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seek Sir Geoffrey； who was already in his cabinet engaged upon a
letter to King Edward descriptive of these events and other business。
But when they were out of the room he said that he must have fresh air
or he would faint； which was not strange； seeing that heat prevailed
on this night in Venice of an intensity unknown there at this season
of the year。
〃Whither shall we go？〃 asked Dick； mopping his brow。 〃Guards stand at
the door and； I doubt； will not let us pass。〃
〃I wish to see the place where we are to fight to…morrow；〃 answered
Hugh； 〃so as to form my judgment of it； if only we may come there。〃
At this moment an English lad of Sir Geoffrey's household chanced to
pass by； having come to ask as to the feeding of the horse which Hugh
should ride。 Dick caught him by the arm and asked whether he could get
them out of the house secretly； so that the Guards would not see them；
and conduct them to the spot called the Place of Arms； where they
understood they were to fight。
The lad； whose name was David Day； replied somewhat doubtfully that he
could do so by a back door near the kitchen； and guide them also； but
that they must protect him from the anger of Sir Geoffrey。 This Hugh
promised to do。 So presently they started； carrying their weapons； but
wearing no mail because of the intense heat； although Dick reminded
his master how they had been told that they should not venture forth
without body armour。
〃I have a sword and you have bow and axe；〃 answered Hugh； 〃so we'll
risk it。 In leather…lined mail we should surely melt。〃
So they put on some light cloaks made of black silk； with hoods to
them； such as the Venetians wore at their masques； for David knew
where these were to be found。 Slipping out quite unobserved by the
kitchen door into a little courtyard； they passed into an unlighted
back street through a postern gate whereof the lad had the key。 At the
end of the street they came to a canal； where David； who talked
Italian perfectly； hailed a boat； into which they entered without
exciting remark。 For this sharp youth pointed to their cloaks and told
the boatman that they were gallants engaged upon some amorous
adventure。
On they rowed down the silent lanes of water； through the slumbrous
city of palaces； turning here； turning there； till soon they lost all
knowledge of the direction in which they headed。 At length David
whispered to them that they drew near the place where they must land。
Everybody seemed to speak in a whisper that heavy night； even the
folk； generally so light of heart and quick of tongue； who sat on the
steps or beneath the porticoes of their houses gasping for air； and
the passers…by on the /rivas/ or footwalks that bordered the canals。
At a sign from David the boat turned inward and grated against the
steps of a marble quay。 He paid the boatman； who seemed to have no
energy left to dispute the fare； telling him in the same low voice
that if he cared to wait he might perhaps row them back within an hour
or so。 Then they climbed steps and entered a narrow street where there
was no canal； on either side of which stood tall houses or dark
frowning gateways。
Just as they stepped into the shadow of this street they heard the
prow of another boat grate against the marble steps behind them and
caught the faint sound of talk； apparently between their rower and
others in the second boat。
〃Forward； Sir Hugh；〃 said Day a little nervously。 〃This part of Venice
has no good name； for many wicked deeds are done here； but soon we
shall be through it。〃
So they stepped out briskly； and when they were about half…way down
the street heard other steps behind them。 They turned and looked back
through the gloom； whereon the sound of the following steps died away。
They pushed on again； and so； unless the echo deceived them； did those
quick； stealthy steps。 Then； as though by common consent； though no
one gave the word； they broke into a run and gained the end of the
street； which they now saw led into a large open space lit by the
light of the great moon； that broke suddenly through the veil of cloud
or mist。 Again； as though by common consent； they wheeled round； Hugh
drawing his sword； and perceived emerging from the street six or seven
cloaked fellows； who； on catching sight of the flash of steel； halted
and melted back into the gloom。
〃Who follow us so fast？〃 asked Hugh。
〃Thieves； I think；〃 answered David； even more nervously than before；
adding； 〃but if so； we are safe from them here。〃
〃Yes； sure enough；〃 said Grey Dick； 〃for I can shoot by moonlight；〃
and； drawing the black bow from its case； which he threw to the lad to
carry； he strung it； after which they saw no more of their pursuers。
Having waited a while； they began to examine the spot where they found
themselves； which Day told them was that Place of Arms where they must
fight on the morrow。 It was large and level； having been used as a
drilling ground for generations。 Perhaps it measured four hundred
yards square； and almost in the centre of it rose a stand of painted
timber roofed with canvas； and ornamented with gilded flagstaffs； from
which hung banners。 On this stand； David said； the Doge and nobles
would take their seats to see the fray； for in front of it the
charging knights must meet。
They walked up and down the course taking note of everything； and
especially of how the sun would shine upon them and the foothold of
the soil； which appeared to be formed of fine； trodden sand。
〃I ask no better ground to fight on；〃 said Hugh at length； 〃though it
is strange to think；〃 he added with a sigh； 〃that here within a dozen
hours or so two men must bid the world farewell。〃
〃Ay；〃 answered Dick； who alone seemed untouched by the melancholy of
that night。 〃Here will die the knave with three names and the big fool
of a half…bred Swiss； and descend to greet their ancestors in a place
that is even hotter than this Venice； with but a sorry tale to tell
them。 By St。 George！ I wish it were nine of the clock to…morrow。〃
〃Brag not； Dick；〃 said Hugh with a sad smile； 〃for war is an uncertain
game； and who knows which of us will be talking with his ancestors and
praying the mercy of his Maker by this time to…morrow night？〃
Then； having learned all they could； they walked across the ground to
the quay that bordered it on the seaward side。 Here； as they guessed
from the stone pillars to which ships were made fast； was one of the
harbours of Venice； although as it happened none lay at that quay this
night。 Yet； as they looked they saw one coming in； watched curiously
by groups of men gathered on the wall。
〃Never knew I vessel make harbour in such a fashion；〃 exclaimed Dick
presently。 〃See！ she sails stern first。〃
Hugh studied her and saw that she was a great； decked galley of many
oars； such as the Venetians used in trading to the East； high…bowed
and pooped。 But the strange thing was that none worked these oars；
which； although they were lashed； swung to and fro aimlessly； some yet
whole and some with their blades broken off and their shafts bundles
of jagged splinters。 Certain sails were still set on the ship's mast；
in tatters for the most part； though a few remained sound； and it was
by these that she moved； for with the moonrise a faint wind had sprung
up。 Lastly； she showed no light at peak or poop； and no sound of
officer's command or of boatswain's whistle came from her deck。 Only
slowly and yet as though of set purpose she drifted in toward the
quay。
Those who watched her； sailors such as ever linger about harbours
seeking their bread from the waters； though among these were mingled
people from the town who had come to this open place to escape the
heat； began to talk together affrightedly； but always in the dread
whisper that was the voice of this fearful knight。 Yes； even the
hoarse…throated sailormen whispered like a dying woman。
〃She's no ship；〃 said one； 〃she's the wraith of a ship。 When I was a
lad I saw such a craft in the Indian seas； and afterward we foundered；
and I and the cook's mate alone were saved。〃
〃Pshaw！〃 answered another； 〃she's a ship right enough。 Look at the
weed and barnacles on her sides when she heaves。 Only where in
Christ's name are her crew？〃
〃Yes；〃 said a third； 〃and how could she win through all the secret
channels without a pilot？〃
〃What use would be a pilot；〃 said a fourth； 〃if there are none to work
the rudder and shift the sails？ Do I not know； who am of the trade？〃
〃At least she is coming straight to the quay；〃 exclaimed a fifth；
〃though what sends her Satan alone knows； for the tide is slack and
this wind would scarce move a sponge boat。 Stand by with the hawser；
or she'll swing round and stave herself against the pier。〃
So they talked； and all the while the great galley drifted onward with
a slow； majestic motion； her decks hid in shadow； for a sail cut off
the light of the low moon from them。 Presently； too； even this was
gone； for the veil of cloud crept again over the moon's face；
obscuring everything。
Then of a sudden a meteor blazed out in the sky； such a meteor as no
living man had ever seen in Venice； for the size of it was that of the
sun。 It