The dwarf, in the meantime, augmented his confusion by insisting either that he must return the ring or instantly attend him.
"Hold, hold, yet a moment hold," said the knight, and proceeded to mutter to himself, "Am I either the subject or slave of King Richard, more than as a free knight sworn to the service of the Crusade?
And whom have I come hither to honour with lance and sword?
Our holy cause and my transcendent lady!" "The ring! the ring!" exclaimed the dwarf impatiently; "false and slothful knight, return the ring, which thou art unworthy to touch or to look upon." "A moment, a moment, good Nectabanus," said Sir Kenneth; "disturb not my thoughts .-- What if the Saracens were just now to attack our lines?
Should I stay here like a sworn vassal of England, watching that her king's pride suffered no humiliation; or should I speed to the breach, and fight for the Cross?
To the breach, assuredly; and next to the cause of God come the commands of my liege lady.

And yet, Coeur de Lion's behest--my own promise! Nectabanus, I conjure thee once more to say, are you to conduct me far from hence ?" "But to yonder pavilion; and, since you must needs know," replied Nectabanus, "the moon is glimmering on the gilded ball which crowns its roof, and which is worth a king's ransom." "I can return in an instant," said the knight, shutting his eyes desperately to all further consequences, "I can hear from thence the bay of my dog if any one approaches the standard.

I will throw myself at my lady's feet, and pray her leave to return to conclude my watch .-- Here, Roswal" (calling his hound, and throwing down his mantle by the side of the standard-spear), "watch thou here, and let no one approach." The majestic dog looked in his master's face, as if to be sure that he understood his charge, then sat down beside the mantle, with ears erect and head raised, like a sentinel, understanding perfectly the purpose for which he was stationed there.
"Come now, good Nectabanus," said the knight, "let us hasten to obey the commands thou hast brought." "Haste he that will," said the dwarf sullenly; "thou hast not been in haste to obey my summons, nor can I walk fast enough to follow your long strides--you do not walk like a man, but bound like an ostrich in the desert." There were but two ways of conquering the obstinacy of Nectabanus, who, as he spoke, diminished his walk into a snail's pace.

For bribes Sir Kenneth had no means--for soothing no time; so in his impatience he snatched the dwarf up from the ground, and bearing him along, notwithstanding his entreaties and his fear, reached nearly to the pavilion pointed out as that of the Queen.

In approaching it, however, the Scot observed there was a small guard of soldiers sitting on the ground, who had been concealed from him by the intervening tents.
Wondering that the clash of his own armour had not yet attracted their attention, and supposing that his motions might, on the present occasion, require to be conducted with secrecy, he placed the little panting guide upon the ground to recover his breath, and point out what was next to be done.