The King's Esquires Part 7

"No, sir; it is nearly night."

"Oh yes, I forgot. I think I have been asleep. Are we almost there?"

"No, sir. It is a long way yet."

"If I could only go to sleep! Why didn't I let that doctor come?

Denis, my boy, if I die, or if we are drowned, or--go up and ask the s.h.i.+pmaster how long it will be before we get across."

In no wise troubled by the pitching and tossing of the clumsy vessel, Denis climbed on deck; but it was some moments before he could make out where the captain stood, and then only by the help of one of the men, who pointed out the dim figure in the semi-darkness lightened by the foam, standing beside the man at the rudder beam; and then it needed no little care to pa.s.s along, holding on by the bulwarks, to ask the question the lad was sent to bear.

"How long, my lad?" said the skipper. "Oh, very soon. We are flying across to-night. This is the fastest run I can remember to have made."

"But are we nearly there?"

"Nearly there! No, not halfway; but if the wind holds on like this we shall be across in time for dinner at noon to-morrow, and perhaps before."

"So long as that?" cried Denis.

"So soon as that," said the skipper, laughing. "There, I see how it is.

You are afraid--"

"I'm not!" cried Denis sharply.

"Don't be in such a hurry, my lad. You don't give a man time to speak-- about your horses, I was going to say. But they're all right. I have another rope pa.s.sed from neck to neck, and as soon as the poor beasts felt it it seemed to give them comfort, like being more in company.

Don't you be afraid. They're n.o.ble animals, but not fit for work like this. Go and see."

Denis hurried to where Saint Simon was standing with the horses, drenched with spray, and growing impatient at his task.

"Oh, there you are!" he cried. "Why didn't you come before?"

"I couldn't leave him. He sent me up to ask how soon we shall be across."

"Well?"

"The skipper says at noon to-morrow."

"Not till then?" said Saint Simon.

"No."

"Well, I'm glad of it. Serve him right. It will finish this wild-goose chase and send him back quite satisfied, ready to settle down again."

"I hope so," said Denis. "How wet you are!"

"Yes, I don't mind now," said Saint Simon. "It was very horrible at first, but I can't get any wetter, and that's some comfort after all."

"I'd stop and keep guard myself so that you could go into shelter," said Denis; "but I must go down again to tell him what I have learned. But why couldn't you go?"

"Because he sent you, and he'd be furious perhaps. There, go and tell him."

"Yes, I had better go," said the lad thoughtfully; "but--I am sorry to leave you, all the same."

"Hah! That makes me feel warm," cried Saint Simon--"that and the knowledge that the horses can't get loose. There, go on down. After all, he's worse off than we."

Denis crept along by the bulwarks till he could reach the cabin hatch, lowered himself down to where a vile-odoured lamp was swinging from the cabin ceil, and then, moving slowly, having hard work to keep his feet, he reached the spot where the suffering monarch lay, to find to his great relief that Francis had sunk into a deep sleep, and was breathing heavily, leaving him nothing to do but sit down and watch.

CHAPTER SIX.

HOW TO LAND HORSES.

It was a long and dreary night, full of suffering; but, like the worst, it slowly came to an end. The grey dawn began to creep through the dim skylight, grew stronger and brighter, and at last the sun arose, with the King still sleeping profoundly, and Denis standing at the top of the cabin ladder, gazing out over a glorious foaming sea, all purple, orange, and gold, wide awake to the beauty of the scene, and ready to wonder what had become of the horror and darkness of the night.

There was a fresh breeze blowing and the sea was rough, but the clumsy craft rode more easily and had ceased to pitch and toss. Far ahead too the sea looked smoother, and so Denis said to the rough-looking skipper, who came up with a nod and smile.

"Only looks so," he said, "because it is so far off. But the wind is going down, and in a couple of hours we shall be in smooth water. How's your master?"

"Fast asleep still," replied Denis.

"Best thing for a man not used to the sea. Well, you see, we shall get your horses over safely. Poor beasts! They are worse sailors than men.

How are you? Feel as if you could eat some breakfast?"

"Yes, I'm getting horribly hungry."

"That's right. You are the best sailor of the lot. There will be some in an hour's time."

The skipper pa.s.sed on, leaving Denis with a look of disgust upon his features, for he was thinking of the roughness of the common vessel upon which they had been obliged to take their pa.s.sage, and the pleasant meal of which he would have eaten at Fontainebleau.

Just then Saint Simon turned, caught sight of him, and signalled to him to come. Denis started, hesitated, and then ran down into the cabin again to see whether the King had awakened. But far from it: he was flat on his back and looking far from king-like, for his mouth was open and he was giving forth sounds which in a common person would have been called snores.

Hurrying back to the deck, Denis ran forward, awakening to the fact that the sea was much smoother, for he could not have progressed like that over-night.

"Well, how are you?" he cried.

"Beginning to get dry," was the morose reply. "Look here, boy, if I had known that I was going to play horse-keeper all through a night like this I wouldn't have volunteered to come. I shall want a week's sleep to put me straight."

"Why didn't you ask one or two of the sailors to come and help you?"

"Why didn't you come and help me?"

"You know: because I was obliged to be in attendance on the--"

"Comte!" shouted Saint Simon. "You will be spoiling the expedition before you have done."

"Yes, it is hard work to remember. I am sorry, though, Saint Simon.

You know that I would have come and helped you if I could."

"Oh yes, I know," said the other. "I couldn't trust anyone to help, for the poor beasts knew me, and at the worst times a word or two and a pat on the neck seemed to calm them, and they left off s.h.i.+vering with cold and fear; but I have had a night such as I don't want to have again."