"
"Lead on, then, and beware of treachery; for if there be any doubt,
even a doubt, of thy faith, thou diest."
"Fear not; my faith is pledged--it shall be kept."
Pledged, yes: but to whom?
The Normans failed to see the "double entendre" of this reply.
Their claim was but the omnipotence of torture.
The thrall led the way to a spot where the earth bore marks of
footsteps; here it was evident men had recently entered the maze
which stretched before them.
Hugo pressed forward and took the cord himself.
"Now," he said, "Normans, follow me. Lead on, thrall; remember thy
farm at Aescendune, and thy forfeit life."
Onward, infatuated as the Egyptians when they passed between the
suspended walls of the Red Sea, the band followed their leader into
the maze; the path was narrow, the reeds were tall, and soon they
towered above the heads of the rash invaders.
High bulrushes, tall flags; thick, sedgy vegetation beneath; the
ground, firm enough below at first, soon became quaking and felt
strangely elastic under their feet. The marsh was here of great
width, and shortly they had advanced a considerable distance from
firm ground, and were in the midst of the Swamp.
And here the path became more and more difficult. Sometimes only
one could pass at once; nor could they see distinctly where they
were going.
Pages:
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182