A BAPTISM OF BLOOD.
For the moment we were safe, but only for the moment. From what the old woman had said, we knew that our pursuers would soon be after us; and there was another peril of which I had not thought till my lord's voice spoke in my ear,—
"If the woman has played us false, we may be in a trap from which there is no escape. But at least it was certain death to remain there."
I felt a cold shudder run through me as I said,—
"I do not think she was tricking us, my lord."
And he answered in the same low voice,—
"Neither do I; but such things have been before. We must be on our guard. Walk warily, Dicon. These leaden roofs are treacherous. Yet what a labyrinth they form. Methinks we can baffle pursuit yet! See, lad! we are not far from the river. It may be we shall make shift to find our way out from the city by water. Canst swim, Dicon?"
"Ay, verily; better than I can run."
"Good; yet thou didst run manfully just now with those hell-hounds after us. Dicon, thou knowest that our enemy Mr. Blewer is in the town?"