How he covered the length of the passage, and vaulted into the saddle, he never could recall. His first remembered impression, after sight of the horse, was of being surrounded by Anne, Kit, and Anthony, all mounted; and seeing Francis glide away afoot in quest of a horse for his own riding. There was more gravity than joy in the faces of the three; the sight of him alive and free of his guards was too marvellous for outward rejoicing. Such joy is like passions, of which Raleigh wrote, that they —
"... are likened best to floods and streams:
The shallow murmur, but the deep are dumb."
Anthony avoided Hal's glance by looking down; Kit Bottle cleared his throat; from Anne's eyes there was the least gush of tears, and her voice trembled as she spoke:
"God be thanked! I dared not hope for this!"
"Nor I," he replied. "Whither do we ride?"
"You, to the Lincolnshire coast, with Anthony. He knows secret ways of embarkation to France."
"But you?—you waited with the horse, that you might ride with me, is't not so?"
"No; that I might see all done, with mine own eyes, and you escaped. Anthony has money for your needs to France. I will ride home, with Captain Bottle and Francis. Tarry not another moment. You are to ride first alone. Anthony will leave this town with us, and then make by cross-ways to join you soon on the Stamford road. This paper tells where one shall wait for the other, for Anthony may ride the faster, knowing better the ways. I have writ it so, for greater surety and less delay. Go now; here's money, of Anthony's lending. Nay, for God's sake, tarry not!"
"But thou? When shall I see or hear?"
"Anthony will tell you how to send word. Tarry not, I entreat!"
"Thou'st been too good to me!"