nseen; and
therefore I told you truly that although we differ in degree, yet we are
one. Yes, even Murgh the Eating Fire, Murgh the Gate, and that bent wand
of yours are one in the Hand that shaped and holds us both."

Then divesting himself of the long robe which he had borrowed from the
lad, he handed it to Hugh, and, taking the oars, rowed away clad in his
rich, fantastic garb which now, as at first, could be seen by all. He
rowed away, and for a while the three whom he had left behind heard the
soughing of the innumerable wings that went ever with him, after which
came silence.

Silence, but not for long, for presently from the borders of the great
canal into which his skiff must enter, rose shouts of fear and rage,
near by at first, then farther and farther off, till these too were lost
in silence.

"Oh! Sir Hugh!" sobbed poor David Day, "who and what is that dreadful
man?"

"I think his name is Death," answered Hugh solemnly, while Dick nodded
his head but said nothing.

"Then we must die," went on David in his terror, "and I am not fit to
die."

"I think not," said Hugh again. "Be comforted. Death has passed us by.
Only be warned also and, as he bade you, say nothing of all that you
have heard and seen."

"By Death himself, I'll say nothing for my life's sake," he replied
faintly, for he was shaking in every limb.

Then they walked up the street to the yard door. As they went Hugh asked
Dick what it was that he had in his mind as a mark for the arrow that
Murgh had shot, that arrow which to his charmed sight had seemed to rush
over Venice like a flake of fire.

"I'll not tell you, master," answered Dick, "lest you should think me
madder than I am, which to-night would be very mad indeed. Stay, though,
I'll tell David here, that he may be a witness to my folly," and he
called the young man to him and spoke with him apart.

Then they unlocked the courtyard gate and entered the house by the
kitchen door, as it chanced quite unobserved, for now all the servants
were abed. Indeed, of that household none ever knew that they had been
outside its walls this night, since no one saw them go or return,
and Sir Geoffrey and his lady thought that they had retired to their
chamber.

They came to the door of their room, David still with them, for the
place where he slept was at the end of this same passage.

"Bide here a while," said Dick to him. "My master and I may have a word
to say to you presently."

The