“Yes, of course,” whispered the King. “Here, I’ll go next. I am not going to be beaten by that boy.”
He was in full earnest, and bitting and bridling his horse himself, refusing Saint Simon’s help and leaving him to perform the same task on his own steed, almost as soon as Denis had reached the shore, for his steed to stand snorting and shaking the water from its flowing mane and tail, the King was mounted, barebacked too. He rode his charger to the open gangway, where the brave beast answered the neigh that came from its companion on land, and without hesitation made the splashing leap so suddenly that the rider nearly lost his seat, having an undignified struggle to get himself upright again; while as soon as there was a clear way Saint Simon followed without the slightest difficulty, his charger in a few strides getting abreast of the King’s; and they swam together till the water shallowed and the swimming became a splashing wade to where, wet and triumphant, Denis was waiting their arrival.
Chapter Eight.
Madame the hostess.
A little crowd of idlers soon began to gather about the adventurers, who had dismounted to shake the water from their clinging garments and make much of their brave steeds.
“My faith!” said the King. “We are beginning our adventures indeed; but we are in a sorry plight, and ought to change.”
“Here’s the boat coming, sir,” cried Denis, who turned away from a man who began questioning him eagerly as to who they were and why they had come ashore like this.
The fellow’s manner had annoyed him, for though he pretty well understood his English he replied shortly in his native tongue. But the man was in no wise rebuffed, and turned now to Saint Simon, with whom he fared no better, in fact, rather worse, the result being that he addressed the King, who shortly told him to go and mind his own affairs.