John would hide
himself; minute sensible impressions of the smoky flavour of the air,
the unplaned woodwork, the soft stuffs beneath his feet. Then they began
to extend themselves wider, all with that rapid unjarring swiftness: he
foresaw the bursting in of his stronghold; the footsteps within three
inches of his head; the crash as the board was kicked in: then the
capture; the ride to Derby, bound on a horse; the gaol; the questioning;
the faces of my lord Shrewsbury and the magistrates ... and the end....
There were moments when the sweat ran down his face, when he bit his
lips in agony, and nearly moaned aloud. There were others in which he
abandoned himself to Christ crucified; placed himself in Everlasting
Hands that were mighty enough to pluck him not only out of this snare,
but from the very hands that would hold him so soon; Hands that could
lift him from the rack and scaffold and set him a free man among his
hills again: yet that had not done so with a score of others whom he
knew. He thought of these, and of the girl who had done so much to save
them all, who was now saved herself by sickness, a mile or two away,
from these hideous straits. Then he dragged out Mr. Maine's beads and
began to recite the "Mysteries."...
* * * * *
There broke in suddenly the first exterior sign that the hunters were on
them--a muffled hammering far beneath his feet. There were pauses; then
voices carried up from the archway nearly beneath through the hollowed
walls; then hammering again; but all was heard as through wool.
Pages:
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425