Long after the singing was died away I (like one dazed) could think of nought but this accursed song, these words the which had haunted my sick-bed and methought no more than the outcome of my own fevered imagination; thus my mind running on this and very full of troubled perplexity, I suffered my lady to bring me within our refuge, but with my ears on the stretch as expectant to hear again that strange, deep voice sing these words I had heard chanted by a dead man in my dreams.
Being come within our third cave (or kitchen) my lady shows me a small cord that dangled in certain shadowy corner, and pulling on this cord, down falls a rope-ladder and hangs suspended; and I knew this for Adam's "ladder of cords" whereby he had been wont to mount into his fourth (and secret) cavern, as mentioned in his chronicle.
"Here lieth safety, Martin," says my lady, "for as Master Penfeather writes in his journal 'one resolute man lying upon the hidden ledge' (up yonder) 'may withstand a whole army so long as his shot last.' And you are very resolute and so am I!"
"True!" says I, "True!" Yet, even as I spake, stood all tense and rigid, straining my ears to catch again the words of this hateful song. But now my dear lady catches my hand and, peering up at me in the dimness, presently draws me into the outer cave where the moon made a glory.
"O Martin!" says she, looking up at me with troubled eyes, "Dear Martin, what is it?"
"Aye--what?" quoth I, wiping sweat from me. "God knoweth. But you heard? That song? The words--"
"I heard a man singing, Martin. But what of it--we are safe here! Ah--why are you so strange?"
"Damaris," says I, joying in the comfort of her soft, strong arms about me, "dear love of mine, here is thing beyond my understanding, for these were words I dreamed sung to me by a dead man--the man Humphrey--out beyond the reef--"
"Nay, but dear Martin, this was a real voice. 'Tis some shipwrecked mariner belike, some castaway--"
"Aye--but did you--mark these words, Damaris?"
"Nay--O my dear, how should I--at such a moment!"
"They were all--of Black Bartlemy! And what should this mean, think you?"
"Nay, dear love, never heed!" says she, clasping me the closer.
"Aye, but I must, Damaris, for--in a while this singing shall come again mayhap and--if it doth--I know what 'twill be!"
"O Martin--Martin, what do you mean?"
"I mean 'twill be about the poor Spanish lady," says I, and catching up my belt where it hung, I buckled it about me.