g the little, dimly seen crowd that
once more barred the way, the chargers attained their fullest speed; and
then there were a few slight shocks as man after man went down in their
half-hearted resistance, and the rest were scattered, the little line of
horsemen passing through them, driving them here and there, and charging
on in their headlong gallop forward beneath the overhanging trees which
suddenly ceased to darken their way, for the gallant band had passed out
into the full bright moonlight once again, and the sound of pursuit by
the enemy's mounted men had died away.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE FRIEND IN NEED.

They must have gone a mile at full gallop before the King cried "Halt!"

As the beat of their horses' hoofs ceased he sat with raised hand as if
commanding silence, listening; but the heavy breathing of the four
steeds was the only sound that broke the silence of the glorious night.

"Forward slowly now," said the King quietly. "The danger is past for
the moment, and we shall have good warning if they come on again, for it
is not likely that they have thrown out a second detachment to take us
if we escaped the first. Now, just one word--who is hurt? Denis, my
brave lad, how is it with you?"

"You took too much care of me, my lord. I am only hot."

"Well done!" cried the King. "And you, Saint Simon?"

"A bit battered with blows, sir," replied the young man; "and I expect
when the day dawns I can show some rags."

"No wounds?" cried the King.

"Not a scratch, sir."

"But what of you, sir?" cried Denis eagerly, "I am afraid you must have
suffered badly."

"I have," said the King shortly. "I feel as if my beauty is spoiled by
a blow one ruffian struck at my face. But he was the one who suffered,"
he added, with a low hiss suggestive of satisfaction. "But no more
selfishness. Though I have left him to the last, it is not that I do
not want to thank our gallant English preserver, who has given us the
best of proofs that he is ready to welcome strangers to his shores. I
don't know by what means you knew, sir, of our peril, or why you should
think it worth your while to play the brave knight, and fight against
such odds to rescue us from the spoilers, and perhaps from death. Pray
give me your name, sir, that we three strangers may bury it deeply in
our hearts as one of the most gallant islanders we shall ever meet."

"My name, your Majesty?" said the stranger quietly.

"What!" cried the