Thus it was as hard to break out of the door, of which the enemy held the approach, as it was grievous to await the smiter within the house.

At last necessity forced him to put an end to his delay, and he judged that a hazard wherein there lay but the smallest chance of safety was more desirable than sure and manifest danger.

Also, hard as it was to fly, the danger being so close, yet he desired flight because it seemed to bring him aid, and to be the nearer way to safety; and he cast aside delay, which seemed to be an evil bringing not the smallest help, but perhaps irretrievable ruin.

But just as he gained the threshold, the old man watching at the door smote him through the hams, and there, half dead, he tottered and fell.

For the smiter thought he ought carefully to avoid lending his illustrious hands to the death of a vile cinder-blower, and considered that ignominy would punish his shameless passion worse than death.