owever, as the king reached firm ground, taking
his sword in his left hand--for his right arm was still stiff with a
wound and the bandage round it--he led his men to the spot where the
fight was the hottest. The Irish horse retired, fighting obstinately.
In the midst of the tumult of pistols flashing and swords cutting in all
directions, William rode up to the gallant Enniskilleners.

"`What will you do for me?' he cried out; but not being immediately
recognised, a trooper, taking him for an enemy, was about to fire.

"`What!' said he, `do you not know your friends?'

"`It's his Majesty!' exclaimed the colonel of the regiment.

"On hearing this, a loud shout of joy burst from the men, who were all
Protestant yeomen.

"`Gentlemen!' said William, `you shall be my guards to-day. I have
heard much of you; let us now see something of each other, and what we
can do.'

"With this he led them forward against the enemy, who at length took to
flight, and in a short time there was no doubt that the battle was won.

"Since I have read that account, I have always looked upon the king as a
real hero."

"As a mere fighter or a leader of men in battle, he may not be
contemptible," answered the young lady, not quite liking Jack's remarks;
"but, for my part, I should prefer acknowledging the sovereign `who is
every inch a king,' as William Shakspeare says."

"I have never read any of Shakspeare's plays, or seen them acted either;
but of one thing I am very sure, that King William would not allow such
doings as have been long taking place in France, and which James Stuart
would ere long have imitated. Just think, Miss Harwood, of the way the
poor Protestants are treated there. If they refuse to turn Romanists,
they are persecuted in every possible manner. The roughest soldiers are
quartered in their houses, and allowed to treat them as they think fit.
The ministers are driven from the country, and if any Huguenot gentlemen
are captured attempting to make their escape, they are sent to the
galleys, and have there to row on board those vessels, chained to the
oar like slaves. Had King James remained in the country, there is no
saying whether he might not have treated us Protestants in the same
way."

Alethea was a little disconcerted at Jack's matter-of-fact view of the
Stuart cause.

"But then, you know," she exclaimed, "James was the rightful sovereign;
you cannot deny that."

"My father says that both his father, Ki