ber to our last breath, but we are few, the French are many, and
succour may be far off."

"Then you meant to have taken me out of their reach this morning,
Osmond?"

"Yes, my Lord."

"And if I had not flown into a passion and told who I was, I might have
been safe! O Sir Eric! Sir Eric! you will not let me be carried off to
a French prison!"

"Here, my child," said Dame Astrida, holding out her arms, "Sir Eric will
do all he can for you, but we are in God's hands!"

Richard came and leant against her. "I wish I had not been in a
passion!" said he, sadly, after a silence; then looking at her in
wonder--"But how came you up all this way?"

"It is a long way for my old limbs," said Fru Astrida, smiling, "but my
son helped me, and he deems it the only safe place in the Castle."

"The safest," said Sir Eric, "and that is not saying much for it."

"Hark!" said Osmond, "what a tramping the Franks are making. They are
beginning to wonder where the Duke is."

"To the stairs, Osmond," said Sir Eric. "On that narrow step one man may
keep them at bay a long time. You can speak their jargon too, and hold
parley with them."

"Perhaps they will think I am gone," whispered Richard, "if they cannot
find me, and go away."

Osmond and two of the Normans were, as he spoke, taking their stand on
the narrow spiral stair, where there was just room for one man on the
step. Osmond was the lowest, the other two above him, and it would have
been very hard for an enemy to force his way past them.

Osmond could plainly hear the sounds of the steps and voices of the
French as they consulted together, and sought for the Duke. A man at
length was heard clanking up these very stairs, till winding round, he
suddenly found himself close upon young de Centeville.

"Ha! Norman!" he cried, starting back in amazement, "what are you doing
here?"

"My duty," answered Osmond, shortly. "I am here to guard this stair;"
and his drawn sword expressed the same intention.

The Frenchman drew back, and presently a whispering below was heard, and
soon after a voice came up the stairs, saying, "Norman--good Norman--"

"What would you say?" replied Osmond, and the head of another Frank
appeared. "What means all this, my friend?" was the address. "Our King
comes as a guest to you, and you received him last evening as loyal
vassals. Wherefore have you now drawn out of the way, and striven to
bear off your young Duke into secret places? Tr