The cries of
the drowning only hurried those behind to the rescue, who, supposing
their fellows in advance to be assailed, rushed headlong on to the same
fate. The torches were extinguished, and none knew which way to turn to
escape. So perished the whole troop, Robert Sadler going down in the
grasp of Sir Thomas De Lany.
[Illustration: None knew which way to turn to escape]
Across the moat, ready mounted to ride, were William Lorimer and the
few men-at-arms left him by Lady De Aldithely on her departure. "So may
it be with all traitors and thieves," said he. "And now fare we
southward to France and our lord. We need not the light of the moon to
show us our path."
The clatter of their horses' hoofs soon died away, and when the moon
rose it shone down on the deserted castle, and on the shining water of
the moat near the postern, but it shone not on horse or rider living or
dead. All night William Lorimer and his little troop rode, not
cautiously and shrinkingly, but boldly; and they went into camp in the
early morning in Sherwood Forest, more miles away from home than Hugo
and Humphrey had covered in all their journeying.
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