So hand in hand they went till they, too, grew small and vanished on the snowy marsh.
But Grey Dick stayed there alone with the dead, and presently spoke aloud for company.
“The woman has him heart and soul,” he said, “as is fitting, and where’s the room between the two for an archer-churl to lodge? Mayhap, after all, I should have done well to take yonder Murgh for lord when I had the chance. Man, or god, or ghost, he’s a fellow to my liking, and once he had led me through the Gates no woman would have dared to come to part us. Well, good-bye, Hugh de Cressi, till you are sick of kisses and the long shafts begin to fly again, for then you will bethink you of a certain bow and of him who alone can bend it.”
Having spoken thus in his hissing voice, whereof the sound resembled that of an arrow in its flight, Grey Dick descended into the grave and trod the earth over Acour’s false and handsome face, hiding it from the sight of men forever.
Then he lifted up the dead Sir Andrew in his strong arms and slowly bore him thence to burial.
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