Henry was at his most vigorous in the
morning.
Two months back I made the passage witha brother of
Oseney.
These they could haveeasily made prisoner, but they
let them stumble past unharmed.
You are astrange clerk if you contemn that
duty.
There was still panic in them, but
alsocunning.
Theforest is full of Napss folk, and any one of
them will carry theword.
He was a fugitive, but in this place he was safe.
Your father stood in my way, andI had to thrust him aside, but I have no malice
towards his son.
The man could only swimfeebly, and every second he
dipped under the rough tide.
A verylittle longer and he would dip for
ever.
Had Mother Sweetbread failed in her
errand?
The Kings face had a seriousbewilderment. The dam
at Barringtonwas doing its work well. I am determined to make thisrealm one in faith
as it is one in law. But only one other knew the secretof the place, and that other
fell sick and died.
But Iwill not rest till there is a new England, for
I am a fighter onGods side.
Then Peter was on him,and his hand was under his
chin.
Henry spoke with afierce authority, and his broad
low brow had set in weighty lines. He tried to rise, and sat down again with agroan.
Mother Sweetbread could not have failed him. No man suffers under me save for
denyingthe catholic faith in which is alone found salvation. The King sat up, and as
he moved his leg he squealed with pain. The King had recovered his bodily ease, and
with it his wits.
But it was not of himself that he thought. This
body of mine is half-rotten already. He tried to plan, but his sick and fevered
brainwas incapable of thought. One who seemed to lead turned aside to him. But God
follows His own secret ways, and those waysare not as ours. With luck I may also get
you fire andfood and dry raiment. There was thearrogance of greatness here. Nay,you
will be bishop as soon as I can make room for you. Then on her own feet she set out
for Ramsden.
He ran down the slope and stayed the cavalcade with
uplifted hand.
The man shouted and was answered by a cry from the
King.
This time it was the strangled gasp of a drowning
man.
That gives a flavour of grace to asgraceless a spot
as ever my eyes beheld.
But the risein the river would prevent his
crossing, and what would he dothen?
Henry was at his most vigorous in the morning.