CHAPTER XIX
SPOILING THE EGYPTIANS
William Tyndale was so weak and ill when Engel had carried him as far as the cavern, and set him down there, that they wondered whether they had brought him from the dungeon only to see him die. Kneeling at his side, the forester watched him seriously, and then it struck him that what Tyndale wanted was food.
"Stay here, Herman, and you, Roye, and keep watch, while I go to my hut for food," he said, looking up at the others, who were gazing down at the over-wrought prisoner.
Herman was alert in an instant.
"'Tis a long way, Otto, and the shortest time before you could return would be more than an hour and a half," he protested; but Engel responded almost impatiently:
"I know that. But if I stay here he will die; and how to get him hence unless he can put a foot forward for his own helping, which is not possible, I do not know."
"Let me go back into the castle and look for some food!" Herman exclaimed.
The forester was aghast at the proposal.
"Then we shall have two dead men on our hands, or at all events one helpless, like this poor one," pointing to Tyndale, "and a dead one, which will be yourself," he cried.
"I think not," said Herman sturdily, looking to his belt to see that he had a weapon handy. "I will go cautiously, and I know my way about by this time. There was some food on the tables in the banqueting-hall—a meal, doubtless for the retainers, all ready, but the men had not come to it because of that summons to the river."