance。 There is no vengeance save that which men work upon
themselves。 What fate may be and vengeance may be I know not fully；
and none will ever know until they have passed the Gateway of the
Gods。 Archer the grave is deep enough。 Come forth now and let us learn
who it is decreed shall fill it。 Knights； the hour is at hand for you
to finish that which you began at Crecy and at Venice。〃
Hugh heard and drew his sword。 Acour drew his sword also； then cried
out； pointing to Grey Dick：
〃Here be two against one。 If I conquer he will shoot me with his bow。〃
〃Have no fear； Sir Thief and Liar；〃 hissed Grey Dick； 〃for that shaft
will not be needed。 Slay the master if you can and go safe from the
squire；〃 and he unstrung his black bow and hid it in its case。
Now Hugh stepped to where Red Eve stood； the wounded Sir Andrew
leaning on her shoulder。 Bending down he kissed her on the lips；
saying：
〃Soon； very soon； my sweet； whom I have lost and found again； you will
be mine on earth； or I shall be yours in heaven。 This； then； in
greeting or farewell。〃
〃In greeting； beloved； not in farewell；〃 she answered as she kissed
him back； 〃for if you die； know that I follow hard upon your road。 Yet
I say that yonder grave was not dug for you。〃
〃Nay； not for you； son； not for you；〃 said Sir Andrew lifting his
faint head。 〃One fights for you whom you do not see； and against Him
Satan and his servant cannot stand；〃 and letting fall the sword hilt
he stretched out his thin hand and blessed him。
Now when Acour saw that embrace his jealous fury prevailed against his
fears。 With a curse upon his lips he leapt at Hugh and smote； thinking
to take him unawares。 But Hugh was watching； and sprang back； and then
the fray began； if fray it can be called。
A wild joy shining in his eyes； Hugh grasped his long sword with both
hands and struck。 So great was that blow that it bit through Acour's
armour； beneath his right arm； deep into the flesh and sent him
staggering back。 Again he struck and wounded him in the shoulder； a
third time and clove his helm so that the blood poured down into his
eyes and blinded him。
Back reeled Acour； back to the very edge of the grave； and stood there
swaying to and fro。 At the sight of his helplessness Hugh's fury
seemed to leave him。 His lifted sword sank downward。
〃Let God deal with you； knave；〃 he said； 〃for I cannot。〃
For a while there was silence。 There they stood and stared at the
smitten man waiting the end； whatever it might be。 They all stared
save Murgh； who fixed his stony eyes upon the sky。
Presently it came。 The sword； falling from Acour's hand into the
grave； rested there point upward。 With a last effort he drew his
dagger。 Dashing the blood from his eyes； he hurled it with all his
dying strength； not at Hugh； but at Red Eve。 Past her ear it hissed；
severing a little tress of her long hair； which floated down on to the
snow。
Then Acour threw his arms wide and fell backwardfell backward and
vanished in the grave。
Dick ran to look。 There he lay dead； pierced through back and bosom by
the point of his own sword。
For one brief flash of time a black dove…shaped bird was seen hovering
round the head of Murgh。
〃Finished！〃 said Dick straightening himself。 〃Well； I had hoped to see
a better fight； but cowards die as cowards live。〃
Leaning on Red Eve's shoulder Sir Andrew limped to the side of the
grave。 They both looked down on that which lay therein。
〃Daughter；〃 said the old man； 〃through many dangers it has come about
as I foretold。 The bond that in your drugge