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was afraid to come too near。 Grey Dick leapt forward； and in a moment
was back again； leaving that man dead； smitten through from skull to
chin。 For a while there was silence； since this sudden death gave them
pause； and in it Hugh cried out：
〃Are blameless men to be murdered thus？ Have we no friends in
Avignon？〃
〃Some；〃 answered a voice from the outer shadow； though who spoke they
could not see。
〃Save the protectors of the Jews！〃 cried the voice again。
Then came a rush and a counter…rush。 Fighting began around them in
which they took no share。 When it had passed over them like a gust of
wind； David Day was gone； killed or trodden down； as his companions
thought。
〃Now； master； we are alone；〃 said Grey Dick。 〃Set your shoulders
against mine and let us die a death that these dogs of Avignon will
remember。〃
〃Ay； ay！〃 answered Hugh。 〃But don't overreach； Dick； 'tis ever the
archer's fault。〃
The mob closed in on them； then rolled back like water from a rock；
leaving some behind。 Again they closed in and again rolled back。
〃Bring bows！〃 they cried； widening out。 〃Bring bows and shoot them
down。〃
〃Ah！〃 gasped Dick； 〃that is a game two can play； now that I have arm
room。〃
Almost before the words had left his lips the great black bow he bore
was out and strung。 Next instant the shafts began to rush； piercing
all before them； till at the third arrow those in front of him melted
away； save such as would stir no more。 Only now missiles began to come
in answer from this side and from that； although as yet none struck
them。
〃Unstring your bow； Dick； and let us charge；〃 said Hugh。 〃We have no
other chance save flight。 They'll pelt us under。〃
Dick did not seem to hear。 At least he shot on as one who was not
minded to die unavenged。 An arrow whistled through Hugh's cap； lifting
it from his head； and another glanced from the mail on his shoulder。
He ground his teeth with rage； for now none would come within reach of
his long sword。
〃Good…bye； friend Dick；〃 he said。 〃I die charging；〃 and with a cry of
〃A Cressi！ A Cressi！〃 he sprang forward。
One leap and Dick was at his side； who had only bided to sheath his
bow。 The mob in front melted away before the flash of the white sword
and the gleam of the grey axe。 Still they must have fallen； for their
pursuers closed in behind them like hunting hounds when they view the
quarry； and there were none to guard their backs。 But once more the
shrill voice cried：
〃Help the friends of the Jews！ Save those who saved Rebecca and her
children！〃
Then again there came a rush of dark…browed men； who hissed and
whistled as they fought。
So fierce was the rush that those who followed them were cut off； and
Dick； glancing back over his shoulder； saw the mad…eyed priest； their
leader； go down like an ox beneath the blow of a leaded bludgeon。 A
score of strides and they were out of the range of the firelight；
another score and they were hidden by the gloom in the mouth of one of
the narrow streets。
〃Which way now？〃 gasped Hugh； looking back at the square where in the
flare of the great fires Christians and Jews； fighting furiously；
looked like devils struggling in the mouth of hell。
As he spoke a shock…headed； half…clad lad darted up to them and Dick
lifted his axe to cut him down。
〃Friend；〃 he said in a guttural voice； 〃not foe！ I know where you
dwell； trust and follow me； who am of the kin of Rebecca； wife of
Nathan。〃
〃Lead on then； kin of Rebecca；〃 exclaimed Hugh； 〃but know that if you
cheat us； you die。〃
〃Swift； swift！〃 cried the lad； 〃lest those swine should reach your
house before you；〃 and； catching Hugh by the hand； he began to run
like a hare。
Down the dark streets they went； past the great rock where the fires
burned at the gates of the palace of the Pope； then along more streets
and across an open place where thieves and night…birds peered at them
curiously； but at the sight of their drawn steel； slunk away。 At
length their guide halted。
〃See！〃 he said。 〃There is your dwelling。 Enter now and up with the
bridge。 Hark！ They come。 Farewell。〃
He was gone。 From down the street to their left rose shouts and the
sound of many running feet； but there in front of them loomed the
Tower against the black and rainy sky。 They dashed across the little
drawbridge that spanned the moat； and； seizing the cranks； wound
furiously。 Slowly； ah！ how slowly it rose； for it was heavy； and they
were but two tired men； also the chains and cogs were rusty with
disuse。 Yet it did rise； and as it came home at last； the fierce mob；
thirsting for their blood and guessing where they would refuge；
appeared in front of it and by the light of some torches which they
bore； caught sight of them。
〃Come in； friends；〃 mocked Grey Dick as they ran up and down the edge
of the moat howling with rage and disappointment。 〃Come in if you
would sup on arrow…heads such as this；〃 and he sent one of his deadly
shafts through the breast of a red…headed fellow who waved a torch in
one hand and a blacksmith's hammer in the other。
Then they drew back； taking the dead man with them； but as they went
one cried：
〃The Jews shall not save you again； wizards； for if we cannot come at
you to kill you； we'll starve you till you die。 Stay there and rot； or
step forth and be torn to pieces； as it pleases you； English wizards。〃
Then they all slunk back and vanished； or seemed to vanish； down the
mouths of the dark streets that ran into the open place in front of
the dwelling which Hugh had named the Bride's Tower。
〃Now；〃 said Dick； wiping the sweat from his brow as they barred the
massive door of the house； 〃we are safe for this night at least； and
can eat and sleep in peace。 See you； master； I have taken stock of
this old place； which must have been built in rough times； for scarce
a wall of it is less than five feet thick。 The moat is deep all round。
Fire cannot harm it； and it is loop…holed for arrows and not commanded
by any other building； having the open place in front and below the
wide fosse of the ancient wall； upon which it stands。 Therefore； even
with this poor garrison of two； it can be taken only by storm。 This；
while we have bows and arrows； will cost them something； seeing that
we could hold the tower from stair to stair。〃
〃Ay； Dick；〃 answered Hugh sadly； 〃doubtless we can make a fight for it
and take some with us to a quieter world； if they are foolish enough
to give us a chance。 But what did that fellow shout as to starving us
out？ How stand we for provisions？〃
〃Foreseeing something of the sort； I have reckoned that up； master。
There's good water in the courtyard well and those who owned this
tower； whoever they may have been； laid in great store； perchance for
the marriage feast； or perchance when the plague began； knowing that
it would bring scarcity。 The cupboards and the butteries are filled
with flour； dried flesh； wine； olives and oil for burning。 Even if
these should fail us there are the horses in the stable； which we can
kill and cook； for of forage and fuel I have found enough。〃
〃Then the Pope should not be more safe than we； Dick；〃 said Hugh with
a weary smile； 〃if any are safe in Avignon to…day。 Well； let us go and
eat of all this plenty； but oh！ I wish I had told Sir Andrew where we
dwelt； or could be sure in which of that maze of streets he and Red
Eve are lodged。 Dick； Dick； that knave Basil has fooled us finely。〃
〃Ay； master；〃 said Dick； setting his grim lips； 〃but let him pray his
Saint that before all is done I do not fool him。〃
CHAPTER XVIII
THE PLAGUE PIT
Seven long days had gone by and still Hugh and Grey Dick held out in
their Tower fortress。 Though as yet unhurt； they were weary indeed；
since they must watch all night and could only sleep by snatches in
the daytime； one lying down to rest while the other kept guard。
As they had foreseen； except by direct assault； the place proved
impregnable； its moat protecting it upon three sides and the sheer
wall of the old city terminating in the deep fosse upon the fourth。 In
its little armoury； among other weapons they had found a great store
of arrows and some good bows； whereof Hugh took the best and longest。
Thus armed with these they placed themselves behind the loopholes of
the embattled gateway； whence they could sweep the space before them。
Or if danger threatened them elsewhere； there were embrasures whence
they could command the bases of the walls。 Lastly； also； there was the
central tower； whereof they could hold each landing with the sword。
Thrice they had been attacked； since there seemed to be hundreds of
folk in Avignon bent upon their destruction； but each time their
bitter arrows； that rarely seemed to miss； had repulsed the foe with
loss。 Even when an onslaught was delivered on the main gateway at
night； they had beaten their assailants by letting fall upon them
through the /machicoulis/ or overhanging apertures； great stones that
had been piled up there； perhaps generations before； when the place
was built。
Still the attacks did not slacken。 Indeed the hate of the citizens of
Avignon against these two