; and Hugh determined to attempt
a desperate rush with the Lady Mary up the road: desperate indeed it
was, but he saw that if he could but get clear of the fight, there
were none that could follow, except perhaps the chief himself; Hugh
leant across his horse's neck; the Lady Mary sate still and silent,
like the daughter of a line of knights, looking at the combat with a
steady and unblenching look. He laid his hand on her bridle rein, and
she turned and looked in his eyes; and he saw that therein which made
him glad in the midst of the dangers--though he was too much
accustomed to battle to have fear for himself--it was as a man, that
had been long voyaging, might see, in a clear dawn, the cliffs of his
home across the leaping seas.

He pointed, and said a word in her ear; she glanced at him, nodded,
and drew up her rein; but at that moment his horse gave a short upward
jerk, and then fell grovelling on his knees, an arrow sticking in his
side, close to Sir Hugh's knee. He flung his foot clear, and leapt to
the Lady's side; and then in a moment he saw that the battle was gone
against him past mending. Another flight of arrows sang from the
thicket, and four of the troopers in the glade fell from their horses,
and the lancers, who were drawing back, pressed down upon them. Then
Sir Hugh signed swiftly to the Lady that she should ride clear; but in
that moment the Lady's horse fell too. Sir Hugh caught her in his
arms, and dragged her free of the horse, tearing her gown by the knee,
for the arrow that had slain the horse had pierced through the Lady's
garment, though without wounding her. Then he saw that they were very
hard beset, and that there was no way out; so he hastened to the rock,
laid his hands upon a little ledge about as high as his head; leapt
up, set his sword beside him, and then, stooping down, drew the Lady
up beside him. Then he shouted to his men to come back to the rock;
there were but a handful left; but they drew back slowly, and made a
little ring about the base of the rock, while the others drew slowly
in around them, but halted at a little distance, fearing the flashing
swords.

The Red Hound himself stood near at hand; Hugh heard him shout his
commands aloud, and heard him say that they should save the girl
alive, and take the Knight captive if they could--and the Lady Mary
heard it too, for she turned to Sir Hugh, and with a sudden look of
entreaty, said, "Hugh, I must not fall into his hands