"It is time," said the Tatar.

They traversed the church unperceived, and emerged upon the square in front.

Dawn had long flushed the heavens; all announced sunrise.

The square was empty: in the middle of it still stood wooden pillars, showing that, perhaps only a week before, there had been a market here stocked with provisions.

The streets, which were unpaved, were simply a mass of dried mud.