Grimly determined was his look!
His charger with the spurs he strook--
All scatter'd backward as he came,
For all knew Bertram Risingham!
Three bounds that noble courser gave;
The first has reach'd the central nave,
The second clear'd the chancel wide.
The third--he was at Wycliffe's side.
* * * * *
While yet the smoke the deed conceals,
Bertram his ready charger wheels;
But flounder'd on the pavement-floor
The steed, and down the rider bore,
And, bursting in the headlong sway.
The faithless saddle-girths gave way.
'Twas while he toil'd him to be freed.
And with the rein to raise the steed.
That from amazement's iron trance
All Wycliffe's soldiers waked at once.
(_Distance walked fifteen miles_.)
_Friday, October 20th._
We left Kendal before breakfast, as we were becoming anxious about
maintaining our average of twenty-five miles per day, for we had only
walked nineteen miles on Wednesday and fifteen miles yesterday, and we
had written to our friends some days before saying that we hoped to
reach York Minster in time for the services there on Sunday.
[Illustration: KIRKBY LONSDALE CHURCH.
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