brains. The consequence was that just after
crossing what seemed to be an open furzy down, and when the road,
looking white in the moonlight, had turned gloomy and black, save where
it was splashed by the silvery light on the trees of the forest patch
into which they had passed, they began to nod upon their horses, and the
King's voice grew as he talked into an incoherent drone.

Then they were wide awake again, for just in the darkest part, where the
trees met together across the road, a shrill clear whistle rang out,
which made all draw rein and listen to the sound of horses' hoofs
clattering upon the hard road they had just traversed.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

THE WAR-CRY.

The whistle in front and the sound of following horsemen had but one
meaning for Denis, and that was danger; and there was a movement common
to nearly everyone in bygone days when danger was afoot, and that was to
throw the right hand across the body in search of the hilt of the sword
with which every traveller was armed.

It was involuntary then that, upon hearing the whistle and the trampling
hoofs, Denis tried to draw his sword, but only uttered a faint cry of
pain, for nerve and muscle had during the past few hours stiffened and
made him more helpless than before, so that his arm sank back into its
sling, but with the hand sufficiently free to receive the reins, which
he passed across, thus leaving his left hand at liberty for his dagger.

"Hah!" said the King. "They are not fools. They have chosen a likely
place for their trap, and we have walked right in. Well, gentlemen, we
don't surrender. Which is it to be--retreat or advance?"

"Advance!" cried the young men, in one breath, excitedly, and it sounded
like one voice.

"Draw, then, and forward," cried the King. "You, Saint Simon, guard
Denis on the left; I shall have the honour of forming his right flank.
But no desultory fighting. We advance and keep together as one man with
one aim--to pass through the enemy, however many they may be. Forward!"

Denis writhed at his helplessness, as in obedience to a touch of the
spur the three horses sprang forward, kept in the centre of the dark
road, and broke at once into a hand gallop; and for some fifty yards the
way seemed perfectly clear.

Then all at once the route was barred by a number of men who sprang from
each side, yelling and shouting, while from behind the trampling of
horses came nearer, and the advance was checked; for