Smithers, ’twas as if one half the place was murthering the other.  The farmer got frightened, and would have been off; but when I saw what he was at, “No,” says I, “not an inch do we budge without news of my Lord.”  So Jack stood by the rope, and let them see that ’twas as much as their life was worth to try to unmoor.  Mercy, what a night it was!  Shrieks and shouts, and shots and howls, here, there, and everywhere, and splashes into the rive; and by and by we saw the poor murthered creatures come floating by.  The farmer, he had some words with one of the boats near, and I heard somewhat of Huguenot and Hereteek, and I knew that was what they called good Protestants.  Then up comes the farmer with his sons looking mighty ugly at us, and signing that unless we let them be off ’twould be set ashore for us; and we began to think as how we had best be set ashore, and go down the five of us to see if we could stand by my young Lord in some strait, or give notice to my Lord Ambassador.’

‘God reward you!’ exclaimed Lady Walwyn.

‘Twas only our duty, my Lady,’ gruffly answered Humfrey; ’but just as Hal had got on the quay, what should I see but Master Landry coming down the street with my young Lord in his back!  I can tell you he was well-nigh spent; and just then half a dozen butcherly villains came out on him, bawling, “Tu-y! tu-y!” which it seems means “kill, kill.”  He turned about and showed them that he had got a white sleeve and white cross in his bonnet, like them, the rascals, giving them to understand that he was only going to throw the corpse into the river.  I doubted him then myself; but he caught sight of us, and in his fashion of talk with us, called out to us to help, for there was life still.  So two of us took my Lord, and the other three gave the beggarly French cut-throats as good as they meant for us; while Landry shouted to the farmer to wait, and we got aboard, and made right away down the river.  But never a word has the poor young gentleman spoken, though Master Landry has done all a barber or a sick-nurse could do; and he got us past the cities by showing the papers in my Lord’s pocket, so that we got safe to the farmer’s place.  There we lay till we could get a boat to Jersey, and thence again home; and maybe my young Lord will mend now Mistress Cecily will have the handing of him.’

‘That is it the wisest Hands, good Humfrey,’ said Lord Walwyn, as the tears of feeble age flowed down his cheeks.  ’May He who hath brought the lad safely so far spare him yet, and raise him up.  But whether he live or die, you son and daughter Thistlewood will look that the faithfulness of Humfrey Holt and his comrades be never forgotten or unrewarded.’