being justified by faith.... For if by the works of the Law
we are justified_...."

He opened his eyes wide at that, and there was the face of one of the
ministers bobbing against the sky, flushed and breathless, yet
indomitable, bawling aloud as he trotted along to keep pace with the
horse.

Then he closed his eyes again. He knew that he, too, could bandy texts
if that were what was required. Perhaps, if he were a better man and
more mortified, he might be able to do so as the martyrs sometimes had
done. But he could not ... he would have a word to say presently
perhaps, if it were permitted; but not now. His pain occupied him; he
had to deal with that and keep back, if he could, those sobs that were
wrenched from him now and again. He had made but a poor beginning in his
journey, he thought; he must die more decently than that.

* * * * *

The end came unexpectedly. Just when he thought he had gained his
self-control again, so as to make no sound at any rate, the hurdle
stopped. He clenched his teeth to meet the dreadful wrench with which it
would move again; but it did not. Instead there was a man down by him,
untying his bonds. He lay quite still when they were undone; he did not
know which limb to move first, and he dreaded to move any.

"Now then," said the voice, with a touch of compassion, he thought.

He set his teeth, gripped the arm and raised himself--first to his
knees, then to his feet, where he stood swaying. An indescribable roar
ascended steadily on all sides; but he could see little of the crowd as
yet. He was standing in a cleared space, held by guards. A couple of
dozen persons stood here; three or four on horseback; and one of these
he thought to be my lord Shrewsbury, but he was not sure, since his head
was against the glare of the sun. He turned a little, still holding to
the man's arm, and not knowing what to do, and saw a ladder behind him;
he raised his eyes and saw that its head rested against the cross-beam
of a single gallows, that a rope hung from this beam, and that a figure
sitting astride of this cross-beam was busy with this rope. The shock of
the sight cooled and nerved him; rather, it drew his attention all from
himself.... He looked lower again, and behind the gallows was a column
of heavy smoke going up, and in the midst of the smoke a cauldron hung
on a tripod. Beside the cauldron was a great stump of wood, with a
chopper and a knife lying upon