For a moment he stood without moving; then he raised
his hand to his lips, and the shrill call that had before startled us
rang out again. At the far end of the lane lights appeared. Men
were coming down the lane at a run; whether they were the watch,
or my lord's own rogues, we tarried not to see. There was not time
to loosen the rope from the piles, so I drew my knife to cut it. My
lord saw the movement, and sprang down the steps, at the same
time shouting to the men behind to hasten. Sparrow, grappling
with him, locked him in a giant's embrace, lifted him bodily from
the steps, and flung him into the boat. His head struck against a
thwart, and he lay, huddled beneath it, quiet enough. The minister
sprang after him, and I cut the rope. By now the wharf shook with
running feet, and the backward-streaming flame of the torches
reddened its boards and the black water beneath; but each instant
the water widened between us and our pursuers. Wind and current
swept us out, and at that wharf there were no boats to follow us.
Those whom my lord's whistle had brought were now upon the
very edge of the wharf. The marshal's voice called upon us in the
name of the King to return. Finding that we vouchsafed no answer,
he pulled out a pistol and fired, the ball going through my hat; then
whipped out its fellow and fired again.
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