It will be readily supposed that the determination thus expressed by Colonel James caused great alarm to Charles and his companion, but their uneasiness increased when the Republican leader continued in an authoritative voice: "Thou art active, Ezra. Dismount at once, and climb the tree." The king and Careless gave themselves up for lost. There seemed to be no possibility of escape. But they were quickly relieved by Ezra's response to the order. "No use in searching this oak, colonel." "No use, sayst thou?" "None, colonel. I have already discharged my caliver into the tree." "That is true," said the other soldiers. "Nay, if that be so, 'twere a waste of time to climb the tree," said James. "We will look out for another, further on." "Shall we fire a volley into the tree, colonel, to make sure?" asked another of the soldiers. "'Tis needless," replied James. "March!" CHAPTER VII. HOW THEY PLAYED AT DICE IN THE OAK. The occupants of the oak breathed again after the departure of Colonel James and his troopers, and though they had been greatly alarmed at the time, they soon recovered their spirits, and laughed at the incident. "Perhaps the excitement was a little too great," observed Charles; "but it has served to break the monotony of our somewhat dull existence. Time, it must be owned, passes very slowly when one is compelled, like the fowls of the air, to roost in a tree. I hope we shall soon have another visit from our faithful William Penderel." "Your majesty must not look for him before night." "I would night were come. How many wearisome hours have we to pass? Never did I feel so strong a desire for active exercise--just because I must not take it." "Your majesty had best go to sleep again. Pity we have neither cards nor dice to divert the tedium." "I have it," cried Charles. "Cards cannot be provided, but the other deficiency may be easily supplied. Acorns will serve for dice, and our horn drinking-cups will make admirable dice-boxes." "Bravo! your majesty has a rare wit," exclaimed Careless. Charmed with the notion, he set to work at once to carry it out, and gathering a few acorns, marked them with the point of his dagger. The horn cups were next produced, and carefully wiped with a napkin, which was then folded and laid on a branch of the tree to serve for a board. "At what game will your majesty be pleased to play?" cried Careless, rattling the extempore dice in the cornet. "Hazard would be most appropriate," replied Charles. "But we have had enough of that of late. I prefer 'passage,'" he added, taking three of the dice. "Plague on't, I have nothing to stake--not a crown." "Your majesty has already staked a crown----" "Ay, and lost it," interrupted the king. "Only temporarily, sire. You will soon have it back again. I have a few pistoles left," he added, producing his purse. "Shall we divide them?" "Be it so," replied Charles.