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 think--and 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