Denys then pointing significantly to the door, to show Gerard sharp ears were listening hard by, continued his song aloud, but under cover of it threw in short muttered syllables. "(Our lives are in peril.) "(Thieves.) "(Thy doublet.) "(Thy sword.) "Aid. "Coming. "Put off time." Then aloud. "Well, now, wilt have t'other bottle? say Nay." "No, not I." "But I tell thee, there are half a dozen jolly fellows. Tired." "Ay, but I am too wearied," said Gerard. "Go thou." "Nay, nay!" Then he went to the door and called out cheerfully, "Landlord, the young milksop will not rise. Give those honest fellows t'other bottle. I will pay for't in the morning." He heard a brutal and fierce chuckle. Having thus by observation made sure the kitchen door was shut, and the miscreants were not actually listening, he examined the chamber door closely: then quietly shut it, but did not bolt it: and went and inspected the window. It was too small to get out of, and yet a thick bar of iron had been let in the stone to make it smaller; and, just as he made this chilling discovery, the outer door of the house was bolted with a loud clang. Denys groaned, "The beasts are in the shambles." * * * * * But would the thieves attack them while they were awake? Probably not. Not to throw away this their best chance the poor souls now made a series of desperate efforts to converse, as if discussing ordinary matters; and by this means Gerard learned all that had passed, and that the girl was gone for aid. "Pray Heaven, she may not lose heart by the way," said Denys, sorrowfully. And Denys begged Gerard's forgiveness for bringing him out of his way for this. Gerard forgave him. "I would fear them less, Gerard, but for one they call the Abbot. I picked him out at once. Taller than you, bigger than us both put together. Fights with an axe. Gerard, a man to lead a herd of deer to battle. I shall kill that man to-night, or he will kill me. I think somehow 'tis he will kill me." "Saints forbid! Shoot him at the door! What avails his strength against your weapon?" "I shall pick him out: but, if it comes to hand fighting, run swiftly under his guard, or you are a dead man. I tell thee neither of us may stand a blow of that axe: thou never sawest such a body of a man." Gerard was for bolting the door; but Denys with a sigh showed him that half the door-post turned outward on a hinge, and the great bolt was little more than a blind. "I have forborne to bolt it," said he, "that they may think us the less suspicious." Near an hour rolled away thus. It seemed an age. Yet it was but a little hour: and the town was a league distant. And some of the voices in the kitchen became angry and impatient. "They will not wait much longer," said Denys, "and we have no chance at all unless we surprise them." "I will do whate'er you bid," said Gerard meekly.