not long afterwards, the country was overrun by war. the king gathered together his people, and did not know whether or not he could offer any opposition to the enemy, who was superior in strength and had a mighty army. then said the gardener’s boy, "i am grown up, and will go to the wars also, only give me a horse." the others laughed, and said, "seek one for thyself when we are gone, we will leave one behind us in the stable for thee." when they had gone forth, he went into the stable, and got the horse out; it was lame of one foot, and limped hobblety jig, hobblety jig; nevertheless he mounted it, and rode away to the dark forest. when he came to the outskirts, he called "iron john,"