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 wit