第89章

Attheoppositeendofthelistswasapileoffaggots，soarrangedaroundastake，deeplyfixedintheground，astoleaveaspaceforthevictimwhomtheyweredestinedtoconsume，toenterwithinthefatalcircle，inordertobechainedtothestakebythefetterswhichhungreadyforthatpurpose。Besidethisdeadlyapparatusstoodfourblackslaves，whosecolourandAfricanfeatures，thensolittleknowninEngland，appalledthemultitude，whogazedonthemasondemonsemployedabouttheirowndiabolicalexercises。Thesemenstirrednot，exceptingnowandthen，underthedirectionofonewhoseemedtheirchief，toshiftandreplacethereadyfuel。Theylookednotonthemultitude。Infact，theyseemedinsensibleoftheirpresence，andofeverythingsavethedischargeoftheirownhorribleduty。Andwhen，inspeechwitheachother，theyexpandedtheirblubberlips，andshowedtheirwhitefangs，asiftheygrinnedatthethoughtsoftheexpectedtragedy，thestartledcommonscouldscarcelyhelpbelievingthattheywereactuallythefamiliarspiritswithwhomthewitchhadcommuned，andwho，hertimebeingout，stoodreadytoassistinherdreadfulpunishment。Theywhisperedtoeachother，andcommunicatedallthefeatswhichSatanhadperformedduringthatbusyandunhappyperiod，notfailing，ofcourse，togivethedevilrathermorethanhisdue。

``Haveyounotheard，FatherDennet，’’quothoneboortoanotheradvancedinyears，``thatthedevilhascarriedawaybodilythegreatSaxonThane，AthelstaneofConingsburgh?’’

``Ay，buthebroughthimbackthough，bytheblessingofGodandSaintDunstan。’’

``How’sthat?’’saidabriskyoungfellow，dressedinagreencassockembroideredwithgold，andhavingathisheelsastoutladbearingaharpuponhisback，whichbetrayedhisvocation。TheMinstrelseemedofnovulgarrank；for，besidesthesplendourofhisgailybraidereddoublet，heworearoundhisneckasilverchain，bywhichhungthe_wrest_，orkey，withwhichhetunedhisharp。Onhisrightarmwasasilverplate，which，insteadofbearing，asusual，thecognizanceorbadgeofthebarontowhosefamilyhebelonged，hadbarelytheword=Sherwood=engraveduponit——``Howmeanyoubythat?’’saidthegayMinstrel，minglingintheconversationofthepeasants；``Icametoseekonesubjectformyrhyme，and，by’rLady，Iweregladtofindtwo。’’

``Itiswellavouched，’’saidtheelderpeasant，``thatafterAthelstaneofConingsburghhadbeendeadfourweeks——’’

``Thatisimpossible，’’saidtheMinstrel；``IsawhiminlifeatthePassageofArmsatAshby-de-la-Zouche。’’

``Dead，however，hewas，orelsetranslated，’’

saidtheyoungerpeasant；``forIheardtheMonksofSaintEdmund’ssingingthedeath’shymnforhim；and，moreover，therewasarichdeath-mealanddoleattheCastleofConingsburgh，asrightwas；andthitherhadIgone，butforMabelParkins，who——’’

``Ay，deadwasAthelstane，’’saidtheoldman，shakinghishead，``andthemorepityitwas，fortheoldSaxonblood——’’

``But，yourstory，mymasters——yourstory，’’saidtheMinstrel，somewhatimpatiently。

``Ay，ay——construeusthestory，’’saidaburlyFriar，whostoodbesidethem，leaningonapolethatexhibitedanappearancebetweenapilgrim’sstaffandaquarter-staff，andprobablyactedaseitherwhenoccasionserved，——``Yourstory，’’saidthestalwartchurchman；``burnnotdaylightaboutit——wehaveshorttimetospare。’’

``Anpleaseyourreverence，’’saidDennet，``adrunkenpriestcametovisittheSacristanatSaintEdmund’s——’’

``Itdoesnotpleasemyreverence，’’answeredthechurchman，``thatthereshouldbesuchananimalasadrunkenpriest，or，iftherewere，thatalaymanshouldsospeakhim。Bemannerly，myfriend，andconcludetheholymanonlywraptinmeditation，whichmakestheheaddizzyandfootunsteady，asifthestomachwerefilledwithnewwine——Ihavefeltitmyself