CHAPTER XXXIV
"Where be the true men?"
"Here be we. God bless you all! God bless you!"
There was a rush to the stairs, and half-a-dozen hard but friendly hands
were held out and grasped them warmly.
"Y'have saved our lives, lads," cried Denys, "y'have saved our lives
this night."
A wild sight met the eyes of the rescued pair. The room flaring with
torches, the glittering breastplates of the archers, their bronzed
faces, the white cheeks of the bound thieves, and the bleeding giant,
whose dead body these hard men left lying there in its own gore.
Gerard went round the archers and took them each by the hand with
glistening eyes, and on this they all kissed him; and this time he
kissed them in return. Then he said to one handsome archer of his own
age, "Prithee, good soldier, have an eye to me. A strange drowsiness
overcomes me. Let no one cut my throat while I sleep--for pity's sake."
The archer promised with a laugh; for he thought Gerard was jesting: and
the latter went off into a deep sleep almost immediately.
Denys was surprised at this: but did not interfere; for it suited his
immediate purpose. A couple of archers were inspecting the Abbot's body,
turning it half over with their feet, and inquiring, "Which of the two
had flung this enormous rogue down from an upper storey like that; they
would fain have the trick of his arm.
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