above him there hovered an angel of grace who pointed to the steep
and narrow track。 How could one doubt these things； when Pope and
priest and scholar and King were all united in believing them；
with no single voice of question in the whole wide world？
Every book read； every picture seen； every tale heard from nurse
or mother； all taught the same lesson。 And as a man traveled
through the world his faith would grow the firmer； for go where he
would there were the endless shrines of the saints； each with its
holy relic in the center； and around it the tradition of incessant
miracles； with stacks of deserted crutches and silver votive
hearts to prove them。 At every turn he was made to feel how thin
was the veil； and how easily rent； which screened him from the
awful denizens of the unseen world。
Hence the wild announcement of the frightened monk seemed terrible
rather than incredible to those whom he addressed。 The Abbot's
ruddy face paled for a moment； it is true； but he plucked the
crucifix from his desk and rose valiantly to his feet。
〃Lead me to him！〃 said he。 〃Show me the foul fiend who dares to
lay his grip upon brethren of the holy house of Saint Bernard！
Run down to my chaplain； brother！ Bid him bring the exorcist with
him； and also the blessed box of relics； and the bones of Saint
James from under the altar！ With these and a contrite and humble
heart we may show front to all the powers of darkness。〃
But the sacrist was of a more critical turn of mind。 He clutched
the monk's arm with a grip which left its five purple spots for
many a day to come。
〃Is this the way to enter the Abbot's own chamber； without knock
or reverence； or so much as a ‘Pax vobiscum'？〃 said he sternly。
〃You were wont to be our gentlest novice； of lowly carriage in
chapter； devout in psalmody and strict in the cloister。 Pull your
wits together and answer me straightly。 In what form has the foul
fiend appeared； and how has he done this grievous scathe to our
brethren？ Have you seen him with your own eyes； or do you repeat
from hearsay？ Speak； man； or you stand on the penance…stool in
the chapter…house this very hour！〃
Thus adjured； the frightened monk grew calmer in his bearing；
though his white lips and his startled eyes； with the gasping of
his breath； told of his inward tremors。
〃If it please you； holy father； and you； reverend sacrist； it came
about in this way。 James the subprior； and Brother John and I had
spent our day from sext onward on Hankley； cutting bracken for the
cow…houses。 We were coming back over the five…virgate field； and
the holy subprior was telling us a saintly tale from the life of
Saint Gregory； when there came a sudden sound like a rushing
torrent； and the foul fiend sprang over the high wall which skirts
the water…meadow and rushed upon us with the speed of the wind。
The lay brother he struck to the ground and trampled into the
mire。 Then； seizing the good subprior in his teeth； he rushed
round the field； swinging him as though he were a fardel of old
clothes。
〃Amazed at such a sight； I stood without movement and had said a
credo and three aves； when the Devil dropped the subprior and
sprang upon me。 With the help of Saint Bernard I clambered over
the wall； but not before his teeth had found my leg； and he had
torn away the whole back skirt of my gown。〃 As he spoke he turned
and gave corroboration to his story by the hanging ruins of his
long trailing garment。
〃In what shape then did Satan appear？〃 the Abbot demanded。
〃As a great yellow horse； holy father … a monster horse； with eyes
of fire and the teeth of a griffin。〃
〃A yellow horse！〃 The sacrist glared at the scared monk。 〃You
foolish brother！ How will you behave when you have indeed to face
the King of Terrors himself if you can be so frightened by the
sight of a yellow horse？ It is the horse of Franklin Aylward； my
father； which has been distrained by us because he owes the Abbey
fifty good shillings and can never hope to pay it。 Such a horse；
they say； is not to be found betwixt this and the King's stables
at Windsor； for his sire was a Spanish destrier； and his dam an
Arab mare of the very breed which Saladin； whose soul now reeks in
Hell； kept for his own use； and even it has been said under the
shelter of his own tent。 I took him in discharge of the debt； and
I ordered the varlets who had haltered him to leave him alone in
the water…meadow； for I have heard that the beast has indeed a
most evil spirit； and has killed more men than one。〃
〃It was an ill day for Waverley that you brought such a monster
within its bounds；〃 said the Abbot。 〃If the subprior and Brother
John be indeed dead； then it would seem that if the horse be not
the Devil he is at least the Devil's instrument。〃
〃Horse or Devil； holy father； I heard him shout with joy as he
trampled upon Brother John； and had you seen him tossing the
subprior as a dog shakes a rat you would perchance have felt even
as I did。〃
〃Come then；〃 cried the Abbot； 〃let us see with our own eyes what
evil has been done。〃
And the three monks hurried down the stair which led to the
cloisters。
They had no sooner descended than their more pressing fears were
set at rest； for at that very moment； limping； disheveled and
mud…stained； the two sufferers were being led in amid a crowd of
sympathizing brethren。 Shouts and cries from outside showed；
however； that some further drama was in progress； and both Abbot
and sacrist hastened onward as fast as the dignity of their office
would permit； until they had passed the gates and gained the wall
of the meadow。 Looking over it； a remarkable sight presented
itself to their eyes。
Fetlock deep in the lush grass there stood a magnificent horse；
such a horse as a sculptor or a soldier might thrill to see。 His
color was a light chestnut； with mane and tail of a more tawny
tint。 Seventeen hands high； with a barrel and haunches which
bespoke tremendous strength； he fined down to the most delicate
lines of dainty breed in neck and crest and shoulder。 He was
indeed a glorious sight as he stood there； his beautiful body
leaning back from his wide…spread and propped fore legs； his head
craned high； his ears erect； his mane bristling； his red nostrils
opening and shutting with wrath； and his flashing eyes turning
from side to side in haughty menace and defiance。
Scattered round in a respectful circle； six of the Abbey lay
servants and foresters； each holding a halter； were creeping
toward him。 Every now and then； with a beautiful toss and swerve
and plunge； the great creature would turn upon one of his would…be
captors； and with outstretched head； flying mane and flashing
teeth； would chase him screaming to the safety of the wall； while
the others would close swiftly in behind and cast their ropes in
the hope of catching neck or leg； but only in their； turn to be
chased to the nearest refuge。
Had two of these ropes settled upon the horse； and had their
throwers found some purchase of stump or boulder by which they
could hold them； then the man's brain might have won its wonted
victory over swiftness and strength。 But the brains were
themselves at fault which imagined that one such rope would serve
any purpose save to endanger the thrower。
Yet so it was； and what might have been foreseen occurred at the
very moment of the arrival of the monks。 The horse； having chased
one of his enemies to the wall； remained so long snorting his
contempt over the coping that the others were able to creep upon
him from behind。 Several ropes were flung； and one noose settled
over the proud crest and lost itself in the waving mane。 In an
instant the creature had turned and the men were flying for their
lives； but he who had cast the rope lingered； uncertain what use
to make of his own success。 That moment of doubt was fatal。 With
a yell of dismay； the man saw the great creature rear above him。
Then with a crash the fore feet fell upon him and dashed him to
the ground。 He rose screaming； was hurled over once more； and lay
a quivering； bleeding heap； while the savage horse； the most cruel
and terrible in its anger of all creatures on earth； bit and shook
and trampled the writhing body。
A loud wail of horror rose from the lines of tonsured heads which
skirted the high wall … a wail which suddenly died away into a
long hushed silence； broken at last by a rapturous cry of
thanksgiving and of joy。
On the road which led to the old dark manor…house upon the side of
the hill a youth had been riding。 His mount was a sorry one； a
weedy； shambling； long…haired colt； and his patched tunic of faded
purple with stained leather belt presented no very smart
appearance； yet in the bearing of the man； in the poise of his
head； in his easy graceful carriage； and in the bold glance of his
large blue eyes； there was that stamp of distinction and of breed
which would have given him a place of his own in any assembly。 He
was of small stature； but his frame was singularly elegant and
graceful。 His face； though tanned with the weather； was delicate
in features and most eager and alert in expression。 A thick
fringe of crisp yellow c