“And see further.  Here is food laid up against this day.  It will all keep for many weeks.  It is but poor fare, but not poorer than thou art well used to—­salted meat, and dried fish, and oaten cake; which keeps moist far longer than any other.  Here are a few confections, and here is wine, and a jar of good mead.  As for water, it may be had at this trough here, and a goodly supply; only it comes with somewhat of a rush, and the bung is not easily rammed back in its place.  It is best to raise the tube—­so—­in the hand; but we could not make shift to do better.  There is the lantern, and oil in this vessel, and none can see the light at night from any place when it is burned.  I have placed three books in you corner—­I dared not take more from the library; but I knew thou wouldst have thy breviary with thee, and thou art never dull.  If it may be done safely, one of us will visit thee from time to time; and if there is any way of escape open to thee, thou shalt surely hear thereof.

“But be not dismayed if days go by and thou hearest naught.  It may be safer that thou shouldst be left quite alone.  Thou wilt not think thyself forgotten?”

Brother Emmanuel’s eyes were fixed with a tender gaze upon the faces of the bold, generous boys.  He took their hands in his, and they bent the knee to receive his blessing.  His words were few and brief, but each lad as he rose resolved deep down in his heart that he would suffer the penalty of death itself sooner than betray the secret hiding place and give the brother up to his foes.

Then with a few more last words respecting the hiding place and the arrangements made for the comfort of its occupant, the pair stole away, and soon found themselves safely within the walls of their own room, the door of which was still safely locked.  They looked each other in the face with a proud, glad smile.

“It is done!” cried Edred, drawing a long breath.

“Nay, not altogether,” answered Julian, with eyes that flashed with excitement; and drawing a step nearer his brother, he said in changed tones, “Now must that rascally priest have fled, and it behoves us to search the precincts of the place with all diligence.  We must not leave a nook or a cranny unvisited, and must make a mighty coil.  Thou takest me, brother, dost thou not?”

Edred made a quick, eager sign of assent.

“Ay, Julian, I do; and when we have done all that, let us back to the priory again.  We must whisper in our father’s ear that Brother Emmanuel is safe.  Then will he act with a freer hand.  And it were better, perchance, that we were all there to ride back with him when he takes his leave.”

Julian assented at once to this proposition; and forth went the boys, at first calling aloud the name of their tutor, and then halting, always within earshot of one of the spies, to debate where he could have concealed himself, darting hither and thither, as if suddenly remembering some new place, and ever returning disappointed and vexed.