They listened eagerly, and caught the name "Dunstan," as if uttered in
vehement fear, then the cry. "Water! I burn!" and cry after cry, as if
from one in delirium.
"It is Elfric! it is Elfric!" said Alfred.
"It is my young lord's voice," said the thrall; "he is in a fever from
his wound."
"What can we do?" and Alfred walked impatiently to and fro; at last he
stopped.
"Oswy! if it costs me my life I will enter the castle!"
"It shall cost my life too, then. I will live and die with my lord!"
"Come here, Oswy; they do not know the little postern door hidden behind
those bushes; the passage leads up to the chapel, and to the gallery
leading to my father's chamber, where Elfric lies dying. I remember that
that door was left unlocked, and perhaps I can save him. They are all
feasting like hogs; they will not know, and if Ragnar meet me, why, he
or I must die;" and he put his hand convulsively upon the sword which
was dependent from his girdle.
"Lead on, my lord; you will find your thrall ready to live or die with
you!" said Oswy.
At the extreme angle of the building there was a large quantity of holly
bushes which grew out of the soil between the moat and the wall, which
itself was clothed with the thickest ivy; the roof above was slanting--
an ordinary timber roof covering the chapel--so that no sentinel could
be overhead. Standing on the further side of the moat, all this and no
more could be observed.
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