thee, if I had thee thus, I would cut thy throat." And the king said, "For what dost thou despise my grace?" "For a word, merely." "I must hear it." "Thou darest not." "The word." "Liberty!" And they four cried out "Liberty!" till the king in anger delivered them to the guard, when they went out shouting, so that all the assembly feared, and wondered at them. When they were gone, the king retired to feast, and caroused in joy at the end of the war.
Soon after the prisoners had got to their cell, a messenger came with the warrant of death sealed in his hand, and commanded the three others to leave Christian in his cell; so that these brave fellows were forced to part. They went away as if they had been going on a party of hawking, or some graceful pleasure, but with hearts puffed up to their ribs. As Christian heard the last whispers of their footfall pass the vault, tears started involuntarily to his eyes; yet he knew not despair, but was full of excessive feeling. He thought over all his battles, and felt proud at heart for having done greatly, and for the best, in all things: a happiness greater than any but himself could know. He, though the butt of all mischance, was great enough, in his own honour, to stride over fate; and thinking once more on the blessed cause he had
