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And he went off singing …
〃Three felons hung from a roadside tree； One black and one white and one grey； And the ravens plucked their eyes away From one and two and three； That honest men might see And thievish knaves should pay； Lest these might be As blind as they。 Ah； well…a…day； well…a…day！ One … two … three！ On the gallows…tree hung they。〃
Hilarius listened with a smile until the last notes of Martin's voice had died away； and then fell a…musing of hunger and love； the dancer and the Prior。
Suddenly； as if his thought had taken speech； he heard a voice say：
〃I hunger； I hunger； feed me most sweet Manna； for I hunger … I hunger； and I love。〃
He sprang to his feet； but there was no one in sight。 Again the shrill quavering voice called：
〃Love of God； I hunger； Love of God； I die。 Blessed Peter； pray for me！ Blessed Michael； defend me！〃
Hilarius knew now； it was the Ankret； that holy man who for sixty years had fasted and prayed in his living tomb at the corner of the cloister。 He was held a saint above all the ankrets before him； and wondrous wise； the King himself had sought his counsel； and the Convent held him in high esteem。
Again the voice： Hilarius strove to reach up to the grated window of the cell … it was too high above him。 An overpowering desire came upon him to ask the Ankret of his future。 With a spring he caught at the window's upright bars； his cap flew off and he hung bare…headed； the sun behind him； gazing into the cell。
On his knees was an old man whose long white hair lay in matted locks upon his shoulders； and whose beard fell far below his girdle。 The skin of his face was like grey parchment； and his deep…set eyes glowed strangely in their hollow cavities。
Hilarius strove to speak； but words failed him。
The Ankret looking up saw the beautiful face at his window with its aureole of yellow hair； and stretched out his bony withered hands。
〃Blessed Michael； Blessed Michael； the messenger of the Lord！〃 he cried； gaining strength from the vision。
〃What would'st thou； Father！〃 said Hilarius； afraid。
〃Nay； who am I that I should speak？ and yet； and yet … 〃 the old man's voice grew weaker … 〃the Bread of Heaven； that I may die in peace。〃
He stretched out his hands again entreatingly； and Hilarius was sore perplexed。
〃Dost thou crave speech of the Abbat； my Father？〃
The Ankret looked troubled。
〃Blessed Michael； Blessed Michael！〃 he murmured entreatingly。
Hilarius' hands hurt him sore； it was clear that the holy man saw some wondrous vision； and 'twas no gain time to speech of him。
〃Blessed Michael； Blessed Michael！〃 quavered the old； tired voice。
Hilarius felt himself slipping； with a great effort he held fast and braced himself against the wall
〃Blessed Michael； Blessed Michael！〃 … The appeal in the half…dead face was awful。
Hilarius' grip failed； he slid to the ground bruised and sore from the unaccustomed strain； but well pleased。 True； he had gained no counsel from the Ankret； but he had seen the holy man … ay； even when he was visited by a heavenly messenger； and that in itself should bring a blessing。 He turned to go； when a sudden thought came to him。 There was no one in sight； no sound but the failing cry from the tired old saint。 Hilarius doffed his cap again and his fresh young voice rose clear and sweet through the thin still air：…
〃Iesu； dulcis memoria； Dans vera cordis gaudia； Sed super mel et omnia Dulcis ejus praesentia。〃
At the fourth stanza his memory failed him； but he could hear the Ankret crooning to himself the words he had sung； and crying softly like a little child。
Hilarius went home with wonder in his heart； but said no word of what had befallen him； and that night the Ankret died； and the Sub… Prior gave him the last sacraments。
Next day it was known that a vision had been vouchsafed the holy man before his end； and that the Prince of Angels himself had brought his message of release： and Hilarius； greatly content to think that the Blessed Michael had indeed been so near him； kept his own counsel。
He told Lady Eleanor of Martin's words。
〃God save the King！〃 she said； and went into her oratory to pray： and there was need of prayer； for the Minstrel's foreboding was no idle one。 Ere London knew it the Plague was at her gates； yet the King； undeterred； came to spend Christmas at Westminster； but Martin was not in his train。 Men's mirth waxed hot by reason of the terror they would not recognise。 Banquet and revel； allegory and miracle play； pageant of beautiful women and brave men； junketing； ay； and rioting … thus they flung a defiance at the enemy； and then fled： for across the clash of the feast bells sounded the mournful note of funeral dirge and requiem。
Eleanor； knowing Hilarius' ardent longing for school and master； prayed her father to set him on the way to St Alban's instead of keeping him with them to follow a fugitive Court。 The good knight； feeling one page more or less mattered little when Death was so ready to serve； and anxious for the lad's safety and well…being； assented gladly enough。 So it came to pass that on the Feast of the Three Kings Hilarius found himself on the Watling Street Way； a well…filled purse in his pocket； but a fearful heart under his jerkin； for the Death he had never seen loomed large； a great king； and by all accounts a most mighty hunter。
CHAPTER IV … BLIND EYES WHICH COULD SEE
IT is； for the most part； the moneyed man who flees from the face of Death； the poor man awaits him quietly； with patient indifference； in the field or under his own roof…tree； ay； and often flings the door wide for the guest； or hastens his coming。 Thus it came to pass that while the stricken poor agonised in the grip of unknown horror； bishop and merchant； prince and chapman； fine ladies in gorgeous litters； abbesses with their train of nuns； and many more； fled north； east； and west； from the pestilent cities； and encumbered the roads with much traffic。 One procession； and one only； did Hilarius meet making its way to London。
It was a keen frosty day； there had been little previous rain or snow； and the roads were dry； the trees in the hedgerows； bare and stricken skeletons； stood out sharp and black against a cold grey sky。 Suddenly the sound of a mournful chant smote upon the still air； music and words alike strange。 The singers came slowly up the roadway； men of foreign aspect walking with bent heads； their dark； matted locks almost hiding their wild； fixed eyes and thin； haggard faces。 They were stripped to the waist； their backs torn and bleeding； and carried each a bloody scourge wherewith to strike his fellow。 At the third step they signed the sign of the Cross with their prostrate bodies on the ground； and thus in blood and penitence they went towards London。
Hilarius was familiar with the exercise but not the manner of it。 These strange； wild men filled him with horror； and he shrank back with the rest。 Then a man sprang from among the watching crowd； tore off jerkin and shirt； and flung up his arms to heaven with a great sob。
〃I left wife and children to perish alone；〃 he cried； 〃and fled to save my miserable skin。 Now may God have mercy on my soul； for I go back。 Smite； and smite hard； brother！〃 and he stepped in front of the first flagellant。
At this there arose a cry from the folk that looked on； and many fell on their knees and confessed their sins； accusing themselves with groanings and tears； but Hilarius； seized with sudden terror； turned and fled blindly； without thought of direction； his eyes wide； the blood drumming in his ears； a great horror at his heels … a horror that could drive a man from wife and child； that had driven brave Martin to flee against the wind； and all this folk to leave house and home to save that which most men count dearer than either。
At last； exhausted and panting； he stayed to rest； and saw； coming towards him； a blind friar。 Hilarius had turned into a by…way in the hurry of his terror； and they two were alone。 The friar was a small； mean…looking man； feeling his way by the aid of hand and staff； his face upturned； craving the light。 He stopped when he came up with Hilarius； and turne