Joan stood by ; but as the rope lengthened , and still Dick continued to pay it out , extreme fear began to conquer her resolution . `` Dick , '' she said , `` is it so deep ? I may not essay it . I should infallibly fall , good Dick . '' It was just at the delicate moment of the operations that she spoke . Dick started ; the remainder of the coil slipped from his grasp , and the end fell with a splash into the moat . Instantly , from the battlement above , the voice of a sentinel cried , `` Who goes ? '' `` A murrain ! '' cried Dick . `` We are paid now ! Down with you -- take the rope . '' `` I can not , '' she cried , recoiling . `` An ye can not , no more can I , '' said Shelton . `` How can I swim the moat without you ? Do you desert me , then ? '' `` Dick , '' she gasped , `` I can not . The strength is gone from me . '' `` By the mass , then , we are all shent ! '' he shouted , stamping with his foot ; and then , hearing steps , he ran to the room door and sought to close it . Before he could shoot the bolt , strong arms were thrusting it back upon him from the other side .
He struggled for a second ; then , feeling himself overpowered , XXXXX back to the window .
Do cried desert gasped gone lengthened ran shouted slipped stamping