"Behold," said Denys, and pulled the brute's ear playfully, and opened her jaws, and put in his head, with other insulting antics; in the midst of which Gerard was violently sick. Denys laughed at him. "What is the matter now?" said he, "also why tumble off your perch just when we had won the day?" "I swooned, I trow." "But _why_?" Not receiving an answer, he continued, "Green girls faint as soon as look at you, but then they choose time and place. What woman ever fainted up a tree?" "She sent her nasty blood all over me. I think the smell must have overpowered me. Faugh! I hate blood." "I do believe it potently." "See what a mess she has made me!" "But with her blood, not yours. I pity the enemy that strives to satisfy you." "You need not to brag, Maître Denys; I saw you under the tree, the colour of your shirt." "Let us distinguish," said Denys colouring: "it is permitted to tremble _for a friend_." Gerard for answer, flung his arms round Denys's neck in silence. "Look here," whined the stout soldier, affected by this little gush of nature and youth, "was ever aught so like a woman? I love thee, little milksop, go to. Good! behold him on his knees now. What new caprice is this?" "Oh, Denys, ought we not to return thanks to Him who has saved both our lives against such fearful odds?" And Gerard kneeled and prayed aloud. And presently he found Denys kneeling quiet beside him, with his hands across his bosom, after the custom of his nation, and a face as long as his arm. When they arose Gerard's countenance was beaming. "Good Denys," said he, "Heaven will reward thy piety." "Ah, bah! I did it out of politeness," said the Frenchman. "It was to please thee, little one. C'est égal: 'twas well and orderly prayed; and edified me to the core, while it lasted. A bishop had scarce handled the matter better: so now our evensong being sung, and the saints enlisted with us--marchons." Ere they had taken two steps, he stopped. "By-the-by, the cub!" "Oh, no, no!" cried Gerard. "You are right. It is late: we have lost time climbing trees, and tumbling off 'em, and swooning, and vomiting, and praying, and the brute is heavy to carry; and, now I think on't, we shall have papa after it next; these bears make such a coil about an odd cub: what is this? You are wounded! you are wounded!" "Not I." "He is wounded, miserable that I am." "Be calm, Denys. I am not touched, I feel no pain anywhere." "You? you only feel when another is hurt," cried Denys, with great emotion and throwing himself on his knees he examined Gerard's leg with glistening eyes. "Quick! quick! before it stiffens," he cried: and hurried him on. "Who makes the coil about nothing now?" inquired Gerard composedly. Denys's reply was a very indirect one.