went banner and bannerman--down went peaked boot and crowned helmet, and of those who fell not a man escaped with life. So they drew off in confusion, and were getting in order to charge again, when the noble Duke Ferrand and his horsemen dashed at them in their own way, and we moved onward to support him. Thus on we pressed, and the foot hardly waited for us, seeing their cavalry so handled. Then if you had seen the dust and heard the blows! the noise of a hundred thousand thrashers, the flight of the chaff which they drive about, would be but a type of it. On my word, I almost thought it shame to dash about my halberd, the rout was so helplessly piteous. Hundreds were slain unresisting, and the whole army was in complete flight." "My father--my father!" exclaimed Arthur. "In such a rout, what can have become of him?" "He escaped safely," said the Swiss; "fled with Charles." "It must have been a bloody field ere he fled," replied the Englishman. "Nay," answered Sigismund, "he took no part in the fight, but merely remained by Charles; and prisoners said it was well for us, for that he is a man of great counsel and action in the wars. And as to flying, a man in such a matter must go back if he cannot press forward, and there is no shame in it, especially if you be not engaged in your own person." As he spoke thus, their conversation was interrupted by Mordaunt, with "Hush, hush--the King and Queen come forth." "What am I to do?" said Sigismund, in some alarm. "I care not for the Duke of Lorraine; but what am I to do when kings and queens enter?" "Do nothing but rise, unbonnet yourself, and be silent." Sigismund did as he was directed. King René came forth arm in arm with his grandson; and Margaret followed, with deep disappointment and vexation on her brow. She signed to Arthur as she passed, and said to him--"Make thyself master of the truth of this most unexpected news, and bring the particulars to me. Mordaunt will introduce thee." She then cast a look on the young Swiss, and replied courteously to his awkward salutation. The royal party then left the room, René bent on carrying his grandson to the sporting-party, which had been interrupted, and Margaret to seek the solitude of her private apartment, and await the confirmation of what she regarded as evil tidings. They were no sooner passed than Sigismund observed,--"And so that is a King and Queen!--Peste! the King looks somewhat like old Jacomo, the violer, that used to scrape on the fiddle to us when he came to Geierstein in his rounds. But the Queen is a stately creature. The chief cow of the herd, who carries the bouquets and garlands, and leads the rest to the chalet, has not a statelier pace. And how deftly you approached her and spoke to her! I could not have done it with so much grace--But it is like that you have served apprentice to the court trade?" "Leave that for the present, good Sigismund," answered Arthur, "and tell me more of this battle."