lly drove their enemies before them, at first
step by step, striking back in their own defence, rendered desperate by
their position, then giving up and seeking refuge in flight, when with a
rush their companions gave way more and more in front.

For a few minutes the heat and pressure were suffocating, and as Frank
and his companion were twisted round and borne backward, the former felt
a peculiar sensation of giddy faintness, the walls swam round, the
shouting sounded distant, and he was only half-conscious when, in
company with those around, he was shot out of the narrow entrance of the
court; and then the terrible pressure ceased.

CHAPTER FOUR.

FRANK'S EYES BEGIN TO OPEN.

Everything else seemed to the boy to cease at the same time, till he
became conscious of feeling cold and wet, and heard a voice speaking:

"And him quite a boy too. I wonder what his mother would say.--Here,
drink this, my dear; and don't you never go amongst the crazy,
quarrelsome wretches again. I don't know what we're coming to with
their fighting in the streets. It isn't safe to go out, that it isn't.
Drink it all, my dear; you'll feel better then. I always feel faint
myself if I get in a crowd."

Frank had heard every word, with a peculiar dreamy feeling that he ought
to listen and know who the boy was so addressed. Then he became
conscious that it was he who was drinking from a mug of water held to
his lips; and, opening his eyes, he looked up into a pleasant, homely
face bending over him in an open doorway, upon whose step he was
sitting, half leaning against the doorpost, half against the woman who
was kneeling at his side.

"Ah, that's better," said the woman. "Now you take my advice; you go
straight home. You're not a man yet, and don't want to mix yourself up
with people fighting about who ought to be king. Just as if it matters
to such as us. As I often tell my husband, he'd a deal better attend to
getting his living, and not go listening to people argifying whether
it's to be the king on the other side of the water or on this. I say,
give me peace and--You feel better, don't you?"

"Yes, thank you," said Frank, making an effort to rise; but the moment
he tried the ground seemed to heave up beneath him.

"You're not quite right yet, my dear; sit still a little longer. And
you too with a sword by your side, just as if you wanted to fight. I
call it shocking, that I do."

"But I am much better," said Frank,