Meanwhile Darby was kneeling down, and seemed to search for something beside the body. “Ah! right! Come now,” said he; “we must be far from this before daybreak. And it 's lucky if we We the means to do it.”
I moved onward like one walking ib a dream when horrible images surround him and dreadful thoughts are ever crowding fast; but where, amid all, some glimmering sense of hope sustains him, and he half feels that the terrors will pass away, and his soul be calm and tranquil once more. What is it? what has happened? was the ever-rising question, as I heard Darby groping his way along the dark gallery and the darker stairs.
“Be steady, now,” said he, in a whisper; “we 're at the gate.”
“Who comes there?” cried the sentry.
“A friend!” said Darby, in a feigned voice, answering for me, while he dropped behind me.
The heavy bolts were withdrawn, and I felt the cold air of the streets on my cheek.
“Where to, now?” said I, with a dreamy oonsciousness that some place of safety must be sought, without well knowing why or wherefore.
“Lean on me, and don't speak,” said Darby. “If you can walk as far as the end of the quay, we 're all safe.”
I walked on without further questioning, and almost without thought; and though, from time to time, Darby spoke to several persons as we passed, I heard not what they said, nor took any notice of them.