Part 12 (1/2)
”Ere we go, Master Kenneth, I would again reain our liberty you would aid eance that lies before me”
”Once already have I answered you that it is so”
”And pray, are you still of the sa so that you come away!”
”Not so fast, Kenneth The proiven If we escape I may fairly claim to have saved your life, 'that I have done and what I e it!”
”Then, sir, in payment I shall expect your aid hereafter to help me in that which Iis the only spur to my own escape”
”You have htly, Kenneth,” said Crispin gravely ”It er even to your life”
”I pro, he took the Bible from the table
”With your hand upon this book, by your honour, your faith, and your every hope of salvation, swear that if I bear you alive out of this house you will devote yourself to eance until it shall be accomplished or until I perish; swear that you will set aside all personal matters and inclinations of your own, to serve me when I shall call upon you Swear that, and, in return, I will give ht, in which case you will be released from your oath without more ado”
The lad paused a moment Crispin was so impressive, the oath he imposed so solemn, that for an instant the boy hesitated His cautious, timid nature whispered to him that perchance he should know more of this matter ere he bound hi the hesitation, stifled it by appealing to the lad's fears
”Resolve yourself,” he exclaiht, and the time for haste is come”
”I swear!” answered Kenneth, overcome by his impatience ”I swear, by my honour, my faith, and my every hope of heaven to lend you my aid, when and how you may demand it, until your task be accomplished”
Crispin took the Bible from the boy's hands, and replaced it on the table His lips were pressed tight, and he avoided the lad's eyes
”You shall not find ain,” he muttered, as he took up the soldier's cloak and hat ”Come, take that parson's steeple hat and his cloak, and let us be going”
He crossed to the door, and opening it he peered down the passage A ain In the cha more yellow still the lanthorn's yellow flaive me the discomfort I have been forced to put upon you, and pray for the success of our escape
Commend me to Oliver of the ruby nose Fare you well, sir Come, Kenneth”
He held the door for the lad to pass out As they stood in the die he closed it softly after theain, and led the way to the stairs, Kenneth tiptoeing after hi heart
CHAPTER X THE ESCAPE
Treading softly, and with ears straining for the slightest sound, the two men descended to the first floor of the house They heard nothing to alarm them as they crept down, and not until they paused on the first landing to reconnoitre did they even catch the uardroouessed how matters stood even before he had looked over the balusters into the hall beneath The faint grey of the daas the only light that penetrated the gloom of that pit
”The Fates are kind, Kenneth,” he whispered ”Those fools sit with closed doors Come”