第86章 THE BLACK DEATH(3)

Walter despatched messengers to all the outlying farms desiring his tenants to meet him that afternoon at the castle in order that measures might be concerted for common aid and assistance.An hour later Dame Vernon and Edith came down and visited all the houses where the plague had made its appearance, distributing their soups, and by cheering and comforting words raising the spirits of the relatives of the sufferers.

The names of all the women ready to aid in the general work of nursing were taken down, and in the afternoon at the meeting at the castle the full arrangements were completed.Work was to be carried on as usual in order to occupy men's minds and prevent them from brooding over the ravages of the plague.Information of any case that occurred was to be sent to the castle, where soups and medicines were to be obtained.Whenever more assistance was required than could be furnished by the inmates of a house another woman was to be sent to aid.Boys were told off as messengers to fetch food and other matters as required from the castle.

So, bravely and firmly, they prepared to meet the pestilence; it spread with terrible severity.Scarce a house which did not lose some of its inmates, while in others whole families were swept away.All day Walter and his wife and Dame Vernon went from house to house, and although they could do nothing to stem the progress of the pestilence, their presence and example supported the survivors and prevented the occurrence of any of the panic and disorder which in most places accompanied it.

The castle was not exempt from the scourge.First some of the domestics were seized, and three men and four women died.Walter himself was attacked, but he took it lightly, and three days after the seizure passed into a state of convalescence.Dame Vernon was next attacked, and expired six hours after the commencement of the seizure.Scarcely was Walter upon his feet than Ralph, who had not for a moment left his bedside, was seized, but he too, after being at death's door for some hours, turned the corner.

Lastly Edith sickened.

By this time the scourge had done its worst in the village, and three-fifths of the population had been swept away.All the male retainers in the castle had died, and the one female who survived was nursing her dying mother in the village.

Edith's attack was a very severe one.Walter, alone now, for Ralph, although convalescent, had not yet left his bed, sat by his wife's bedside a prey to anxiety and grief; for although she had resisted the first attack she was now, thirty-six hours after it had seized her, fast sinking.

Gradually her sight and power of speech faded, and she sank into the state of coma which was the prelude of death, and lay quiet and motionless, seeming as if life had already departed.Suddenly Walter was surprised by the sound of many heavy feet ascending the stairs.He went out into the ante-room to learn the cause of this strange tumult, when five armed men, one of whom was masked, rushed into the room.Walter caught up his sword from the table.

"Ruffians," he exclaimed, "how dare you desecrate the abode of death?"Without a word the men sprang upon him.For a minute he defended himself against their attacks, but he was still weak, his guard was beaten down, and a blow felled him to the ground.

"Now settle her," the masked man exclaimed, and the band rushed into the adjoining room.They paused, however, at the door at the sight of the lifeless figure on the couch.

"We are saved that trouble," one said, "we have come too late."The masked figure approached the couch and bent over the figure.

"Yes," he said, "she is dead, and so much the better."Then he returned with the others to Walter.

"He breathes yet," he said."He needs a harder blow than that you gave him to finish him.Let him lie here for a while, while you gather your booty together; then we will carry him off.There is scarcely a soul alive in the country round, and none will note us as we pass.I would not despatch him here, seeing that his body would be found with wounds upon it, and even in these times some inquiry might be made; therefore it were best to finish him elsewhere.When he is missed it will be supposed that he went mad at the death of his wife, and has wandered out and died, may be in the woods, or has drowned himself in a pond or stream.Besides, I would that before he dies he should know what hand has struck the blow, and that my vengeance, which he slighted and has twice escaped, has overtaken him at last."After ransacking the principal rooms and taking all that was valuable, the band of marauders lifted the still insensible body of Walter, and carrying it down- stairs flung it across a horse.One of the ruffians mounted behind it, and the others also getting into their saddles the party rode away.

They were mistaken, however, in supposing that the Lady Edith was dead.She was indeed very nigh the gates of death, and had it not been for the disturbance would assuredly have speedily entered them.The voice of her husband raised in anger, the clash of steel, followed by the heavy fall, had awakened her deadened brain.Consciousness had at once returned to her, but as yet no power of movement.As at a great distance she had heard the words of those who entered her chamber, and had understood their import.