How often, during this conversation, was Murray tempted to rush out
amongst them, and seize a desperate revenge! But the thought of his
poor cousin, now awaiting his return, and perhaps already suffering
dreadful alarms from such extraordinary uproar, restrained him; and
unable to move from his hiding-place without precipitating himself into
instant death, he remained nearly an hour in the most painful anxiety,
watching the dropping to sleep of this horrid crew, one by one.
When all seemed hushed-not a voice, even in a whisper, startling his
ear-he ventured forth with a stealing step toward the slumbering group.
Like his brave ancestor, Gaul, the son of Morni, "he disdained to stab
a sleeping foe!" He must pass them to reach the private stairs. He
paused and listened. Silence still reigned; not even a hand moved, so
deeply were they sunk in the fumes of wine. He took courage, and flew
with the lightness of air to the secret door. As he laid his hand on
it, it opened from without, and two persons appeared. By the few rays
which gleamed from the expiring torches of the sleepers, he could see
that the first wore English armor.
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