The guards stepped forward, unwillingly enough.  But at that moment John drew himself up.  His eyes flashed; he grasped in both hands the staff over which he had made the wolf leap, and braced himself for defense.

“They shall not take me!” he cried.  “I will not go with them.  I will die sooner.  To me, my brothers!” and he gave a shrill, peculiar cry by which he and the Hermit were wont to call their pets.

[Illustration:  To me, my brothers!]

Instantly the Hermit ranged himself at John’s side.  At the same moment Brutus placed himself, barking and growling, before the twain.  Breaking from the leash by which he was held, the wolf came leaping towards them, and stood bristling beside the dog, showing his terrible fangs.  With a savage growl Bruin burst his chain and came lumbering to the defense of his friends, and the three devoted animals made a stout and terrible wall about them.  But this was not all.  From the corners where they were crouched came running the other, gentler pets.  Here scampered the cat and her kittens, mewing pitifully.  Across the platform hopped the raven.  The carrier pigeon fluttered to the Hermit’s shoulder.  And from the trees all roundabout came winging, with a call answering to John’s, a flock of birds who had followed him from the forest, and who had been hidden in the forbidden trees of the King’s park until this very hour.  They fluttered like a cloud about the heads of the pair, so that one could scarcely see them.

Every one stood amazed; even the King sank back in his seat, stupefied.  The guards fell back with lowered weapons.  The crowd was silent, staring open-mouthed.  Then a murmur arose, and words passed from man to man.

“A miracle!  It is a miracle!  They must be God’s saints!”

But Tonio was not long silent.  “Tricks!  Tricks!” he cried.  “Gigi has become an animal-trainer.  But he is our boy still.  Give him to us!”

“Seize them!” repeated the King in a choking voice.

Once more the guards made a rush forward.  But the animals leaped up and stood at bay so fiercely that they dared not come nearer.  The Hermit raised his hand, and there was sudden silence.  He faced the King and spoke sternly.

“O King,” he said, “you see that they will never take us alive.  In sight of all these people will you add more deaths to your record?” The murmur of the crowd grew louder.  “Nay, all has not yet been said,” he went on.  “Listen, O King.  You judge too quickly.  There is not proof enough of the lad’s ownership.”

“Not enough?” snarled the King.  “I say there is enough and to spare.  Can this boy dispute the words of these men?”

John now looked at the Hermit eagerly.  His heart beat with hope of something, he knew not what.

The King sneered.  “You see!” he cried triumphantly.

But once more the Hermit held up his hand.  “Will you not question these fellows further?” he asked.  “Dare you hear more, O King?”