The King's Esquires; Or, The Jewel of France

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

  TRAPPED.

  At the English captain's action his two companions sprang from theirchairs and drew their weapons, for Denis had stepped back with his ownblade leaping from its scabbard--a movement followed at once by histhree companions, who stood on their defence.

  "Now, boys," raged out Sir Robert. "Hah! The window is open. Ready?"

  "Yes," came fiercely.

  "No deep wounds; but prick and make them dance till they reach thewindow and leap out. I'll tackle this boy."

  The next moment there was the harsh, grating, rasping, hissing sound ofsteel edge against steel.

  "Back, boy!" raged out Francis. "Let me punish this English_canaille_."

  "No, sir," whispered Leoni sharply. "They are three. Let your servantsfinish this."

  "Here's for you!" shouted one of Sir Robert's companions, and they madefor the King and his two followers; but they were hindered from crossingswords by Sir Robert, who, stepping back to avoid a sharp thrustdelivered by Denis, felt his foot slip upon the wine-moistened polishedoaken boards, and in saving himself he came in contact with the table,driving it heavily in his comrades' way, so that the two parties wereseparated, the centre of the room being taken up by Denis and hisadversary.

  "The unlucky boy!" muttered the King angrily. "Leoni, he is no matchfor that English bull."

  "No, sir," said the doctor coolly, as he stood watchful with his bladeadvanced; "but he can fence a little. Give me place, and I'll see thathe does not come to harm."

  Seeing that their adversaries were disposed to hold their hands untilthe couple engaged had finished their encounter, Sir Robert's twocompanions stood waiting for their turn till the unequal match wasfinished; for unequal it was, Denis being pressed hard in the fierceonslaught made by the strong-armed bully, who kept on thrusting anddriving the boy sideways as, lithe and agile, he avoided or parriedevery thrust. At last his fate seemed sealed, for his arm was growingweak and his defence being beaten down, when with a quick movement andjust in the nick of time Leoni made a sudden dart forward and turnedaside a very awkward thrust.

  "Ah! Coward!" roared the English officer. "Two to one! Here, boys,come on!"

  The command was unnecessary, for Leoni's action was imitated at once bySir Robert's followers, who sprang forward, to have their blades engagedat once by Saint Simon and the King.

  Then in a general _melee_ the swords gritted and twined and seemed likeflashing serpents in deadly fray, while those who grasped them came incontact with and were hindered by the furniture of the by no meansextensive room.

  The floor was made slippery by the wine which bedewed the boards, butbefore the encounter had lasted a minute there were other drops whichadded to the peril; for Denis's thin blade had passed along thefleshiest part of the English captain's ribs, and raging now withpassion and pain as he felt the sting, he fought furiously, forcingLeoni to do more than guard the boy, whose strength was utterly failing;and interposing now, he literally took the Englishman's blade to hisown, beat upon it heavily, and the next moment sent it flying throughthe open window, out of which he was to have been made to jump.

  Uttering a yell of fury, Sir Robert snatched the dagger from his waist,and regardless of the danger, sprang with a yell at Denis, when the doorwas suddenly flung open and an officer of halberdiers stepped in, backedup by about a dozen followers, whose approach had been unheard, whileabout a score more could be seen forming up through the window, theirgreat steal spears with their battle-axe blades glittering in the ruddyevening sun.

  As if moved by one impulse, everyone within the room lowered his blade,while the King, taking in his position at a glance, and placing his owninterpretation thereon, ejaculated angrily the one word:

  "Trapped!"