The King obeyed without a word, and no sooner was he seated than Leoni followed, and took his own place between Francis and Saint Simon, whom he relieved of one of the oars. "Push off!" whispered Saint Simon, who held the oar that rested on the steps. "One moment's thought," whispered back Leoni, speaking over his left shoulder, as he glared around for danger, his ears twitching the while like those of some wild animal which felt that there was peril in the air. "Now," he said, in a whisper just loud enough for the young man to hear, "if we go upward it is farther into the country, but harder work, for we are against the stream. If we go downward it is towards the capital, and the work will be light, for the stream will bear us on. "Yes," he said, after a pause, "if we are pursued and the boat is missed they will think that we have taken the easier way. No, boy, ours is no time for ease; hard work and safety must be our motto now. Push off and row with me slowly and steadily onward against the stream." Saint Simon bore heavily upon his oar and with a thrust sent the boat's head outward; and directly after, dipping as lightly as they could, they pulled together with a wonderful regularity for such unpractised hands out towards the middle, till a scattered light or two appeared from beyond the trees, showing where the castle lay. And then onward in silence for a few hundred yards along between the dimly seen silent banks of the black river, for the clouds seemed to have lowered and there was not a star. All at once a movement on the part of the King took Leoni's attention, and he drew in his oar, to bend forward and then rise in the boat, for Francis had sunk slowly sideways, fast asleep; while, with the action of a careful mother bending over her child, the strange subtle doctor carefully readjusted his cloak to guard him from the night air, before resuming his seat with a sigh, and taking up his oar. "A trifle, Saint Simon," he said playfully. "There are times when we have to protect our master with our swords, but we must not forget such little things as this." "Ah!" ejaculated Saint Simon, with a groan. "Why, what's the matter, boy? You don't resent having to row the night through like some poor slave?" "No, no. I was thinking about poor Denis. Doctor, don't think me weak. I loved that boy." "Say love," cried Leoni warmly. "Bah, man! Henry may be a tyrant, but he could not be so base as to hurt a boy like that. Row for our lives while I prophesy what I believe in spite of bitter despairing thoughts. We shall live to see our brave young companion safe again." "Bravo, doctor! Your medicine has given me heart. Row? Yes. I can do it now till my arms refuse to stir." And on the boat glided, kept closer to the shore where the eddies played and the full force of the stream was missed.