'God's thunder!' he growled. 'I have been expecting this. Well if he
dies, it may save the king some trouble.'
He jumped down, and went to Basil's side. At first the sufferer
could not speak, but when water had been given him, he gazed at
Venantius with a strange smile, and, pointing before him, said
faintly:
'Is not yonder Casinum?'
'It is. We will bear you thither for harbourage. Courage, friend!'
'Above, on the mountain,' continued Basil painfully, 'dwells my
kinsman Benedict, with his holy men. Could I but reach the
monastery!'
'Why, perchance you may,' replied the captain. 'And in truth you
would be better cared for there.'
'Help me, good Venantius!' panted Basil, with eyes of entreaty. 'Let
me die in the monastery.'
In those days of pestilence, every fever-stricken person was an
object of dread to all but the most loving or the most courageous.
The stalwart Venantius thought for a moment of carrying Basil before
him on his horse, but prudence overcame this humane impulse. Into
the carriage, for the same reason (had there been no other), he
could not be put; but there was a vacant place beside the driver,
and here, supported with cords, he managed to keep his seat until
they arrived at Casinum.
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