‘You didn’t threaten to strike Trenton?’

’No, no; the sullen cur is a gentleman.  ’Twas one of those lubberly men-at-arms!  I told them they should hear what King Harry would say to their mood.  I would it were he!’

‘So would I,’ said James.  ’Little chance that they will hearken to a Scot when you have put them in such a mood.  Hold, Ralf, do not go for the King; he has letters for the Emperor mattering more than this dyke.’

He rode on, and did his best by leaping into the ditch, taking the spade, and showing the superior security of the angle of inclination traced by the King, but all in vain; both Trenton and Kitson silently but obstinately scouted the notion that any king should know more about ditches than themselves.

‘See,’ cried Percy, starting up, ’here’s other work!  The fellows, whence came they?’

Favoured by the fog and the soft soil of the meadows, a considerable body of the enemy were stealing on the delvers with the manifest purpose of cutting them off from the camp.  They were all mounted, but the only horses in the English party were those of James, Percy, Malcolm, and the half-dozen men of his escort.  James, assuming the command at once, bade these to be all released; they would be sure to find their way to the camp, and that would bring succour.  Meantime he drew the whole of the men, about thirty in number, into a compact body.  They were, properly, archers, but their bows had been left behind, and they had only their pikes and bills, which were, however, very formidable weapons against cavalry as long as they continued in an unbroken rank; and though the bogs, pools, sunken hedges, and submerged stumps made it difficult to keep close together as they made their way slowly with one flank to the river, these obstacles were no small protection against a charge of horsemen.

For a quarter of a mile these tactics kept them unharmed, but at length they reached a wide smooth meadow, and the enemy seemed preparing to charge.  James gave orders to close up and stand firm, pikes outwards.  Malcolm’s heart beat fast; it was the most real peril he had yet seen; and yet he was cheered by the King’s ringing voice, ’Stand firm, ye merry men.  They must soon be with us from the camp.’

Suddenly a voice shouted, ’The Scots! the Scots!  ’Tis the Scots!  Treachery! we are betrayed.  Come, Sir’ (to Percy), ’they’ll be on you.  Treason!’

‘An’ it were, you fool, would a Percy turn his back?’ cried Ralf, striking at the man; but the panic had seized the whole body; all were shouting that the false Scots king had brought his countrymen down on them; they scattered hither and thither, and would have fallen an easy prey if they had been pursued.  But this did not seem to be the purpose of the enemy, who merely extended themselves so as to form a hedge around the few who stood, sword in hand, disdaining to fly.  These were, James, somewhat in advance, with his head high, and a lion look on his brow; Malcolm, white with dismay; Ralf, restless with fury; Kitson and Trenton, apparently as unmoved as ever; Brewster, equally steady:  and Malcolm’s follower, Halbert, in a glow of hopeful excitement.