Читать книгу A Queen of Nine Days онлайн

18 страница из 48

'How shall I thank you?' I said gratefully. 'Sir, you have saved my life.'

'I thank God that I came in time,' he said. 'I fear those rascals have terrified you much.'

'I fear they have hurt my good serving-men,' I said, looking round for them.

My champion, desirous of serving me still more, picked up my poor Timothy, who, having been thrown down and trampled upon, was in no little pain. He breathed better, however, when his arms were freed and his legs unbound, and began to lament the loss of the horses and litter, which made us think he was coming round finely. We left him, therefore, to look to Joseph, who was in a desperate state, having been almost smothered by the gag which was tied over his mouth and nostrils. His face, swollen and discoloured, was fearful to look upon, but I took his poor head on my lap and endeavoured to induce him to drink from a flask my rescuer had put in my hand.

The good knight stood by me, with the kindest eyes it seemed to me that I had ever seen.

'Give him time,' he said; 'give him time. There is no hurry.'