The morning dawned with a most welcome radiance upon the haggard
and exhausted Harris, as he lay on the bank of a muddy brook, from
which, after his desperate efforts in the ditch, he had no strength to
retreat. But he soon felt the refreshing influence of the morning air,
and as he cast his eye over the different and well-known objects around
him, his scattered senses began to return and his courage to revive. He
saw in the miserable plight of his dress and the bruises on his limbs
that he had been foiled in his great battle with the adversary; but he
hoped that after all Satan had been so much annoyed by his prayers and
quotations, that he had fled out of the region. He dared not, however,
venture back into the house, until he saw Bolton coming towards him,
who having fled at the first onset, was not so stupified with terror
as his friend Harris. Bolton, however, looked as if he had passed a
comfortless night. He had been separated from the other guards, who
had sought their own safety, and at last found shelter in a cottage,
distant from town, where he remained till morning.
'How came you, Bolton, to leave me to fight the battle alone?'
exclaimed Harris.
'Because, I am no match for the devil,' said Bolton; 'and you,
Harris--did you stand your ground?'
'Stand it? Yes, long after you had left it, and it was not till the
monster was directly upon me, that I began to retreat.'
'Retreat! you retreat?' said Bolton; 'why, you said the devil would
flee at the first word you uttered. I am afraid, Harris, you are not so
much of a saint as you thought.'
'Saint!' replied the indignant Harris, 'it would take an army of saints
to drive off such a dragon as he who assaulted me. I tell you, Bolton,
if I had not been a saint I should have been consumed by the flames
that surrounded me. But thank God, I was delivered out of the mouth of
the lion!'
'Shall we venture into the house?' said Bolton; 'it is now clear
daylight, and as dragons are abroad only in the night, I think we may
go in with safety.'
'I will go,' said Harris; 'my courage revives, and methinks I could
even face the dragon again. Oh! Bolton, it is a great thing to have a
good conscience!'
'It is a better thing, so far as safety is concerned, to have nimble
feet,' replied Bolton. 'I believe you and I, Harris, must trust more to
these than to any special friendship with conscience.'
'We are both sinners, Bolton, and saints too, I hope,' said Harris;
'but look, every thing seems natural about the house; there is no mark
of fire or brimstone. I have faith to believe that last prayer of mine
was not fruitless.'
As the jailer uttered this, they entered the door, and the first
objects they saw were the horns, cloak and appurtenances of Strale.
A note was seen on the table, and Harris hastily opening it, read as
follows:
'The bird has flown. Faithful guards, what account will ye give
of your stewardship? Thanks to your superstition and folly, they
have given us that, which we sought in vain from your sense of
justice and humanity. The wicked flee when no man pursueth. If ye
tremble and flee before the painted symbol of Satan, what will ye
do when you meet the arch Enemy face to face?