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Show Page 197 settlement. The men were now shifting about in the company compound and at last I gathered up my skirts and fled toward them. I burst into the small group of men to find myself staring down at Richard's body. He lay on his face, and glad I was for that small blessing, though the back of his skull was crushed. Robert Mason was next the body digging a shallow grave with the very spade that had taken Richard's life. I heard John softly cry out my name as though he thought me a ghost, and felt him step quickly to my side and place his arm about my shoulder, trying to turn my face into his chest. But I could not look away from the body of my intended. "He spoke true," I whispered. "And we derided him for his fears and scoffed him when he went about in his armor-" "Aye," answered John. "Yet he wore it not when he needed it most. " Something sickened within me, for I feared I was the reason Richard had not taken time to don at least his helmet. Then would I have flung myself upon his body and wedded my tears with his blood had John not kept such a firm hold upon my arm. The shallow grave was dug and two men took hold of Richard and carefully rolled him into it. 'Twas then I saw his face. His forehead was split and the blood had runneled |
