drew from his quiver。
〃Tell me； Archer Dick； have you any enemy in this town of Venice？
Because if so we might try a shot at him。〃
〃One or two； Gate Murgh；〃 answered Dick； 〃Still whatever your half of
me may do； my bit of you does not love to strike down men by magic in
the dark。〃
〃Well said and better thought。 Then bethink you of something that
belongs to an enemy which will serve as well for a test of shooting。
Ah！ I thank you； well thought again。 Yes； I see the mark； though 'tis
far； is it not？ Now set your mind on it。 But stay！ First； will you
know this arrow again？〃
〃Surely；〃 answered Dick； 〃I made it myself。 Moreover； though two of
the feathers are black； the third is white with four black spots and a
little splash of brown。 Look on it； Sir Hugh； it cannot be mistook。〃
Hugh looked and nodded； speak he could not for the life of him。
Then Murgh began to play a little with the bow； and oh！ strange and
dreadful was the music that came from its string beneath the touch of
his gloved fingers。 It sang like a harp and wailed like a woman； so
fearfully indeed that the lad Day； who all this while stood by aghast；
stopped his ears with his fingers； and Hugh groaned。 Then this awful
archer swiftly set the arrow on the string。
〃Now think with your mind and shoot with your heart；〃 he said in his
cold voice； and； so saying； drew and loosed as though at a hazard。
Out toward Venice leaped the shaft with a rushing sound like to that
of wings and； as it seemed to the watchers； light went with it； for it
travelled like a beam of light。 Far over the city it travelled；
describing a mighty arc such as no arrow ever flew before； then sank
down and vanished behind some palace tower。
〃A very good bow；〃 said the shooter； as he handed it back to Dick。
〃Never have I used a better； who have used thousands made of many a
substance。 Indeed； I think that I remember it。 Did you chance to find
it years ago by the seashore？ Yes？ Well； it was a gift of mine to a
famous archer who died upon a ship。 Nay； it is not strained； I can
judge of the breaking strength of a bow。 Whether or no I can judge of
the flight of an arrow you will learn hereafter。 But that this one
flew fast and far cannot be doubted sincedid you watchers note it？
its speed made it shine like fire。 This is caused by the rubbing of
the air when aught travels through it very quickly。 This night you
have seen a meteor glow in the same fashion； only because the air
fretted it in its passage。 In the East； whence I come； we produce fire
just so。 And now let us be going； for I have much to do to…night； and
would look upon this fair Venice ere I sleep。 I'll lead the way；
having seen a map of the town which a traveller brought to the East。 I
studied it； and now it comes back to my mind。 Stay； let that youth
give me his garment；〃 and he pointed to David Day； who wore a silk
cloak like the others； 〃since my foreign dress might excite remark； as
it did but now。〃
In a moment Day had stripped himself of his light silk…hooded gown；
and in another moment it was on the person of Murgh； though how it got
there； when they came to think of it afterward； none could remember。
Still； the yellow and red head…dress； the coal…black silky furs； the
yellow skirt； the gleaming pearls； all vanished beneath it。 Nothing
remained visible except the white fingerless gloveswhy were they
fingerless； and what lay beneath them？ Hugh wonderedand the white
shoes。
Forward they went across the Place of Arms； past the timber stand
ornamented with banners； which Murgh stayed to contemplate for an
instant； until they came to the mouth of the street up which men had
followed them； apparently with evil intent。
〃Sir Murgh；〃 said Hugh； stepping forward； 〃you had best let me and my
companion Grey Dick walk first down this place； lest you should come
to harm。 When we passed it a while ago we thought that we heard
robbers behind us； and in Venice； as we are told； such men use
knives。〃
〃Thank you for your warning； Sir Hugh；〃 and even beneath the shadow of
the silk hood Hugh thought that he saw his eyes smile； and seeing；
remembered all the folly of such talk。
〃Yet I'll risk these robbers。 Do you two and the lad keep behind me；〃
he added in a sterner voice。
So they advanced down the narrow street； the man called Murgh going
first； Hugh； Grey Dick and the lad following meekly behind him。 As
they entered its shadows a low whistle sounded； but nothing happened
for a while。 When they had traversed about half its length； however；
men； five or six of them in all； darted out of the gloom of a gateway
and rushed at them。 The faint light showed that they were masked and
gleamed upon the blue steel of the daggers in their hands。 Two of
these men struck at Murgh with their knives； while the others tried to
pass him； doubtless to attack his companions； but failed。 Why they
failed Hugh and Dick never knew。 All they saw was that Murgh stretched
out his white…gloved hands； and they fell back。
The men who had struck at him fell back also； their daggers dropping
to the ground； and fled away； followed by their companions； all except
one whom Murgh had seized。 Hugh noted that he was a tall； thin fellow；
and that； unlike the rest； he had drawn no weapon； although it was at
his signal that the other bravoes had rushed on。 This man Murgh seemed
to hold with one hand while with the other he ripped the mask off his
face； turning him so that the light shone on him。
Hugh and Dick saw the face and knew it for that of the priest who had
accompanied Acour to England。 It was he who had drugged Red Eve and
read the mass of marriage over her while she was drugged。
〃Who are you？〃 asked Murgh in his light； cold voice。 〃By your shaven
head a priest； I thinkone who serves some God of love and mercy。 And
yet you come upon this ill errand as a captain of assassins。 Why do
you seek to do murder； O Priest of the God of mercy？〃
Now some power seemed to drag the answer from Father Nicholas。
〃Because I must；〃 he said。 〃I have sold myself and must pay the price。
Step leads to step； and he who runs may not stop upon them。〃
〃No； priest Nicholas； since ever they grow more narrow and more steep。
Yet at the foot of them is the dark abyss； and； Murderer Nicholas； you
have reached the last of all your steps。 Look at me！〃 and with one
hand he threw back the hood。
Next instant they saw Nicholas rush staggering down the street；
screaming with terror as he went。 Then； as all the bravoes had gone；
they continued their march； filled with reflections； till they came to
the little landing…stage where they had left the boat。 It was still
there though the boatman had gone。
〃Let us borrow this boat；〃 said Murgh。 〃As from my study of the map I
know these water…paths； I will be steersman and that tongue…tied lad
shall row and tell me if I go wrong。 First I will take you to the
house where I think you said you lodged； and thence to go seek friends
of my own in this city who will show me hospitality。〃
They glided on down the long canals in utter silence that was broken
only by the soft dipping of the oars。 The night was somewhat cooler
now； for the bursting of the great meteor seemed to have cleared the
air。 Or perhaps the gentle breeze that had sprung up； blowing from the
open sea； tempered its stifling heat。
So it came about that although it grew late many people were gathered
on the /rivas/ or on the balconies of the fine houses which they
passed； for the most part doubtless discussing the travelling star
that had been seen in the sky。 Or perhaps they had already heard
rumours of the strange visitor who had come to Venice； although；
however fast such news may fly； this seemed scarcely probable。 At the
least there they were； men and women； talking earnestly together； and
about them the three Englishmen noted a strange thing。
As their boat slipped by； some influence seemed to pass from it to the
minds of all these people。 Their talk died out； and was succeeded by a
morne and heavy silence。 They looked at it as though wondering why a
sight so usual should draw their eyes。 Then after a few irresolute
moments the groups on the footpaths separated and went their ways
without bidding each other good night。 As they went many of them made
the sign with their fingers that these Italians believed could avert
evil； which gave them the appearance of all pointing at the boat or
its occupants。 Those in the balconies did the same thing and
disappeared through the open window…places。
More than any of the wonderful things that he had done； perhaps； this
effect of the Eastern stranger's presence struck terror and foreboding
to Hugh's heart。
At length they came to the end of that little street where they had
hired the boat； for； although none had told him the way； thither their
dread steersman brought them without fault。 The lad David laid down
his oars and mounted the steps that led to the street； which was quite
deserted； even the bordering houses being in darkness。
〃Hugh de Cressi and Richard the Fatherless；〃 said Murgh； 〃you have
seen wonderful things this night and made a strange friend； as you may
think by chance； although truly in all