As for Denys and the other, they feasted recklessly, and plied the bottle unceasingly, and drank healths and caroused beneath that creaking sepulchre and its ghastly tenants.
"Ask him how they came here," said Denys, with his mouth full, and pointing up without looking.
On this question being interpreted to the watcher, he replied that treason had been their end, diabolical treason and priest-craft.

He then, being rendered communicative by drink, delivered a long prosy narrative, the purport of which was as follows.

These honest gentlemen who now dangled here so miserably were all stout men and true, and lived in the forest by their wits.

Their independence and thriving state excited the jealousy and hatred of a large portion of mankind, and many attempts were made on their lives and liberties; these the Virgin and their patron saints, coupled with their individual skill and courage constantly baffled.

But yester eve a party of merchants came slowly on their mules from Dusseldorf.