"Well, I will, then!" said William with reckless bravado, and advanced
boldly upon the animal. The animal very slightly lowered its horns
(perhaps in sign of greeting) and emitted a sonorous mo-o-o-o-o. Like
lightning the gallant pair made for the road.
"Anyway," said William gloomily, "we'd got nothin' to put it in, so
we'd only of got tossed for nothin', p'raps, if we'd gone on."
They walked on down the road till they came to a pair of iron gates
and a drive that led up to a big house. William's spirits rose. His
hunger was forgotten.
"Come on!" he said. "We might find someone to rescue here. It looks
like a place where there might be someone to rescue."
There was no one in the garden to question the right of entry of two
small boys armed with a bugle and a toy pistol. Unchallenged they
went up to the house. While the knight was wondering whether to blow
his bugle at the front door or by the open window, they caught sight
suddenly of a vision inside the window. It was a girl as fair and slim
and beautiful as any wandering knight could desire. And she was
speaking fast and passionately.
William, ready for all contingencies, marshalled his forces.
"Follow me!" he whispered and crept on all fours nearer the window.
They could see a man now, an elderly man with white hair and a white
beard.
"And how long will you keep me in this vile prison?" she was saying in
a voice that trembled with anger, "base wretch that you are!"
"Crumbs!" ejaculated William.
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