hovering round I should have been at their mercy had I tried to get
on my feet. So I kept on struggling until I saw my opportunity,
and then as that fellow's back was turned I rolled over against
him, and so gave you the chance that you were waiting for. Well,
master, it has been a sharp business."

"It has indeed. Now the first thing is to see if there is anyone
else in the house, and the next to look about for some clothes for
you to put on, for those you wear are covered with blood. Then we
must be off, and put as many miles between us and this place before
morning as we can."

A brief search showed that the place was empty, save for the dead
in the taproom. An old doublet belonging to the landlord was
found hanging up in the loft where he slept. Taking off his outer
garments, Paolo put this on.

"It is lucky I kept my breeches on under the others," he said, "for
I certainly could not have gone into a town with these stained
things on. I suppose there is some money hidden somewhere, but we
have not time to look. You may be sure that many a traveller has
been murdered here."

"I quite agree with you, but we have certainly no time to spare to
hunt for it. Let us be off at once."

Reloading their pistols and carefully wiping their axes they went
out by a door at the back of the house, for neither cared to re-enter
the scene of the slaughter. Before doing so, however, they took a
long draught from the landlord's beer barrel, to make up for the