This traitor"--Here he became at a loss for words; but his
gesticulations were more vehement. "Fly!" at length he shouted, in a
louder voice than before; "I've seen sword and armour glittering in the
forest."
But the king was irresolute, as much amazed as any of the rest. He saw
the imminent danger of his host, whose face was blackening above the
grip of this fierce antagonist, and he cried out--
"Leave go, Madoc; let the curs bark, we fear them not in this good
house. Let go, I command thee."
With a look of pity and of scorn the savage loosened his hold, saying--
"Thou be'st not king now; but Henry with the beads and breviary; and
here come thy tormentors."
A loud whistle rang through the hall, and in burst a band of armed men,
led on by Sir Thomas Talbot of Bashall, and his oldest son of the same
name, together with Sir James Harrington.
Tempest, recovered from his gripe, made a furious dart at the king; but
ere he had accomplished his purpose, Edmund Talbot rushed between, at
the peril of his life, opening a way for the terrified monarch through
the band that had nearly surrounded him.
The king fled through the passage made by his deliverer; and the dwarf,
keeping his enemies at bay, heroically and effectually covered his
retreat.
Pages:
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934