swered Nigel, wondering what
the old steward could mean. Wishing his worthy friend good-bye, he
pushed on to overtake his travelling companions.

On entering Meaux, they found the town in a strange commotion, the
people all rushing with eager looks to the market-place, in which, as
they reached it, they found a large crowd assembled. They caught sight
of a number of high gibbets erected at intervals round it, while in the
centre was a circle of stakes surrounded by faggots. The travellers
would have passed on, but the dense crowd prevented them from moving,
and their leader himself showed no inclination to press forward.

Presently shouts arose, and, the crowd opening, a horse was seen
dragging a hurdle, on which a human being lay bound, the blood flowing
from his mouth. A party of soldiers next appeared with a number of
persons, their hands bound behind them, in their midst; while priests,
carrying lighted tapers, were seen among them, apparently trying to gain
their attention. Some of the prisoners were singing a hymn of Marot's,
and all carried their heads erect, advancing fearlessly to the place of
execution. On arriving, they were seized by savage-looking men, while
some were speedily hoisted up to the gibbets by their shoulders, where
they hung, enduring, it was evident, the greatest agony. Fourteen of
the party were then bound to as many stakes, the unhappy man on the
hurdle being the first secured. Among them Nigel recognised the person
who had been seized in the forest on the previous day for shouting,
"Brethren, remember Him who is in heaven above." Though the cords were
drawn so tight as to cut into their wrists and ankles, no one uttered a
cry for mercy, but, lifting their eyes to heaven, continued singing, or
exhorting their companions to be firm.

The faggots being now piled round them, the priests retired, uttering
curses on their heads; while bands of music struck up to drown the
voices of the sufferers. At the sight of two men approaching with
torches, the people raised loud shouts of savage joy, and one of the
piles of faggots surrounding the stake, that to which the chief person,
whose tongue had been cut out, was bound, was speedily kindled.

"All! all! Let them all be burned together," shouted the mob, dancing
frantically.

The other piles were quickly lighted, the smoke ascending from the
fourteen fires forming a dark canopy overhead.

The victims, as long as they could be distingu