"This is what I propose to do," said Athos. "We will divide our regiments into two squadrons. You will put yourself at the head of the first. We and his majesty will lead the second. If no obstacle occurs we will both charge together, force the enemy's line and throw ourselves into the Tyne, which we must cross, either by fording or swimming; if, on the contrary, any repulse should take place, you and your men must fight to the last man, whilst we and the king proceed on our road. Once arrived at the brink of the river, should we even find them three ranks deep, as long as you and your regiment do your duty, we will look to the rest."
"To horse!" said Lord Winter.
"To horse!" re-echoed Athos; "everything is arranged and decided."
"Now, gentlemen," cried the king, "forward! and rally to the old cry of France, `Montjoy and St. Denis!' The war cry of England is too often in the mouths of traitors."
They mounted -- the king on Winter's horse and Winter on that of the king; then Winter took his place at the head of the first squadron, and the king, with Athos on his right and Aramis on his left, at the head of the second.
The Scotch army stood motionless and silent, seized with shame at sight of these preparations.
Some of the chieftains left the ranks and broke their swords in two.
"There," said the king, "that consoles me; they are not all traitors."
At this moment Winter's voice was raised with the cry of "Forward!"
The first squadron moved off; the second followed, and descended from the plateau. A regiment of cuirassiers, nearly equal as to numbers, issued from behind the hill and came full gallop toward it.
The king pointed this out.
"Sire," said Athos, "we foresaw this; and if Lord Winter's men but do their duty, we are saved, instead of lost."
At this moment they heard above all the galloping and neighing of the horses Winter's voice crying out:
"Sword in hand!"
At these words every sword was drawn, and glittered in the air like lightning.
"Now, gentlemen," said the king in his turn, excited by this sight, "come, gentlemen, sword in hand!"
But Aramis and Athos were the only ones to obey this command and the king's example.
"We are betrayed," said the king in a low voice.
"Wait a moment," said Athos, "perhaps they do not recognize your majesty's voice, and await the order of their captain."
"Have they not heard that of their colonel? But look! look!" cried the king, drawing up his horse with a sudden jerk, which threw it on its haunches, and seizing the bridle of Athos's horse.
"Ah, cowards! traitors!" screamed Lord Winter, whose voice they heard, whilst his men, quitting their ranks, dispersed all over the plain.
About fifteen men were ranged around him and awaited the charge of Cromwell's cuirassiers.
"Let us go and die with them!" said the king.
"Let us go," said Athos and Aramis.
"All faithful hearts with me!" cried out Winter.
This voice was heard by the two friends, who set off, full gallop.
"No quarter!" cried a voice in French, answering to that of Winter, which made them tremble.
As for Winter, at the sound of that voice he turned pale, and was, as it were, petrified.
It was the voice of a cavalier mounted on a magnificent black horse, who was charging at the head of the English regiment, of which, in his ardor, he was ten steps in advance.
"'Tis he!" murmured Winter, his eyes glazed and he allowed his sword to fall to his side.
"The king! the king!" cried out several voices, deceived by the blue ribbon and chestnut horse of Winter; "take him alive."
"No! it is not the king!" exclaimed the cavalier. "Lord Winter, you are not the king; you are my uncle."
At the same moment Mordaunt, for it was he, leveled his pistol at Winter; it went off and the ball entered the heart of the old cavalier, who with one bound on his saddle fell back into the arms of Athos, murmuring: "He is avenged!"
"Think of my mother!" shouted Mordaunt, as his horse plunged and darted off at full gallop.
"Wretch!" exclaimed Aramis, raising his pistol as he passed by him; but the powder flashed in the pan and it did not go off.
At this moment the whole regiment came up and they fell upon the few men who had held out, surrounding the two Frenchmen.
Athos, after ****** sure that Lord Winter was really dead, let fall the corpse and said:
"Come, Aramis, now for the honor of France!" and the two Englishmen who were nearest to them fell, mortally wounded.
At the same moment a fearful "hurrah!" rent the air and thirty blades glittered about their heads.
Suddenly a man sprang out of the English ranks, fell upon Athos, twined arms of steel around him, and tearing his sword from him, said in his ear:
"Silence! yield -- you yield to me, do you not?"
A giant had seized also Aramis's two wrists, who struggled in vain to release himself from this formidable grasp.
"D'Art ---- " exclaimed Athos, whilst the Gascon covered his mouth with his hand.