" said he.

"For us, also?" inquired Athos.

"Grimaud and Blaisois are holding your horses, ready saddled."

"In that case," exclaimed Athos, "let us not lose an instant, but set
off."

"Come," added the king.

"Sire," said Aramis, "will not your majesty acquaint some of your
friends of this?"

"Friends!" answered Charles, sadly, "I have but three--one of twenty
years, who has never forgotten me, and two of a week's standing, whom I
shall never forget. Come, gentlemen, come!"

The king quitted his tent and found his horse ready waiting for him. It
was a chestnut that the king had ridden for three years and of which he
was very fond.

The horse neighed with pleasure at seeing him.

"Ah!" said the king, "I was unjust; here is a creature that loves me.
You at least will be faithful to me, Arthur."

The horse, as if it understood these words, bent its red nostrils toward
the king's face, and parting his lips displayed all its teeth, as if
with pleasure.

"Yes, yes," said the king, caressing it with his hand, "yes, my Arthur,
thou art a fond and faithful creature."

After this little scene Charles threw himself into the saddle, and
turning to Athos, Aramis and Winter, said:

"Now, gentlemen, I am at your service."

But Athos was standing with his eyes fixed on a black line which
bordered the banks of the Tyne and seemed to extend double the length of
the camp.

"What is that line?" cried Athos, whose vision was still rather obscured
by the uncertain shades and demi-tints of daybreak. "What is that line?
I did not observe it yesterday."

"It must be the fog rising from the river," said the king.

"Sire, it is something more opaque than the fog."

"Indeed!" said Winter, "it appears to me like a bar of red color."

"It is the enemy, who have made a sortie from Newcastle and are
surrounding us!" exclaimed Athos.

"The enemy!" cried the king.

"Yes, the enemy. It is too late. Stop a moment; does not that sunbeam
yonder, just by the side of the town, glitter on the Ironsides?"

This was the name given the cuirassiers, whom Cromwell had made his
body-guard.

"Ah!" said the king, "we shall soon see whether my Highlanders have
betrayed me or not."

"What are you going to do?" exclaimed Athos.

"To give them the order to charge, and run down these miserable rebels."

And the king, putting spurs to his horse, set off to the tent of Lord
Leven.

"Follow him," said Athos.

"Come!" exclaimed Aramis.