What wonder?
Their stomachs are empty, their hands are blue, their wives and children are they know not where, and the heavy curse of the Church hangs over them, all of which things may be mended if they play you false.

Let us take what horses remain and slip away at dead of night if we can; or if we cannot, then let us die, as many better folk have done before." So they agreed to try their fortune, thinking that it was so bad it could not be worse, and spent the rest of that day in getting ready as best they could.

The seven horses still stood in the stable, and although they were stiff from want of exercise, had been hay-fed and watered.

On these they proposed to ride, but first they must tell the truth to those who had stood by them.

So about three o'clock of the afternoon Christopher called all the men together beneath the gateway and sorrowfully set out his tale.