第46章 OF THE FIGHTING AT LES AUGUSTINS AND THE PROPHECY

And，when all was done，there was I，knowing little enough of what had come and gone，dazed，with my sword bloody and bent，my head humming，and my foot on the breast of an English knight，one Robert Heron.Him I took to prisoner，rescue or no rescue，and so sat we down，very weary，in the midst of blood and broken arms，for many had been slain and a few taken，though the more part had fled into the boulevard of Les Tourelles.And here，with a joyous face，and the vizor of her helm raised，stood the Maid，her sword sheathed，waving her banner in the sight of the English that were on the bridge fort.

Natheless，her joy was but for a moment，and soon was she seated lowly on the ground，holding in her arms the head of an English knight，sore wounded，for whom her confessor，Father Pasquerel，was doing the offices of religion.Tears were running down her cheeks，even as if he had been one of her own people；and so，comforting and helping the wounded as she might，she abode till the darkness came，and the captains had made shift to repair the fortress and had set guards all orderly.And all the river was dark with boats coming and going，their lanterns glittering on the stream，and they were laden with food and munitions of war.In one of these boats did the Maid cross the river，taking with her us of her company，and speaking to me，above others，in the most gracious manner，for that I had been the first，with that Spanish gentleman，to pass within the English palisade.And now my heart was light，though my flesh was very weary，for that I had done my devoir，and taken the firstfruits of Elliot's wedding portion.No heavy ransom I put on that knight，Sir Robert Heron，and it was honourably paid in no long time，though he ill liked yielding him to one that had not gained his spurs.But it was fortune of war.So，half in a dream，we reached our house，and there was the greatest concourse of townsfolk clamouring in the praise of the Maid，who showed herself to them from the window，and promised that to-morrow they should take Les Tourelles.That night was Friday，yet，so worn were we all that the Maid bade us sup，and herself took some meat and a little wine in her water，though commonly she fasted on Friday.And now we were about to boun us for bed，and the Maid had risen，and was standing with her arms passed about the neck of the daughter of the house，a fair lass and merry，called Charlotte Boucher，who always lay with her (for she had great joy to be with girls of her own age)，when there came the sound of a dagger-hilt beating at the door.We opened，and there stood a tall knight，who louted low to the Maid，cap in hand，and she bade him drink to the taking of Les Tourelles that should be to-morrow.

But he，with the flagon full in his hands，and withal a thirsty look upon his face，shook his head.

"To another pledge，Maiden，I will gladly drink，namely，to the bravest damsel under the sky."And therewith he drank deep.

"But now I am sent from Gaucourt，and the Bastard，for all the captains are in counsel again.And they bid me tell you that enough hath been done，and they are right well content.But we are few against so great a host，in a place so strong that men may not avail to master it by main force.The city is now well seen in all manner of victual；moreover，we can now come and go by Sologne and the left bank.The skill is therefore to hold the city till the English wax weary and depart，or till we have succour anew from the King.

Therefore to-morrow the men-at-arms shall take rest，having great need thereof；and therefore，gentle Maid，pardon me that I drank not to the pledge which a lady called."Then he drained the flagon.

The Maid，holding the girl Charlotte yet closer to her，smote her right hand on the table，so that it dirled，and the cups and dishes leaped.

"You have been with your counsel，"she cried，"and I have been with mine！The counsel of Messire will stand fast and prevail，and yours shall perish，for it is of men.Go back，and bear my words to the captains，"quoth she；and then，turning to us，who looked on her in amazement，she said -"Do ye all rise right early，and more than ye have done to-day shall ye do.Keep ever close by me in the mellay，for to-morrow I shall have much to do，and more than ever yet I did.And to-morrow shall my blood leap from my body，above my breast，for an arrow shall smite here！"and she struck the place with her hand.

Thereon the knight，seeing that she was not to be moved，made his obeisance，and went back to them that sent him，and all we lay down to sleep while we might.

These words of the Maid I，Norman Leslie，heard，and bear record that they are true.

第一章OF THE FIGHTING AT THE BRIDGE，AND OF THE PRIZE WON BYNORMAN LESLIE FROM THE RIVER

On that night I slept soft，and woke oft，being utterly foredone.

In the grey dawn I awoke，and gave a little cough，when，lo！there came a hot sweet gush into my mouth，and going to the window，I saw that I was spitting of blood，belike from my old wound.It is a strange thing that，therewith，a sickness came over me，and a cold fit as of fear，though fear I had felt none where men met in heat of arms.None the less，seeing that to-day，or never，I was to be made or marred，I spoke of the matter neither to man nor woman，but drinking a long draught of very cold water，I spat some deal more，and then it stanched，and I armed me and sat down on my bed.

My thoughts，as I waited for the first stir in the house，were not glad.Birds were singing in the garden trees；all else was quiet，as if men were not waking to slay each other and pass unconfessed to their account.There came on me a great sickness of war.Yesterday the boulevard of Les Augustins，when the fight was over，had been a shambles；white bodies that had been stripped of their armour lay here and there like sheep on a hillside，and were now smirched with dust，a thing unseemly.I put it to myself that I was engaged，if ever man was，in a righteous quarrel，fighting against cruel oppression；and I was under the protection of one sent，as I verily believed，by Heaven.