listening, before going
down upon one knee to raise the tapestry a few inches from the floor and
make sure that Carrbroke was the only occupant of the great gallery,
then creeping quickly out, holding the hangings upward for the King to
pass, and securing the door.

"Now," cried the King furiously, as he brought one foot down with a
heavy stamp, "the villains may be still within the grounds. Guard!
Guard!" he roared, with a voice almost as deep as that of a raging bull;
and as footsteps were almost directly heard, the enraged monarch turned
upon his chamberlain and furiously bade him have the soldiery summoned
and the place well searched, while many minutes had not elapsed before
the alarm bell was sending its vibrating notes with a deep hum through
the night air, and room and corridor echoed with the sounds of excited
voices and trampling feet.

It was in the midst of the orders that were being given by King and
courtier that the clashing sound of arms and shouts of angry men came
from the gate and guard-room, to be followed by the news of the
encounter and the visitors' escape.

And then it was as if a storm was raging through the castle, set in
agitation by the bluff King, who played the part of thunder god himself,
ending by stamping and raging about the outer court animadverting upon
the sluggishness of his guards, till the strong body of horsemen who
formed his bodyguard of mounted archers stood drawn up, ready, with
their arms and armour flashing in the light of scores of flambeaux,
waiting for the final order thundered forth at last by the King himself,
to spare not their spurs, but ride due south and bring back the culprits
alive or dead.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

SOMEBODY'S WOUND.

As if to aid the fugitives' escape, the moon, which had been shining
brightly the greater part of the evening, had become overclouded almost
from the minute they set off, and headed by the King, who bent low over
the pommel of his saddle, and at the start had seemed to drive his spurs
into his horse's flanks, the little party tore over the darkened road at
a furious pace, no one uttering a word.

The King led; that was sufficient for two of the party, who set their
teeth and gave the horses their heads, merely taking care to rein up
slightly as every now and then they came upon some terribly untended
piece of the road.

"The King leads," thought the two young men, "and all we have to do is
to keep close at his heels, re