An immense panic seized him, and his hands checked the horse as it rose to the jump—a savage jerk on curb and snaffle. The gray was already in the air. Its hind legs came down uncertain. Its great bulk fell backward. Fear flooded him like cold water. In an instant he knew his neck would be broken like a dry twig. Christ! There it went! Snap!
VII
"Dark childeen, what is wrong with you? What is wrong? There was a wing in my heart until I saw you coming."
"Nurse Ellen, there 's a man dead at the abbey. I saw him die, with my two eyes."
"O alanna veg! Is it any one we know? It isn't the master, is it, or Sir Maurice?"
"No, Nurse Ellen, no! It's no one I know. I was sitting reading by Mother's grave, and a wee red fox, a wee hunted fox, ran up to me for help. And then the man came jumping the wall, and his horse reared and he was killed. I never saw him before, but we know him, Nurse Ellen. I know we do."
"Why dotey child? Why do you say so?"
"He saw me and he took me for Mother, Nurse Ellen. He called, 'Reynardine!'"
"Was he a dour, black man, child of grace? Would you be afraid of him, and he alive?"
"Yes, that's he, Nurse Ellen. Who is it we know?"