Part 64 (2/2)
”It is the ene us!” exclai
”Yes, the enemy It is too late Stop a moment; does not that sunbealitter on the Ironsides?”
This was the nauard
”Ah!” said the king, ”we shall soon see whether oing to do?” exclaie, and run down thesespurs to his horse, set off to the tent of Lord Leven
”Follow him,” said Athos
”Co wounded?” cried Lord Winter ”I see spots of blood on the ground” And he set off to follow the two friends
He was stopped by Athos
”Go and call out your regiment,” said he; ”I can foresee that we shall have need of it directly”
Winter turned his horse and the two friends rode on It had taken but twoto reach the tent of the Scottish coeneral was there, surrounded by the !” they exclaimed, as all rose in bewilderment
Charles was indeed in thehis boot with his riding whip
”Yes, gentle who has come to ask for some account of what has happened”
”What is the matter, sire?” exclairily, ”that General Cromwell has reached Newcastle; that you knew it and I was not informed of it; that the enees of the Tyne against us; that our sentinels have seen this movement and I have been left unacquainted with it; that, by an infamous treaty you have sold me for two hundred thousand pounds to Parliament Of this treaty, at least, I have been warned This is the entlemen; answer and exculpate yourselves, for I stand here to accuse you”
”Sire,” said Lord Leven, with hesitation, ”sire, your majesty has been deceived by false reports”
”My own eyes have seen the enemy extend itself between myself and Scotland; and I can almost say that with my own ears I have heard the clauses of the treaty debated”
The Scotch chieftains looked at each other in their turn with frowning brows
”Sire,” murive you every proof of our fidelity”
”I ask but one,” said the king; ”put the army in battle array and face the enemy”
”That cannot be, sire,” said the earl
”How, cannot be? What hinders it?” exclai
”Your majesty is well aware that there is a truce between us and the English arlish arreement which kept it there Now, I tell you, you h this army across to Scotland, and if you refuse you may choose betwixt two names, which the contempt of all honest men will brand you with--you are either cowards or traitors!”
The eyes of the Scotch flashed fire; and, as often happens on such occasions, from shame they passed to effrontery and two heads of clans advanced upon the king
”Yes,” said they, ”we have proland from him who for the last five-and-twenty years has sucked the blood and gold of Scotland and England We have promised and ill keep our promise Charles Stuart, you are our prisoner”
And both extended their hands as if to seize the king, but before they could touch hiers, both had fallen, one dead, the other stunned
Arah the body of the first and Athos had knocked down the other with the butt end of his pistol
Then, as Lord Leven and the other chieftains recoiled before this unexpected rescue, which seeht was their prisoner, Athos and Ara from the perjured asse theallop to the royal tent
On their road they perceived Lord Winterer
They all four entered the tent; they had no plan ready--theythrew himself into an arm-chair ”I am lost,” said he
”No, sire,” replied Athos ”You are only betrayed”
The king sighed deeply
”Betrayed! yes betrayed by the Scotch, ast wholish Oh, traitors that ye are!”
”Sire,” said Athos, ”this is not aand a gentleman Up, sire! up! for you have here at least three men ill not betray you Ah! if we had been five!” nan and Porthos
”What do you say?” inquired Charles, rising
”I say, sire, that there is now but one way open Lord Winter answers for his regiment, or at least very nearly so--ill not split straws about words--let him place himself at the head of his men, ill place ourselves at the side of your h Cromwell's army and reach Scotland”
”There is another method,” said Ara's horse Whilst they pursue hiood advice,” said Athos, ”and if the king will do one of us the honor we shall be truly grateful to him”
”What do you think of this counsel, Winter?” asked the king, looking with admiration at these two men, whose chief idea seeers that assailed hi your majesty has just been proposed by Monsieur d'Herblay I humbly entreat your majesty to choose quickly, for we have not an instant to lose”
”But if I accept, it is death, or at least imprisonment, for hilory of having saved his king,” cried Winter
The king looked at his old friend with tears in his eyes; undid the Order of the Saint Esprit which he wore, to honor the two Frenchmen ith him, and passed it around Winter's neck, who received on his knees this striking proof of his sovereign's confidence and friendshi+p