learn in time。 At least a while ago you who had taken our money；
strove to murder both of us； or cause us to be torn in pieces upon
yonder square where the fires burned。 Now； too； you have striven to
murder me with that bodkin of yours； not knowing； fool； that I am safe
from all men。 Well； say your prayers； since you too journey to the
plague pit； for so the gatherers of the dead will think you died。〃
〃Sir；〃 gasped the terrified wretch； 〃spare me and I will speak〃
〃More lies；〃 hissed Dick into his ear。 〃Nay； go tell them to the
father of lies； for I have no time to waste in hearkening to them。
Take your pay； traitor！〃
A few seconds later Basil lay dead upon the floor。
Grey Dick looked at him。 Kneeling down； he thrust his hands into the
man's pockets； and took thence the gold that he had been hiding away
when they came upon him； no small sum as it chanced。
〃Our own come back with interest；〃 he said with one of his silent
laughs； 〃and we shall need monies for our faring。 Why； here's a
writing also which may tell those who can read it something。〃
He cast it on the table； then turned to his master； who was awakening
from his swoon。
Dick helped him to his feet。
〃What has passed？〃 asked Hugh in a hollow voice。
〃Murgh！〃 answered Dick； pointing to the dead man on the floor。
〃Have you killed him； friend？〃
〃Ay； sure enough； as he strove to kill me；〃 and again he pointed； this
time to the broken dagger。
Hugh made no answer； only seeing the writing on the table； took it up；
and began to read like one who knows not what he does。 Presently his
eyes brightened and he said：
〃What does this mean； I wonder。 Hearken。〃
〃Rogue； you have cheated me as you cheat all men and now I follow
her who has gone。 Be sure； however； that you shall reap your
reward in due season。
〃de Noyon。〃
〃I know not；〃 said Dick； 〃and the interpreter is silent；〃 and he
kicked the body of Basil。 〃Perhaps I was a little over hasty who might
have squeezed the truth out of him before the end。〃
〃'Her who is gone；'〃 reflected Hugh aloud。 〃'Tis Red Eve who is gone
and de Noyon is scarcely the man to seek her among passed souls。
Moreover； the Jews swear that he rode from Avignon two days ago。 Come；
Dick； let that carrion lie； and to the plague pit。〃
An hour later and they stood on the edge of that dreadful place；
hearing and seeing things which are best left untold。 A priest came up
to them； one of those good men who； caring nothing for themselves；
still dared to celebrate the last rites of the Church above the poor
departed。
〃Friends；〃 he said； 〃you seem to be in trouble。 Can I help you； for
Jesus' sake？〃
〃Perchance； holy Father；〃 answered Hugh。 〃Tell us； you who watch this
dreadful place； was a woman wrapped in a red cloak thrown in here two
or three days gone？〃
〃Alas； yes；〃 said the priest with a sigh； 〃for I read the Office over
her and others。 Nay； what are you about to do？ By now she is two
fathoms deep and burned away with lime so that none could know her。 If
you enter there the guards will not let you thence living。 Moreover；
it is useless。 Pray to God to comfort you； poor man； as I will； who am
sure it will not be denied。〃
Then Dick led； or rather carried； Hugh from the brink of that awesome；
common grave。
CHAPTER XIX
THE DOOM
It was the last night of February； the bitterest night perhaps of all
that sad winter； when at length Hugh de Cressi； Grey Dick； and David
Day rode into the town of Dunwich。 Only that morning they had landed
at Yarmouth after a long； long journey whereof the perils and the
horrors may be guessed but need not be written。 France； through which
they had passed； seemed to be but one vast grave over which the wail
of those who still survived went up without cease to the cold；
unpitying heavens。
Here in England the tale was still the same。 Thus in the great seaport
of Yarmouth scarcely enough people were left alive to inter the
unshriven dead； nor of these would any stay to speak with them；
fearing lest they had brought a fresh curse from overseas。 Even the
horses that they rode they took from a stable where they whinnied
hungrily； none being there to feed them； leaving in their place a
writing of the debt。
Betwixt Yarmouth and Dunwich they had travelled through smitten towns
and villages； where a few wandered fearfully； distraught with sorrow
or seeking food。 In the streets the very dogs lay dead and in the
fields they saw the carcasses of cattle dragged from the smokeless and
deserted steadings and half hidden in a winding…sheet of snow。 For the
Black Plague spared neither man nor beast。
At the little port of Lowestoft they met a sullen sailorman who stood
staring at the beach whereon his fishing boat lay overturned and awash
for lack of hands to drag it out of reach of the angry sea。 They asked
him if he knew of how it fared with Dunwich。
By way of answer he cursed them； adding：
〃Must I be forever pestered as to Dunwich？ This is the third time of
late that I have heard of Dunwich from wandering folk。 Begone thither
and gather tidings for yourselves； which I hope will please you as
well as they do me。〃
〃Now； if I were not in haste I would stay a while to teach you
manners； you foul…mouthed churl；〃 muttered Grey Dick between his
teeth。
〃Let the fellow be；〃 said Hugh wearily； 〃the men of Lowestoft have
ever hated those of Dunwich； and it seems that a common woe does not
soften hearts。 Soon enough we shall learn the truth。〃
〃Ay； you'll learn it soon enough；〃 shouted the brute after them。
〃Dunwich boats won't steel Lowestoft herrings for many a year！〃
So they rode on through Kessland； which they reached as night was
closing in； through Benacre and Wrentham； also past houses in which
none seemed to dwell。
〃Murgh has been here before us； I think；〃 said Dick at length。
〃Then I hope that we may overtake him；〃 answered Hugh with a smile；
〃for I need his tidingsor his rest。 Oh！ Dick； Dick；〃 he added； 〃I
wonder has ever man borne a heavier burden for all this weary while？
If I were sure； it would not be so bad； for when earthly hope is done
we may turn to other comfort。 But I'm not sure； Basil may have lied。
The priest by the pit could only swear to the red cloak； of which
there are many； though few be buried in them。 And； Dick； there are
worse things than that。 Perchance Acour got her after all。〃
〃And perchance he didn't；〃 answered Dick。 〃Well； fret on if you will；
the thing does not trouble me who for my part am sure enough。〃
〃Of what； man； of what？〃
〃Of seeing the lady Eve ere long。〃
〃In this world or the next； Dick？〃
〃In this。 I don't reckon of the next； mayhap there we shall be blind
and not see。 Besides； of what use is that world to you where it is
written that they neither marry nor are given in marriage； but are as
the angels？ You'll make no good angel； I'm thinking； while as for the
lady Eve； she's too human for it as yet。〃
〃Why do you think we shall see her on earth？〃 asked Hugh； ignoring
these reflections。
〃Because he who is called the Helper said as much； and whatever he may
be he is no liar。 Do you not remember what Red Eve told you when she
awoke from that dream of hers； which was no dream？ And do you not
remember what Sir Andrew told you as to a certain meeting in the snow
pest upon it！〃 and he wiped some of the driving flakes from his face
〃Sir Andrew； who is a saint； and； therefore； like Murgh； can be no
liar？〃
〃If you think thus；〃 said Hugh in a new voice； 〃why did you not say so
before？〃
〃Because I love not argument； master； and if I had； you would ever
have reasoned with me from Avignon to Yarmouth town and spoilt my
sleep of nights。 Oh！ where is your faith？〃
〃What is faith； Dick？〃
〃The gift of belief； master。 A very great gift； seeing what a man
believes is and will be true for him； however false it may prove for
others。 He who believes nothing； sows nothing； and therefore reaps
nothing； good or ill。〃
〃Who taught you these things； Dick？〃
〃One whom I am not likely to forget； or you； either。 One who is my
master at archery and whose words； like his arrows； though they be
few； yet strike the heart of hidden truth。 Oh； fear not； doubtless
sorrow waits you yonder；〃 and he pointed toward Dunwich。 〃Yet it comes
to my lips that there's joy beyond the sorrows； the joy of battle and
of lovefor those who care for love； which I think foolishness。 There
stands a farm； and the farmer is a friend of mine； or used to be。 Let
us go thither and feed these poor beasts and ourselves； or I think we
will never come to Dunwich through this cold and snow。 Moreover；〃 he
added thoughtfully； 〃joy or sorrow or both of them are best met by
full men； and I wish to look to your harness and my own； for sword and
axe are rusted with the sea。 Who knows but that we may need them in
Dunwich； or beyond； when we meet with Murgh； as he promised that we
should。〃
So they rode up to the house and found Dick's friend； the farmer；
lying dead there in his own yard； whither his family had dragged him
ere they determined to fly the place。 Still； there was fodder in the
stable and they lit a fire in the kitchen hearth and drank of the wine
which they had brought with them from the ship； and ate of the bacon
which still hung from the rafters。 This done； they lay down to sleep a
while。 About one in the morning； however； Hugh roused Dick and David；
saying that he could rest no more and that something in his heart bade
him push on to Dunwich。
〃Then let us follow your heart； master；〃 said Dick； yawning。 〃Yet I
wish it had waited till dawn to move you。 Yes； let us follow your
heart to good or evil。 David； go you out and saddle up those nags。〃
For Dick had worked late at their mail and weapons； which now were
bright and sharp again； and was very weary。
It was after three in the morning when at length； leaving the heath；
they rode up to Dunwich Middlegate； expecting to find it shut against
them at such an hour。 But it stood open； nor did any challenge them
from the guardhouse。
〃They keep an ill watch in Dunwich no