CHAPTER XX
Doomed
At sight of that well-known face a thrill of superstitious terror pulsed through the savage band, in all but the very worst of whom the feelings and beliefs of their childhood had not been wholly extinguished even by a life of rapine and crime. They still retained their instinctive awe of the Church and all belonging to it, and feared the grey frock far more than the coat of mail.
But their present panic had another and a deeper source. Now that these fierce and lawless robbers, who were wont to spread terror wherever they came, had at last met a man who was not afraid of them, they at once began to be afraid of him. One who could thus venture among them alone and unarmed must be strong in the possession of some supernatural power; and they shrank from this solitary and defenceless old man as if he had an armed host at his back.
Mingling with this terror came another of a different kind. Many of them had heard Croquart utter his cruel vow to torture to death the first man who passed; and the first man was the “Pilgrim of God” himself! Would the savage dare to lay hand on him? and if he did, what then?
The ruffians began to whisper uneasily to each other, and to cast nervous glances at their ferocious chief, who had not yet caught sight of the new-comer.
But he for whom they feared seemed to have no fear for himself. Quietly and steadfastly he went forward through the terrible camp, right up to its grim leader, whom he singled out at once; and meeting without flinching the glare of mingled amazement and fury cast at him by the arch-murderer’s fiery eyes, said, mildly but firmly—
“Peace be with thee, my son.”
“That is as who should say ‘Starvation be with thee!’” growled the ruffian. “What have we to do with peace?”
“What, indeed?” said the monk, in a tone so sad and solemn that even the soulless brute whom he addressed found no reply.
By this time all the bandits were flocking to the spot, and hundreds of silent and terrified spectators were gathered round the two men as they stood facing each other.