The Cloister and the Hearth: A Tale of the Middle Ages by Charles Reade

  CHAPTER XXIX

  GERARD was staggered by this sudden communication; and his colour cameand went. Then he clenched his teeth with ire. For men of any spirit atall are like the wild boar; he will run from a superior force; owingperhaps to his not being an ass: but if you stick to his heels too long,and too close, and, in short, bore him, he will whirl, and come tearingat a multitude of hunters, and perhaps bore you. Gerard then set histeeth and looked battle. But the next moment his countenance fell and hesaid plaintively, "And my axe is in Rhine."

  They consulted together. Prudence bade them avoid that village: hungersaid "buy food."

  Hunger spoke loudest. Prudence most convincingly. They settled to strikeacross the fields.

  * * * * *

  They halted at a haystack and borrowed two bundles of hay, and lay onthem in a dry ditch out of sight, but in nettles.

  They sallied out in turn and came back with turnips. These they munchedat intervals in their retreat until sunset.

  Presently they crept out shivering into the rain and darkness, and gotinto the road on the other side of the village.

  It was a dismal night, dark as pitch and blowing hard. They couldneither see, nor hear, nor be seen nor heard: and for aught I knowpassed like ghosts close to their foes. These they almost forgot in thenatural horrors of the black tempestuous night, in which they seemed togrope and hew their way as in black marble. When the moon rose they weremany a league from Dusseldorf. But they still trudged on. Presently theycame to a huge building.

  "Courage!" cried Denys, "I think I know this convent. Ay, it is. We arein the see of Juliers. Cologne has no power here."

  The next moment they were safe within the walls.