low droning
and whining filled the air. The four men were standing listening, full
of wonder as to what this might mean, when a sharp cry came from behind
them. The priest lay in a shapeless heap upon the ground, and the blood
was rushing from his gaping throat. Down the passage, a black shadow in
the yellow light, there fled a crouching man, who clattered with a stick
as he went.

"It is Andreas," cried West-country Will. "He has slain him."

"Then it was he that I heard behind us," said Nigel. "Doubtless he was
at our very heels in the darkness. I fear that the priest's cry has been
heard."

"Nay," said Simon, "there are so many cries that one more may well pass.
Let us take this lamp from the wall and see what sort of devil's den we
have around us."

They opened the door upon the right, and so horrible a smell issued from
it that they were driven back from it. The lamp which Simon held forward
showed a monkeylike creature mowing and grimacing in the corner, man or
woman none could tell, but driven crazy by loneliness and horror. In the
other cell was a graybearded man fettered to the wall, looking blankly
before him, a body without a soul, yet with life still in him, for his
dull eyes turned slowly in their direction. But it was from behind the
central door at the end of the passage that the chorus of sad cries came
which filled the air.

"Simon," said Nigel, "before we go farther we will take this outer door
from its hinges. With it we will block this passage so that at the worst
we may hold our ground here until help comes. Do you back to the camp
as fast as your feet can bear you. The peasants will draw you upward
through the hole. Give my greetings to Sir Robert and tell him that the
castle is taken without fail if he comes this way with fifty men. Say
that we have made a lodgment within the walls. And tell him also, Simon,
that I would counsel him to make a stir before the gateway so that the
guard may be held there whilst we make good our footing behind them. Go,
good Simon, and lose not a moment!"

But the man-at-arms shook his head. "It is I who have brought you here,
fair sir, and here I bide through fair and foul. But you speak wisely
and well, for Sir Robert should indeed be told what is going forward now
that we have gone so far. Harding, do you go with all speed and bear the
gentle Nigel's message."

Reluctantly the man-at-arms sped upon his errand. They could hear the
racing of his feet and th