ing reflected from the broad blades of halberds
borne by men who were evidently forming up in obedience to a shouted
order, before making for the castle.

The horsemen needed no command. They knew what they had to do--to
charge right through the night watch assembling from the guard-room; and
this they did.

There were shouts, commands to stop in the King's name, the impact of
horse and man, and the clatter and jangle of steel against steel, as the
fugitives rode their opponents down, kept together, and dashed on for
another hundred yards or so, and then were brought up short by that
which had not entered into their calculations, for they simultaneously
drew rein as Saint Simon, fully excited now, roared in a voice of
thunder; "The gates are shut!"

The King uttered a low gasp, and it was Leoni who said sharply:

"Only the great gates. The doorway--is it right or left?"

"Here," cried Denis; "this way, Sire!" And he made a snatch at the rein
of the monarch's horse and drew back his own for him to pass, closely
followed by Leoni, who was just in time to rise in his stirrups and make
a thrust at a tall halberdier who had suddenly stepped forward to seize
the rein of Francis's horse.

The man uttered no cry, only dropped his halberd and staggered back as
Leoni passed on into the darkness, his horse running side by side with
that of the King.

Meanwhile--it was almost momentary--Saint Simon, who was the next to
pass through the narrow pier-bound way, cried out excitedly to his young
friend:

"Come on, boy! It will be a ride for life."

Denis knew it, as he sat there motionless as a statue upon his horse,
with his sword pointed towards the advancing enemy, a full score of them
dimly seen in the gloom, who, recovering from the terrible shock they
had received, came running with their clumsy partisans levelled for
their charge, to take revenge upon and capture the daring unknown party
which had made this desperate attack.

There were men among them who were suffering from blows and from
trampling hoofs, and other injuries they had received; but as they ran
they recovered their well-trained formation, and with their leader
dashed two and two through the narrow postern gate and along the
darkened road for full a couple of hundred yards, before the stern
command rang out for them to halt.

As the trampling of their feet ceased to beat upon the road they stood
in the silence listening to the tramp of hoofs, which