Ergalon explained that Coryon had unexpectedly dispatched a large force of his soldiers to capture the three strangers. They had hoped to surprise them without giving time for others of the king's soldiers to lend their aid. But he (Ergalon) had, through a former comrade who was still one of Coryon's people, attained intimation of the intended movement, and had been able thus to warn Monella. "So the lord Monella," he explained, "sent on your guard in advance, and then himself walked up the hill towards you that they might see him. Thus he hoped to draw Coryon's people away from the palace and the houses to this place, where, he says, it will be better to make a stand and fight them, since thus no other persons will be injured in the encounter." It was strange, but all who spoke of Monella, or to him, gave him some title of honour or respect. Ergalon called him 'lord.' Even Dakla, at the meeting in the king's council chamber--spite of his insolent swagger towards the king--had been awed by this man's look into addressing him by the equivalent in their language of 'sir.' "How many are there of them?" asked Jack. "Oh, a hundred--or perhaps more. But the lord Monella has said their number matters not; and he sent me to the king to beg that none of his soldiers should interfere. 'They would only be in the way,' he said. He sent these extra things for you. See." And he showed a parcel of cartridges he had brought with him. "Good," said Jack. "He is quite right. That's all we wanted; we can answer for the rest. More soldiers would only be in the way; and some of them would be pretty sure to get hurt, if not killed outright--and all for nothing. I think I see Monella's idea. It is"--turning to Elwood--"to take up our position here and shoot them down as they come across this wide terrace just below us. Not a man of them will ever cross that stretch alive." "Here are your guards," observed Ergalon. "The lord Monella desired that you should place them somewhere where they would be out of the way, but within call." "Let them get on to this next ledge, then, just behind us. There they will have a fine view of everything. Did these people think to surprise us, do you think, friend Ergalon?" "No doubt. Your habit of coming here of a morning has been noted, I suspect, and they had intended, I imagine, to creep round and get up through the woods unseen. But the lord Monella, being warned by me, went up on a high rock, where he could see them in the distance; when they saw they were observed by him, they gave up that plan and came straight on." "I see. Well, we owe you something for having warned us, friend." "It is nothing," Ergalon answered simply. "My life was forfeited that day, and you spared me; and through the lord Monella and the princess, I gained the king's pardon. I owe you all my service." By this time the guards and their officer had arrived, and were placed by Ergalon on a terrace above and behind that on which the two were standing.