Go thou for the
physic, for thou canst more readily place hands upon it than I, and at
the same time apparel thyself in garments thicker and more suited to
the chill of the night than those thou wearest. I will stand watch
until thy return, and pledge thee my word that none shall pass, or be
the wiser for thy absence."
All his soldier's training forbade Simon to accept this offer. To
desert his post, even though he left it guarded by another, would, he
knew, be considered one of the gravest military crimes. Therefore the
struggle in his mind between duty on the one side and his sufferings on
the other was long and pitiful.
Finally pain conquered. "Well, well, Master Rene," he said, gruffly,
"I must e'en take thy advice, and obtain speedy release from this pain,
or else be found here dead ere the post be relieved. Keep thou open
keen eyes and ears, and I pray that no harm may come of this my first
neglect of duty in all the years that I have served the King."
With these words the old soldier thrust his pike into Rene's hands, and
hurried away as quickly as his pain would permit towards his own
quarters in the smithy.
As soon as Simon was out of hearing, Rene went and recovered his
cross-bow. Then he carefully and noiselessly undid the fastenings of
the great gate, and swung it open a few inches. This accomplished, he
shouldered Simon's heavy pike, and patiently paced, like a sentry, up
and down beneath the dark archway, until he heard approaching footsteps.
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