e low jingle of his harness until they died
away in the tunnel. Then the three companions approached the door at the
end. It was their intention to wait where they were until help should
come, but suddenly amid the babel of cries within there broke forth an
English voice, shouting in torment.

"My God!" it cried, "I pray you, comrades, for a cup of water, as you
hope for Christ's mercy!"

A shout of laughter and the thud of a heavy blow followed the appeal.

All the hot blood rushed to Nigel's head at the sound, buzzing in his
ears and throbbing in his temples. There are times when the fiery heart
of a man must overbear the cold brain of a soldier. With one bound he
was at the door, with another he was through it, the men-at-arms at
his heels. So strange was the scene before them that for an instant all
three stood motionless with horror and surprise.

It was a great vaulted chamber, brightly lit by many torches. At the
farther end roared a great fire. In front of it three naked men were
chained to posts in such a way that flinch as they might they could
never get beyond the range of its scorching heat. Yet they were so far
from it that no actual burn would be inflicted if they could but keep
turning and shifting so as continually to present some fresh portion of
their flesh to the flames. Hence they danced and whirled in front of the
fire, tossing ceaselessly this way and that within the compass of their
chains, wearied to death, their protruding tongues cracked and blackened
with thirst, but unable for one instant to rest from their writhings and
contortions.

Even stranger was the sight at each side of the room, whence came that
chorus of groans which had first struck upon the ears of Nigel and his
companions. A line of great hogsheads were placed alongside the walls,
and within each sat a man, his head protruding from the top. As they
moved within there was a constant splashing and washing of water. The
white wan faces all turned together as the door flew open, and a cry
of amazement and of hope took the place of those long-drawn moans of
despair.

At the same instant two fellows clad in black, who had been seated with
a flagon of wine between them at a table near the fire, sprang wildly
to their feet, staring with blank amazement at this sudden inrush. That
instant of delay deprived them of their last chance of safety. Midway
down the room was a flight of stone steps which led to the main door.

Swift as a