As John Aycliffe and his men chase Crispin, the young boy runs for his life. However, Crispin manages to elude his would-be captors after swimming across the millrace (a ditch filled with river water that turns the mill's wheels) and making his way to the southern end of Stromford.
Crispin is so intent on escaping the clutches of Aycliffe and his men that he almost misses Father Quinel's body on the road. It is only when he kneels down to pray that he sees the priest's body on the ground. When he turns the body over, he realizes to his horror and grief that the priest has had his throat slit and is dead. It is right after this ghastly discovery that Crispin feels as if God has abandoned him. He likely feels this way because everyone he has ever loved and trusted is now dead.
At present, he has no one he can depend on to protect him and to keep him safe from capture and certain death. He can see no future for himself but that of 'an early death and an unmarked grave.' He reasons that he will also likely end up in Hell, as there will be no priests to perform the sacred last rites of his faith. Because he thinks that his situation is hopeless, Crispin feels that God has largely abandoned him. Despite his despair, however, he finds himself again entrusting his safety to God.
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