"Be brave, Ezquerra!" called out one behind him; "'tis nothing—only some monk's trick!"
Ezquerra over his shoulder cast a fierce glance at the speaker.
"Brother," he cried, "you who are so full of courage that you can supply others, go up these steps and find out the trick for yourself!"
Nevertheless through very pride of place as their temporary leader, Ezquerra set his feet once more to the steps and mounted. The shrouded figures grew less red as he approached.
"After all it is some trick!" he shouted angrily. "We will make the fools pay for this! Did they think to practise the black art upon those whose fathers have used all magic, black and white, for ten thousand years?"
So saying he set his hand to the face-cloth of the nearest figure and plucked it away. Then was revealed to his affrighted and revolted gaze the features swollen and bloated of one who had died of the Black Plague.
At the same moment, and before his followers could set their hands to their mouths or retreat a step, round both corners of the building there came a double swarm of gipsies, running at random through the tangle of the wood and streaming frantically along the paths.
The Executioner of Salamanca also turned and ran down the steps.
"Touch the thing who will!" he cried; "I have done with it!"
And the entire attacking party with their knives and sledge-hammers would in like manner have fled, but for a strange and unlooked-for event which happened at that moment.