The light flashing from his weapons
marked his form rapidly receding from their grasp.
But Ralph, who, as we may suppose, was minded to imitate the evolutions
of his master, being it seemed of a more heavy and considerate
demeanour, paused for a space ere he leapt.
This deliberation was fatal to his enterprise. The enemy, recovering
from their confusion, seized him in default of his master, and without
further ado bore him away as a visible acquittance of themselves to the
abbot. There could be no great harm in throwing the blame of this
unlucky affair on the companion of the escaped incendiary: besides, it
would be an effective lesson to him on the danger of keeping bad
company.
Through bog and brake, over moor and mountain, they hurried on with
their prisoner, who, dooming them all to "clootie" and his imps, and
commending himself to Michael, Mary, and a number of his especial
patrons in the Romish calendar, was urged forward with more than their
usual speed.
The blaze had ceased to be visible when they came to the last descent
towards the village. Far and wide the alarm had spread; consternation
and inquiry were on every countenance.
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