As night closed in they arrived at Thirsk. The four friendsappeared to be entire strangers to one another andindifferent to the precautions taken for guarding the king.They withdrew to a private house, and as they had reasonevery moment to fear for their safety, they occupied but oneroom and provided an exit, which might be useful in case ofan attack. The lackeys were sent to their several posts,except that Grimaud lay on a truss of straw across thedoorway.

D'Artagnan was thoughtful and seemed for the moment to havelost his usual loquacity. Porthos, who could never seeanything that was not self-evident, talked to him as usual.He replied in monosyllables and Athos and Aramis lookedsignificantly at one another.

Next morning D'Artagnan was the first to rise. He had beendown to the stables, already taken a look at the horses andgiven the necessary orders for the day, whilst Athos andAramis were still in bed and Porthos snoring.

At eight o'clock the march was resumed in the same order asthe night before, except that D'Artagnan left his friendsand began to renew the acquaintance which he had alreadystruck up with Monsieur Groslow.

Groslow, whom D'Artagnan's praises had greatly pleased,welcomed him with a gracious smile.

"Really, sir," D'Artagnan said to him, "I am pleased to findone with whom to talk in my own poor tongue. My friend,Monsieur du Vallon, is of a very melancholy disposition, somuch so, that one can scarcely get three words out of himall day. As for our two prisoners, you can imagine that theyare but little in the vein for conversation."

"They are hot royalists," said Groslow.

"The more reason they should be sulky with us for havingcaptured the Stuart, for whom, I hope, you're preparing apretty trial."

"Why," said Groslow, "that is just what we are taking him toLondon for."

"And you never by any chance lose sight of him, I presume?"

"I should think not, indeed. You see he has a truly royalescort."

"Ay, there's no fear in the daytime; but at night?"

"We redouble our precautions."

"And what method of surveillance do you employ?"

"Eight men remain constantly in his room."

"The deuce, he is well guarded, then. But besides theseeight men, you doubtless place some guard outside?"

"Oh, no! Just think. What would you have two men withoutarms do against eight armed men?"

"Two men - how do you mean?"

"Yes, the king and his lackey."

"Oh! then they allow the lackey to remain with him?"

"Yes; Stuart begged this favor and Harrison consented. Underpretense that he's a king it appears he cannot dress orundress without assistance."

"Really, captain," said D'Artagnan, determined to continueon the laudatory tack on which he had commenced, "the more Ilisten to you the more surprised I am at the easy andelegant manner in which you speak French. You have livedthree years in Paris? May I ask what you were doing there?"

"My father, who is a merchant, placed me with hiscorrespondent, who in turn sent his son to join our house inLondon."

"Were you pleased with Paris, sir?"

"Yes, but you are much in want of a revolution like our own- not against your king, who is a mere child, but againstthat lazar of an Italian, the queen's favorite."

"Ah! I am quite of your opinion, sir, and we should soonmake an end of Mazarin if we had only a dozen officers likeyourself, without prejudices, vigilant and incorruptible."

"But," said the officer, "I thought you were in his serviceand that it was he who sent you to General Cromwell."

"That is to say I am in the king's service, and that knowinghe wanted to send some one to England, I solicited theappointment, so great was my desire to know the man ofgenius who now governs the three kingdoms. So that when heproposed to us to draw our swords in honor of old Englandyou see how we snapped up the proposition."

"Yes, I know that you charged by the side of Mordaunt."

"On his right and left, sir. Ah! there's another brave andexcellent young man."

"Do you know him?" asked the officer.

"Yes, very well. Monsieur du Vallon and myself came fromFrance with him."

"It appears, too, you kept him waiting a long time atBoulogne."

"What would you have? I was like you, and had a king inkeeping."

"Aha!" said Groslow; "what king?"

"Our own, to be sure, the little one - Louis XIV."

"And how long had you to take care of him?"

"Three nights; and, by my troth, I shall always rememberthose three nights with a certain pleasure."

"How do you mean?"

"I mean that my friends, officers in the guards andmousquetaires, came to keep me company and we passed thenight in feasting, drinking, dicing."

"Ah true," said the Englishman, with a sigh; "you Frenchmenare born boon companions."

"And don't you play, too, when you are on guard?"

"Never," said the Englishman.

"In that case you must be horribly bored, and have mysympathy."

"The fact is, I look to my turn for keeping guard withhorror. It's tiresome work to keep awake a whole night."

"Yes, but with a jovial partner and dice, and guineasclinking on the cloth, the night passes like a dream. Youdon't like playing, then?"

"On the contrary, I do."

"Lansquenet, for instance?"

"Devoted to it. I used to play almost every night inFrance."

"And since your return to England?"

"I have not handled a card or dice-box."

"I sincerely pity you," said D'Artagnan, with an air ofprofound compassion.

"Look here," said the Englishman.

"Well?"

"To-morrow I am on guard."

"In Stuart's room?"

"Yes; come and pass the night with me."

"Impossible!"

"Impossible! why so?"

"I play with Monsieur du Vallon every night. Sometimes wedon't go to bed at all!"

"Well, what of that?"

"Why, he would be annoyed if I did not play with him."

"Does he play well?"

"I have seen him lose as much as two thousand pistoles,laughing all the while till the tears rolled down."

"Bring him with you, then."

"But how about our prisoners?"

"Let your servants guard them."

"Yes, and give them a chance of escaping," said D'Artagnan."Why, one of them is a rich lord from Touraine and the othera knight of Malta, of noble family. We have arranged theransom of each of them - 2,000 on arriving in France. Weare reluctant to leave for a single moment men whom ourlackeys know to be millionaires. It is true we plunderedthem a little when we took them, and I will even confessthat it is their purse that Monsieur du Vallon and I draw onin our nightly play. Still, they may have concealed someprecious stone, some valuable diamond; so that we are likethose misers who are unable to absent themselves from theirtreasures. We have made ourselves the constant guardians ofour men, and while I sleep Monsieur du Vallon watches."

"Ah! ah!" said Groslow.

"You see, then, why I must decline your polite invitation,which is especially attractive to me, because nothing is sowearisome as to play night after night with the same person;the chances always balance and at the month's end nothing isgained or lost."

"Ah!" said Groslow, sighing; "there is something still morewearisome, and that is not to play at all."

"I can understand that," said D'Artagnan.

"But, come," resumed the Englishman, "are these men of yoursdangerous?"

"In what respect?"

"Are they capable of attempting violence?"

D'Artagnan burst out laughing at the idea.

"Jesus Dieu!" he cried; "one of them is trembling withfever, having failed to adapt himself to this charmingcountry of yours, and the other is a knight of Malta, astimid as a young girl; and for greater security we havetaken from them even their penknives and pocket scissors."

"Well, then," said Groslow, "bring them with you."

"But really - - " said D'Artagnan.

"I have eight men on guard, you know. Four of them can guardthe king and the other four your prisoners. I'll manage itsomehow, you will see."

"But," said D'Artagnan, "now I think of it - what is toprevent our beginning to-night?"

"Nothing at all," said Groslow.

"Just so. Come to us this evening and to-morrow we'll returnyour visit."

"Capital! This evening with you, to-morrow at Stuart's, thenext day with me."

"You see, that with a little forethought one can lead amerry life anywhere and everywhere," said D'Artagnan.

"Yes, with Frenchmen, and Frenchmen like you."

"And Monsieur du Vallon," added the other. "You will seewhat a fellow he is; a man who nearly killed Mazarin betweentwo doors. They employ him because they are afraid of him.Ah, there he is calling me now. You'll excuse me, I know."

They exchanged bows and D'Artagnan returned to hiscompanions.

"What on earth can you have been saying to that bulldog?"exclaimed Porthos.

"My dear fellow, don't speak like that of Monsieur Groslow.He's one of my most intimate friends."

"One of your friends!" cried Porthos, "this butcher ofunarmed farmers!"

"Hush! my dear Porthos. Monsieur Groslow is perhaps ratherhasty, it's true, but at bottom I have discovered two goodqualities in him - he is conceited and stupid."

Porthos opened his eyes in amazement; Athos and Aramislooked at one another and smiled; they knew D'Artagnan, andknew that he did nothing without a purpose.

"But," continued D'Artagnan, "you shall judge of him foryourself. He is coming to play with us this evening."

"Oho!" said Porthos, his eyes glistening at the news. "Is herich?"

"He's the son of one of the wealthiest merchants in London."

"And knows lansquenet?"

"Adores it."

"Basset?"

"His mania.'

"Biribi?"

"Revels in it."

"Good," said Porthos; "we shall pass an agreeable evening."

"The more so, as it will be the prelude to a better."

"How so?"

"We invite him to play to-night; he has invited us in returnto-morrow. But wait. To-night we stop at Derby; and if thereis a bottle of wine in the town let Musqueton buy it. Itwill be well to prepare a light supper, of which you, Athosand Aramis, are not to partake - Athos, because I told himyou had a fever; Aramis, because you are a knight of Maltaand won't mix with fellows like us. Do you understand?"

"That's no doubt very fine," said Porthos; "but deuce takeme if I understand at all."

"Porthos, my friend, you know I am descended on the father'sside from the Prophets and on the mother's from the Sybils,and that I only speak in parables and riddles. Let those whohave ears hear and those who have eyes see; I can tell younothing more at present."

"Go ahead, my friend," said Athos; "I am sure that whateveryou do is well done."

"And you, Aramis, are you of that opinion?"

"Entirely so, my dear D'Artagnan."

"Very good," said D'Artagnan; "here indeed are truebelievers; it is a pleasure to work miracles before them;they are not like that unbelieving Porthos, who must see andtouch before he will believe."

"The fact is," said Porthos, with an air of finesse, "I amrather incredulous."

D'Artagnan gave him playful buffet on the shoulder, and asthey had reached the station where they were to breakfast,the conversation ended there.

At five in the evening they sent Musqueton on before asagreed upon. Blaisois went with him.

In crossing the principal street in Derby the four friendsperceived Blaisois standing in the doorway of a handsomehouse. It was there a lodging was prepared for them.

At the hour agreed upon Groslow came. D'Artagnan receivedhim as he would have done a friend of twenty years'standing. Porthos scanned him from head to foot and smiledwhen he discovered that in spite of the blow he hadadministered to Parry's brother, he was not nearly so strongas himself. Athos and Aramis suppressed as well as theycould the disgust they felt in the presence of suchcoarseness and brutality.

In short, Groslow seemed to be pleased with his reception.

Athos and Aramis kept themselves to their role. At midnightthey withdrew to their chamber, the door of which was leftopen on the pretext of kindly consideration. Furthermore,D'Artagnan went with them, leaving Porthos at play withGroslow.

Porthos gained fifty pistoles from Groslow, and found him amore agreeable companion than he had at first believed himto be.

As to Groslow, he promised himself that on the followingevening he would recover from D'Artagnan what he had lost toPorthos, and on leaving reminded the Gascon of hisappointment.

The next day was spent as usual. D'Artagnan went fromCaptain Groslow to Colonel Harrison and from ColonelHarrison to his friends. To any one not acquainted with himhe seemed to be in his normal condition; but to his friends- to Athos and Aramis - was apparent a certainfeverishness in his gayety.

"What is he contriving?" asked Aramis.

"Wait," said Athos.

Porthos said nothing, but he handled in his pocket the fiftypistoles he had gained from Groslow with a degree ofsatisfaction which betrayed itself in his whole bearing.

Arrived at Ryston, D'Artagnan assembled his friends. Hisface had lost the expression of careless gayety it had wornlike a mask the whole day. Athos pinched Aramis's hand.

"The moment is at hand," he said.

"Yes," returned D'Artagnan, who had overheard him,"to-night, gentlemen, we rescue the king."

"D'Artagnan," said Athos, "this is no joke, I trust? Itwould quite cut me up."

"You are a very odd man, Athos," he replied, "to doubt methus. Where and when have you seen me trifle with a friend'sheart and a king's life? I have told you, and I repeat it,that to-night we rescue Charles I. You left it to me todiscover the means and I have done so."

Porthos looked at D'Artagnan with an expression of profoundadmiration. Aramis smiled as one who hopes. Athos was pale,and trembled in every limb.

"Speak," said Athos.

"We are invited," replied D'Artagnan, "to pass the nightwith M. Groslow. But do you know where?"

"No."

"In the king's room."

"The king's room?" cried Athos.

"Yes, gentlemen, in the king's room. Groslow is on guardthere this evening, and to pass the time away he has invitedus to keep him company."

"All four of us?" asked Athos.

"Pardieu! certainly, all four; we couldn't leave ourprisoners, could we?"

"Ah! ah!" said Aramis.

"Tell us about it," said Athos, palpitating.

"We are going, then, we two with our swords, you withdaggers. We four have got to master these eight fools andtheir stupid captain. Monsieur Porthos, what do you say tothat?"

"I say it is easy enough," answered Porthos.

"We dress the king in Groslow's clothes. Musqueton, Grimaudand Blaisois have our horses saddled at the end of the firststreet. We mount them and before daylight are twenty leaguesdistant."

Athos placed his two hands on D'Artagnan's shoulders, andgazed at him with his calm, sad smile.

"I declare, my friend," said he, "that there is not acreature under the sky who equals you in prowess and incourage. Whilst we thought you indifferent to our sorrows,which you couldn't share without crime, you alone among ushave discovered what we were searching for in vain. I repeatit, D'Artagnan, you are the best one among us; I bless andlove you, my dear son."

"And to think that I couldn't find that out," said Porthos,scratching his head; "it is so simple."

"But," said Aramis, "if I understand rightly we are to killthem all, eh?"

Athos shuddered and turned pale.

"Mordioux!" answered D'Artagnan, "I believe we must. Iconfess I can discover no other safe and satisfactory way."

"Let us see," said Aramis, "how are we to act?"

"I have arranged two plans. Firstly, at a given signal,which shall be the words `At last,' you each plunge a daggerinto the heart of the soldier nearest to you. We, on ourside, do the same. That will be four killed. We shall thenbe matched, four against the remaining five. If these fivemen give themselves up we gag them; if they resist, we killthem. If by chance our Amphitryon changes his mind andreceives only Porthos and myself, why, then, we must resortto heroic measures and each give two strokes instead of one.It will take a little longer time and may make a greaterdisturbance, but you will be outside with swords and willrush in at the proper time."

"But if you yourselves should be struck?" said Athos.

"Impossible!" said D'Artagnan; "those beer drinkers are tooclumsy and awkward. Besides, you will strike at the throat,Porthos; it kills as quickly and prevents all outcry."

"Very good," said Porthos; "it will be a nice little throatcutting."

"Horrible, horrible," exclaimed Athos.

"Nonsense," said D'Artagnan; "you would do as much, Mr.Humanity, in a battle. But if you think the king's life isnot worth what it must cost there's an end of the matter andI send to Groslow to say I am ill."

"No, you are right," said Athos.

At this moment a soldier entered to inform them that Groslowwas waiting for them.

"Where?" asked D'Artagnan.

"In the room of the English Nebuchadnezzar," replied thestaunch Puritan.

"Good," replied Athos, whose blood mounted to his face atthe insult offered to royalty; "tell the captain we arecoming."

The Puritan then went out. The lackeys had been ordered tosaddle eight horses and to wait, keeping together andwithout dismounting, at the corner of a street about twentysteps from the house where the king was lodged.

It was nine o'clock in the evening; the sentinels had beenrelieved at eight and Captain Groslow had been on guard foran hour. D'Artagnan and Porthos, armed with their swords,and Athos and Aramis, each carrying a concealed poniard,approached the house which for the time being was CharlesStuart's prison. The two latter followed their captors inthe humble guise of captives, without arms.

"Od's bodikins," said Groslow, as the four friends entered,"I had almost given you up."

D'Artagnan went up to him and whispered in his ear:

"The fact is, we, that is, Monsieur du Vallon and I,hesitated a little."

"And why?"

D'Artagnan looked significantly toward Athos and Aramis.

"Aha," said Groslow; "on account of political opinions? Nomatter. On the contrary," he added, laughing, "if they wantto see their Stuart they shall see him.

"Are we to pass the night in the king's room?" askedD'Artagnan.

"No, but in the one next to it, and as the door will remainopen it comes to the same thing. Have you provided yourselfwith money? I assure you I intend to play the devil's gameto-night."

D'Artagnan rattled the gold in his pockets.

"Very good," said Groslow, and opened the door of the room."I will show you the way," and he went in first.

D'Artagnan turned to look at his friends. Porthos wasperfectly indifferent; Athos, pale, but resolute; Aramis waswiping a slight moisture from his brow.

The eight guards were at their posts. Four in the king'sroom, two at the door between the rooms and two at that bywhich the friends had entered. Athos smiled when he sawtheir bare swords; he felt it was no longer to be abutchery, but a fight, and he resumed his usual good humor.

Charles was perceived through the door, lying dressed uponhis bed, at the head of which Parry was seated, reading in alow voice a chapter from the Bible.

A candle of coarse tallow on a black table lighted up thehandsome and resigned face of the king and that of hisfaithful retainer, far less calm.

From time to time Parry stopped, thinking the king, whoseeyes were closed, was really asleep, but Charles would openhis eyes and say with a smile:

"Go on, my good Parry, I am listening."

Groslow advanced to the door of the king's room, replaced onhis head the hat he had taken off to receive his guests,looked for a moment contemptuously at this simple, yettouching scene, then turning to D'Artagnan, assumed an airof triumph at what he had achieved.

"Capital!" cried the Gascon, "you would make a distinguishedgeneral."

"And do you think," asked Groslow, "that Stuart will everescape while I am on guard?"

"No, to be sure," replied D'Artagnan; "unless, forsooth, thesky rains friends upon him."

Groslow's face brightened.

It is impossible to say whether Charles, who kept his eyesconstantly closed, had noticed the insolence of the Puritancaptain, but the moment he heard the clear tone ofD'Artagnan's voice his eyelids rose, in spite of himself.

Parry, too, started and stopped reading.

"What are you thinking about?" said the king; "go on, mygood Parry, unless you are tired."

Parry resumed his reading.

On a table in the next room were lighted candles, cards, twodice-boxes, and dice.

"Gentlemen," said Groslow, "I beg you will take your places.I will sit facing Stuart, whom I like so much to see,especially where he now is, and you, Monsieur d'Artagnan,opposite to me."

Athos turned red with rage. D'Artagnan frowned at him.

"That's it," said D'Artagnan; "you, Monsieur le Comte de laFere, to the right of Monsieur Groslow. You, Chevalierd'Herblay, to his left. Du Vallon next me. You'll bet for meand those gentlemen for Monsieur Groslow."

By this arrangement D'Artagnan could nudge Porthos with hisknee and make signs with his eyes to Athos and Aramis.

At the names Comte de la Fere and Chevalier d'Herblay,Charles opened his eyes, and raising his noble head, inspite of himself, threw a glance at all the actors in thescene.

At that moment Parry turned over several leaves of his Bibleand read with a loud voice this verse in Jeremiah:

"God said, `Hear ye the words of the prophets my servants,whom I have sent unto you."

The four friends exchanged glances. The words that Parry hadread assured them that their presence was understood by theking and was assigned to its real motive. D'Artagnan's eyessparkled with joy.

"You asked me just now if I was in funds," said D'Artagnan,placing some twenty pistoles upon the table. "Well, in myturn I advise you to keep a sharp lookout on your treasure,my dear Monsieur Groslow, for I can tell you we shall notleave this without robbing you of it."

"Not without my defending it," said Groslow.

"So much the better," said D'Artagnan. "Fight, my dearcaptain, fight. You know or you don't know, that that iswhat we ask of you."

"Oh! yes," said Groslow, bursting with his usual coarselaugh, "I know you Frenchmen want nothing but cuts andbruises."

Charles had heard and understood it all. A slight colormounted to his cheeks. The soldiers then saw him stretch hislimbs, little by little, and under the pretense of much heatthrow off the Scotch plaid which covered him.

Athos and Aramis started with delight to find that the kingwas lying with his clothes on.

The game began. The luck had turned, and Groslow, having wonsome hundred pistoles, was in the merriest possible humor.

Porthos, who had lost the fifty pistoles he had won thenight before and thirty more besides, was very cross andquestioned D'Artagnan with a nudge of the knee as to whetherit would not soon be time to change the game. Athos andAramis looked at him inquiringly. But D'Artagnan remainedimpassible.

It struck ten. They heard the guard going its rounds.

"How many rounds do they make a night?" asked D'Artagnan,drawing more pistoles from his pocket.

"Five," answered Groslow, "one every two hours."

D'Artagnan glanced at Athos and Aramis and for the firsttime replied to Porthos's nudge of the knee by a nudgeresponsive. Meanwhile, the soldiers whose duty it was toremain in the king's room, attracted by that love of play sopowerful in all men, had stolen little by little toward thetable, and standing on tiptoe, lounged, watching the game,over the shoulders of D'Artagnan and Porthos. Those on theother side had followed their example, thus favoring theviews of the four friends, who preferred having them closeat hand to chasing them about the chamber. The two sentinelsat the door still had their swords unsheathed, but they wereleaning on them while they watched the game.

Athos seemed to grow calm as the critical moment approached.With his white, aristocratic hands he played with the louis,bending and straightening them again, as if they were madeof pewter. Aramis, less self-controlled, fumbled continuallywith his hidden poniard. Porthos, impatient at his continuedlosses, kept up a vigorous play with his knee.

D'Artagnan turned, mechanically looking behind him, andbetween the figures of two soldiers he could see Parrystanding up and Charles leaning on his elbow with his handsclasped and apparently offering a fervent prayer to God.

D'Artagnan saw that the moment was come. He darted apreparatory glance at Athos and Aramis, who slyly pushedtheir chairs a little back so as to leave themselves morespace for action. He gave Porthos a second nudge of the kneeand Porthos got up as if to stretch his legs and took careat the same time to ascertain that his sword could be drawnsmoothly from the scabbard.

"Hang it!" cried D'Artagnan, "another twenty pistoles lost.Really, Captain Groslow, you are too much in fortune's way.This can't last," and he drew another twenty from hispocket. "One more turn, captain; twenty pistoles on onethrow - only one, the last."

"Done for twenty," replied Groslow.

And he turned up two cards as usual, a king for D'Artagnanand an ace for himself.

"A king," said D'Artagnan; "it's a good omen, Master Groslow- look out for the king."

And in spite of his extraordinary self-control there was astrange vibration in the Gascon's voice which made hispartner start.

Groslow began turning the cards one after another. If heturned up an ace first he won; if a king he lost.

He turned up a king.

"At last!" cried D'Artagnan.

At this word Athos and Aramis jumped up. Porthos drew back astep. Daggers and swords were just about to shine, whensuddenly the door was thrown open and Harrison appeared inthe doorway, accompanied by a man enveloped in a largecloak. Behind this man could be seen the glistening musketsof half a dozen soldiers.

Groslow jumped up, ashamed at being surprised in the midstof wine, cards, and dice. But Harrison paid not the leastattention to him, and entering the king's room, followed byhis companion:

"Charles Stuart," said he, "an order has come to conduct youto London without stopping day or night. Prepare yourself,then, to start at once."

"And by whom is this order given?" asked the king.

"By General Oliver Cromwell. And here is Mr. Mordaunt, whohas brought it and is charged with its execution."

"Mordaunt!" muttered the four friends, exchanging glances.

D'Artagnan swept up the money that he and Porthos had lostand buried it in his huge pocket. Athos and Aramis placedthemselves behind him. At this movement Mordaunt turnedaround, recognized them, and uttered an exclamation ofsavage delight.

"I'm afraid we are prisoners," whispered D'Artagnan to hisfriend.

"Not yet," replied Porthos.

"Colonel, colonel," cried Mordaunt, "you are betrayed. Thesefour Frenchmen have escaped from Newcastle, and no doubtwant to carry off the king. Arrest them."

"Ah! my young man," said D'Artagnan, drawing his sword,"that is an order sooner given than executed. Fly, friends,fly!" he added, whirling his sword around him.

The next moment he darted to the door and knocked down twoof the soldiers who guarded it, before they had time to cocktheir muskets. Athos and Aramis followed him. Porthosbrought up the rear, and before soldiers, officers, orcolonel had time to recover their surprise all four were inthe street.

"Fire!" cried Mordaunt; "fire upon them!"

Three or four shots were fired, but with no other resultthan to show the four fugitives turning the corner of thestreet safe and sound.

The horses were at the place fixed upon, and they leapedlightly into their saddles.

"Forward!" cried D'Artagnan, "and spur for your dear lives!"

They galloped away and took the road they had come by in themorning, namely, in the direction toward Scotland. A fewhundred yards beyond the town D'Artagnan drew rein.

"Halt!" he cried, "this time we shall be pursued. We mustlet them leave the village and ride after us on the northernroad, and when they have passed we will take the oppositedirection."

There was a stream close by and a bridge across it.

D'Artagnan led his horse under the arch of the bridge. Theothers followed. Ten minutes later they heard the rapidgallop of a troop of horsemen. A few minutes more and thetroop passed over their heads.