They could hear
the racing of his feet and the low jingle of his harness until
they died away in the tunnel. Then the three companions
approached the door at the end. It was their intention to wait
where they were until help should come, but suddenly amid the
babel of cries within there broke forth an English voice, shouting
in torment.
"My God!" it cried, "I pray you, comrades, for a cup of water, as
you hope for Christ's mercy!"
A shout of laughter and the thud of a heavy blow followed the
appeal.
All the hot blood rushed to Nigel's head at the sound, buzzing in
his ears and throbbing in his temples. There are times when the
fiery heart of a man must overbear the cold brain of a soldier.
With one bound he was at the door, with another he was through it,
the men-at-arms at his heels. So strange was the scene before
them that for an instant all three stood motionless with horror
and surprise.
It was a great vaulted chamber, brightly lit by many torches. At
the farther end roared a great fire. In front of it three naked
men were chained to posts in such a way that flinch as they might
they could never get beyond the range of its scorching heat. Yet
they were so far from it that no actual burn would be inflicted if
they could but keep turning and shifting so as continually to
present some fresh portion of their flesh to the flames.
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