by a river-bank and let them drink and graze.

But for this the brave animals, which had suffered more than their
riders from the crossing, displayed no eagerness, and the travellers
advanced again, walking each with his bridle in his hand, enjoying the
glowing sunshine and the simple beauty of the country, and gradually
growing more light-hearted and ready for any fresh adventure that they
might encounter.

The road became more and more deserted, a village or two was passed, and
later on in the day they were attracted by the appearance of a
substantial farmhouse whose very aspect suggested that here was the spot
to put an end to certain qualms connected with the fact that they had
not partaken of food for a considerable length of time.

Here there was corn for their horses in a shady barn-like stable whose
loft shed a delicious odour of sweet hay, and in the house a clean white
scrubbed table with bowls of new milk, newly made bread, and freshly
fried ham, the whole forming a repast to which the party paid ample
justice, while it made the King declare that it was the most delicious
banquet he had ever enjoyed.

Then with the horses quite recovered, the journey was recommenced and
the travellers rode off, Denis turning in his saddle to wave his hand to
the farmer and his wife, just in time to catch sight of another party
riding up to the farm as if to take their places and enjoy a similar
meal.

Winchester at last, with the square tower of the fine old cathedral
standing up from amongst the trees, the river sparkling in the sunshine,
the wooded hills and verdant plains rising on all sides making Francis
draw rein to breathe his horse and half close his eyes as he gazed
around.

"Well," he said, "France is France, but my brother of England, if all
his country is like this, possesses a land that any king might envy; and
I shall tell him so if we meet, as of course we shall. But after all, I
don't like this task. I am a king, and it begins to look to me, boys,
as if I am going crawling up to the back door of this palace of his like
some lacquey. But there, I have said that I would do it. It is for
France, and I will. What do you say, Saint Simon?"

"Oh, sir, you mustn't turn back now."

"No: I must not turn back now, though we have been rather damped at the
start, eh?" he added, with a laugh. "But are you lads dry?"

They declared they were, and the conversation turned upon their
proceedings.

"This is e