and there vanished； and this was the last that Dick ever saw or heard
of him。 But； although he waited there a while； feeling the edge of his
axe and glaring about him； none of the captain's companions came
forward to accept his challenge。
At length； with a shrug of his shoulders； Dick turned。 Having taken
his bow and quiver from David； who could not conceal his indecent joy
at the utter humiliation of Ambrosio； whom he hated with a truly
British hate； he walked slowly to where Hugh sat upon his horse。
〃The jest is done； master； and now for good earnest； since 'tis your
turn。 The Saints save me such another cow hunt in this hell's heat。
Had I killed him at once I should be cooler now； but it came into my
mind to let the hound live。 Indeed； to speak truth； I thought that I
heard the voice of Murgh behind me； saying； 'Spare；' and knew that I
must obey。〃
〃I hope he will say nothing of the sort to me presently；〃 answered
Hugh； 〃if he is here； which I doubt。 Why； what is it now？ Those gold…
coated marshals are talking again。〃
Talking they were； evidently at the instance of Cattrina； or his
counsellors； who had raised some new objections； which Sir Geoffrey
stepped forward to explain to them。 But Hugh would not even hear him
out。
〃Tell the man and all whom it may concern；〃 he said in an angry voice；
〃that I am ready to fight him as he will； on horse or on foot； with
lance or sword or axe or dagger； or any or all of them； in mail or
without it； or； if it pleases him； stripped to the shirt。 Only let him
settle swiftly； since unless the sweat runs into my eyes and dims
them； it seems to me that night is coming before it is noon。〃
〃You are right；〃 answered Sir Geoffrey； 〃this gathering gloom is
ominous and fearful。 I think that some awesome tempest must be about
to burst。 Also it seems to me that Cattrina has no stomach for this
fray； else he would not raise so many points of martial law and
custom。〃
Then wiping his brow with a silken handkerchief he returned to deliver
the message。
Now Hugh and Dick； watching； saw that Cattrina and those who advised
him could find no further loophole for argument。 They saw； moreover；
that the Doge grew angry； for he rose in his seat； throwing off his
velvet robe of office； of which it appeared that he could no longer
bear the weight； and spoke in a hard voice to Cattrina and his
squires。 Next； once more the titles of the combatants were read； and
their cause of combat； and while this went on Hugh bade Dick bind
about his right arm a certain red ribbon that Eve had given him；
saying that he wished to fight wearing his lady's favour。
Dick obeyed； muttering that he thought such humours foolish and that a
knight might as well wear a woman's petticoat as her ribbon。 By now；
so dim had the light grown； he could scarce see to tie the knot。
Indeed； the weather was very strange。
From the dark； lowering sky above a palpable blackness sank downward
as though the clouds themselves were falling of their own weight；
while from the sea great rolls of vapour came sweeping in like waves。
Also this sea itself had found a voice； for； although it was so calm；
it moaned like a world in pain。 The great multitude began to murmur；
and their faces； lifted upward toward the sky； grew ghastly white。
Fear； they knew not of what； had got hold of them。 A voice cried
shrilly：
〃Let them fight and have done。 We would get home ere the tempest
bursts。〃
The first trumpet blew and the horses of the knights； which whinnied
uneasily； were led to their stations。 The second trumpet blew and the
knights laid their lances in rest。 Then ere the third trumpet could
sound； suddenly the darkness of midnight swallowed all the scene。
Dick groped his way to Hugh's side。 〃Bide where you are；〃 he said；
〃the end of the world is here； let us meet it like men and together。〃
〃Ay；〃 answered Hugh； and his voice rang hollow through his closed
visor； 〃without doubt it is the end of the world； and Murgh； the
Minister； has been sent to open the doors of heaven and hell。 God have
mercy on us all！〃
So they stayed there； hearkening to the groans and prayers of the
terrified multitude about them； Dick holding the bridle of the horse；
which shook from head to foot； but never stirred。 For some minutes
they remained thus； till suddenly the sky began to lighten； but with
no natural light。 The colour of it； of the earth beneath and of the
air between was a deep； terrible red； that caused all things to seem
as though they were dyed in blood。 Lighter and lighter and redder and
redder it grew； the long stand and the pavilions became visible； and
after them the dense； deep ring of spectators。 Many of these were
kneeling； while others； who could find no space to kneel； held their
hands upstretched toward heaven； or beat their breasts and wept in the
emotional fashion of the country。
Yet not on them were the eyes of Hugh and Grey Dick fixed； but rather
on a single figure which stood quite alone in the midst of that great
arena where Cattrina and his horse should have been； where they had
been indeed but a little while before。 The figure was clothed in a red
and yellow cap shaped like a cock's…comb； in black furs； a yellow robe
and white gloves and sandals。 Yonder it stood； fantastic； fearful； its
bare and brawny arms crossed upon its breast； its head bowed as though
it contemplated the ground。 There was not an eye of all the tens of
thousands of those who were present that did not see it； there was not
a voice that did not break into a yell of terror and hate； till the
earth shook with such a sound as might reverberate through the choked
abyss of hell。
〃The fiend！ The fiend！ The fiend！〃 said the shout。 〃Kill him！ Kill
him！ Kill him！〃
The figure looked up； the red light shone upon its stony face that
seemed one blotch of white amidst its glow。 Then it stooped down and
lifted from the sand a knight's lance such as Cattrina had held。 It
raised the lance and with it pointed four times； east and west and
north and south； holding it finally for a while in the direction of
the tribune； where sat the Doge with all his noble company； and of
Venice beyond。 Lastly； with a quick and easy motion； it cast the lance
toward the sky； whence it fell； remaining fixed point downward in the
earth。 Then a tongue of mist that had crept up from the sea enveloped
it； and when that mist cleared away the shape was gone。
Now the red haze thinned； and for the first time that morning the sun
shone out in a sickly fashion。 Although their nerves were torn by the
unnatural darkness and the apparition that followed it； which all saw；
yet none quite believed that they had seen； the multitude shouted for
the combat to proceed。
Once more Hugh laid his lance in rest； thinking that Cattrina was
there； although he could not see him。
Then the third trumpet rang outin that silence it sounded like the
blast of doomand Hugh spurred his horse forward a little way； but
halted； for he could perceive no foe advancing against him。 He stared
about him； and at last in a rage threw his lance to a squire； and；
turning his horse； galloped to the tribune。 There he pulled it to his
haunches and shouted out in a great voice：
〃Where is Cattrina？ Am I to be fooled； who appear here as the champion
of the King of England？ Where is Cattrina？ Produce Cattrina that I may
slay him or be slain； or； Chivalry of Venice； be forever shamed！〃
The Doge rose； uttering swift commands； and heralds ran here and
there。 Knights and captains searched the pavilions and every other
place where a mounted man might hide。 But they never found Cattrina；
and； returning at length； confessed as much with bowed heads。
The Doge； maddened by this ignominy； seized the great gold chain upon
his beast and burst it in two。
〃Cattrina has fled！〃 he shouted。 〃Or Satan himself has carried him
away！ At the least let his name be erased from the Golden Book of
Venice； and until he prove himself innocent； let no noble of Venice
stretch out to him the hand of fellowship。 Men of Venice； for you
Cattrina and his House are dead。〃
〃Will none take up his cause and fight for him？〃 asked Hugh through
Sir Geoffrey； and presently； at the Doge's command； the challenge was
repeated thrice by the herald。 But to it no answer came。 Of this
afterward Hugh was glad； since it was Cattrina's life he sought； not
that of any other man。 Then Hugh spoke again； saying：
〃I claim； O Illustrious； that I be written down as victor in this
combat to the death； bloodless through no fault of mine。〃
〃It shall be so written； noble Hugh de Cressi；〃 said the Doge。 〃Let
all Venice take notice thereof。〃
As the words left his lips the solid earth began to heave and rock。
At the first heave Hugh leaped from his horse； which screamed aloud
and fled away； and gripped hold of Grey Dick。 At the second； the
multitude broke out into wild cries； prayers and blasphemies； and
rushed this way and that。 At the third； which came quite slowly and
was the greatest of them all； the long stand of timber bent its flags
toward him as though in salute； then； with a slow； grinding crash；
fell over； entangling all within it beneath its ruin。 Also in the city
beyond； houses； whole streets of them； gabled churches and tall
towers； sank to the earth； while where they had been rose up wreathed
columns of dust。 To the south the sea became agitated。 Spouts of foam
appeared upon its smooth face； it drew back from the land； revealing
the slime of ages and embedded therein long…forgotten wrecks。 It
heaped itself up like a mountain； then； with a swift and dreadful
motion； advanced again in one vast wave。
In an instant all that multitude were in full flight。
Hugh and Dick fled like the rest； and with them David； though whither
they went they knew not。
All they knew was that the ground leapt and quivered beneath their
feet； while behind them came the horrible； seething hiss of water on
the crest of which men were tossed up and down like bits of floating
wood。
CHAPTER XV
THE DEATH AT WORK
Presently Hugh halted； taking shelter with his two companions behind
the stone wall