"But we need not keep to the first page, need we?" said Minnie, looking rather sorrowful. "Oh, no, thank God! For Hugh shall finish that twenty-third verse of the sixth of Romans which begins so sadly." So Hugh repeated: "'The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.'" [Illustration] CHAPTER IV. _RESCUED: AN ALLEGORY._ Another Sunday came round, and the brothers and sisters again claimed Agnes's promise to continue the story of the "Wordless" pages. They had several times in the week asked if she could do so then; but she had always answered. "Wait till Sunday." "Now Agnes," said John, "let us have the rest of that dream." "I did describe to you all that dream," answered Agnes. "What I have to tell you to-day is another dream--a new page as it were; not black, but red." "I thought it was to be a continuation," said Alice. "Yes, it is; but you will not let me begin." "Oh! yes we will," said Minnie. "Now then. Agnes." Red--Blood. Again I dreamed, and found myself in the same cavern where I had before been such a terrified spectator. Should I be able to see the dismal end of those miserable boys? I asked myself. At first the darkness seemed impenetrable, and as there was no sound to break the stillness, I feared that already the fierce beast had devoured those whom he had captured. But hark! was not that a sobbing sigh from some one? Again it met my ear, and I thought I could distinguish Alwin's voice, saying in a low, pleading tone: "Edred, I am sure I read something in the Guide-book about the King's Son, who lives in that Palace we saw over the Hills there, being willing to rescue travellers, if they were in distress." "Hush!" said Edred, in a frightened voice, "the fiend will hear you, and will spring upon us if he thinks we are meditating escape--however futile it may be," he added bitterly. "He is half asleep over there," answered Alwin in a low tone; "see how he rests, and his eyes are shut. Oh, Edred, our position is so dreadful that it is worth a desperate effort to get free." "No effort is of any avail," said Edred hopelessly. "If you only look at yonder monster, with his awful name shining on his forehead, you will know that he will never let us enter the King's Palace; he told us just now that his wages are death, and that we shall _not_ escape." "I know," said Alwin, "but all the same I have read enough of the Guide-book to believe there is some way of deliverance; do, Edred, try to recall what it was." "I never read it," said Edred, "and to consult it now, when we are in this dire distress, seems like mocking the King who ordered it to be written." He sighed heavily, and as I grew accustomed to the darkness, I could faintly perceive the two boys crouching down in a corner, watching the evil beast, never taking their wearied eyes from him for a moment.