Unluckily, it had to pass near the troopers, and they shouted to the king, who was now plying the oars, to stop; but as he disregarded the order, they both discharged their carabines at him, and he must have been killed, if Dame Gives had not suddenly risen, and placing herself before him, received the shots. The devoted young woman fell back mortally wounded into the arms of Careless, who was seated near her. "Are you much hurt?" he cried, in accents of despair. "Hurt to death," she rejoined, faintly. "I have not many moments left of life. I knew this would be, and am prepared for it. Farewell for ever!" Uttering these words, she breathed her last sigh, and her head declined upon Careless's shoulder. "She has died for me!" exclaimed Charles. "'Tis a sad and sudden ending, but she anticipated her doom." "Anticipated it, sire! How mean you?" cried Careless. "I will explain hereafter, if we escape," said Charles. Several more shots were fired by the troopers, but no one was hurt. The current swept the boat down so rapidly that those within it were soon out of reach of harm. "What will you do?" said Charles to Careless. "I know not," rejoined the other, distractedly. "But I will never rest till I have avenged her. But think not of me, my liege. Save yourself. If you go further down the river, you will most assuredly fall into some new danger." "If I might venture to advise your majesty," said Pope, "I would recommend you to land as soon as possible, and return at once to Abbots Leigh." "Thy advice is good," rejoined Charles. "But what is to be done with the unfortunate victim of this treacherous design? How is she to be disposed of?" "Leave her to me, sire," replied Careless. "Again, I implore you to save yourself. Return to Abbots Leigh, as Pope suggests. If she could speak," he added, solemnly, looking at the lifeless figure, which he still held in his arms, "she would urge you to take this course!" "If you will consent to keep Pope with you, to assist you in your mournful task, I will go--not otherwise," said Charles. "Be it so, my liege," replied Careless. During this colloquy, the boat was carried rapidly through the gorge, and had now reached the point where the chasm grew wider and the cliffs were further apart. Looking out for a favourable point to land, Charles drew near the left bank of the river, and Pope, jumping ashore, quickly fastened the boat to a tree. Charles followed, but for some time could not make up his mind to depart. At last, however, he yielded to the entreaties of Careless, who besought him earnestly to go, urging that his stay would only endanger himself, and ascending the cliffs, he made his way alone through the woods to Abbots Leigh. End of Book the Sixth. Book the Seventh TRENT. CHAPTER I. OF THE VENGEANCE TAKEN BY CARELESS ON THE TROOPERS.