Still at thy devotions?" said Moseley; but the moody fanatic vouchsafed not to reply.
"We must wait the finishing of this duty, I fear," said the captain, knowing that interruption would be useless. Silently they awaited the conclusion, when Gideon abruptly cried out—
"Captain Moseley, are ye, too, cast into this den of lions?"
"I came hither on an embassage, and I have craved this visit ere I depart."
"Hast furnished my breakfast?" inquired this stalwart knight from the enchanted wood. "I think your garrison be short of victual, or my"——
"Hold thy tongue, thou piece of ill-contrived impertinence," said the gaoler. "We have victual and drink too; but for such as thou art, it were an ill-bestowed morsel. I marvel what can have possessed my lady to keep thee alive!"
The gaoler drew out from his provision bag a small dark-coloured loaf, which he threw at the hungry captive, who, to say the truth, had been half-starved since his imprisonment.
Gideon was devouring it greedily without any further notice, when he suddenly cried out to his keeper—
"Where gat ye this coarse stuff? I would not say good-morrow to my dog with so crusty a meal."
"It was tossed over the wall," replied the gaoler. "Our friends oft supply us that way with provision, captain. I picked it up as I came, and thought it was too good for thy dainty appetite."