Breathlessly did Eleanora watch the gallant creatures sweeping round and round the course, sometimes one forging ahead, then another making a gallant dash and passing his comrade, but all the field keeping near together; for it was a point of honour with his escort not to let the Prince get far out of reach, and perhaps it occurred to Henry de Montfort that this might be a ruse on Edward's part to make some desperate effort at escape. His year of parole had now expired. He was no longer bound by his plighted word. Perhaps that detail had escaped the memory of the Earl; at any rate no request or command had reached the captive for a renewal of the promise, or for any stricter rule of captivity. Eleanora, however, thought of nothing but the excitement of the race; and when upon the sixth round the field came sweeping up towards the spot where she had placed herself, just within the friendly shade of the adjacent forest, her face was flushed with excitement, and she cried gaily,-- "Edward wins--the Prince wins!" just as he brought his panting and foam-stained horse to a halt beside her. Edward leaped from the saddle, and made his cousin a graceful bow. There was a slight rustle in the thicket close behind. "Farewell, sweet cousin," he cried; "we shall meet again ere long, I trow!" and before any of those about him had taken in the sense of these words, the Prince had vaulted upon the back of a strong young horse, led forth that moment by an unseen hand. With a shout and an oath Henry de Montfort sprang forward, but was forcibly held back by young De Clare. The next minute the Prince was galloping off at a pace which rendered it impossible for any of the jaded horses to strive to emulate. "Farewell, gentlemen," cried Edward, waving his hand; "I thank you for your courtesy and good company these many days. And tell my royal father that I shall soon see him out of ward! A merry meeting to us all another day!" The last words were inaudible. Already the receding figure was disappearing from their view. De Clare burst into a loud laugh, and turning fiercely upon Henry de Montfort he cried,-- "Ride after him and welcome if thou wilt, young fool! He is by this time with Roger Mortimer and a goodly following, who will hack thee in pieces with a right good will! I go to join them and my noble brother. Neither Gloucester nor England will long be content to be ruled by King Simon the usurper!" NOTE.--The escape of Prince Edward really took place from Hereford, though in the same fashion as that described above. CHAPTER XXVII. _THE CAPTIVE A CONQUEROR._ "We shall meet again!" the Prince had said as he rode off from Kenilworth upon that bright summer's morning. The time was drawing near when that promise was about to be fulfilled--when Edward, the King's son, was to come to Kenilworth once more, not as captive, but as conqueror.