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A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court | Mark Twain | |
The Tragedy Of The Manor-House |
Page 3 of 6 |
"If he hanged himself, he was willing to lose him property to his lord; so let him be. If others hanged him, belike they had the right -- let him hang." "But --" "But me no buts, but even leave him as he is. And for yet another reason. When the lightning cometh again -- there, look abroad." Two others hanging, within fifty yards of us! "It is not weather meet for doing useless courtesies unto dead folk. They are past thanking you. Come -- it is unprofitable to tarry here." There was reason in what he said, so we moved on. Within the next mile we counted six more hanging forms by the blaze of the lightning, and altogether it was a grisly excursion. That murmur was a murmur no longer, it was a roar; a roar of men's voices. A man came flying by now, dimly through the darkness, and other men chasing him. They disappeared. Presently another case of the kind occurred, and then another and another. Then a sudden turn of the road brought us in sight of that fire -- it was a large manor-house, and little or nothing was left of it -- and everywhere men were flying and other men raging after them in pursuit. I warned the king that this was not a safe place for strangers. We would better get away from the light, until matters should improve. We stepped back a little, and hid in the edge of the wood. From this hiding-place we saw both men and women hunted by the mob. The fearful work went on until nearly dawn. Then, the fire being out and the storm spent, the voices and flying footsteps presently ceased, and darkness and stillness reigned again. |
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A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court Mark Twain |
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