A HEROINE OF FRANCE

The Story of Joan of Arc

by

EVELYN EVERETT-GREEN

Contents

 CHAPTER I. HOW I FIRST HEARD OF THE MAID. 

 CHAPTER II. HOW I FIRST SAW THE MAID. 

 CHAPTER III. HOW THE MAID CAME TO VAUCOULEURS. 

 CHAPTER IV. HOW THE MAID WAS TRIED AND TESTED. 

 CHAPTER V. HOW THE MAID JOURNEYED TO CHINON. 

 CHAPTER VI. HOW THE MAID CAME TO THE KING. 

 CHAPTER VII. HOW THE MAID WAS HINDERED; YET MADE PREPARATION. 

 CHAPTER VIII. HOW THE MAID MARCHED FOR ORLEANS. 

 CHAPTER IX. HOW THE MAID ASSUMED COMMAND AT ORLEANS. 

 CHAPTER X. HOW THE MAID LED US INTO BATTLE. 

 CHAPTER XI. HOW THE MAID BORE TRIUMPH AND TROUBLE. 

 CHAPTER XII. HOW THE MAID RAISED THE SIEGE. 

 CHAPTER XIII. HOW THE MAID WON A NEW NAME. 

 CHAPTER XIV. HOW THE MAID CLEARED THE KING'S WAY. 

 CHAPTER XV. HOW THE MAID RODE WITH THE KING. 

 CHAPTER XVI. HOW THE MAID ACCOMPLISHED HER MISSION. 

 CHAPTER XVII. HOW THE MAID WAS PERSUADED. 

 CHAPTER XVIII. HOW I LAST SAW THE MAID. 

CHAPTER I. HOW I FIRST HEARD OF THE MAID. 

"The age of Chivalry--alas!--is dead. The days of miracles are pastand gone! What future is there for hapless France? She lies in thedust. How can she hope to rise?"

Sir Guy de Laval looked full in our faces as he spoke these words, and what could one reply? Ah me!--those were sad and sorrowful daysfor France--and for those who thought upon the bygone glories ofthe past, when she was mistress of herself, held high her head, andwas a power with hostile nations. What would the great Charlemagnesay, could he see us now? What would even St. Louis of blessedmemory feel, could he witness the changes wrought by only a centuryand a half? Surely it were enough to cause them to turn in theirgraves! The north lying supine at the feet of the Englishconqueror; licking his hand, as a dog licks that of his master, lost to all sense of shame that an English infant in his cradle (soto speak) should rule through a regent the fair realm of France, whilst its own lawful King, banished from his capital and from halfhis kingdom, should keep his Court at Bourges or Chinon, passinghis days in idle revelry, heedless of the eclipse of formergreatness, careless of the further aggressions threatened by theever-encroaching foe. 

Was Orleans to fall next into the greedy maw of the Englishadventurers? Was it not already threatened? And how could it besaved if nothing could rouse the King from his slothfulindifference? O for the days of Chivalry!--the days so long goneby!

Whilst I, Jean de Novelpont, was musing thus, a curious lookovershadowed the face of Bertrand de Poulengy, our comrade andfriend, with whom, when we had said adieu to Sir Guy a few milesfarther on, I was to return to Vaucouleurs, to pay a long-promisedvisit there. I had been journeying awhile with Sir Guy in Germany, and he was on his way to the Court at Chinon; for we were all ofthe Armagnac party, loyal to our rightful monarch, whether King oronly Dauphin still, since he had not been crowned, and had adoptedno truly regal state or authority; and we were earnestly desirousof seeing him awaken from his lethargy and put himself at the headof an army, resolved to drive out the invaders from the land, andbe King of France in truth as well as in name. But so far it seemedas though nothing short of a miracle would effect this, and thedays of miracles, as Sir Guy had said, were now past and gone. 

Then came the voice of Bertrand, speaking in low tones, as a manspeaks who communes with himself; but we heard him, for we wereriding over the thick moss of the forest glade, and the horses'feet sank deep and noiseless in the sod, and our fellows had fallenfar behind, so that their laughter and talk no longer broke uponour ears. The dreamy stillness of the autumn woodlands was aboutus, when the songs of the birds are hushed, and the light fallsgolden through the yellowing leaves, and a glory more solemn thanthat of springtide lies upon the land. 

Methinks there is something in the gradual death of the year whichattunes our hearts to a certain gentle melancholy; and perchancethis was why Sir Guy's words had lacked the ring of hopeful braverythat was natural to one of his temperament, and why Bertrand's eyeswere so grave and dreamy, and his voice seemed to come from faraway. 

"And yet I do bethink me that six months agone I did behold a scenewhich seems to me to hold within its scope something of miracle andof mystery. I have thought of it by day, and dreamed of it bynight, and the memory of it will not leave me, I trow, so long asbreath and being remain!"

We turned and looked at him--the pair of us--with eyes whichquestioned better than our tongues. Bertrand and I had beencomrades and friends in boyhood; but of late years we had been muchsundered. I had not seen him for above a year, till he joined usthe previous Wednesday at Nancy, having received a letter I didsend to him from thence. He came to beg of me to visit him at hiskinsman's house, the Seigneur Robert de Baudricourt of Vaucouleurs;and since my thirst for travel was assuaged, and my purse somethingover light to go to Court, I was glad to end my wanderings for thenonce, in the company of one whom I still loved as a brother. 

From the first I had noted that Bertrand was something graver andmore thoughtful than had been his wont. Now I did look at him withwonder in my eyes. What could he be speaking of?

He answered as though the question had passed my lips. 

"It was May of this present year of grace, " he said, "I mind it thebetter that it was the Feast of the Ascension, and I had kept fastand vigil, had made my confession and received the Holy Sacramentearly in the day. I was in my lodging overlooking the market place, and hard by the Castle which as you know hangs, as it were, overthe town, guarding or threatening it, as the case may be, when amessenger arrived from my kinsman, De Baudricourt, bidding me to acouncil which he was holding at noon that day. I went to himwithout delay; and he did tell me a strange tale. 

"Not long since, so he said, an honest prud'homme of theneighbouring village of Burey le Petit, Durand Laxart by name, hadasked speech with him, and had then told him that a young niece ofhis, dwelling in the village of Domremy, had come to him a few dayssince, saying it had been revealed to her how that she was to beused by the God of Heaven as an instrument in His hands for theredemption of France; and she had been told in a vision to go firstto the Seigneur de Baudricourt, who would then find means wherebyshe should be sent to the Dauphin (as she called him), whom she wasto cause to be made King of France. "

"Mort de Dieu!" cried Sir Guy, as he gazed at Bertrand with a lookbetwixt laughter and amaze, "and what said your worshipful uncle tothat same message?"

"At the first, he told me, he broke into a great laugh, and bid thehonest fellow box the girl's ears well, and send her back to hermother. But he added that the man had been to him once again, andhad pleaded that at least he would see his niece before sending heraway; and since by this time he was himself somewhat curious to seeand to question this village maiden, who came with so strange atale, he had told Laxart to bring her at noon that very day, and hedesired that I and certain others should be there in the hall withhim, to hear her story, and perhaps suggest some shrewd questionwhich might help to test her good faith. "

"A good thought, " spoke Sir Guy, "for it is hard to believe inthese dreamers of dreams. I have met such myself--they talk greatswelling words, but the world wags on its way in spite of them. They are no prophets; they are bags of wind. They make a stir and acommotion for a brief while, and then they vanish to be heard of nomore. "

"It may be so, " answered Bertrand, whose face was grave, and whosesteadfast dark-blue eyes had taken a strange shining, "I can onlyspeak of that which I did see and hear. What the future may holdnone can say. God alone doth know that. "

"Then you saw this maid--and heard her speech. What looked shelike?--and what said she?"

"I will tell you all the tale. We were gathered there in the greathall. There were perhaps a score of us; the Seigneur at the head ofthe council table, the Abbe Perigord on his right, and the Count ofLa Roche on his left. There were two priests also present, and thechiefest knights and gentlemen of the town. We had all beenlaughing gaily at the thought of what a village maid of butseventeen summers--or thereabouts--would feel on being introducedinto the presence of such a company. We surmised that she wouldshrink into the very ground for shame. One gentleman declared thatit was cruel to ask her to face so many strangers of condition somuch more exalted than her own; but De Baudricourt cried out, 'Whyman, the wench is clamouring to be taken to the King at his Court!If she cannot face a score of simple country nobles here, how canshe present herself at Chinon? Let her learn her place by a sharplesson here; so may she understand that she had best return to herdistaff and spindle and leave the crowning of Kings to otherhands!' And it was in the midst of the roar of laughter whichgreeted this speech that the door opened slowly--and we saw themaid of whom we had been talking. "

"And she doubtless heard your mirth, " spoke I, and he bent his headin assent. 

"I trow she did, " he answered, "but think you that the ribald jestsof mortal men can touch one of the angels of God? She stood for amoment framed in the doorway, and I tell you I lie not when Ideclare that it seemed to all present as though a halo of purewhite light encircled her. Where the light came from I know not;but many there were, like myself, who noted it. The far end of thehall was dim and dark; but yet we saw her clear as she movedforward. Upon her face was a shining such as I have seen upon noneother. She wore the simple peasant dress of her class, with thecoif upon her head; yet it seemed to me--ay, and to others too--asthough she was habited in rich apparel. Perchance it was that whenone had seen her face, one could no longer think upon her raiment. If a queen--if an angel--if a saint from heaven stood in statelycalm and dignity before one's eyes, how could we think of theraiment worn? We should see nothing but the grandeur and beauty ofthe face and form!"

"Mort de Dieu!" cried Sir Guy with his favourite oath, "but youlook, good Bertrand, as though you had gazed upon some vision fromthe unseen world!"

"Nay, " he answered gravely, "but I have looked upon the face of onewhom God has visited through His saints. I have seen the reflectionof His glory in human eyes; and so I can never say with others thatthe days of miracles are past. "

Bertrand spoke with a solemnity and earnestness which could not butimpress us deeply. Our eyes begged him to continue, and he told therest of his tale very simply. 

"She came forward with this strange shining in her eyes. She bentbefore us with simple reverence; but then lifted herself up to herfull height and looked straight at De Baudricourt without boldnessand without fear, as though she saw in him a tool in the hand ofGod, and had no other thought for him besides. 

"'Seigneur, ' she said, 'my Lord has bidden me come to you, that youmay send me to the Dauphin; for He has given me a message to himwhich none else may bear; and He has told me that you will do it, therefore I know that you will not fail Him, and your laughtertroubles me not. '

"'Who is your Lord, my child?' asked De Baudricourt, not laughingnow, but pulling at his beard and frowning in perplexity. 

"'Even the Lord of Heaven, Sire, ' she answered, and her handsclasped themselves loosely together whilst her eyes looked upwardwith a smile such as I have seen on none other face before. 'Hethat is my Lord and your Lord and the Lord of this realm of France. But it is His holy will that the Dauphin shall be its King, andthat he shall drive back the English, and that the crown shall beset upon his head. And this, with other matters which are for hisear alone I am sent to tell him; and you, good my lord, are he whoshall send me to my King. '

"Thus she spoke, and looked at us all with those shining eyes ofhers; yet it seemed to me she scarce saw us. Her glance did gobeyond, as though she were gazing in vision upon the things whichwere to be. "

"She was beautiful, you say?" asked Sir Guy, whose interest waskeenly aroused; but who, I saw, was doubtful whether Bertrand hadnot been deceived by some witchery of fair face and graceful form;for Bertrand, albeit a man of thews and sinews and bold as a lionin fight, was something of the dreamer too, as warriors in all ageshave sometimes been. 

"Yes--as an angel of God is beautiful, " he answered, "ask me not ofthat; for I can tell you nothing. I know not the hue of her hair orof her eyes, nor what her face was like, nor her form, save thatshe was tall and very slender; but beautiful--ah yes!--with thebeauty which this world cannot give; a beauty which silenced everyflippant jest, shamed every scoffing thought, turned ridicule intowonder, contempt into reverence. Whether this wonderful maiden camein truth as a messenger of God or no, at least not one present butsaw well that she herself believed heart and soul in her divinecommission. "

"And what answer did the Seigneur de Baudricourt make to her?"

"He gazed upon her full for awhile, and then he suddenly asked ofher, 'And when shall all these wonders come to pass?'

"She, with her gaze fixed still a little upwards, answered, 'Beforemid-Lent next year shall succour reach him; then will the city ofOrleans be in sore straight; but help shall come, and the Englishshall fly before the sword of the Lord. Afterwards shall theDauphin receive consecration at Rheims, and the crown of Franceshall be set upon his head, in token that he is the anointed of theLord. '

"'And who has told you all this, my child?' asked De Baudricourtthen, answering gently, as one speaks within a church. 

"'Mes voix, ' she answered, speaking as one who dreams, and indreaming listens. 

"'What voices?' asked De Baudricourt, 'and have you naught butvoices to instruct you in such great matters?'

"'Yes, Sire, ' she answered softly, 'I have seen the great ArchangelMichael, his sword drawn in his hand; and I know that he has drawnit for the deliverance of France, and that though he has chosen sohumble an instrument as myself, yet that to him and to the Lord ofHeaven will he the victory and the glory. '

"When she had thus spoken there was a great silence in the hall, inwhich might have been heard the fall of a pin, and I vow thatwhether it were trick of summer sunshine or no, the light about themaiden seemed to grow brighter and brighter. Her face was justslightly uplifted as one who listens, and upon her lips there was asmile. 

"'And I know that you will send me to the Dauphin, Robert deBaudricourt, ' she suddenly said, 'because my voices tell me so. '

"We all looked at De Baudricourt, who sat chin on hand, gazing atthe maiden as though he would read her very soul. We waited, wondering, for him to speak At last he did. 

"'Well, my girl, I will think of all this. We have till next year, by your own showing, ere these great things shall come to pass. Soget you home, and see what your father and mother say to all this, and whether the Archangel Michael comes again or no. Go home--be agood girl, and we will see what we will see. '"

"Was that all he promised?" spoke Sir Guy with a short laugh. "Itrow the maiden dreamer would not thank him for that word! Adeliverer of princes to be bidden to go home and be a good girl!What said she to that counsel?"

"Ay, well you may ask, " spoke Bertrand with subdued emotion. "Justsuch a question sprang to my lips as I heard my kinsman's answer. Ilooked to see her face fall, to see sparks of anger flash from hereyes, or a great disappointment cloud the serene beauty of hercountenance. But instead of this a wonderful smile lighted it, andher sweet and resonant voice sounded clear through the hall. 

"'Ah, now Seigneur, I know you for a good and true man! You speakas did my voices when first I heard them. "Jeanne, sois bonne etsage enfant; va souvent a l'eglise"; that was their first messageto me, when I was but a child; and now you say the same to me--be agood girl. Thus I know that your heart is right, and that when myLord's time is come you will send me with His message to theDauphin. '

"And so saying she bent again in a modest reverence before us. Yetlet me tell you that as she did so, every man of us sprang to hisfeet by an impulse which each one felt, yet none could explain. Asone man we rose, and bowed before her, as she retired from the hailwith the simple, stately grace of a young queen. Not till the doorhad closed behind her did we bethink us that it was to a humblepeasant girl we had paid unconscious homage. We who had thought shewould well-nigh sink to the dust at sight of us, had been made tofeel that we were in the presence of royalty!"

"Tu Dieu! but that is a strange story!" quoth Sir Guy with knittedbrows. "For many a long day I have heard nought so strange! Whatthink you of it yourself, good Bertrand? For by my troth you speaklike a man convinced that a miracle may even yet be wrought forFrance at the hand of this maid. "

"And if I do, is that so strange? Cannot it be that the good Godmay still speak through His saints to the sons of men, and mayraise up a deliverer for us, even as He did in the days of old forHis chosen people? Is His arm shortened at all? And is it meet thatwe Christian knights should trust Him less than did the Jews ofold?"

Sir Guy made no reply, but fell into thought, and then asked asudden question:

"Who is this peasant maid of whom you speak? And where is she now?Is she still abiding content at home, awaiting the time appointedby her visions?"

"I trow that she is, " answered Bertrand. "I did hear that she wenthome without delay, as quietly as she had come. Her name is Jeanned'Arc. She dwells in the village of Domremy over yonder. Her fatheris an honest prud'homme of the place. She has brothers and asister. She is known in the village as a pious and gentle maid, ever ready to tend the sick, hold vigil for the dead, take chargeof an ailing child, or do any such simple service for theneighbours. She is beloved of all, full of piety and good works, constant in attendance at church, regular in her confession and atmass. So much have I heard from her kinsman Laxart, though for mineown part I have not seen her again. "

"And what thinks De Baudricourt of her mission? Does he ever speakof it?"

"Not often; and yet I know that he has not forgotten it. Forofttimes he does sink into a deep reverie; and disjointed wordsbreak from him, which tell me whither his thoughts have flown. 

"At the first he did say to me, 'Let the girl go home; let us seeif we hear more of her. If this be but a phantasy on her part; ifshe has been fasting and praying and dreaming, till she knows notwhat is true and what is her own imagining, why, time will cure herof her fancies and follies. If otherwise--well, we will see whenthe time comes. To act in haste were to act with folly. '

"And so he dismissed the matter, though, as I say, he doth notforget it, and I think never a day comes but he thinks on it. "

"And while the Lord waits, the English are active!" cried Sir Guywith a note of impatience in his voice. "They are alreadythreatening Orleans. Soon they will march in strength upon it. Andif that city once fall, why what hope is there even for suchremnants of his kingdom as still remain faithful south of theLoire? The English will have them all. Already they call our Kingin mockery 'the King of Bourges;' soon even that small domain willbe reft away, and then what will remain for him or for us? If thevisions of the maiden had been true, why doth not the Lord strikenow, before Salisbury of England can invest the city? If Orleansfall, all is lost!"

"But Jeanne says that Orleans shall be saved, " spoke Bertrand in alow voice, "and if she speaks sooth, must not she and we alikeleave the times and seasons in the hand of the Lord?"

Sir Guy shrugged his shoulders, and gave me a shrewd glance, themeaning of which I was at no loss to understand. He thought thatBertrand's head had been something turned, and that he had become avisionary, looking rather for a miracle from heaven than fordeliverance from the foe through hard fighting by loyal menmarching under the banner of their King. Truth we all knew wellthat little short of a miracle would arouse the indolent anddiscouraged Charles, cowed by the English foe, doubtful of his ownright to call himself Dauphin, distrustful of his friends, despairing of winning the love or trust of his subjects. But couldit indeed be possible that such a miracle could be wrought, and byan instrument so humble as a village maid--this Jeanne d'Arc?

But the time had come when we must say adieu to our comrade, andturn ourselves back to Vaucouleurs, if we were not to be benightedin the forest ere we could reach that place. We halted for ourserving men to come up; and as we did so Bertrand said in a lowvoice to Sir Guy:

"I pray you, Seigneur de Laval, speak no word to His Majesty ofthis maid and her mission, until such time as news may reach him ofher from other sources. "

"I will say no word, " answered the other, smiling, and so with manyfriendly words we parted, and Bertrand and I, with one servantbehind us, turned our horses' heads back along the road by which wehad come. 

"Bertrand, " I said, as the shadows lengthened, the soft dusk fellin the forest, and the witchery of the evening hour fell upon myheart, "I would that I could see this maiden of whom you speak, this Jeanne d'Arc of the village of Domremy. "

He turned and looked me full in the face; I saw his eyes glow andthe colour deepen in his cheeks. 

"You would not go to mock, friend Jean de Metz?" he said, for so Iam generally named amongst my friends. 

"Nay, " I answered truthfully, "there is no thought of mockery in myheart; yet I fain would see the Maid. "

He paused awhile in thought and then made answer:

"At least we may ride together one day to Domremy; but whether orno we see the Maid will be according to the will of Heaven. "

CHAPTER II. HOW I FIRST SAW THE MAID. 

I did not forget my desire to see this maiden of Domremy, nor didBertrand, I trow, forget the promise, albeit some days passed byere we put our plan into action. 

Bad news kept coming in to the little loyal township ofVaucouleurs. There was no manner of doubt but that the EnglishRegent, Bedford, was resolved to lose no more time, but seek to putbeneath his iron heel the whole of the realm of France. Gascony hadbeen English so long that the people could remember nothingdifferent than the rule of the Roy Outremer--as of old they calledhim. Now all France north of the Loire owned the same sway, and asall men know, the Duke of Burgundy was ally to the English, andhated the Dauphin with a deadly hatred, for the murder of hisfather--for which no man can justly blame him. True, his love forthe English had cooled manifestly since that affair of DukeHumphrey of Gloucester and Jacquelaine of Brabant, in which as wasnatural, he took the part of his brother; but although the Duke ofBedford was highly indignant with Duke Humphrey, and gave him nomanner of support in his rash expedition, yet the Duke of Burgundyresented upon the English what had been done, and although it didnot drive him into the arms of the Dauphin, whom he hated worse, itloosened the bond between him and our foes, and we had hoped itmight bring about a better state of things for our party. Yetalas!--this seemed as far as ever from being so; and the Burgundiansoldiers still ravaged along our borders, and it seemed ofttimes asthough we little loyal community of the Duchy of Bar would beswallowed up altogether betwixt the two encroaching foes. So ourhearts were often heavy and our faces grave with fear. 

I noted in the manner of the Governor, whose guest I had nowbecome, a great gravity, which in old days had not been there; forRobert de Baudricourt, as I remembered him, had ever been a man ofmerry mood, with a great laugh, a ready jest, and that sort ofrough, bluff courage that makes light of trouble and peril. 

Now, however, we often saw him sunk in some deep reverie, his chinupon his hand, his eyes gazing full into the blaze of the leapingfire of logs, which always flamed upon the hearth in the greathall, where the most part of his time was spent. He would gohunting or hawking by day, or ride hither and thither through thetown, looking into matters there, or sit to listen to the affairsof the citizens or soldiers as they were brought before him; and atsuch times his manner would be much as it had ever been ofyore--quick, almost rough, yet not unkindly--whilst the shrewdjustice he always meted out won the respect of the people, and madehim a favourite in the town. 

But when the evening fell, and the day's work was done, and aftersupper we sat in the hall, with the dogs slumbering around us, talking of any news which might have come in, either of raids bythe roving Burgundians, or the advance of the English towardsOrleans, then these darker moods would fall upon him; and once whenhe had sat for well-nigh an hour without moving, his brow drawn andfurrowed, and his eyes seemingly sunk deeper in his head, Bertrandleaned towards me and whispered in mine ear:

"He is thinking of the Maid of Domremy!"

De Baudricourt could not have heard the words, yet when he spoke abrief while later, it almost seemed as though he might have doneso. 

"Nephew, " he said, lifting his head abruptly and gazing across atus, "tell me again the words of that prophecy of Merlin's, spokenlong, long ago, of which men whisper in these days, and of whichyou did speak to me awhile back. "

"Marry, good mine uncle, the prophecy runs thus, " answeredBertrand, rising and crossing over towards the great fire beforewhich his kinsman sat, "'That France should be destroyed by thewiles of a woman, and saved and redeemed by a maiden. '"

The bushy brows met in a fierce scowl over the burning eyes; hiswords came in a great burst of indignation and scorn. 

"Ay, truly--he spake truly--the wise man--the wizard! A woman to bethe ruin of the kingdom! Ay, verily, and has it not been so? Whobut that wicked Queen Isabeau is at the bottom of the disgracefulTreaty of Troyes, wherein France sold herself into the hands of theEnglish? Did she not repudiate her own son? Did not her hatred burnso fiercely against him that she was ready to tarnish her own goodfame and declare him illegitimate, rather than that he shouldsucceed his father as King of France? Did she not give her daughterto the English King in wedlock, that their child might reign overthis fair realm? Truly has the kingdom been destroyed by the wilesof a woman! But I vow it will take more than the strength of anymaiden to save and redeem it from the woes beneath which it liescrushed!"

"In sooth it doth seem so, " answered Bertrand with grave andearnest countenance, "but yet with the good God nothing isimpossible. Hath He not said before this that He doth take of themean and humble to confound the great of the earth? Did not thethree hundred with Gideon overcome the hosts of the Moabites? Didnot the cake of barley bread overturn the tent and the camp of thefoe?"

"Ay, if the good God will arise to work miracles again, such thingsmight be; but how can we look for Him to do so? What manner of manis the Dauphin of France that he should look for divinedeliverance? 'God helps those who help themselves, ' so says theproverb; but what of those who lie sunk in lethargy or despair, andseek to drown thought or care in folly and riotous living--heedlessof the ruin of the realm?"

"There is another proverb, good mine uncle, that tells how man'sextremity is God's opportunity, " quoth Bertrand thoughtfully; "ifwe did judge of God's mercy by man's worthiness to receive thesame, we might well sink in despair. But His power and His goodnessare not limited by our infirmities, and therein alone lies ourhope. "

De Baudricourt uttered a sound between a snort and a grunt. I knewnot what he thought of Bertrand's answer; but that brief dialoguearoused within me afresh the desire I had before expressed to seethe maid, Jeanne of Domremy; and as the sun upon the morrow shoneout bright and clear, after a week of heavy rain storms, we agreedthat no better opportunity could we hope for to ride across to thelittle village, and try whether it were possible to obtain speechwith the young girl about whom such interest had been aroused insome breasts. 

We spoke no word to De Baudricourt of our intention. Bertrand knewfrom his manner that he was thinking more and more earnestly ofthat declaration on the part of the village maiden that herLord--the King of Heaven--had revealed to her that she must be sentto the Dauphin, to help him to drive out the English from hiscountry, and to place the crown of France upon his head, and thathe, Robert de Baudricourt, was the instrument who would be used tospeed her on her way. Bertrand knew that this thought was weighingupon the mind of his kinsman, and the more so as the time for thefulfilment of the prophecy drew nearer. 

Autumn had come. Winter was hard at hand; and before Mid-Lent thepromised succour to France was to arrive through the means of thismaiden--this Jeanne d'Arc. 

"He is waiting and watching, " spoke Bertrand, as we rode throughthe forest, the thinning leaves of which allowed the sunlight toplay merrily upon our path. "He says in his heart that if thisthing be of God, the Maid will come again when the time draws near;but that if it is phantasy, or if she be deluded of the Devil, perchance his backwardness will put a check upon her ardour, and weshall hear no more of it. The Abbe Perigord, his Confessor, hasbidden him beware lest it be a snare of the Evil One"--and as hespoke these words Bertrand crossed himself, and I did the like, forthe forest is an ill place in which to talk of the Devil, as allmen know. 

"But for my part, when I think upon her words, and see again thelook of her young face, I cannot believe that she has been thusdeceived; albeit we are told that the Devil can make himself appearas an angel of light. "

This was the puzzle, of course. But surely the Church had power todiscern betwixt the wiles of the Evil One and the finger of God. There were words and signs which any possessed of the Devil mustneeds fly before. I could not think that the Church need feardeception, even though a village maid might be deceived. 

The forest was very beautiful that day, albeit travelling wassomething slow, owing to the softness of the ground, and theswollen condition of the brooks, which often forced us to go roundby the bridges instead of taking the fords; so that we halted a fewmiles from Domremy to bait our horses and to appease our ownhunger, for by that time our appetite was sharp set. 

It was there, as we sat at table, and talked with mine host, thatwe heard somewhat more of this Maid, whom we had started forth inhopes to see. 

Bertrand was known for the kinsman of De Baudricourt and all thecountryside knew well the tale, how that Jeanne d'Arc had gone tohim in the springtide of the year, demanding an escort to theDauphin King of France, for whom she had a message from the King ofHeaven, and whom she was to set upon his throne. 

"When she came home again, having accomplished nothing, " spoke theinnkeeper, leaning his hands upon the table and greatly enjoyingthe sound of his own voice, "all the village made great mock ofher! They called her the King's Marshal, the Little Queen, Jeannethe Prophetess, and I know not what beside. Her father was rightwroth with her. Long ago he had a dream about her, which troubledhim somewhat, as he seemed to see his daughter in the midst offighting men, leading them on to battle. "

"Did he dream that? Surely that is something strange for the visionof a village prud'homme anent his little daughter. "

"Ay truly, though at the time he thought little of it, but when allthis came to pass he recalled it again; and he smote Jeanne uponthe ear with his open hand, and bid her return to her needle andher household tasks, and think no more of matters too great forher. Moreover, he declared that if ever she were to disgraceherself by mingling with men-at-arms, he would call upon herbrothers to drown her, and if they disobeyed him, he would take anddo it with his own hands!"

"A Spartan father, truly!" murmured Bertrand. 

"O ay--but he is a very honest man, is Jacques d'Arc; and he wasvery wroth at all the talk about his daughter, and he vowed sheshould wed an honest man, as she is now of age to do, and so forgether dreams and her visions, and take care of her house and herhusband and the children the good God should send them--like otherwedded wives. "

"Then has she indeed wedded?" asked Bertrand earnestly. 

"Ah, that is another story!" answered our host, wagging his headand spreading out his hands. "It would take too long were I to tellyou all, messires; but so much will I tell. They did find a man whohad long desired the pretty Jeanne for his wife, and he didforswear himself and vow that he had been betrothed to Jeanne withher own free will and consent, and that now he claimed her as hiswife. Jeanne, whose courage is high, though she be so quiet andmodest in her daily life, did vehemently deny the charge, whereuponthe angry father and his friend, the claimant of her hand, didbring it into the court, and the Maid had to defend herself therefrom the accusation of broken faith. But by St. Michael and all hisangels!--how she did confound them all! She asked no help fromlawyers, though one did offer himself to her. She called nowitnesses herself; but she questioned the witnesses brought againsther, and also the man who would fain have become her lord, and outof their own mouths did she convict them of lying and hypocrisy andconspiracy, so that she was triumphantly acquitted, and her judgescalled her a most wonderful child, and told her mother to be proudof such a daughter!"

I saw a flush rise to Bertrand's cheek, a flush as of pride andjoy. And indeed, I myself rejoiced to hear the end of the tale; forit did seem as though this maiden had been persecuted with rancourand injustice, and that is a thing which no man can quietly endureto hear or see. 

"And how have they of Domremy behaved themselves to her since?" Iasked; and Bertrand listened eagerly for the answer. 

"Oh, they have taken her to favour once more; her father has beenkind again; her mother ever loved Jeanne much, for her gentlenessand beauty and helpfulness at home. All the people love her, whennot stirred to mockery by such fine pretensions. If she will remainquietly at home like a wise and discreet maiden, no one will longremember against her her foolish words and dreams. "

As we rode through the fields and woodlands towards Domremy, thelight began to take the golden hue which it does upon the autumnafternoon, and upon that day it shone with a wonderful radiancesuch as is not uncommon after rain. We were later than we hadmeant, but there would be a moon to light us when the sun sank, andboth we and our horses knew the roads well; or we could even sleep, if we were so minded, at the auberge where we had dined. So we werein no haste or hurry. We picked our way leisurely towards thevillage, and Bertrand told me of the Fairy Well and the Fairy Treein the forest hard by, so beloved of the children of Domremy, andof which so much has been heard of late, though at that time I knewnothing of any such things. 

But fairy lore has ever a charm for me, and I bid him show me thesesame things. So we turned a little aside into the forest, and foundourselves in a lovely glade, where the light shone so soft andgolden, and where the songs of the birds sounded so sweet andmelodious, that I felt as though we were stepping through anenchanted world, and well could I believe that the fairies dancedaround the well, sunk deep in its mossy dell, and fringed aboutwith ferns and flowers and the shade of drooping trees. 

But fairies there were none visible to our eyes, and we movedsoftly onwards towards the spreading tree hard by. But ere wereached it, we both drew rein as by a common impulse, for we hadseen a sight which arrested and held us spellbound, ay, and morethan that, for the wonder and amaze of it fell also upon the horseswe bestrode. For scarcely had we drawn rein, before they both beganto tremble and to sweat, and stood with their forefeet planted, their necks outstretched, their nostrils distended; uttering short, gasping, snorting sounds, as a horse will do when overcome by someterror. But for all this they were as rigid as if they had beencarved in stone. 

And now, what did we see? Let me try and tell, so far as my poorwords may avail. Beneath a spreading tree just a stone's throw tothe right of where we stood, and with nothing between to hinder ourview of her, a peasant maiden, dressed in the white coif, redskirt, and jacket and kerchief of her class, had been bending oversome fine embroidery which she held in her hands. We just caught aglimpse of her thus before the strange thing happened which causedus to stop short, as though some power from without restrained us. 

Hard by, as I know now, stood the village, shut out from view bythe trees, with its little church, and the homestead of Jacquesd'Arc nestling almost within its shadow. At the moment of which Ispeak the bell rang forth for the Angelus, with a full, sweet toneof silvery melody; and at the very same instant the work droppedfrom the girl's hands, and she sank upon her knees. At the firstmoment, although instinctively, we reined back our horses anduncovered our heads, I had no thought but that she was a devoutmaiden following the office of the Church out here in the wood. Butas she turned her upraised face a little towards us, I saw upon itsuch a look as I have never seen on human countenance before, norhave ever seen (save upon hers) since. A light seemed to shineeither from it or upon it--how can I tell which?--a light so pureand heavenly that no words can fully describe it, but which seemedlike the radiance of heaven itself. Her eyes were raised towardsthe sky, her lips parted, and through the breathless hush ofsilence which had fallen upon the wood, we heard the soft, sweettones of her voice. 

"Speak, my Lord--Thy servant heareth!"

It was then that our horses showed the signs of terror of which Ihave before spoken. For myself, I saw nothing save the shining faceof the Maid--I knew who it was--there was no need for Bertrand'sbreathless whisper--"It is she--herself!"--I knew it in my heartbefore. 

She knelt there amid the fallen leaves, her face raised, her lipsparted, her eyes shining as surely never human eyes have shonebefore. A deep strange hush had fallen over all nature, broken onlyby the gentle music of the bell. The ruddy gold light ofapproaching sunset bathed all the wood in glory, and the rays fellupon the kneeling figure, forming a halo of glory round it. But shedid not heed, she did not see. She was as one in a trance, insensible to outward vision. Once and again her lips moved, but weheard no word proceed from them, only the rapt look upon her faceincreased in intensity, and once I thought (for I could not turn mygaze away) that I saw the gleam of tears in her eyes. 

The bell ceased as we stood thus motionless, and as the last notevibrated through the still air, a change came over the Maid. Herhead drooped, she hid her face in her hands, and thus she knelt asone absorbed in an intensity of prayer. Even as this happened, thepeculiar glory of the sunlight seemed to change. It shone still, but without such wonderful glow, and our horses at the same timeceased their trembling and their rigid stillness of pose. Theyshook their heads and jingled their bits, as though striving tothrow off some terrifying impression. 

"Let us withdraw from her sight, " whispered Bertrand touching myarm, and very willingly I acceded to this suggestion, and wesilently pressed into the shadow of some great oaks, which stoodhard by, the trunks of which hid us well from view. It seemedalmost like a species of sacrilege to stand there watching the Maidat her prayers, and yet I vow, that until the bell ceased we had nomore power to move than our horses. Why we were holden by thisstrange spell I know not. I can only speak the truth. We sawnothing and we heard nothing of any miraculous kind, and yet wewere like men in a dream, bound hand and foot by invisible bonds, awitness of something unseen to ourselves, which we saw was visibleto another. 

Beneath the deep shadow of the oaks we looked back. The Maid hadrisen to her feet by this, and was stooping to pick up her fallenwork. That done, she stood awhile in deep thought, her face turnedtowards the little church, whence the bell had only just ceased tosound. 

I saw her clearly then--a maiden slim and tall, so slender that therather clumsy peasant dress she wore could not give breadth orawkwardness to her lithe figure. The coif had slipped a little outof place, and some tresses of waving hair had escaped from beneathit, tresses that looked dark till the sun touched them, and thenglowed like burnished gold. Her face was pale, with features in noway marked, but so sweet and serene was the expression of the face, so wonderful was the depth of the great dark eyes, that one waslost in admiration of her beauty, albeit unable to define whereinthat beauty lay. 

When we started forth, I had meant to try and seek speech with thisJeanne--this Maid of Domremy--and to ask her of her mission, andwhether she were still believing that she would have power to carryit out; but this purpose now died within me. 

How could I dare question such a being as to her visions? Had I notseen how she was visited by sound or sight not sensible to thosearound her? Had I not in some sort been witness to a miracle? Wasit for us to approach and ask of her what had been thus revealed?No!--a thousand times no! If the good God had given her a message, she would know when and where to deliver it. She had spoken beforeof her voices. Let them instruct her. Let not men seek tointerfere. And so we remained where we were, hidden in the deepshadows, whilst Jeanne, with bent head and lingering, gracefulsteps, utterly unconscious of the eyes that watched her, wentslowly out of sight along the glade leading towards the village andher home. 

Only when she had disappeared did we venture to move on in herwake, and so passed by the low-browed house, set in its well-tendedlittle garden, where the d'Arc family lived. It lay close to thechurch, and bore a look of pleasant homelike comfort. We saw Jeannebending tenderly over a chair, in which reclined the bent form of alittle crippled sister. We even heard the soft, sweet voice of theMaid, as she answered some question asked her from within the opendoor. Then she lifted the bent form in her arms, and I did note howstrong that slim frame must be, for the burden seemed as nothing toher as she bore it within the house; and then she disappeared fromview, and we rode onwards together. 

"There, my friend, " spoke Bertrand at last, "I have kept mypromise, you have seen the Maid. "

"Yes, " I answered gravely, "I have seen the Maid, " and after thatwe spoke no word for many a mile. 

CHAPTER III. HOW THE MAID CAME TO VAUCOULEURS. 

It may yet be remembered by some how early the snow came that year, to the eastern portion of France at least. I think scarce a weekhad passed since our journey to Domremy, before a wild gale fromthe northeast brought heavy snow, which lay white upon the groundfor many long weeks, and grew deeper and deeper as more fell, tillthe wolves ravaged right up to the very walls of Vaucouleurs, andsome of the country villages were quite cut off from intercoursewith the world. 

Thus it came about that I was shut up in Vaucouleurs with my goodcomrade and friend Bertrand, in the Castle of which Robert deBaudricourt was governor, and for awhile little news reached usfrom the outside world, though such news as did penetrate to oursolitude was all of disaster for the arms of France. 

We never spoke to De Baudricourt of our expedition to Domremy, nortold him that we had seen the Maid again. Yet methinks not a daypassed without our thinking of her, recalling something of thatwonderful look we had seen upon her face, and asking in our heartswhether indeed she were truly visited by heavenly visions sent byGod, and whether she indeed heard voices which could reach no earsbut hers. 

I observed that Bertrand was more regular in attendance at theservices of the Church, and especially at Mass, than was usual withyoung knights in those days, and for my part, I felt a strongerdesire after such spiritual aids than I ever remember to have donein my life before. It became a regular thing with us to attend theearly Mass in the little chapel of the Castle; and, instead ofgrowing lax (as I had done before many times in my roving life), asto attending confession and receiving the Holy Sacrament, I nowbegan to feel the need for both, as though I were preparing me forsome great and solemn undertaking. I cannot well express in wordsthe feeling which possessed me--ay, and Bertrand too--for we beganto speak of the matter one with another--but it seemed to us bothas though a high and holy task lay before us, for which we mustneeds prepare ourselves with fasting and prayer; I wondered if, perhaps, it was thus that knights and men in days of old felt whenthey had taken the Red Cross, and had pledged themselves to someCrusade in the East. 

Well, thus matters went on, quietly enough outwardly, till theFeast of the Nativity had come and gone, and with that feast came awonderful change in the weather. The frost yielded, the south windblew soft, the snow melted away one scarce knew how, and a breathof spring seemed already in the air, though we did not dare to hopethat winter was gone for good and all. 

It was just when the year had turned that we heard a rumour in thetown, and it was in this wise that it reached our ears. DeBaudricourt had been out with his dogs, chasing away the wolvesback into their forest lairs. He had left us some business toattend to for him within the Castle, else should we doubtless havebeen of the party. But he was the most sagacious huntsman of thedistrict, and a rare day's sport they did have, killing more than ascore of wolves, to the great joy of the townsfolk and of thecountry people without the walls. It was dark ere he got home, andhe came in covered with mud from head to foot; the dogs, too, wereso plastered over, that they had to be given to the servants toclean ere they could take their wonted places beside the fire; andsome of the poor beasts had ugly wounds which needed to be washedand dressed. 

But what struck us most was that De Baudricourt, albeit sosuccessful in his hunt, seemed little pleased with his day's work. His face was dark, as though a thunder cloud lay athwart it, and hegave but curt answers to our questions, as he stood steaming beforethe fire and quaffing a great tankard of spiced wine which wasbrought to him. Then he betook himself to his own chamber to gethim dry garments, and when he came down supper was already served. He sat him down at the head of the table, still silent and morose;and though he fell with right good will upon the viands, he scarceopened his lips the while, and we in our turn grew silent, for wefeared that he had heard the news of some disaster to the Frencharms, which he was brooding over in silent gloom. 

But when the retainers and men-at-arms had disappeared, and we hadgathered round the fire at the far end of the hall, as was ourwont, then he suddenly began to speak. 

"Went ye into the town today?" he suddenly asked of us. 

We answered him, Nay, that we had been occupied all day within theCastle over the services there he had left us to perform. 

"And have you heard nought of the commotion going on there?"

"We have heard nought. Pray what hath befallen, good sir? Is itsome disaster? Hath Orleans fallen into the hands of the English?"

For that was the great fear possessing all loyal minds at thisperiod. 

"Nay, it is nought so bad as that, " answered De Baudricourt, "andyet it is bad enough, I trow. That mad girl from Domremy is now inthe town, telling all men that Robert de Baudricourt hath beenappointed of God to send her to the Dauphin at Chinon, and that shemust needs start thither soon, to do the work appointed her ofheaven. 

"Dents de Dieu!--the folly of it is enough to raise the hair onone's head! Send a little paysanne to the King with a wild storylike hers! 'Tis enough to make the name of De Baudricourt thelaughingstock of the whole country!"

I felt a great throb at heart when I heard these words. Then theMaid had not forgot! This time of waiting had not bred eitherindifference or doubt. The time appointed was drawing near, and shehad come to Vaucouleurs once more, to do that which was required ofher!

O, was it not wonderful? Must not it be of heaven, this thing? Andshould we seek to put the message aside as a thing of nought?

Bertrand was already speaking eagerly with his kinsman; but itseemed as though his words did only serve to irritate the Governorthe more. In my heart I was sure that had he been certain the Maidwas an impostor, he would have been in no wise troubled ordisturbed, but would have contented himself by sharply ordering herto leave the town and return home and trouble him no more. It wasbecause he was torn by doubts as to her mission that he was thusperturbed in spirit. He dared not treat her in this summaryfashion, lest haply he should be found to be fighting against God;and yet he found it hard to believe that any deliverance forhapless France could come through the hands of a simple, unletteredpeasant girl; and he shrank with a strong man's dislike from makinghimself in any sort an object of ridicule, or of seeming to givecredence to a wild tale of visions and voices, such as the worldwould laugh to scorn. So he was filled with doubt and perplexity, and this betrayed itself in gloomy looks and in harsh speech. 

"Tush, boy! You are but an idle dreamer. I saw before that you werefooled by a pretty face and a silvery voice. Go to!--your words arebut phantasy! Who believes in miracles now?"

"If we believe in the power of the good God, shall we not alsobelieve that He can work even miracles at His holy will?"

"Poof--miracles!--the dreams of a vain and silly girl!" scoffed DeBaudricourt, "I am sick of her name already!"

Then he suddenly turned upon me and spoke. 

"Jean de Metz, you are a knight of parts. You have sense anddiscretion above your years, and are no featherhead like Bertrandhere. Will you undertake a mission from me to this maiden? Ask ofher the story of her pretended mission. Seek to discover from herwhether she be speaking truth, or whether she be seeking todeceive. Catch her in her speech if it may be. See whether the taleshe tells hang together, and then come and report to me. If she bea mad woman, why should I be troubled with her? She cannot go tothe Dauphin yet, come what may. The melting snows have laid thevalleys under water, the roads are impassable; horses would stickfast in the mire, and we are not at the end of winter yet. She mustneeds wait awhile, whatever her message may be, but I would haveyou get speech of her, and straightly question her from me. Then ifit seem well, I can see her again; but if you be willing, you shalldo so first. "

I was more than willing. I was rejoiced to have this occasion forgetting speech with the Maid. I spoke no word of having had sightof her already, but fell in with De Baudricourt's wish that Ishould go to her as if a mere passing stranger, and only afterwardsreveal myself as his emissary. I slept but little all that night, making plans as to all that I should speak when I saw her on themorrow, and, rising early, I betook myself to Mass, not to theprivate chapel of the Castle, but to one of the churches in thetown, though I could not have said why it was that I was moved todo this. 

Yet as I knelt in my place I knew, for there amongst theworshippers, her face upraised and full of holy joy, her eyesalight with the depth of her devotion, her hands clasped in anecstasy of prayer, was the Maid herself; and I found it hard toturn my eyes from her wonderful face, to think upon the office asit was recited by the priest. 

I did not seek speech of her then, for she tarried long in thechurch over her prayers. I felt at last like one espying onanother, and so I came away. But after breakfast, as the sun shoneforth and began to light up the narrow streets of the little town, I sallied forth again alone, and asked of the first citizen I metwhere could be found the dwelling place of one Jeanne d'Arc, fromDomremy, who was paying a visit to the town. 

I had scarce need to say so much as this. It seemed that all thepeople in the town had heard of the arrival of the Maid. I know notwhether they believed in her mission, or whether they scoffed atit; but at least it was the talk of the place how she had comebefore, and fearlessly faced the Governor and his council, and hadmade her great demand from him, and how she had come once again, now that the year was born and Lent approaching, in the which shehad said she must seek and find the Dauphin. Thus the man was ableat once to give me the information I asked, and told me that thegirl was lodging with Henri Leroyer the saddler, and Catherine hiswife, naming the street where they dwelt, but adding that I shouldhave no trouble in finding the house, for the people flocked to itto get a sight of the Maid, and to ask her questions concerning hermission hither, and what she thought she was about to accomplish. 

And truly I did find that this honest citizen had spoken the truth, for as I turned into the narrow street where Leroyer lived, I sawquite a concourse of people gathered about the house, and thoughthey made way for me to approach, knowing that I was from theCastle, I saw that they were very eager to get sight or speech ofthe Maid, who was standing at the open door of the shop, andspeaking in an earnest fashion to those nearest her. 

I made as though I were a passing stranger, who had just heardsomewhat of her matter from the bystanders, and I addressed her infriendly fashion, rather as one who laughs. 

"What are you doing here, ma mie? And what is this I hear? Is itnot written in the book of fate that the King or Dauphin of Francemust be overcome of England's King, and that we must all becomeEnglish, or else be driven into the sea, or banished from therealm?"

Then for the first time her wonderful eyes fastened themselves onmy face, and I felt as though my very soul were being read. 

"Nay, sire, " she answered, and there was something so flute-likeand penetrating in her tones that they seemed to sink into my verysoul, "but the Lord of Heaven Himself is about to fight for France, and He has sent me to the Governor here, who will direct me to theDauphin, who knows nothing of me as yet. But I am to bring himhelp, and that by Mid-Lent. So I pray you, gentle knight, go tellRobert de Baudricourt that he must needs bestir himself in thisbusiness, for my voices tell me that the hour is at hand when, comewhat may, I must to Chinon, even though I wear my legs to the kneesin going thither. "

"Why should I tell this to the Seigneur de Baudricourt?" I asked, marvelling at her words and the fashion of her speech. 

"Because he has sent you to me, " she answered, her eyes still on myface, "and I thank him for having chosen so gracious a messenger;for you have a good heart, and you are no mocker of the things myLord has revealed to me; and you will be one of those to do Hiswill, and to bring me safely to the Dauphin. "

Half confounded by her words I asked:

"Who is your Lord?"

"It is God, " she answered, and bent her head in lowly reverence. 

And then I did a strange thing; but it seemed to be forced upon mefrom above by a power which I could not withstand. I fell suddenlyto my knees before her, and put up my clasped hands, as we do whenwe pay homage for our lands and honours to our liege lord. And, Ispeak truth, and nought else, the Maid put her hands over mine justas our lord or sovereign should do, and though I dare swear she hadnever heard my name before, she said:

"Jean de Novelpont de Metz, my Lord receives you as His faithfulknight and servant. He will be with us now and to the end. "

And the people all uncovered and stood bareheaded round us, whilstI felt as though I had received a mandate from Heaven. 

Then I went into the house with Jeanne, and asked her of herself, and of her visions and voices. She told me of them with the gentlefrankness of a child, but with a reverence and humility that wasbeautiful to see, and which was in strange contrast to some of thethings she spoke, wherein she told how that she herself was to beused of Heaven for the salvation of France. 

I cannot give her words as she spoke them, sitting there in thewindow, the light upon her face, her eyes fixed more often upon thesunny sky than upon her interlocutor, though now and again sheswept me with one of her wonderful glances. She told me how from achild she had heard voices, which she knew to be from above, speaking to her, bidding her to be good, to go to the church, toattend to her simple duties at home. But as she grew older therecame a change. She remembered the day when first she saw awonderful white light hovering above her; and this light cameagain, and yet again; and the third time she saw in it the figureof an angel--more than that--of the Archangel Michael himself--thewarrior of Heaven; and from him she first received the message thatshe was to be used for the deliverance of her people. 

She was long in understanding what this meant. St. Michael told hershe should receive other angelic visitors, and often after this St. Catherine and St. Margaret appeared to her, and told her what wasrequired of her, and what she must do. At first she was greatlyaffrighted, and wept, and besought them to find some other for thetask, since she was but a humble country maid, and knew nothing ofthe art of warfare, and shuddered at the sight of blood. But theytold her to be brave, to trust in the Lord, to think only of Himand of His holy will towards her. And so, by degrees, she lost allher fears, knowing that it was not of herself she would do thisthing, and that her angels would be with her, her saints wouldwatch over her, and her voices direct her in all that she shouldspeak or do. 

"And now, " she added, clasping her hands, and looking full into myface, "now do they tell me that the time is at hand. Since lastAscensiontide they have bid me wait in quietness for the appointedhour; but of late my voices have spoken words which may not be setaside. I must be sent to the Dauphin. Orleans must be saved fromthe hosts of the English which encompass it. I am appointed forthis task, and I shall accomplish it by the grace of my Lord andHis holy saints. Then the crown must be set upon the head of theDauphin, and he must be anointed as the king. After that my taskwill be done; but not till then. And now I must needs set forthupon the appointed way. To the Dauphin I must go, to speak to himof things I may tell to none other; and the Sieur Robert deBaudricourt is appointed of Heaven to send me to Chinon. Wherefore, I pray you, gentle knight, bid him no longer delay; for I amstraitened in spirit till I may be about my Lord's business, and Hewould not have me tarry longer. "

I talked with her long and earnestly. Not that I doubted her. Icould not do so. Although no voices came to me, yet my heart waspenetrated by a conviction so deep and poignant that to doubt wouldhave been impossible. France had been sold and betrayed by one badwoman; but here was the Maid who should arise to save! I knew it inmy heart; yet I still spoke on and asked questions, for I mustneeds satisfy De Baudricourt, I must needs be able to answer allthat he would certainly ask. 

"How old are you, fair maiden?" I asked, as at length I rose todepart, and she stood, tall and slim, before me, straight as ayoung poplar, graceful, despite her coarse raiment, her feet andhands well fashioned, her limbs shapely and supple. 

"I was seventeen last week, " she answered simply, "the fifth ofJanuary is my jour de fete. "

"And your parents, what think they of this? What said they when youbid them farewell for such an errand?"

The tears gathered slowly in her beautiful eyes; but they did notfall. She answered in a low voice:

"In sooth they know not for what I did leave them. They believed Iwent but to visit a sick friend. I did not dare to tell them all, lest my father should hold me back: He is very slow to believe mymission; he chides me bitterly if ever word be spoken anent it. Isit not always so when the Lord uses one of His children? Even ourLord's brethren and sisters believed not on Him. How can theservant be greater than his Lord?"

"You fear not, then, to disobey your parents?"

I had need to put this question; for it was one that De Baudricourthad insisted upon; for he knew something of Jacques d'Arc'sopposition to his daughter's proposed campaign. 

"I must obey my Lord even above my earthly parents, " was hersteadfast reply; "His word must stand the first. He knows all, andHe will pardon. He knows that I love my father and my mother, andthat if I only pleased myself I should never leave their side. "

Then suddenly as she spoke a strange look of awe fell upon her; Ithink she had forgotten my presence, for when she spoke, her wordswere so low that I could scarce hear them. 

"I go to my death!" she whispered, the colour ebbing from her face, "but I am in the hands of my Lord; His will alone can be done. "

I went out from her presence with bent head. What did those lastwords signify--when hitherto all she had spoken was of deliverance, of victory? She spoke them without knowing it. Of that I wasassured; and therefore I vowed to keep them locked in my heart. ButI knew that I should never forget them. 

I found Robert de Baudricourt awaiting my coming in the great hall, pacing restlessly to and fro. Bertrand was with him, and I saw bythe tense expression upon his face that he was eager for my report. I gave him one quick glance upon entering, which I trow he read andunderstood; but to De Baudricourt I spoke with caution and withmeasured words, for he was a man whose scorn and ridicule wereeasily aroused, and I knew that Bertrand had fallen into a kind ofcontempt with him, in that he had so quickly believed in themission of the Maid. 

"Well, and what make you of the girl? Is she witch, or mad, orpossessed by some spirit of vainglory and ambition? What has shesaid to you, and what think you of her?"

"In all truth, my lord, I believe her to be honest; and more thanthis, I believe her to be directed of God. Strange as it may seem, yet such things have been before, and who are we to say that God'sarm is shortened, or that He is not the same as in the days of old?I have closely questioned the Maid as to her visions and voices, and I cannot believe them delusions of the senses. You may ask, arethey of the Devil? Then would I say, if there be doubt, let theAbbe Perigord approach her with holy water, with exorcisms, or withsuch sacred words and signs as devils must needs flee before. Thenif it be established that the thing is not of the Evil One, we maythe better regard it as from the Lord of whom she speaks. At least, if she can stand this test, I would do this much for her--give hera small escort to Chinon, with a letter to the Dauphin. After thatyour responsibility will cease. The matter will be in the hands ofthe King and his advisers. "

"Ay, after I have made myself the laughingstock of the realm!"burst out De Baudricourt grimly; yet after he had questioned meagain, and yet again, and had even held one interview himself withthe Maid, who came of her own accord to the Castle to ask for himone day, he seemed to come to some decision, after much thought andwavering. 

Bringing out one of his rattling oaths, he cried:

"Then if she can bear the touch of holy water, and the sign of bookand taper and bell--and I know not what beside--then shall she besent to the King at Chinon, and I, Robert de Baudricourt, will sendher--come what may of the mission!"

CHAPTER IV. HOW THE MAID WAS TRIED AND TESTED. 

I had myself proposed the test, and yet when the moment came I wasashamed of myself. The Abbe had put on his robes and his stole; avessel containing holy water stood before him on the table; thebook of the Blessed Gospels was in his hands, a boy with a taperstood at his side. The place was the hall of the Castle, and theGovernor with a few of those most in his confidence stood by to seewhat would follow. I was at his right hand. 

Bertrand brought in the Maid. I know not what he had said to her, or whether he had prepared her for what was about to take place;but however that may have been, her face wore that calm and loftyserenity of expression which seemed to belong to her. As sheapproached she made a lowly reverence to the priest, and stoodbefore him where Bertrand placed her, looking at him with earnest, shining eyes. 

"My daughter, " spoke the Abbe gravely, "have you security in yourheart that the visions and voices sent to you come of good and notof evil? Many men and women have, ere this, been deceived--yea, even the holy Saints themselves have been tempted of the devil, that old serpent, who is the great deceiver of the hearts andspirits of men. Are you well assured in your heart that you are notthus deceived and led away by whispers and suggestions from thefather of lies?"

There was no anger in her face, but a beautiful look of reverent, yet joyful, confidence and peace. 

"I am well assured, my father, that it is my Lord who speaks to methrough His most holy and blessed Saints, and through theever-glorious Archangel Michael. "

"And yet, my daughter, you know that it is written in the HolyScriptures that the devil can transform himself into an angel oflight. "

"Truly that is so, my father; but is it not also written that thosewho put their trust in the Lord shall never be confounded?"

"Yes, my daughter; and I pray God you may not be confounded. But itis my duty to try and test the spirits, so as to be a rock ofdefence to those beneath my care. Yet if things be with you as yousay, you will have no fear. "

"I have no fear, my father, " she answered, and stood with foldedhands and serene and smiling face whilst he went through thoseforms of exorcism and adjuration which, it is said, no evil spiritcan endure without crying aloud, or causing that the personpossessed should roll and grovel in agony upon the ground, or rushfrantically forth out of sight and hearing. 

But the Maid never moved, save to bend her head in reverence as theThrice Holy Name was proclaimed, and as the drops of holy waterfell upon her brow. To me it seemed almost like sacrilege, in faceof that pure and holy calm, to entertain for one moment a doubt ofthe origin of her mission. Yet it may be that the test was a wiseone; for De Baudricourt and those about him watched it with closeand breathless wonder, and one and another whispered behind hishand:

"Of a surety she is no witch. She could never stand thus if therewas aught of evil in her. Truly she is a marvellous Maid. If thisthing be of the Lord, let us not fight against Him. "

The trial was over. The Maid received the blessing of the Abbe, who, if not convinced of the sacredness of her mission, was yetimpotent to prove aught against her. It is strange to me, lookingback at those days, how far less ready of heart the ecclesiasticswere to receive her testimony and recognise in her the messenger ofthe Most High than were the soldiers, whether the generals whom sheafterwards came to know, or the men who crowded to fight beneathher banner. One would have thought that to priests and clergy agreater grace and power of understanding would have beenvouchsafed; but so far from this, they always held her in doubt andsuspicion, and were her secret foes from first to last. 

I made it my task to see her safely home; and as we went, I asked:

"Was it an offence to you, fair Maid, that he should thus seek totest and try you?"

"Not an offence to me, Seigneur, " she answered gently, "but heshould not have had need to do it. For he did hear my confession onFriday. Therefore he should have known better. It is no offence tome, save inasmuch as it doth seem a slighting of my Lord. "

The people flocked around her as she passed through the streets. Itwas wonderful how the common townsfolk believed in her. Already shewas spoken of as a deliverer and a saviour of her country. Nay, more, her gentleness and sweetness so won upon the hearts of thosewho came in contact with her, that mothers prayed of her to comeand visit their sick children, or to speak words of comfort tothose in pain and suffering; and such was the comfort and strengthshe brought with her, that there were whispers of miraculous curesbeing performed by her. In truth, I have no knowledge myself of anymiracle performed by her, and the Maid denied that she possessedsuch gifts of healing. But that she brought comfort and joy andpeace with her I can well believe, and she had some skill with thesick whom she tended in her own village, so that it is likely thatsome may have begun to mend from the time she began to visit them. 

As for De Baudricourt, his mind was made up. There was somethingabout this girl which was past his understanding. Just at presentit was not possible to send her to the King, for the rains, sometimes mingled with blinding snow storms, were almost incessant, the country lay partially under water, and though such a journeymight be possible to a seasoned soldier, he declared it would berank murder to send a young girl, who, perchance, had never mounteda horse before, all that great distance. She must needs wait tillthe waters had somewhat subsided, and till the cold had abated, andthe days were somewhat longer. 

The Maid heard these words with grave regret, and even disapproval. 

"My Lord would take care of me. I have no fear, " she said; but DeBaudricourt, although he now faithfully promised to send her toChinon, would not be moved from his resolution to wait. 

For my part, I have always suspected that he sent a privatemessenger to Chinon to ask advice what he should do, and desired toawait his return ere acting. But of that I cannot speak certainly, since he never admitted it himself. 

If the delay fretted the Maid's spirit, she never spoke with angeror impatience; much of her time was spent in a little chapel in thecrypt of the church at Vaucouleurs, where stood an image of OurLady, before which she would kneel sometimes for hours together inrapt devotion. I myself went thither sometimes to pray; and oftenhave I seen her there, so absorbed in her devotions that she knewnothing of who came or went. 

By this time Bertrand and I had steadfastly resolved to accompanythe Maid not only to Chinon, but upon whatsoever campaign hervoices should afterwards send her. Although we were knights, weneither of us possessed great wealth; indeed, we had only smallestates, and these were much diminished in value from the wastingwar and misfortunes of the country. Still we resolved to mustereach a few men-at-arms, and form for her a small train; for DeBaudricourt, albeit willing to send her with a small escort toChinon, had neither the wish nor the power to equip any sort offorce to accompany her, though there would be no small danger onthe journey, both from the proximity of the English in some parts, and the greater danger from roving bands of Burgundians, whose soleobject was spoil and plunder, and their pastime the slaughter ofall who opposed them. 

And now we began to ask one another in what guise the Maid shouldtravel; for it was obvious that her cumbrous peasant garb waslittle suited for the work she had in hand, and we made manyfanciful plans of robing her after the fashion of some old-timequeen, such as Boadicea or Semiramis, and wondered whether we couldafford to purchase some rich clothing and a noble charger, and soconvey her to the King in something of regal state and pomp. 

But when, one day, we spoke something of this to the Maid herself, she shook her head with a smile, and said:

"Gentle knights, I give you humble and hearty thanks; but such richrobes and gay trappings are not for me. My voices have bidden mewhat to do. I am to assume the dress of a boy, since I must needslive for a while amongst soldiers and men. I am sent to do a man'swork, therefore in the garb of a man must I set forth. Our goodcitizens of Vaucouleurs are already busy with the dress I mustshortly assume. There is none other in which my work can be so wellaccomplished. "

And in truth we saw at once the sense of her words. She had beforeher a toilsome journey in the companionship of men. She must needsride, since there was no other way of travelling possible; and whyshould the frailest and tenderest of the party be burdened by adress that would incommode her at every turn?

And when upon the very next day she appeared in the Castle yard inthe hose and doublet and breeches of a boy, and asked of us to giveher her first lesson in horsemanship, all our doubts and misgivingsfled away. She wore her dress with such grace, such ease, suchsimplicity, that it seemed at once the right and fitting thing; andnot one of the soldiers in the courtyard who watched her feats thatday, passed so much as a rude jest upon her, far less offered herany insult. In truth, they were speedily falling beneath the spellwhich she was soon to exercise upon a whole army, and it is nomarvel to me that this was so; for every day I felt the charm ofher presence deepening its hold upon my heart. 

Never have I witnessed such quickness of mastery as the Maidshowed, both in her acquirement of horsemanship and in the use ofarms, in both of which arts we instructed her day by day. I hadnoted her strength and suppleness of limb the very first day I hadseen her; and she gave marvellous proof of it now. She possessedalso that power over her horse which she exercised over men, andeach charger that she rode in turn answered almost at once to hervoice and hand, with a docility he never showed to other riders. Yet she never smote or spurred them; the sound of her voice, or thelight pressure of knee or hand was enough. She had never any fearfrom the first, and was never unhorsed. Very soon she acquired suchskill and ease that we had no fears for her with regard to thejourney she soon must take. 

Although filling the time up thus usefully, her heart was ever setupon her plan, and daily she would wistfully ask:

"May we not yet sally forth to the Dauphin?"

Still she bore the delay well, never losing opportunities forlearning such things as might be useful to her; and towards the endof the month there came a peremptory summons to her from the Dukeof Lorraine, who was lying very ill at Nancy. 

"They tell me, " he wrote to De Baudricourt, "that you have atVaucouleurs a woman who may be in sooth that Maid of Lorraine who, it has been prophesied, is to arise and save France. I have a greatcuriosity to see her; wherefore, I pray you, send her to me withoutdelay. It may be that she will recover me of my sickness. In anycase, I would fain have speech of her; so do not fail to send herforthwith. "

De Baudricourt had no desire to offend his powerful neighbour, andhe forthwith went down to the house of Leroyer, taking Bertrand andme with him, to ask of the Maid whether she would go to see theDuke at his Court, since the journey thither was but short, andwould be a fitting preparation for the longer one. 

We found her sitting in the saddler's shop, with one of hischildren on her lap, watching whilst he fashioned for her a saddle, which the citizens of Vaucouleurs were to give her. Bertrand and Iwere to present the horse she was to ride, and I had also sent tomy home for a certain holiday suit and light armour made for abrother of mine who had died young. I had noted that the Maid hadjust such a slim, tall figure as he, and was certain that thissuit, laid away by our mother in a cedar chest, would fit her asthough made for her. But it had not come yet, and she was habitedin the tunic and hose she now wore at all times. Her beautiful hairstill hung in heavy masses round her shoulders, giving to hersomething of the look of a saintly warrior on painted window. 

Later on, when she had to wear a headpiece, she cut off her longcurling locks, and then her hair just framed her face like animbus; but today it was still hanging loose upon her shoulders, and the laughing child had got his little hands well twisted in thewaving mass, upon which the midday sun was shining clear andstrong. She had risen, and was looking earnestly at De Baudricourt;yet all the while she seemed to be, as it were, listening for othersounds than those of his voice. 

When he ceased she was silent for a brief while, and then spoke. 

"I would fain it had been to the Dauphin you would send me, Seigneur; but since that may not be yet, I will gladly go to theDuke, if I may but turn aside to make my pilgrimage to the shrineof St Nicholas, where I would say some prayers, and ask help. "

"Visit as many shrines as you like, so as you visit the Duke aswell, " answered De Baudricourt, who always spoke with a sort ofrough bluffness to the Maid, not unkindly, though it lackedgentleness. But she never evinced fear of him, and for that herespected her. She showed plenty of good sense whilst the detailsof the journey were being arranged, and was in no wise abashed atthe prospect of appearing at a Court. How should she be, indeed, who was looking forward with impatience to her appearance at theCourt of an uncrowned King?

Bertrand and I, with some half-dozen men-at-arms, were to form herescort, and upon the very next day, the sun shining bright, and thewind blowing fresh from the north over the wet lands, drying themsomewhat after the long rains, we set forth. 

The Maid rode the horse which afterwards was to carry her so manylong, weary miles. He was a tall chestnut, deep in the chest, strong in the flank, with a proudly arching neck, a great mane offlowing hair, a haughty fashion of lifting his shapely feet, and aneye that could be either mild or fierce, according to the fashionin which he was treated. On his brow was a curious mark, somethinglike a cross in shape, and the colour of it was something deeperthan the chestnut of his coat. The Maid marked this sign at thefirst glance, and she called the horse her Crusader. Methinks shewas cheered and pleased by the red cross she thus carried beforeher, and she and her good steed formed one of those friendshipswhich are good to see betwixt man and beast. 

Our journey was not adventurous; nor will I waste time in tellingovermuch about it. We visited the shrine, where the Maid passed anight in fasting and vigil, and laid thereon a little simpleoffering, such as her humble state permitted. The next day she waspresented to the Duke of Lorraine, as he lay wrapped in costlysilken coverlets upon his great bed in one of the most sumptuousapartments of his Castle. 

He gazed long and earnestly at the Maid, who stood beside him, flinching neither from his hollow gaze, nor from the more opencuriosity or admiration bestowed upon her by the lords and ladiesassembled out of desire to see her. I doubt me if she gave them athought. She had come to see the sick Duke, and her thoughts werefor him alone. 

There was something very strange and beautiful in her aspect as shestood there. Her face was pale from her vigil and fast; her hairhung round it in a dark waving mass, that lighted up at the edgeswith gold where the light touched it. Her simple boy's dress wassplashed and travel stained; but her wonderful serene composure wasas marked here as it had been throughout. No fears or tremors shookher, nor did any sort of consciousness of self or of thestrangeness of her position come to mar the gentle dignity of hermien or the calm loveliness of her face. 

The Duke raised himself on his elbow the better to look at her. 

"Is this true what I have heard of you, that you are the Maid ofLorraine, raised up, according to the word of the wizard Merlin, tosave France in the hour of her extremity?"

"I am come to save France from the English, " she answered at once;"to drive them from the city of Orleans, to bring the Dauphin toRheims, and there see the crown set upon his head. This I know, formy Lord has said it. Who I am matters nothing, save only as Iaccomplish the purpose for which I am sent. "

Her sweet ringing voice sounded like a silver trumpet through theroom, and the lords and ladies pressed nearer to hear and see. 

"In sooth, the Maid herself--the Maid who comes to save France!"

Such was the whisper which went round; and I marvelled not; for thelook upon that face, the glorious shining in those eyes, was enoughto convince the most sceptical that the beatific vision had indeedbeen vouchsafed to them. 

The Duke fell back on his pillows, regarding her attentively. 

"If then, Maiden, you can thus read the future, tell me, shall Irecover me of this sickness?" he gasped. 

"Of that, sire, I have no knowledge, " she answered. "That lies withGod alone; but if you would be His servant, flee from the wrath tocome, which your sins have drawn upon you. Turn to the Lord inpenitence. Do His will. Be reconciled to your wife; for such is thecommandment of God. Perchance then you will find healing for bodyand soul. But seek not that which is hidden. Do only the will ofthe Lord, and trust all to Him. "

She was hustled from the room by the frightened attendants, whofeared for her very life at the hands of their irate lord. He haddone many a man to death for less than such counsel. But the Maidfelt not fear. 

"He cannot touch me, " she said, "I have my Lord's work yet toaccomplish. "

And in truth the Duke wished her no ill, though he asked not to seeher more. Perhaps--who knows--these words may have aroused in himsome gleams of penitence for his past life. I have heard he made abetter end than was expected of him when his time came. And beforethe Maid left the Castle he sent her a present of money, and saidhe might even send his son to help the Dauphin, if once Orleanswere relieved, and her words began to fulfil themselves. 

So then we journeyed home again, and we reached Vaucouleurs on theafternoon of the twelfth day of February. The Maid had been smilingand happy up till that time, and, since the weather was improving, we had great hopes of soon starting forth upon the journey forChinon. Nevertheless, the streams were still much swollen, and insome places the ground was so soft that it quaked beneath ourhorses' feet. We travelled without misadventure, however, and Iwondered what it was that brought the cloud to the brow of the Maidas we drew nearer and nearer to Vaucouleurs. 

But I was to know ere long; for as we rode into the courtyard ofthe Castle the Maid slipped from her horse ere any could help her, and went straight into the room where the Governor was sitting, with her fearless air of mastery. 

"My lord of Baudricourt, you do great ill to your master theDauphin in thus keeping me from him in the time of his great need. Today a battle has been fought hard by the city of Orleans, and thearms of the French have suffered disaster and disgrace. If this goon, the hearts of the soldiers will be as water, the purpose of theLord will be hindered, and you, Seigneur, will be the cause, inthat you have not hearkened unto me, nor believed that I am sent ofHim. "

"How know you the thing of which you speak, girl?" asked DeBaudricourt, startled at the firmness of her speech. 

"My voices have told me, " she answered; "voices that cannot lie. The French have met with disaster. The English have triumphed, andI still waste my time in idleness here! How long is this tocontinue, Robert de Baudricourt?"

A new note had come into her voice--the note of the general whocommands. We heard it often enough later; but this was the firsttime I had noted it. How would De Baudricourt take it?

"Girl, " he said, "I will send forth a courier at once to ride withall speed to the westward. If this thing be so, he will quicklymeet some messenger with the news. If it be as you have said, ifthis battle has been fought and lost, then will I send you forthwithout a day's delay to join the King at Chinon. "

"So be it, " answered the Maid; and turned herself to the chapel, where she spent the night in prayer. 

It was Bertrand who rode forth in search of tidings, his heartburning within him. It was he who nine days later enteredVaucouleurs again, weary and jaded, but with a great triumph lightin his eyes. He stood before De Baudricourt and spoke. 

"It is even as the Maid hath said. Upon the very day when wereturned to Vaucouleurs, the English--a small handful ofmen--overthrew at Rouvray a large squadron of the French, utterlyrouting and well-nigh destroying them. The English were but a smallparty, convoying herrings to the besiegers of Orleans. The groundwas strewn with herrings after the fight, which men call the Battleof the Herrings. Consternation reigns in the hearts of theFrench--an army flies before a handful! The Maid spake truly; theneed is desperate. If help reach not the Dauphin soon, all will belost!"

"Then let the Maid go!" thundered the old man, roused at last likean angry lion; "and may the God she trusts in guard and keep her, and give to her the victory!"

CHAPTER V. HOW THE MAID JOURNEYED TO CHINON. 

So the thing had come to pass at last--as she had always said itmust. Robert de Baudricourt was about to send her to the Court ofthe Dauphin at Chinon. The weary days of waiting were at an end. She was to start forthwith; she and her escort were alike ready, willing, and eager. Her strange mystic faith and lofty courageseemed to have spread through the ranks of the chosen few who wereto attend her. 

I trow, had she asked it, half the men of Vaucouleurs would havegladly followed in her train; for the whole town was moved to itscore by the presence of the Maid in its midst. Almost were thetownsfolk ready to worship her, only that there was something inher own simplicity and earnest piety which forbade suchdemonstration. All knew that the Maid herself would be first torebuke any person offering to her homage other than true man canand ought to offer to true woman. 

And now let me speak here, once and for all, of the love andreverence and devotion which the Maid had power to kindle in thehearts of those with whom she came in contact. I can indeed speakof this, for I am proud to this day to call myself her true knight. From the first I felt towards her as I have felt to none since--noteven to the wife of my manhood's tried affections. It was such alove as may be inspired by some almost angelic, presence--there wasno passion in it. I believe I speak truly when I say that not oneof the Maid's true followers and knights and comrades-in-arms, everthought of her as possible wife--ever even dreamed of her as lover. She moved amongst us as a being from another sphere. She inspiredus with a courage, a power, and a confidence in her and in ourcause, which nothing could shake or daunt. She was like a star, setin the firmament of heaven. Our eyes, our hearts turned towardsher, but she was never as one of us. 

Still less was she as other women are, fashioned for softflatteries, ready to be wooed and won. Ah, no! With the Maid it wasfar otherwise. Truly do I think that of herself she had no thought, save as she was the instrument appointed of her Lord to do theappointed work. To that task her whole soul was bent. It filled herto the full with an ecstasy of devotion which required no words inwhich to express itself. And I can faithfully say that it was notthe beauty of her face, the sweetness of her ringing voice, nor thegrace and strength of her supple form which made of men her willingfollowers and servants. 

No, it was a power stronger and more sacred than any such carnaladmiration. It came from the conviction, which none could fail toreach, that this Maid was indeed chosen and set apart of Heaven fora great and mighty work, and that in obeying her, one was obeyingthe will of God, and working out some purpose determined in thecounsels of the heavenlies. 

With her man's garb and light armour, the Maid had assumed an airof unconscious command which sat with curious graceful dignity uponthe serene calm of her ordinary demeanour. Towards her followers ofthe humbler sort she ever showed herself full of consideration andkindliness. She felt for their fatigues or privations in marching, was tenderly solicitous later on for the wounded. Above all, shewas insistent that the dying should receive the consolations ofreligion, and it was a terrible thought to her that either friendor foe should perish unshriven and unassoiled. 

Her last act at Vaucouleurs, ere we started off in the early dawnof a late February day, was to attend Mass with all her following. 

An hour later, after a hasty meal provided by De Baudricourt, wewere all in the saddle, equipped and eager for the start. The Maidsat her chestnut charger as to the manner born. The pawings of theimpatient animal caused her no anxiety. She was looking with a keeneye over her little band of followers, taking in, as a practisedleader of men might do, their equipment and general readiness forthe road. She pointed out to me several small defects whichrequired adjusting and rectifying. 

Already she seemed to have assumed without effort, and as a matterof course, the position of leader and general. There was noabatement of her gentle sweetness of voice or aspect, but the airof command combined with it as though it came direct and withouteffort as a gift from heaven. None resented it; all submitted toit, and submitted with a sense of lofty joy and satisfaction whichI have never experienced since, and which is beyond my power todescribe. 

There was one change in the outward aspect of the Maid, for herbeautiful hair had been cut off, and now her head was crowned onlyby its cluster of short curling locks, upon which today she wore acloth cap, though soon she was to adopt the headpiece whichbelonged to the light armour provided. She had been pleased by thedress of white and blue cut-cloth which I had humbly offered her, and right well did it become her. The other suit provided by thetownsfolk was carried by one of the squires, that she might havechange of garment if (as was but too probable) we should encounterdrenching rains or blustering snow storms. 

So far she had no sword of her own, nor had she spoken of the needof such a weapon for herself. But as we assembled in the courtyardof the Castle, getting ourselves into the order of the march, DeBaudricourt himself appeared upon the steps leading into thebuilding, bearing in his hands a sword in a velvet scabbard, whichhe gravely presented to the Maid. 

"A soldier, lady, has need of a weapon, " were his words, as heplaced it in her hands; "take this sword, then. I trow it will doyou faithful service; and may the Lord in whom you trust lead youto victory, and save this distracted realm of France from theperils which threaten to overwhelm her!"

"I thank you, Seigneur de Baudricourt, " she answered, as she tookthe weapon, and permitted me to sling it for her in the belt forthe purpose which she already wore, "I will keep your gift, andremember your good words, and how that you have been chosen ofheaven to send me forth thus, and have done the bidding of theLord, as I knew that so true a man must needs do at the appointedtime. For the rest, have no fear. The Lord will accomplish thatwhich He has promised. Before the season now beginning so tardilyhas reached its height, the Dauphin will be the anointed King ofFrance, the English will have suffered defeat and Orleans will befree!"

"Heaven send you speak sooth, fair Maid, " answered the rugged oldsoldier, as he eyed the slim figure before him with something ofmingled doubt, wonder, and reverence in his eyes. 

Then as though some strange impulse possessed him, he took her handand kissed it, and bending the knee before her, said:

"Give me, I pray you, a blessing, ere you depart!"

A wonderful light sprang into her eyes. She laid her hand upon thegrizzled head, and lifted her own face, as was her wont, to thesunny sky. 

"The blessing of the King of Heaven be upon you, Robert deBaudricourt, in that you have been an instrument chosen of Him. Thegrace and love of our Blessed Lady be yours, in that you have shownkindness and favour to a simple maid of the people, set apart byHeaven for a certain task. The favour and protection of the Saintsbe yours, in that you have believed the words of one who spake ofthem, and have been obedient to the command sent to you from them!"

She ceased speaking; but still continued to gaze upward with raptand earnest eyes. Every head was bared, and we all gazed upon her, as upon one who looks through the open Gate of Heaven, and to whomis vouchsafed a glimpse of the Beatific Vision. 

Then clear and sweet her voice rose once more. Her face wastransfigured; a great light seemed to shine either upon or from it, no man could say which. 

"O Lord God, Father of the Heavenlies, O sweet Jesu, Saviour ofmankind, O Blessed Mother, Queen of Heaven, O Holy Michael, Archangel of the shining sword, O Blessed Saints--Catherine andMargaret, beloved of Heaven--give to these, Your children, Yourblessing, Your help, Your protection, Your counsel! Be with us inour journeyings--in our uprising and down lying, in our going outand coming in--in all we put our hands unto! Be with us and upholdus, and bring us in safety to our journey's end; for we go forth inthe strength which is from above, and which can never fail us tillthe work appointed be accomplished!"

Then we rode forth, out of the courtyard, and into the streets ofthe town, which were thronged and lined with townsfolk, and withpeople from the surrounding villages, who had crowded in to see thewonderful Maid, and witness the outgoing of the little band whichwas to accompany her to Chinon. 

Two of the Maid's brothers had sought to be of her train, and onewent with us upon that day. The second she sent back with a letter(written at her dictation by my fingers, for she herself knew notletters, though of so quick an understanding in other matters) toher parents, praying earnestly for their forgiveness for what mustseem to them like disobedience, and imploring their blessing. Andthis letter she dispatched by Jean, permitting Pierre to accompanyus on the march. 

Her mother and two younger brothers, at least, believed in hermission by this time; but her father was doubtful and displeased, fearful for her safety, and suspicious of her credentials; and theeldest son remained of necessity at home to help his father, andwhether or no he believed in his sister's call, I have never trulyheard. But I know it pleased her that Pierre should be in herescort, though she was careful not to show him any marked favourabove others; and as in days to come she was more and more thrownwith the great ones of the land, she of necessity was much partedfrom him, though the bond of sisterly love was never slackened; andboth Pierre, and afterwards Jean, followed her through all theearlier parts of her victorious career. 

Leaving Vaucouleurs, we had need to march with circumspection, forthe country was in no settled state, and it was probable thatrumours of our march might have got abroad, and that roving bandsof English or Burgundian soldiers might be on the look out for us;for already it was being noised abroad that a miraculous Maid hadappeared to the aid of France, and though, no doubt, men jeered, and professed incredulity, still it was likely that she would beregarded in the light of a valuable prize if she could be carriedoff, and taken either to Duke Philip or to the Regent Bedford inParis. 

We had with us a King's archer from Chinon, who had been sent withnews of the disaster at Rouvray. He was to conduct us back toChinon by the best and safest routes. But he told us that thecountry was beset by roving bands of hostile soldiers, that hiscomrades had been slain, and that he himself only escaped as by amiracle; and his advice was urgent that after the first day weshould travel by night, and lie in hiding during the hours ofdaylight--a piece of advice which we were fain to follow, being nostrong force, able to fight our way through a disturbed country, and being very solicitous for the safety of the precious Maid whowas at once our chiefest hope and chiefest care. 

This, then, we did, after that first day's travel in the brightspringtide sunshine. We were attended for many a mile by afollowing of mounted men from the district round, and when, as thesun began to wester in the sky, they took their leave of us, theMaid thanked them with gracious words for their company and goodwishes, though she would not suffer them to kiss her hand or payher homage; and after that they had departed, we did halt for manyhours, eating and resting ourselves; for we meant to march againwhen the moon was up, and not lose a single night, so eager was theMaid to press on towards Chinon. 

Of our journey I will not speak too particularly. Ofttimes we werein peril from the close proximity of armed bands, as we lay inwoods and thickets by day, avoiding towns and villages, lest weshould draw too much notice upon ourselves. Ofttimes we sufferedfrom cold, from hunger, from drenching rains and bitter winds. Onceour way was barred by snow drifts, and often the swollen rivers andstreams forced us to wander for miles seeking a ford that waspracticable. 

But whatever were the hardships encountered, no word of murmuringever escaped the lips of the Maid; rather her courage and sweetserenity upheld us all, and her example of patience andunselfishness inspired even the roughest of the men-at-arms with adesire to emulate it. Never, methinks, on such a toilsome march wasso little grumbling, so little discouragement, and, above all, solittle swearing. And this, in particular, was the doing of theMaid. For habit is strong with us all, and when things went amissthe oath would rise to the lips of the men about her, and beuttered without a thought. 

But that was a thing she could not bear. Her sweet pained facewould be turned upon the speaker. Her clear, ringing tones wouldask the question:

"Shall we, who go forward in the name of the Lord, dare to take Hisholy name lightly upon our lips? What are His own words? Swear notat all. Shall we not seek to obey Him? Are we not vowed to Hisservice? And must not the soldier be obedient above all others?Shall we mock Him by calling ourselves His followers, and yet doingthat without a thought which He hath forbidden?"

Not once nor twice, but many times the Maid had to speak such wordsas these; but she never feared to speak them, and her courage andher purity of heart and life threw its spell over the rough men shehad led, and they became docile in her hands like children, readyto worship the very ground she trod on. 

Long afterwards it was told me by one of mine own men-at-arms thatthere had been a regular plot amongst the rougher of the soldiersat the outset to do her a mischief, and to sell her into the handsof the Burgundians or the English. But even before leavingVaucouleurs the men had wavered, half ashamed of their own doubtsand thoughts, and before we had proceeded two days' journeyforward, all, to a man, would have laid down their lives in herservice. 

The only matter that troubled the Maid was that we were unable tohear Mass, as she longed to do daily. The risk of showing ourselvesin town or village was too great. But there came a night, when, aswe journeyed, we approached the town of Fierbois, a place very wellknown to me; and when we halted in a wood with the first light ofday, and the wearied soldiers made themselves beds amid the driedfern and fallen leaves, I approached the Maid, who was gazingwistfully towards the tapering spire of a church, visible at somedistance away, and I said to her:

"Gentle Maid, yonder is the church of Sainte Catherine at Fierbois, and there will be, without doubt, early Mass celebrated within itswalls. If you will trust yourself with Bertrand and myself, I trowwe could safely convey you thither, and bring you back again, erethe day be so far advanced that the world will be astir to wonderat us. "

Her face brightened as though a sunbeam had touched it. She needednot to reply in words. A few minutes later, and we were walkingtogether through the wood, and had quickly reached the church, where the chiming of the bell told us that we should not bedisappointed of our hope. 

We knelt at the back of the church, and there were few worshippersthere that morning. I could not but watch the face of the Maid, andsuddenly I felt a curious thrill run through me, as though I hadbeen touched by an unseen hand. I looked at her, and upon her facehad come a look which told me that she was listening to some voiceunheard by me. She clasped her hands, her eyes travelled toward thealtar, and remained fixed upon it, as though she saw a vision. Herlips moved, and I thought I heard the murmured words:

"Blessed Sainte Catherine, I hear. I will remember. When the timecomes I shall know what to do. "

When the priest had finished his office we slipped out before anyone else moved, and reached the shelter of the woods again withoutencountering any other person. I almost hoped that the Maid wouldspeak to us of what had been revealed to her in that church, butshe kept the matter in her own heart. Yet, methinks, she ponderedit long and earnestly; for although she laid her down as if tosleep, her eyes were generally wide open, looking upwards throughthe leafless budding boughs of the trees as though they beheldthings not of this earth. 

It was upon this day that I wrote, at the Maid's request, a letterto the uncrowned King at Chinon, asking of him an audience onbehalf of Jeanne d'Arc, the maiden from Domremy, of whom he hadprobably heard. This letter I dispatched to Sir Guy de Laval, asking him to deliver it to the King with his own hands, and tobring us an answer ere we reached Chinon, which we hoped now to doin a short while. 

The missive was carried by the King's archer, who knew his roadright well, and was acquainted with the person of Sir Guy. He wasto ride forward in all haste, whilst we were to follow in slowerand more cautious fashion. 

I think it was about the fifth day of March when the great towersof Chinon first broke upon our gaze. We had been travelling all thenight, and it was just as the dawn was breaking that we espied thehuge round turrets rising, as it were, from amid the mists whichclung about the river and its banks. There we halted, for nomessage had yet come from the King; but upon the Maid's face was alook of awe and radiant joy as she stood a little apart, gazingupon the goal of her toilsome journey. No fear beset her as to herreception, just as no fears had troubled her with regard to perilsby the way. 

"God clears the road for me, " she said, when news had been broughtfrom time to time of bands of soldiers whom we had narrowlyescaped; and now, as she looked upon the towers of Chinon, growingmore and more distinct as the daylight strengthened, her face worea smile of serene confidence in which natural fear and shrinkinghad no part. 

"The Dauphin will receive me. Fear nothing. The work which is begunwill go forward to its completion. God hath spoken in His power. Hehath spoken, and His word cannot fail. "

So after we had fed she lay down, wrapped in a cloak, and fellasleep like a child; whilst I rode forward a little way along theplain, for I had seen a handful of horsemen sallying forth, as itseemed from the Castle, and I hoped that it was Sir Guy bearingletter or message from the King. 

Nor was I mistaken in this hope. Soon I was certain of my man, andSir Guy in turn recognising me, spurred forward in advance of hisfollowers, and we met alone in the plain, Bertrand, my companion, being with me. 

"So there really is to be a miracle worked, and by a Maid!" criedSir Guy, as we rode with him towards our camp; "Mort de Dieu--butit is passing strange! All the Court is in a fever of wonder aboutthis Angelic Maid, as some call her; whilst others vow she iseither impostor or witch. Is it the same, Bertrand, of whom you didspeak upon the day we parted company?"

"The same; and yet in one way not the same, for since then she hathgrown apace in power and wonder, so that all who see her marvel ather, and some be ready to worship her. But we will say no more. Youshall see for yourself, and the King also shall see, if he refusenot to receive one who comes to him as the messenger of God. "

"I am sent to conduct the Maid presently to the Castle, " answeredSir Guy. "There is now great desire to see her and hear her, and totry and test the truth of her mission. The Generals scoff aloud atthe thought of going to battle with a maid for leader. TheChurchmen look grave, and talk of witchcraft and delusion. Theladies of the Court are in a fever to see her. As for the King andhis Ministers, they are divided in mind 'twixt hope and fear; buttruly matters are come to such desperate pass with us that, if somehelp come not quickly, the King will flee him away from hisdistracted realm, and leave the English and Burgundians to ravageand subdue at will!"

"God forbid!" said I, and crossed myself. 

Scarce had I spoken the words before I saw approaching us on herchestnut charger the Maid herself, who rode forward to meet us at afoot's pace, and reined back a few yards from us, her eyes fixedfull upon the face of Sir Guy, who uncovered, I scarce know why, for how should he know that this youthful soldier was indeed theMaid herself?

"You come from the Dauphin, " she said; "go tell him that thedarkest hour but heralds the dawn. He must not flee away. He muststay to face his foes. I will lead his armies to victory, and heshall yet be crowned King of France. Let him never speak more ofdeserting his realm. That shall not--that must not be!"

Sir Guy was off his horse by now; he bent his knee to the Maid. 

"I will tell the King that the Deliverer hath truly come, " he said;and taking her hand, ere she could prevent it, he reverently kissedit. 

CHAPTER VI. HOW THE MAID CAME TO THE KING. 

So Guy de Laval had fallen beneath the spell of the Maid, even aswe had done. He spoke of it to me afterwards. It was not because ofher words, albeit she had plainly shown knowledge of that which hehad been saying before her approach. It was not the beauty of herserene face, or the dignity of her mien. It was as though somepower outside of himself urged him to some act of submission. Anovershadowing presence seemed to rest upon him as with the touch ofa hand, and he who had laughed at the idea of the restoration ofmiracles suddenly felt all his doubts and misgivings fall away. 

We rode together back to our camp, and there we talked long andearnestly of many things. The Maid had much to ask of Sir Guy, buther questions were not such as one would have guessed. She neverinquired how the Dauphin (as she always called him) had first heardof her, how he regarded her, what his Ministers and the Courtthought of her mission, whether they would receive her in goodpart, what treatment she might expect when she should appear atChinon. 

No; such thoughts as these seemed never to enter her head. She wasin no wise troubled as to the things which appertained to herself. Not once did a natural curiosity on this ground suggest suchinquiries; and though we, her followers, would fain have asked manyof these questions, something in her own absence of interest, herown earnestness as to other matters, restrained us from puttingthem. 

It was of the city of Orleans she desired to know. What was thecondition of the garrison? What were the armies of England doing?What was the disposition of the beleaguering force? Was any projectof relief on foot amongst the Dauphin's soldiers? Did theyunderstand how much depended upon the rescue of the devoted town?

Guy de Laval was able to answer these questions, for he had himselfridden from Chinon to Orleans with messages to the Generals in thebeleaguered city. He reported that the blockade was not perfected;that provisions could still find their way--though with risk, anddanger of loss--into the town, and that messengers with letterscould pass to and fro by exercising great caution, and by the graceof Heaven. He told her of the great fortresses the English hadbuilt, where they dwelt in safety, and menaced the town andbattered its walls with their engines of war. 

The garrison and the city were yet holding bravely out, and theGenerals Dunois and La Hire were men of courage and capacity. Butwhen the Maid asked how it came about that the English--who couldnot be so numerous as the French forces in the town--had beensuffered to make these great works unmolested, he could only replywith a shake of the head, and with words of evil omen. 

"It is the terror of the English which has fallen upon them. Sincethe victory of Agincourt, none have ever been able to see Englishsoldiers drawn up in battle array without feeling their blood turnto water, and their knees quake under them. I know not what thepower is; but at Rouvray it was shown forth again. A small force ofsoldiers--but a convoy with provisions for the English lines--overcameand chased to destruction a French army ten times its own strength. It is as though the English had woven some spell about us. We cannotface them--to our shame be it spoken! The glorious days of old arepast. If Heaven come not to our aid, the cause of France is lost!"

"Heaven has come to the aid of France, " spoke the Maid, with thatcalm certainty which never deserted her; "have no fear, gentleknight. Let the Dauphin but send me to Orleans, and the Englishwill speedily be chased away. "

"It will need a great army to achieve that, fair Maid, " spoke SirGuy; "and alas, the King has but a small force at his disposal, andthe men are faint hearted and fearful. "

"It is no matter, " answered the Maid, with shining eyes; "is itanything to my Lord whether He overcomes by many or by few? Is Hisarm shortened at all, that He should not fulfil that which He haspromised? France shall see ere long that the Lord of Hosts fightsfor her. Will not that be enough?"

"I trow it will, " answered De Laval, baring his head. 

It was not until the evening was drawing on that we entered thefortress of Chinon, where the King held his Court. A very splendidcastle it was, and when, later in my life, I once visited the realmof England, and looked upon the Castle of Windsor there, it didbring back greatly to my mind that Castle of Chinon, with itstowers and battlements overhanging, as it were, the river, and thetown clustered at its foot. 

We had delayed our approach that our wearied and way-worn men mightrest and give a little care to their clothes and arms, so that wepresented not too travel-stained and forlorn an appearance. Wedesired to do honour to the Maid we escorted, and to assume an airof martial pomp, so far as it was possible to us. 

Sir Guy had ridden on in front to announce our coming. He told methat the King was full of curiosity about the Maid, and that theladies of the Court were consumed with wonder and amaze; but thatthe Prime Minister, De la Tremouille, was strenuously set againsthaving aught to do with that "dreamer of dreams, " as he slightinglycalled her, whilst the King's confessor was much of the same mind, in spite of what was reported about her from the priests who hadseen and examined her. 

There was no mistaking the sensation which our approach occasionedwhen at last we reached the walls of the Castle. Soldiers andtownspeople, gentlemen and servants, were assembled at every coignof vantage to watch us ride in; and every eye was fixed upon theMaid, who rode as one in a dream, her face slightly raised, hereyes shining with the great joy of an object at last achieved, andwho seemed unconscious of the scrutiny to which she was subjected, and unaware of the excitement which her presence occasioned. 

For the most part deep silence reigned as we passed by. Noacclamation of welcome greeted us, nor did any murmurs of distrustsmite upon our ears. There was whispering and a rustling ofgarments, and the clank of arms; but no articulate words, eitherfriendly or hostile, till, as we passed the drawbridge, one of thesentries, a great, brawny fellow, half French half Scottish, uttered an insult to the Maid, accompanying his words by a horribleblasphemy. 

My hand was upon my sword hilt. I could have slain the man where hestood; but I felt the Maid's touch on my shoulder, and my hand sankto my side. She paused before the sentry, gazing at him withearnest eyes, full of mournful reproach and sorrow. 

"O Lord Jesu, forgive him!" she breathed softly, and as the fellow, half ashamed, but truculent still, and defiant, turned upon her asthough he would have repeated either his insult or his blasphemy, she held up her hand and spoke aloud, so that all who stood bymight hear her words:

"O, my friend, speak not so rashly, but seek to make your peacewith God. Know you not how near you stand to death this night? MayGod pardon and receive your soul!"

The man shrank back as one affrighted. It was scarce two hourslater that as he was crossing a narrow bridge-like parapet, leadingfrom one part of the Castle to another, he fell into the swollenand rapid stream beneath, and was heard of no more. Some called itwitchcraft, and said that the Maid had overlooked him; but the morepart regarded it as a sign that she could read the future, and thatthings unknown to others were open to her eyes; and this, indeed, none could doubt who were with her at this time, as I shallpresently show. 

I had expected that Sir Guy would come to lead us into the chamberof audience, where we were told the King would receive us. But hedid not come, and we were handed on from corridor to corridor, fromroom to room, first by one richly-apparelled servant of the Court, then by another. 

Our men-at-arms, of course, had been detained in one of thecourtyards, where their lodgings were provided. Only Bertrand and Iwere suffered, by virtue of our knighthood, to accompany the Maidinto the presence of royalty; and neither of us had ever seen theKing, or knew what his outward man was like. 

But she asked no questions of us as to that, nor how she was tocomport herself when she reached the audience chamber. Neither hadshe desired to change her travel-stained suit for any other, though, in truth, there was little to choose betwixt them now; onlymethinks most in her case would have provided some sort of gayraiment wherewith to appear before the King. But the Maid thoughtnought of herself, but all of her mission, and she held that thiswas a matter which could be touched by no outward adorning orbravery of apparel. 

None who passed through the galleries and corridors of the Castleof Chinon in these days would have guessed to what a desperate passthe young King's affairs had come. Music and laughter resoundedthere. Courtiers fluttered about in gorgeous array, and fine ladieslike painted butterflies bore them company. Feasting and revelryswallowed up the days and nights. No clang of arms disturbed thegaieties of the careless young monarch. 

If despair and desperation were in his heart, he pushed them backwith a strong hand. He desired only to live in the present. Hewould not look beyond. So long as he could keep his Court abouthim, he would live after this fashion; and when the English hadswept away the last barriers, and were at the very gates, then hewould decide whether to surrender himself upon terms, or to fly tosome foreign land. But to face the foe in gallant fight was analternative which had never been entertained by him, until suchtime as he had received the message from the Maid; and then it wasrather with wonder and curiosity than any belief in her missionthat he had consented to receive her. 

A pair of great double doors was flung open before us. We stoodupon the threshold of a vast room, lighted by some fifty torches, and by the blaze of a gigantic fire which roared halfway up thevast chimney. This great audience chamber seemed full of dazzlingjewels and gorgeous raiment. One could scarce see the faces andfigures in the shifting throng for the wonder of this blaze ofcolour. 

But there was no dais on which the King was seated in state, as Ihad expected. No figure stood out conspicuous in the throng as thatof royalty. I gazed at one and another, as we stood in the doorway, our eyes still half dazzled by the glare of light and by thebrilliance of the assembled company, but I could by no meansdistinguish the King from any of the rest. Many men, by theirgorgeous raiment, might well be the greatest one present; but howto tell?

All were quiet now. They had fallen a little back, as though togaze upon the newcomer. Smiling faces were turned upon us. Eagereyes were fastened upon the Maid's face. She stood there, with theglare of the torches shining over her, looking upon the scene withher calm, direct gaze, without tremor of fear or thought of shame. 

One of the great Seigneurs--I know not which--came forward with asmile and a bow, and gave her his hand to lead her forward. 

"I will present you to the King, " he said; and made in a certaindirection, as though he would lead her to a very kingly-lookingpersonage in white and crimson velvet, blazing with diamonds; butere he had taken many steps, the Maid drew her hand from his, andturning herself in a different direction, went forward without theleast wavering, and knelt down before a young man in whose attirethere was nothing in any way gorgeous or notable. 

"Gentle Dauphin, " she said, in that clear voice of hers whichalways made itself heard above other sounds, though at this momenta great hush prevailed throughout the audience chamber, andwondering eyes were fixed full upon the Maid, "God give you goodlife, and victory over your enemies!"

Astonishment was in the young man's face; but he took the Maid bythe hand, and said:

"You mistake, fair damsel; it is not I that am the King. See, he isthere; let me take you to him. "

But she would not be raised; she knelt still at his feet, and thehand which he had given her she held to her lips. 

"Gentle Dauphin, think not to deceive me. I know you, who you are. You are he to whom I am sent, to win you the victory first, andthen to place the crown of France upon your head. It is you, andnone other, who shall rule in France!"

The young man's face had changed greatly now. A deep agitationreplaced the former smile of mockery and amusement. Several of thecourtiers were exchanging meaning glances; in the hush of the hallevery spoken word could be heard. 

"Child, how dost thou know me?" asked the King, and his voice shookwith emotion. 

Her answer was not strange to us, though it might have been so toothers. 

"I am Jeanne the Maid, " she replied, as if in so saying she wassaying enough to explain all; "I am sent to you by the King ofHeaven; and it is His Word that I have spoken. You shall be crownedand consecrated at Rheims, and shall be lieutenant of the King ofHeaven, Who is King of France, but Who wills that you shall reignover that fair realm!"

"Have you a message from Him to me?" asked the King, speaking likea man in a dream. 

"Ay, verily I have, " answered the Maid, "a message which none butyou must hear; for it is to you alone that I may tell it. "

Then the King took her by the hand, and raised her up, gazing ather with a great wonder and curiosity; and he led her behind acurtain into a deep recess of the window, where prying eyes couldnot see them, nor inquisitive ears overhear her words. 

And so soon as they had disappeared there, a great hum and buzz ofwonder ran throughout the hall, and we saw Sir Guy detach himselffrom a knot of gay courtiers, and come hastily towards us. 

"Is it not wonderful!" he cried. "And I had feared that she wouldbe deceived, and that the mockers would have the laugh against herin the first moment. Though how they looked for her to haveknowledge of the King's person I know not. Surely none can doubtbut that she is taught by the Spirit of God. "

"It was done to prove her!"

"Ay, it was the thought of De la Tremouille, who has ridiculed herpretensions (the word is his) from first to last. But it was athought welcomed by all, as a passing merry jest. Thus was it thatI was not permitted to come and lead you in. They did fear lest Ishould tell what was intended, and describe to the Maid the personor the dress of the King. And now none can doubt; and, in sooth, itmay be a wondrous thing for His Majesty himself, and take from himfor ever that hateful fear which I always do declare has helped toparalyse him, and hold him back from action. "

I lowered my voice to a whisper as I said:

"You mean the fear lest he was not the true son of the King?"

"Yes; his wicked mother hinted away her own honour in her desire torob him of his crown. He has known her for an evil woman. Was itnot likely he would fear she might speak truth? Those who know himbest know that he has often doubted his right to style himselfDauphin or King; but methinks after today that doubt must needs beset at rest. If the Maid who comes from the King of Heaven putsthat name upon him, need he fear to take it for his own?"

As we were thus speaking the Sieur de Boisi joined us. He wasperchance more fully in the King's confidence than any other personat Court, and he was kinsman to De Laval, with whom he had plainlyalready had much talk upon this subject. He drew us aside, andwhispered a story in our ears. 

"His Majesty did tell it me himself, " he said, "for there be nightswhen he cannot sleep, and he calls me from my couch at his bed'sfoot, and makes me lie beside him, that we may talk at ease; and hetold me, not long since, how that this trouble and doubt were sogrowing upon him, that once he had fasted for a whole day, and hadpassed the night upon his knees in the oratory, praying for a signwhereby he might truly know whether he were the real heir, and thekingdom justly his. For that were it not so, he would sooner escapeto Spain or Scotland to pass his days in peace; but that if theLord would send him a sign, then he would seek to do his duty bythe realm. "

With awe we looked into each other's faces. 

"The sign has come!" whispered Bertrand. 

"Truly I do think it, " answered De Boisi. 

"Surely His Majesty will recognise it as such!" said Sir Guy. 

"I see not how it can be otherwise; and it will be like a greatload lifted from his heart. "

"And he will surely hesitate no more, " I said, "but will forthwithgive her a band of armed men, that she may sally forth to the aidof the beleaguered Orleans!"

But De Boisi and De Laval looked doubtful. 

"I know not how that will be. For there are many who will even nowseek to dissuade the King, and will talk of witchcraft, and I knownot what beside. The Abbes and the Bishops and the priests arealike distrustful and hostile. The Generals of the army openlyscoff and jeer. Some say that if the Maid be sent to Orleans, bothLa Hire and Dunois will forthwith retire, and refuse all furtheroffice there. What can a peasant maid know of the art of war? theyask, and how can she command troops and lead them on to victory, where veterans have failed again and again? And then the King knowsnot what to reply--"

"But she hath given him wherewith to reply!" broke out Bertrand, with indignation in his tones. "She comes not in her own strength, but as the envoy of the King of Heaven. Is that not enough?"

"Enough for us who have seen and heard her, " answered Sir Guy; "butwill it prove enough for those who only hear of her from others, and who call her a witch, and say that she works by evil spells, and has been sent of the Devil for our deception and destructionand undoing?"

"Then let them send for one of the Generals from Orleans, and lethim judge for himself!" cried Bertrand hotly; "you say the city isnot so closely blockaded but that with care and caution men may getin or out? Then let some one send and fetch one of thesecommanders; and if he be not convinced when he sees her, then hewill be of very different stuff from all else who have doubted, butwhose doubts have been dispelled. "

"In faith, that is no bad thought, " spoke De Boisi thoughtfully, "and I trow it might be possible of accomplishment. I willcertainly speak with the King of it. He is young; he is not firm ofpurpose; his own heart has never before been set upon his kingdom. One cannot expect a man's nature to change in a day, even thoughhis eyes may have been opened, and his misgivings set at rest. Ifone of the Generals were won to her side, the troubles that besetus would be well-nigh overcome. "

A great clamour of sound from the larger audience chamber, fromwhich we had retired to talk at ease, warned us now that the Kingand the Maid had appeared from their private conference. His facewas very grave, and there was more of earnestness and nobility inhis expression than I had thought that countenance capable ofexpressing. The Maid was pale, as though with deep emotion; but aglorious light shone in her eyes, and when the Court ladies andgallants crowded round her, asking her questions, and gazing uponher as though she were a being from another sphere, she seemedlifted up above them into another region, and though she answeredthem without fear, she put aside, in some wonderful way, all thosequestions which were intrusions into holy things, speaking sofearlessly and so simply that all were amazed at her. 

She came to us at last, weary, yet glad at heart; and her firstquestion was for her followers, and whether they had been lodgedand fed. We supped with her at her request, and in private, and herface was very calm and glad, though she spoke nothing of what hadpassed between her and the King. 

Only when Bertrand said:

"You have done a great work today, " did she look at him with asmile as she replied:

"My work hath but just begun, and may yet be hindered; but have nofear. The Lord has spoken, and He will bring it to pass. He willnot fail us till all be accomplished. "

CHAPTER VII. HOW THE MAID WAS HINDERED; YET MADE PREPARATION. 

I have no patience to write of the things which followed. I blushfor the King, for his Council, yea, even for the Church itself!Here was a messenger sent from God, sent to France in the hour ofher direst need. This messenger had been tried and tested by ascore of different methods already, and had in every case comeforth from the trial like gold submitted to the fire. Priests hadexamined and found nothing evil in her. Again and again had shespoken of that which must follow--and so it had been. If her voiceswere not from God, then must they be from the devil; yet it hadbeen proved again, and yet again, that this was impossible, sinceshe feared nought that was holy or good, but clave unto such, andwas never so joyful and glad at heart as when she was able toreceive the Holy Sacrament, or kneel before the Altar of God whilstMass was being said. 

She had proved her claim to be called God's messenger. She hadjustified herself as such in the eyes of the King and in thejudgment of the two Queens and of half the Court. And yet, forsooth, he must waver and doubt, and let himself be led by thecounsels of those who had ever set themselves against the Maid andher mission; and to the shame of the Church be it spoken, theArchbishop of Rheims was one of those who most zealously sought topersuade him of the folly of entrusting great matters to the handsof a simple peasant girl, and warned the whole Court of the perilsof witchcraft and sorcery which were like to be the undoing of allwho meddled therein. 

I could have wrung the neck of the wily old fox, whom I did moreblame than I did his friend and advocate, De la Tremouille; for thelatter only professed carnal wisdom and prudence, but theArchbishop spoke as one who has a mandate from God, and he at leastshould have known better. 

And so they must needs send her to Poictiers, to a gathering ofecclesiastics, assembled by her enemy, the Archbishop himself, toexamine into her claims to be that which she professed, and alsointo her past life, and what it had been. 

I scarce have patience to write of all the wearisome weeks whichwere wasted thus, whilst this assembly sat; and the Maid--all alonein her innocence, her purity, her sweetness, and gentlereverence--stood before them, day after day, to answer subtlequestions, face a casuistry which sought to entrap her intocontradiction or confusion, or to wring from her a confession thatshe was no heaven-sent messenger, but was led away by her ownimaginations and ambitions. 

It was an ordeal which made even her devoutest adherents tremble;for we knew the astuteness of the churchmen, and how that theywould seek to win admissions which they would pervert to their ownuses afterwards. Yet we need not have feared; for the Maid'ssimplicity and perfectly fearless faith in her mission carried hertriumphant through all; or perhaps, indeed, her voices whispered toher what answers she should make, for some of them were rememberedlong, and evoked great wonder in the hearts of those who heardthem. 

One Dominican monk sought to perplex her by asking why, since Godhad willed that France should be delivered through her, she hadneed of armed men?

Full fearlessly and sweetly she looked at him as she made answer:

"It is my Lord's will that I ask for soldiers, and that the Dauphinshall give me them. The men shall fight; it is God who gives thevictory. "

Another rough questioner amongst her judges sought to confuse herby asking what language her voices spoke. They say that a flashflew from her eyes, though her sweet voice was as gentle as ever asshe made answer:

"A better language than yours, my father. "

And again, when the same man sought to know more of her faith andher love of God, having shown himself very sceptical of her voicesand visions, she answered him, with grave dignity and an earnest, steadfast gaze:

"I trow I have a better faith than yours, my father. "

And so, through all, her courage never failed, her faith neverfaltered, her hope shone undimmed. 

"They must give me that which I ask; they cannot withstand God. They cannot hurt me. For this work was I born, and until it beaccomplished I am safe. I have no fear. "

Only once did she show anger, and then it was with a quiet dignityof displeasure, far removed from petulance or impatience. Theyasked of her a sign that she was what she professed to be. 

"I have not come to Poictiers to give a sign, " she answered, holding her head high, and looking fearlessly into the faces ofthose who sat to judge her. "Send me to Orleans, with as small aband as you will. But send me there, and you shall see signs and tospare that I come in the power of the King of Heaven. "

And so in the end her faith and courage triumphed. The verdict ransomewhat thus:

"We have found in her nothing but what is good. To deny or hinderher intentions to serve the King would be to show ourselvesunworthy of the assistance of God. "

Yes, they had to come to it; and I trust that there were manysitting there whose hearts smote them for ever having doubted, orsought to baffle or entrap her. I cannot tell how far the judgeswere moved by the growing feeling in the town and throughout thedistrict. But the people crowded to see the Maid pass by, and allwere ready to fall at her feet and worship her. In the eveningsthey visited her at the house of Jean Ratabeau, the AdvocateGeneral, whose wife formed for her (as did every good and truewoman with whom she came into contact during her life) an ardentadmiration and affection. 

And to their earnest questions she gave ready answer, sitting inthe midst of an eager crowd, and telling them in her sweet andsimple way the story of her life in Domremy, and how she had firstheard these voices from Heaven, or seen wondrous visions ofunspeakable glories; and how she had learnt, by slow degrees, thatwhich her Lord had for her to do, and had lost, by little andlittle, the fear which first possessed her, till now she knew notof the name of the word. She had but to follow where her voicesguided. 

And the people believed in her, heart and soul. Her fame spread farand wide, and had she lifted but a finger, she might have been atthe head of an armed band of citizens and soldiers, yea, and manygentlemen and knights as well, all vowed to live and die in herservice. But this was not what was her destiny. 

"I thank you, my friends, " she would say, if such a step wereproposed by any ardent soul, impatient of this long delay; "butthus it may not be. My Lord has decreed that the Dauphin shall sendme forth at the head of his armies, and with a troop of hissoldiers; and he will do this ere long. Be not afraid. We mustneeds have patience, as did our Lord Himself, and be obedient, asHe was. For only as we look to Him for grace and guidance can wehope to do His perfect will. "

Thus spoke the Maid, who, being without letters, and knowing, asshe said, no prayers save the Pater Noster, Ave Maria, and Credo, yet could speak in such fashion to those who sought her. Was itwonder that the people believed in her? that they would have beenready to tear in pieces any who durst contemn her mission, ordeclare her possessed of evil spirits?

Yet I will not say that it was fear which possessed the hearts ofher judges, and decided their ruling in this matter. I trow theycould not look upon her, or hear her, without conviction of heart. Nevertheless it is possible that the respect for popular enthusiasmled them to speak in such high praise of the Maid, and to add thatshe was in the right in assuming the dress which she wore. For shehad been sent to do man's work, and for this a man's garb was theonly fitting one to wear. And this ruling was heard with greatacclamation of satisfaction; for her dress had been almost morecommented upon than any other matter by some, and that the Churchhad set its sanction upon that which common sense deemed most rightand fitting, robbed the most doubtful of all scruple, and gave tothe Maid herself no small pleasure. 

"I do in this, as in all other things, that which I have beenbidden, " she said. "But I would not willingly act unseemly in theeyes of good men and virtuous women; wherefore I am glad that myjudges have spoken thus, and I thank them from my heart for theirgentle treatment of me. "

It was ever thus with the Maid. No anger or impatience overset hersweet serenity and humility. She would not let herself takeoffence, or resent these ordeals to which, time after time, she wassubjected. Nay, it was she who defended the proceedings when weattacked them, saying that it behoved men to act with care andcaution in these great matters, and that her only trouble in thedelay was the sufferings and sorrows of the poor beleagueredgarrison and citizens in Orleans, to whose help and relief shelonged to fly. 

So certain was she that before long she would be upon her way, thatat Poictiers she composed that letter to the English King, hisRegent, and his Generals which has been so much talked of since. Itwas a truly wonderful document to be penned by a village maiden;for in it she adjured them to cease from warring with the rightfulKing of France, whom God would have to rule the realm for Him, togo back to their own country, leaving peace behind them instead ofwar, and imploring them then to join with the King of France in acrusade against the Saracens. She speaks of herself as one who haspower to drive them from the kingdom if they will not go in peaceas adjured. Calling herself throughout "The Maid, " she tells themplainly that they will not be able to stand against her; that shewill come against them in the power of the King of Heaven, Who willgive to her more strength than ever can be brought against her; andin particular she begs of them to retire from the city of Orleans;else, if they do not, they shall come to great misfortune there. 

This letter took some time in the composition, and was written forher by Sir Guy de Laval, though we were all in her counsel as shedictated it. 

By this I do not mean that we advised her. On the contrary, wegazed at her amazed, knowing how fruitless such an injunction mustbe to the haughty victorious nation, who had us, so to speak, inthe dust at her feet. But the Maid saw with other eyes than ours. 

"It may be that there will be some holy man of God in their camp towhom my Lord will reveal His will, as He hath done to me, and willshow the things which must come to pass. I would so willingly spareall the bloodshed and misery which war will bring. It is soterrible a thing for Christian men to war one with another!"

So this letter, with its superscription "JHESUS MARIA, " was writtenand dispatched to the English, and the Maid turned her attention toother matters near her heart, such as the design and execution ofthose banners which were to be carried before her armies in battle, and lead them on to victory. And these same words, "Jhesus Maria, "she decreed should appear upon each of the three standards, intoken that she went not forth in her own strength, nor even in thatof the King of France; but in the power which was from above, andin the strength given by those who sent her. 

Now there came to Poictiers to see the Maid at this time manypersons from other places, and amongst these was a Scotchman calledHauves Polnoir, who brought with him his daughter, a fair girl, between whom and the Maid a great love speedily sprang up. ThesePolnoirs were the most skilful workers in embroideries and suchlike of all the country round, and to them was entrusted the makingof the three banners, according to the instructions of the Maid. 

There was first the great white silken standard, with the goldenfleur-de-lys of France, and a representation on the reverse of theAlmighty God between two adoring angels; then a smaller banner, with a device representing the Annunciation, which she always gaveto one of her immediate attendants or squires to carry into battle;and for herself she had a little triangular banneret of white, withan image of the Crucified Christ upon it, and this she carriedherself, and it was destined to be the rallying point ofinnumerable engagements, for the sight of that little flutteringpennon showed the soldiers where the Maid was leading them, andthough this was in the thickest and sorest of the strife, theywould press towards it with shouts of joy and triumph, knowingthat, where the Maid led, there victory was won. 

All these matters were arranged whilst we were kept in waiting atPoictiers; and the Polnoirs returned to Tours to execute the ordersthere in their own workshop. The Maid promised to visit them on herway from Chinon to Orleans, and so bid them a kindly farewell. Perhaps I may here add that when the Dauphin, upon his coronation, insisted upon presenting the Maid with a sum of money, the use shemade of it, after offering at various shrines, was to provide amarriage dowry for Janet Polnoir. Never did she think of herself;never did she desire this world's goods. 

This was shown very plainly upon her triumphant return to Chinon, with the blessing and sanction of the Church upon her mission, withthe enthusiasm of the people growing and increasing every day, andher fame flying throughout the length and breadth of the realm. Bythis time the King and all his Court knew that a deliverer had beenraised up in our midst, and instead of lowly lodgings beingallotted to the Maid and her train, the whole Tower of Coudray wasset apart for the use of herself and her suite. The custodian DeBelier and his wife had charge of her, and to her were nowappointed a staff, of which the brave Jean d'Aulon was the chief, and to which Bertrand and Sir Guy de Laval and myself belonged, together with many more knights and gentlemen, all anxious to doservice under her banner. Also she had in her train some persons oflowlier degree, such as her brothers, for whom she always hadtender care, and who believed devoutly in her mission, althoughthey saw of necessity less and less of one another as the Maid'smission progressed, and took her into a different world. 

But all this grandeur was no delight to her, save inasmuch as itshowed that at last her mission was recognised and honoured. Whenasked what she would have for herself in the matter of dress andarmour, her answer was that she had already all she required, although she only possessed at this time one suit more than she hadstarted forth with from Vaucouleurs. Although she saw the courtiersfluttering about like butterflies, and noted how men, as well aswomen, decked themselves in choice stuffs and flashing jewels, sheasked none of these things for herself; and when the Queen ofSicily, always her best and kindest friend, sent to her someclothing of her own designing--all white, and beautifully worked, some with silver, and some with gold thread and cord, and a mantleof white velvet, lined with cloth of silver--she looked at thebeautiful garments with something between a smile and a sigh; thenturning towards the great lady who stood by to watch her, she firstkissed her hand, and then, with a sudden impulse of affection, puther arms about her neck, and was drawn into a close embrace. 

"Are you not pleased with them, my child?" spoke Queen Yolandegently; "they would have decked you in all the colours of therainbow, and made you to blaze with jewels; but I would not have itThe Virgin Maid, I told them, should be clad all in white, and myword prevailed, and thus you see your snowy raiment. I had thoughtyou would be pleased with it, ma mie. "

"Madame, it is beautiful; I have never dreamed of such. It is toofine, too costly for such as I. I am but a peasant maid--"

"You are the chosen of the King of Heaven, my child. You must thinkalso of that. You are now the leader of the King's armies. You haveto do honour alike to a Heavenly and an earthly Monarch; and shallwe let our champion go forth without such raiment as is fitting toher mission?"

Then the Maid bent her head, and answered with sweet gladness:

"If it is thus that the world regards me, I will wear thesetrappings with a glad and thankful heart; for in sooth I would seekto do honour to His Majesty. As for my Lord in the Heavens, I trowthat He doth look beneath such matters of gay adornment; yet evenso, I would have His mission honoured in the sight of all men, andHis messenger fitly arrayed. "

So the Maid put on her spotless apparel, and looked more than everlike a youthful warrior, going forth with stainless shield, in thequest of chivalrous adventure. The whole Court was entranced by herbeauty, her lofty dignity, her strange air of aloofness from theworld, which made her move amongst them as a thing apart, andseemed to set a seal upon her every word and act. 

When she spoke of the coming strife, and her plans for the reliefof the beleaguered city, her eyes would shine, a ringing note ofauthority would be heard in her voice, she would fearlessly enterinto debate with the King and his Ministers, and tell them thatwhich she was resolved to do, whether they counselled it or no. Atsuch moments she appeared gifted with a power impossible rightly todescribe. Without setting herself up in haughtiness, she yetoverbore all opposition by her serene composure and calm serenityin the result. Men of war said that she spoke like a soldier and astrategist; they listened to her in amaze, and wondered what thegreat La Hire would say when he should arrive, to find that acountry maiden had been set over his head. 

In other matters, too, the Maid knew her mind, and spoke it withcalm decision. The Queen of Sicily had not been content withordering the Maid's dress alone, she had also given orders to thefirst armourer in Tours to fashion her a suit of light armour forthe coming strife. This armour was of white metal, and richlyinlaid with silver, so that when the sun glinted upon it, it shonewith a dazzling white radiance, almost blinding to behold. TheKing, also, resolved to do his share, had ordered for her a lightsword, with a blade of Toledo steel; but though the Maid gratefullyaccepted the gift of the white armour, and appeared before all theCourt attired therein, and with her headpiece, with its floatingwhite plumes crowning it all, yet, as she made her reverence beforethe King, she gently put aside his gift of the sword. 

"Gentle Dauphin, " she said, "I thank you from my heart; but for methere is another sword which I must needs carry with me intobattle; and I pray you give me leave to send and fetch it fromwhere it lies unknown and forgotten. "

"Why, Maiden, of what speak you?" he answered; "is not thisjewelled weapon good enough? You will find its temper of the best. I know not where you will find a better!"

"No better a sword, Sire, " she answered; "and yet the one which Imust use; for so it hath been told me of my Lord. In the church ofFierbois, six leagues from hence, beneath the high altar, therelies a sword, and this sword must I use. Suffer me, I pray you, tosend and fetch it thence. Then shall I be ready and equipped tosally forth against the foes of my country. "

"But who has told you of this sword, my maiden?"

"My Lord did tell me of it, as I knelt before the altar, ere I cameto Chinon. It is in the church of St. Catherine; and suffer only mygood knight, Jean de Metz, to go and make search for it, and hewill surely bring it hither to me. "

Now I did well remember how, as we knelt in the church at Fierboisin the dimness of the early morn, the Maid had received somemessage, unheard by those beside her; and gladly did I set forthupon mine errand to seek and bring to her this sword. 

When I reached Fierbois, which was in the forenoon of the dayfollowing, the good priests of the church knew nothing of any suchsword; but the fame of the Maid having reached their ears, theywere proud and glad that their church of St. Catherine should behonoured thus, and calling together some workmen, they made carefulsearch, and sure enough, before we had dug deep, the spade struckand clinked against metal, and forth from beneath the altar we drewa sword, once a strong and well-tempered weapon, doubtless, but nowcovered with rust, so that the good priests looked askance at it, and begged to have it to cleanse and polish. 

It was then too late for my return the same day, so I left it tothem, and lodged me in the town, where all the people flocked tohear news of the Maid and of the coming campaign. 

Then in the morning, with the first of the light, the sword wasbrought to me; and surely many persons in Fierbois must have sat upall the night, for every speck of rust had been cleansed away, anda velvet scabbard made or found for the weapon, which the priestsbegged of me to take with it to the Maid as their gift, and withtheir benediction upon it and her. 

My return was awaited with some stir of interest, and before I hadwell dismounted I was hurried, all travel stained as I was, intothe presence of the King. There was the Maid waiting also, calm andserene, and when she saw the thing which I carried in my hands, herface lighted; she took several steps forward, and bent her knee asshe reverently took the sword, as though she received it from someHigher Power. 

"It was even as she said?" questioned the King, quickly. 

"Even so, Sire; the sword of which no man knew aught, was lyingburied beneath the high altar of St. Catherine's Church, inFierbois. "

A murmur of surprise and gratification ran through the assembly. But there was no surprise upon the Maid's face. 

"Did you doubt, Sire?" she asked, and he could not meet the glanceof her clear eyes. 

CHAPTER VIII. HOW THE MAID MARCHED FOR ORLEANS. 

Methinks the Maid loved that ancient sword better than all hershining armour of silver! Strange to say, the jewelled sheath ofthe King's Toledo blade fitted the weapon from Fierbois, and hesupplemented the priests' gift of a scabbard by this second richone. The Maid accepted it with graceful thanks; yet both thegorgeous cases were laid away, and a simple sheath of leather made;for the sword was to be carried at her side into battle, andneither white nor crimson velvet was suited to such a purpose. 

Nor would the Maid let us have her sword sharpened for her. Acurious look came upon her face as Bertrand pointed out thatalthough now clean and shining, its edges were too blunt for realuse. She looked round upon us as we stood before her, and passedher fingers lovingly down the edges of the weapon. 

"I will keep it as it is, " she answered; "for though I must needscarry it into battle with me, I pray my Lord that it may never bemy duty to shed Christian blood. And if the English King will butlisten to the words of counsel which I have sent to him, perchanceit may even now be that bloodshed will be spared. "

In sooth, I believe that she would far rather have seen the enemydisperse of their own accord, than win the honour and glory of thecampaign, which she knew beforehand would bring to her renown, thelike of which no woman in the world's history has ever won. Shewould have gone back gladly, I truly believe, to her home inDomremy, and uttered no plaint, even though men ceased after theevent to give her the praise and glory; for herself she neverdesired such. 

But we, who knew the temper of the English, were well aware thatthis would never be. Even though they might by this time have heardsomewhat of the strange thing which had happened, and how theFrench were rallying round the standard of the Angelic Maid, yetwould they not readily believe that their crushed and beaten foeswould have power to stand against them. More ready would they be toscoff than to fear. 

Now, at last, after all these many hindrances and delays, all wasin readiness for the start. April had well nigh run its course, andnature was looking her gayest and loveliest when the day came thatwe marched forth out of the Castle of Chinon, a gallant littlearmy, with the Maid in her shining white armour and her flutteringwhite pennon at our head, and took the road to Tours, where thegreat and redoubtable La Hire was to meet us, and where we were tofind a great band of recruits and soldiers, all eager now to be ledagainst the foe. 

Much did we wonder how the Generals of the French army wouldreceive the Maid, set, in a sense, over them as Commander-in-Chiefof this expedition, with a mandate from the King that she was to beobeyed, and that her counsels and directions were to be followed. We heard conflicting rumours on this score. There were those whodeclared that so desperate was the condition of the city, and sodisheartened the garrison and citizens that they welcomed with joythe thought of this deliverer, and believed already that she wassent of God for their succour and salvation. Others, on thecontrary, averred that the officers of the army laughed to scornthe thought of being aided or led by a woman--a peasant--uneperonelle de bas lieu, as they scornfully called her--and that theywould never permit themselves to be led or guided by one who couldhave no knowledge of war, even though she might be able to read thesecrets of the future. 

In spite of what had been now ruled by the Church concerning her, there were always those, both in the French and English camps, whocalled her a witch; and we, who heard so many flying rumours, wondered greatly what view the redoubtable La Hire took of thismatter, and Dunois, the Bastard of Orleans, as he was often called. For these two men, with Xaintrailles, were the ruling Generals inOrleans, and their voice would be paramount with the army there, and would carry much weight with those reinforcements for therelieving force which we were to find awaiting us at Tours and atBlois. 

Now La Hire, as all men know, was a man of great renown, and ofimmense personal weight and influence. He was a giant in stature, with a voice like a trumpet, and thews of steel; a mighty man inbattle, a daring leader, yet cautious and sagacious withal; a manfeared and beloved by those whom he led in warfare; a gay roystererat other times, with as many strange oaths upon his lips as thereare saints in the calendar; what the English call a swashbucklerand daredevil; a man whom one would little look to be led or guidedby a woman, for he was impatient of counsel, and headstrong alikein thought and action. 

And this was the man who was to meet us at Tours, form hisimpression of the Maid, and throw the great weight of his personalinfluence either into one scale or the other. Truth to tell, I wassomething nervous of this ordeal, and there were many who shared mydoubts and fears. But the Maid rode onward, serene and calm, thelight of joy and hope in her eyes, untroubled by any doubts. Atlast she was on her way to the relief of the beleaguered city;there was no room for misgiving in her faithful heart. 

We entered Tours amid the clashing of joy bells, the plaudits ofthe soldiers, and the laughter, the weeping, the blessings of anexcited populace, who regarded the Maid as the saviour of therealm. They crowded to their windows and waved flags and kerchiefs. They thronged upon her in the streets to gaze at her fair face andgreet her as a deliverer. 

It was indeed a moving scene; but she rode through it, calm andtranquil, pausing in the press to speak a few words of thanks andgreeting, but preserving always her gentle maidenly air of dignityand reserve. And so we came to the house which had been set apartfor her use on her stay, and there we saw, standing at the foot ofthe steps which led from the courtyard into the house, a mighty, mailed figure, the headpiece alone lacking of his full armour, acarven warrior, as it seemed, with folded arms and bent brows, gazing upon us as we filed in under the archway, but making no moveto approach us. 

I did not need the whisper which ran through the ranks of ourescort to know that this man was the great and valiant La Hire. 

As the Maid's charger paused at the foot of the steps, this manstrode forward with his hand upraised as in a salute, and givingher his arm, he assisted her to alight, and for a few moments thetwo stood looking into each other's eyes with mutual recognition, taking, as it were, each the measure of the other. 

The Maid was the first to speak, her eyes lighting with that deepdown, indescribable smile, which she kept for her friends alone. When I saw that smile in her eyes, as they were upraised to LaHire's face, all my fears vanished in a moment. 

"You are the Dauphin's brave General La Hire, from Orleans, " shesaid; "I thank you, monsieur, for your courtesy in coming thus tomeet me. For so can we take counsel together how best the enemiesof our country may be overthrown. "

"You are the Maid, sent of God and the King for the deliverance ofthe realm, " answered La Hire, as he lifted her hand to his lips, "Ibid you welcome in the name of Orleans, its soldiers, and itscitizens. For we have been like men beneath a spell--a spell toostrong for us to break. You come to snap the spell, to break theyoke, and therefore I bid you great welcome on the part of myselfand the citizens and soldiers of Orleans. Without your counsels toHis Majesty, and the aid you have persuaded him to send, the citymust assuredly have fallen ere this. Only the knowledge that helpwas surely coming has kept us from surrender. "

"I would the help had come sooner, my General, " spoke the Maid;"but soon or late it is one with my Lord, who will give us thepromised victory. "

From that moment friendship, warm and true, was established betwixtthe bronzed warrior and the gentle Maid, who took up, as by naturalright, her position of equal--indeed, of superior--in command, notwith any haughty assumption, not with any arrogant words or looks, but sweetly and simply, as though there were no question but thatthe place was hers; that to her belonged the ordering of theforces, the overlooking of all. Again and again, even we, who hadcome to believe so truly in her divine commission, were astonishedat the insight she showed, the sagacity of her counsels, thewonderful authority she was able to exert over the soldiers broughttogether, a rude, untrained, insubordinate mass of men, collectedfrom all ranks and classes of the people, some being little betterthan bands of marauders, living on prey and plunder, since ofregular fighting there had been little of late; others, mercenarieshired by the nobles to swell their own retinues; many raw recruits, fired by ardour at the thought of the promised deliverance; a fewregular trained bands, with their own officers in command, butforming altogether a heterogeneous company, by no means easy todrill into order, and swelled by another contingent at Blois, ofvery much the same material. 

But the Maid assembled the army together, and thus addressed them. At least, this was the substance of her words; nothing canreproduce the wonderful earnestness and power of her voice andlook, for her face kindled as she spoke, and the sunshine playingupon her as she sat her charger in the glory of her silver armour, seemed to encompass her with a pure white light, so that men's eyeswere dazzled as they looked upon her, and they whispered one to theother:

"The Angelic Maid! The Angelic Maid! surely it is an Angel of Godcome straight down from Heaven to aid and lead us. "

"My friends, " she spoke, and her voice carried easily to everycorner of the great square, packed with a human mass, motionless, hanging upon her words; "My friends, we are about to start forthupon a crusade as holy as it is possible for men to be concernedin, for it is as saviours and deliverers of your brethren and ourcountry that we go; and the Lord of Hosts is with us. He has biddenus march, and He has promised to go with us, even as He was withthe Israelites of old. And if we do not see His presence in pillarof cloud by day, and pillar of fire by night, we yet do know andfeel Him near us; and He will give abundant proof that He fightsupon our side!"

She lifted her face for a moment to the sky. She was bareheaded, and every head was bared in that vast crowd as she uttered the nameof the Most High. It seemed as though a light from Heaven fell uponher as she spoke, and a deep murmur ran through the throng. It wasas if they answered that they needed no other vision than that ofthe Maid herself. 

"If then the Lord be with us, must we not show ourselves worthy ofHis holy presence in our midst? O my friends, since I have beenwith you these few days, my heart has been pained and grieved bythat which I have heard and seen. Oaths and blasphemies fall fromyour lips, and you scarce know it yourselves. Drunkenness and viceprevail. O my friends, let this no longer be amongst us! Let uscleanse ourselves from all impurities; let our conversation be yea, yea, nay, nay. Let none take the name of the Lord in vain, nor soilHis holy cause by vice and uncleanness. O let us all, day by day, as the sun rises anew each morning, assemble to hear Mass, and toreceive the Holy Sacrament. Let every man make his confession. Holypriests are with us to hear all, and to give absolution. Let usstart forth upon the morrow purified and blessed of God, and let usday by day renew that holy cleansing and blessing, that the Lordmay indeed be with us and rest amongst us, and that His heart benot grieved and burdened by that which He shall see and hearamongst those to whom He has promised His help and blessing!"

Thus she spoke; and a deep silence fell upon all, in the which itseemed to me the fall of a pin might have been heard. The Maid satquite still for a moment, her own head bent as though in prayer. Then she lifted it, and a radiant smile passed over her face, asmile as of assurance and thankful joy. She raised her hand andwaved it, almost as though she blessed, whilst she greeted hersoldiers, and then she turned her horse, the crowd making way forher in deep reverential silence, and rode towards her own lodging, where she remained shut up in her own room for the rest of the day. 

But upon the following morning a strange thing had happened. Everysingle camp follower--all the women and all the disorderly rabblethat hangs upon the march of an army--had disappeared. They hadslunk off in the night, and were utterly gone. The soldiers weregathered in the churches to hear Mass. All that could do soattended where it was known the Maid would be, and when she hadreceived the Sacrament herself, hundreds crowded to do the like;and I suppose there were thousands in the city that day, who, having confessed and received absolution, received the pledge ofthe Lord's death, though perhaps some of them had not thought ofsuch a duty for years and years. 

And here I may say that this was not an act for once and all. Dayby day in the camp Mass was celebrated, and the Holy Sacramentgiven to all who asked and came. The Maid ever sought to begin theday thus, and we of her personal household generally followed herexample. Even La Hire would come and kneel beside her, a littlebehind, though it was some while before he desired to partake ofthe Sacrament himself. But to be near her in this act of devotionseemed to give him joy and confidence and for her sake, because hesaw it pained her, he sought to break off his habit of profaneswearing, and the use of those strange oaths before which men hadbeen wont to quake. 

And she, seeing how sorely tried he was to keep from his accustomedhabit, did come to his aid with one of her frank and almostboy-like smiles, and told him that he might swear by his baton ifhe needs must use some expletive; but that no holy name mustlightly pass his lips. 

Strange indeed was it to see the friendship which had so quicklysprung up between that rough warrior and the Maid, whom he couldalmost have crushed to death between his mighty hands. 

If all the Generals in the army were as noble minded as he, and asready to receive her whom God had sent them, we should have littleto fear; but there was Dunois yet to reckon with, who had promisedto come forth and meet her outside the town (for the blockade, as Ihave before said, was not perfect; and on the south side men couldstill come and go with caution and care), and to lead her intriumph within its walls, if the English showed not too greatresistance. 

But even now we were to find how that they did not yet trust theMaid's authority as it should be trusted; and even La Hire was infault here, as afterwards he freely owned. For the Maid had toldthem to lead her to the city on the north side, as her plan was tostrike straight through the English lines, and scatter thebesieging force ere ever she entered the town at all. But since thecity lies to the north of the river, and the English had builtaround it twelve great bastilles, as they called them, and lay inall their strength on this side, it seemed too venturesome toattack in such a manner; and in this La Hire and Dunois were bothagreed. But La Hire did not tell the Maid of any disagreements, butknowing the country to be strange to her, he led her and the armyby a route which she believed the right one, till suddenly we beheldthe towers of Orleans and the great surrounding fortificationsrising up before our eyes; and, behold! the wide river with itsbridge more than half destroyed, lay between us and our goal!

At this sight the eyes of the Maid flashed fire, and she turnedthem upon La Hire, but spoke never a word. His face flushed a dullcrimson with a sudden, unexpected shame. To do him justice be itsaid, that (as we later heard) he had been against this deceptionafter having seen the Maid; but there were now many notablegenerals and marshals and officers with the army, all of whom wereresolved upon this course of action, which had been agreed uponbeforehand with Dunois, and they had overborne his objections, which were something faint-hearted perhaps, for with his love andadmiration for the Maid, he trembled, as he now explained to her, to lead her by so perilous a route, and declared that she couldwell be conducted into the city through the Burgundy gate, bywater, without striking a blow, instead of having to fight her wayin past the English bastions. 

"I thank you for your care for me, my friend, " she answered, "butit were better to have obeyed my voice. The English arrows couldnot have touched me. We should have entered unopposed. Now muchprecious time must needs be lost, for how can this great army betransported across yonder river?--and the bridge, even if we coulddislodge the English from the tower of Les Tourelles, is brokendown and useless. "

Indeed it seemed plain to all that the Generals had made a greatblunder; for though we marched on to Checy, where Dunois met us, and whence some of the provisions brought for the starving citycould be dispatched in the boats assembled there, it was plain thatthere was no transport sufficient for the bulk of the army; and theMaid, as she and Dunois stood face to face, at last regarded himwith a look of grave and searching scrutiny. 

"Are you he whom men call the Bastard of Orleans?"

"Lady, I am; and I come to welcome you with gladness, for we aresore beset by our foes; yet all within the city are taking heart ofgrace, believing that a Deliverer from Heaven has been sent tothem. "

"They think well, " answered the Maid, "and right glad am I to come. But wherefore have I been led hither by this bank, instead of theone upon which Talbot and his English lie?"

"Lady, the wisest of our leaders held that this would be the safestway. "

"The counsel of God and our Lord is more sure and more powerfulthan that of generals and soldiers, " she answered gravely. "Youhave made an error in this. See to it that such error be notrepeated. I will that in all things my Lord be obeyed. "

The Generals stood dumb and discomfited before her; a thrill ranthrough the army when her words were repeated there; but, indeed, we all quickly saw the wisdom of her counsel and the folly of heradversaries; for the bulk of the army had perforce to march back toBlois to cross the river there, whilst only a thousand picked menwith the chiefest of the Generals and the convoys of provisionsprepared to enter the city by water and pass through the BurgundyGate. 

At the first it seemed as though even this would be a dangeroustask, for the wind blew hard in a contrary direction, and thedeeply-laden boats began to be in peril of foundering. But as westood watching them from the bank, and saw their jeopardy, and somewere for recalling them and waiting, the Maid's voice suddenly rangforth in command:

"Leave them alone, and hasten forward with the others. The windwill change, and a favouring breeze shall carry us all safe intothe city. The English shall not fire a shot to hinder us, for thefear of the Maid has fallen upon them!"

We gazed at her in wonder as she stood a little apart, her facefull of power and calm certainty. And indeed, it was but a very fewminutes later that the wind dropped to a dead calm, and a light airsprang up from a contrary direction, and the laden boats gladlyspreading sail, floated quietly onwards with their precious loadtowards the suffering city. 

Then we embarked, somewhat silently, for the awe which fell uponthose who had never seen the Maid before, extended even to us. Moreover, with those frowning towers of the English so close uponus, crowded with soldiers who seemed to know what was happening, and who were coming into Orleans, it was scarce possible not tolook for resistance and hostile attack. 

But curious as it may seem, not a shot was fired as we passedalong. A silence strange and sinister seemed to hang over the linesof the enemy; but when we reached the city how all was changed!

It was about eight o'clock in the evening when at last we finishedour journey by water and land, and entered the devoted town. Therethe chiefest citizens came hurrying to meet us, leading a whitecharger for their Deliverer to ride upon. 

And when she was mounted, the people thronged about her weeping andshouting, blessing and hailing her as their champion and saviour. The streets were thronged with pale-faced men; women and childrenhung from the windows, showering flowers at our feet. Torches litup the darkening scene, and shone from the breastplates andheadpieces of the mailed men. But the Maid in her white armourseemed like a being from another sphere; and the cry of "St. Michael! St. Michael himself!" resounded on all sides, and one didnot wonder. 

Nothing would serve the Maid but to go straight to the Cathedralfirst, and offer thanksgiving for her arrival here, and the peopleflocked with her, till the great building was filled to overflowingwith her retinue of soldiers and her self-constituted followers. Some begged of her to address them from the steps at the conclusionof the brief service, but she shook her head. 

"I have no words for them--only I love them all, " she answered, with a little natural quiver of emotion in her voice. "Tell themso, and that I have come to save them. And then let me go home. "

So La Hire stood forth and gave the Maid's message in his trumpettones, and the Maid was escorted by the whole of the joyful andloving crowd to the house of the Treasurer Boucher, where were herquarters, and where she was received with acclamation and joy. Andthus the Maid entered the beleaguered city of Orleans. 

CHAPTER IX. HOW THE MAID ASSUMED COMMAND AT ORLEANS. 

The house of the Treasurer was a beautiful building in the Gothicstyle, and weary as was the Maid with the toils and excitementsthrough which she had passed, I saw her eyes kindle with pleasureand admiration as she was ceremoniously led into the greatbanqueting hall, where the tables were spread with abundant goodcheer (despite the reduced condition of the city), to do honour toher who came as its Deliverer. 

There was something solemn and church-like in these surroundingswhich appealed at once to the Maid. She had a keen eye for beauty, whether of nature or in the handiwork of man, and her quickpenetrating glances missed nothing of the stately grandeur of thehouse, the ceremonious and courtly welcome of the Treasurer, itsmaster, or the earnest, wistful gaze of his little daughterCharlotte, who stood holding fast to her mother's hand in thebackground, but feasting her great dark eyes upon the wonderfulshining figure of the Maid, from whose white armour the lights ofthe great hall flashed back in a hundred points of fire. 

The greeting of the master of the house being over, the Maid threwoff for a moment the grave dignity of her bearing throughout thistrying day, and became a simple girl again. With a quick grace ofmovement she crossed the space which divided her from the littlechild, and kneeling suddenly down, took the wondering little one inher arms, and held her in a close embrace. 

"Ma petite, ma mie, ma tres chere, " those nearest heard her murmur. "Love me, darling, love me! I have a little sister at home wholoves me, but I had to go away and leave her. Perhaps I may neversee her again. Try to love me instead, and comfort my heart, forsometimes I am very, very weary, and hungry for the love that Ihave lost!"

Now, one might have thought that so young a child--for she was notmore than eight years old, and small for her years--would have beenaffrighted at the sudden approach of the shining warrior, aboutwhom so many stories had been told, and who looked more like theArchangel Michael, as many thought, than a creature of human fleshand blood. But instead of showing any fear, the child flung herarms about the neck of the Maid, and pressed kisses upon herface--her headpiece she had removed at her entrance--and when themother would have loosened her hold, and sent the child away withher attendant, little Charlotte resisted, clinging to her newfriend with all her baby strength, and the Maid looked pleadinglyup into the kindly face of the lady, and said:

"Ah, madame, I pray you let her remain with me. It is so long sinceI felt the arms of a child about my neck!"

And so the little one stayed to the banquet, and was given theplace of honour beside the Maid. But neither of these twain had anyrelish for the dainty meats and rich dishes served for us. As onthe march, so now in the walls of the city, the Maid fared assimply as the rudest of her soldiers. She mixed water with herwine, took little save a slice or two of bread, and though toplease her hosts she just touched one or two specially prepareddishes, it was without any real relish for them, and she wasevidently glad when she was able to make excuse to leave the tableand go to the room prepared for her. 

But here again she showed her simple tastes, for when the greatguest chamber was shown her she shrank a little at its size andluxury, and, still holding the child's hand in hers, she turned tothe mother who was in attendance and said:

"I pray you, sweet lady, let me whilst I am your guest share theroom of this little daughter of yours. I am but a simple countrygirl, all this grandeur weighs me down. If I might but sleep withthis little one in my arms--as the little sister at home loved tolie--I should sleep so peacefully and have such happy dreams! Ah, madame!--let me have my will in this!"

And Madame Boucher, being a mother and a true woman, understood;and answered by taking the Maid in her arms and kissing her. Andso, as long as the Maid remained in Orleans, she shared the littlewhite bedroom of the child of the house, which opened from that ofthe mother, and the bond which grew up between the three was soclose and tender a one, that I trow the good Treasurer and his wifewould fain have regarded this wonderful Maid as their own daughter, and kept her ever with them, had duty and her voices not called herelsewhere when the first part of her task was done. 

Now Bertrand and I, together with Pierre, her brother, and theChevalier d'Aulon and Sir Guy de Laval, were lodged in the samehouse, and entertained most hospitably by the Treasurer, who sat upwith us far into the night after our arrival, listening withearnest attention to all we could tell him respecting the Maid, andtelling us on his part of the feeling in Orleans anent her and hermission, and what we might expect to follow her arrival here. 

"The townsfolk seem well-nigh wild for joy at sight of her, " spokeDe Laval, "and the more they see of her, the more they will loveher and reverence her mission. I was one who did openly scoff, orat least had no faith in any miracle, until that I saw her withmine own eyes; and then some voice in my heart--I know not how tospeak more plainly of it--or some wonderful power in her glance orin her voice, overcame me. And I knew that she had in very truthcome from God, and I have never doubted of her divine commissionfrom that day to this. It will be the same here in Orleans, if, indeed, there be any that doubt. "

"Alas! there are--too many!" spoke the Treasurer, shaking his head, "I am rejoiced that our two greatest Generals, Dunois and La Hire, have become her adherents, for I myself believe that she has beensent of God for our deliverance, and so do the townsfolk almost toa man. But there are numbers of the lesser officers--bold men andtrue--who have fought valiantly throughout the siege, and who havegreat influence with the soldiers they lead, and these men are fullof disgust at the thought of being led by a woman--a girl--and oneof low degree. They would be willing for her to stand aloft andprophesy victory for their arms, but that she should arm herselfand lead them in battle, and direct operations herself, fills themwith disgust and contempt. There is like to be trouble, I fear, with some of these. There is bold De Gamache, for example, whodeclares he would sooner fold up his banner and serve as a simplesoldier in the ranks, than hold a command subservient to that of alow-born woman!"

That name as applied to the Angelic Maid set our teeth on edge; yetwas it wonderful that some should so regard her?

"Let them but see her--and they will change their tune!" spakeBertrand quickly. "A low-born woman! Would they speak thus of theBlessed Virgin? And yet according to the wisdom of the flesh itwould be as true of one as of the other. "

The Treasurer spoke with grave thoughtfulness:

"Truly do I think that any person honoured by the Lord with adirect mission from Himself becomes something different by virtueof that mission from what he or she was before. Yet we may notconfound this mission of the Maid here in Orleans with that onewhich came to the Blessed Mary. "

"Nor had I any thought, " answered Bertrand, "of likening one to theother, save inasmuch as both have been maidens, born in lowlysurroundings, yet chosen for purity of heart and life, and forchildlike faith and obedience, for the honour of receiving a divinecommission. There the parallel stops; for there can be nocomparison regarding the work appointed to each. Yet even as thisMaid shall fulfil her appointed task in obedience to theinjunctions received, she is worthy to be called the handmaid ofthe Lord. "

"To that I have nought to say but yea, " answered the Treasurerheartily, "and I pray our Lord and the Blessed Virgin to be withher and strengthen her, for I fear me she will have foes to contendwith from within as well as from without the city; and as all menknow, it is the distrust and contradiction of so-called friendswhich is harder to bear than the open enmity of the foe. "

It was difficult for us, vowed heart and soul to the cause of theMaid, and honoured by her friendship and confidence, to believethat any could be so blind as not to recognise in her a God-sentmessenger, whom they would delight to follow and to honour. Yetwhen I walked out upon the following morning--a sunny first ofMay--to have a good look round at the position of the fortifications, the ring of English bastilles to the north, the blockading towersupon the southern bank, I was quickly aware of a great deal of talkgoing on amongst the soldiers and the officers which was by no meansfavourable to the cause of the Maid. 

Voices were hushed somewhat at my approach, for though none knewme, I was of course a stranger, and therefore likely to haveentered the town in the train of the Maid, who had yesterday madeher appearance there. But I heard enough to be sure that what theTreasurer had said last evening was likely to be true. The soldierswere disposed to scoff at being led by a woman, and the officers togrumble at having had to bear all the burden of the long siege, andthen when the King did send an army for the relief, to send itunder the command of this Maid, who would bear away the honour andglory which otherwise all might have shared. 

From their point of view, perhaps, this discontent was notunreasonable; but as I looked upon the works around me, I marvelledhow it had been possible for the English, unprotected as they musthave originally been, to erect these great towers for their ownshelter, and from which to batter the town with their cannon andgreat stone balls, when the French in great numbers and protectedby strong walls, ought to have been able to sally forth continuallyand so to harass them that the construction of such buildingsshould have been impossible. 

The great Dunois had shown considerable acumen. He had himselfdestroyed all the suburbs of the town which lay without the walls, so that the English might find no shelter there, and when they hadeffected a lodgment on the south side of the river, he haddestroyed the greater part of the bridge, thus making it impossiblefor the enemy to cross and take possession of the town. But he hadnot stopped the erection of those threatening towers circling roundthe city to the north, nor the construction of those still strongerblockading fortresses on the south side, Les Tourelles guarding thefragment of the broken bridge, and Les Augustins not far away. 

When I spoke to one grizzled old soldier about it, he shrugged hisshoulders and made reply:

"What would you? Those English are helped of the devil himself. Wehave tried to stand against them, but it is all to no purpose. Somedemon of fighting enters into them, and they know that we shallfly--and fly we do. At last there were none who would face them. Our generals sought in vain to lead them. You should have heard LaHire swearing at them. O-he, O-he, he is a master of the art! Someof us would have followed him; but the rest--one might as well haveasked a flock of sheep to go against the wolf, telling them theywere fifty to one! Not they! It was witchcraft, or something likeit. They sat still on these ramparts and watched the Englishworking like moles or like ants, and never lifted a finger. Pouf!When men get to that they are not fit to fight They had better gohome and ply the distaff with the women. "

"And let a woman come and lead their comrades to battle!" I said, laughing. "Have you seen the wonderful Maid of whom all the worldis talking?"

"No; at least, I only caught a gleam of light upon her white armourlast night; but as I said to the boys in the guardroom, I care notwhether she be woman, witch, or angel; if she will bring back heartand courage, and make men again of all these chicken-heartedpoltroons, I will follow her to the death wherever she may lead. Iam sick with shame for the arms of France!"

"Bravely spoken, my friend!" I cried, giving him my hand; "and ifthat be the spirit of the army, I doubt not but that a few dayswill see such a turn in the tide of warfare as shall make the wholeworld stand aghast!"

"Then you believe in her?" quoth the old soldier, looking meshrewdly up and down. 

"With my whole heart!" I answered, as I turned and took my way backto my quarters. 

That same day the Maid held a council of war, at which all theofficers of any importance were permitted to attend; and here itwas that she received the first real check since she had receivedthe King's commission and royal command. 

"Let us attack the foe at once, and without delay, messires!" shesaid, sitting at the head of the council table, fully armed, savefor her headpiece, and speaking in her clear, sweet, full tones, wherein power and confidence were blended; "the Lord of Hosts is onour side. Let us go forth in His strength, and the victory will beours. "

But they listened to her in silent consternation and amaze. Herewas this inexperienced girl, blind with enthusiasm, drunk withsuccess, her head completely turned by her reception last night, actually advising an assault upon the enemy before the arrival ofthe army of relief, which had been forced to return to Blois tocross the river, and which could not arrive for a few more days. What madness would she next propose? Well, at least La Hire andDunois were there to curb her folly and impetuosity. A chit of agirl like that to sit and tell them all to go forth to certaindeath at her command! As though they would not want all theirstrength to aid the relieving army to enter when it should appear!As though they were going to weaken themselves beforehand by anymad scheme of hers!

Thus the storm arose. Even La Hire, Dunois, and the Treasurerhimself, were against her. As for the lesser officers, when theybegan to speak, they scarce knew how to contain themselves, andrestrain their anger and scorn from showing itself too markedlytowards one who held the King's mandate of command. 

And of late the Maid had always been listened to with such honourand respect! How would she bear this contradiction and veiledcontempt, she who had come to assume the command of the city andits armies at the King's desire?

She sat very still and quiet at the table, as the storm hummedabout her. Her clear gaze travelled from face to face as one oranother of the officers rose and spoke. Sometimes a slight flush ofred dyed her cheek for a moment; but never once did anger cloud herbrow, or impatience or contempt mar the wonderful serenity of herbeautiful eyes. Only once did she speak during the whole of thedebate, after her opening words had been delivered, and that wasafter a very fiery oration on the part of a youthful officer, whosewords contained more veiled scorn of her and her mission than anyother had dared to show. 

Instead of looking at him either in anger or in reproach, theMaid's own wonderful smile shone suddenly upon him as he concluded. Then she spoke:

"Captain de Gamache, you think yourself my foe now; but that willsoon be changed, and I thank you beforehand for the brave, trueservice which you shall presently render me. But meantime, bewareof rashness; for victory shall not come to the city without theMaid. "

He gazed at her--we all gazed at her--in amaze, not knowing whather words portended. But she gave no explanation. She only rose toher feet and said:

"Then, gentlemen, since the attack is not to be yet--not till thearrival of the relieving force, let me make the tour of thebattlements, and examine the defences of the city. I would that youhad faith to let me lead you forth today; but the time will comewhen I shall not have to plead with you--you will follow gladly inmy wake. For the rest, it would perchance be a sorrow to my bravemen, who have marched so far with me, not to partake in the victorywhich the Lord is about to send us; wherefore I will the morereadily consent to delay, though, let me tell you, you are in thewrong to withstand the wishes of the Commander of the King'sarmies, and the messenger of the King of Kings. "

I verily believe that she shamed them by her gentle friendlinessmore than she would have done by any outburst of wrath. Had sheurged them now, I am not sure but what they would have given herher way; but she did not. She put her white velvet cap, with itsnodding plumes, upon her head, and taking with her the chiefest ofthe generals and her own immediate retinue, she made the tour ofthe walls and defences of the city, showing such a marvellousinsight into the tactics of war that she astonished all by herremarks and by her injunctions. 

Suddenly, as we were walking onwards, she paused and lifted herface with a wonderful rapt expression upon it. Then she turned toDunois, and said with quiet authority:

"Mon General, I must ask of you to take a small body of picked men, and ride forth towards Blois, and see what bechances there. I trowthere is trouble among the men. Traitors are at work to daunt theirhearts. Go and say that the Maid bids them fear nothing, and thatthey shall enter Orleans in safety. The English shall not besuffered to touch them. Go at once!"

"In broad daylight, lady, and before the very eyes of the foe?"

"Yes, yes, " she answered instantly; "I will stand here and watchyou. No hurt shall be done to you or to your company. "

So Dunois went at her command, and we saw him and his little bandride fearlessly through the English lines; and scarce could webelieve our eyes when we noted that no weapon was raised againstthem; not even an arrow was shot off as they passed. 

"She speaks the words of God. She is His messenger!" whispered themen who stood by; and her fame flew from mouth to mouth, till astrange awe fell upon all. 

She was never idle during those days of waiting. She asked news ofthe letter she had sent to the English, and heard it had beendelivered duly, though the herald had not returned. She gavecommission to La Hire to demand his instant release, and this wasaccomplished speedily; for the bold captain, of his own initiative, vowed he would behead every prisoner they had in the city if theman were not given up at the command of the Maid. I am very sure nosuch act of summary vengeance would have been permitted, but theman was instantly released and came and told us how that the letterhad been read with shouts of insulting laughter, and many derisiveanswers suggested; none of which, however, had been dispatched, asTalbot, the chief in command of the English armies, had finallydecreed that it became not his dignity to hold any parley with awitch. 

And yet she could scarce believe that they should none of themunderstand how that she was indeed come from God, and that theymust be lamentably overthrown if they would not hear her words. Onthe third day of her stay in the city she caused her great whitebanner to be carried forth before her, and riding a white horse, clad in her silver armour, and clasping her banneret in her handshe rode slowly out upon the broken fragment of the bridge oppositeto the tower of Les Tourelles, and begged a parley from the Englishgeneral in command. 

It was not Lord Talbot who came forth and stood upon his own end ofthe bridge, gazing haughtily across the space which divided them;but it was a notable soldier, whom the French called Classidas, though I have been told that his real name was Sir WilliamGlassdale. To him the Maid addressed herself in her clear mellowvoice, which could be heard across the flowing river:

"Retournez de la part Dieu a l'Angleterre!" was the burden of hercharge, imploring him to have mercy upon himself and his soldiers, as else many hundreds of them, and himself also, must perishmiserably, and perchance even without the offices of the Church. 

But she was answered by roars of mocking laughter from the soldiersof the fort, and worse still, by gross insults from Classidashimself, hurled across at her from a biting tongue, which carriedlike the note of a trumpet. 

Silently she stood and gazed at him; mournfully she turned and rodeback to the town. 

"May God have mercy upon their souls!" she prayed; and for the restof the day she was sorrowful and sad. 

"If it could have been done without bloodshed!" she murmured againand yet again. 

Ah, and then the day when the news came that the relieving army wasin sight! Was she sad or pensive then? No! She sprang to her feet;she set down the little Charlotte, who was playing in her arms; sheseized her weapons, her page flew to bring her full armour. Herhorse was already in waiting; she swung upon his back. She wavedher hand and called to us to rally about her. 

"The English are preparing to fight!" she cried (how did she know?none had told her), "but follow me, and they will strike no blow. "

Already La Hire was at her side, seeking to dissuade her fromleaving the shelter of the town. She smiled at him, and rodethrough the gate, her white banner floating in the wind. 

"See yonder; that is the point of danger. We will station ourselvesthere, and watch our brave army march past. They shall not be hurtnor dismayed. All shall be well!"

So we rode, wondering and amazed, behind and around her, and at theappointed spot, in the very midst of the English lines, we halted, and made a great avenue for the army from Blois to pass through. All gazed in wonder at the Maid. All saluted deeply. The English intheir towers gazed in amaze, but fired no shot. We all passed intothe city in safety. 

Great God, but how would it be with our Maid when the real battleand bloodshed should begin?

CHAPTER X. HOW THE MAID LED US INTO BATTLE. 

"It was well indeed that you sent me forth on that mission, myChieftainess, " spoke Dunois, as we sat at the long table in theTreasurer's house, refreshing ourselves after the fatigues of themarch to and from the city, and the anxiety of awaiting an attack, which had not come. He bowed towards the Maid in speaking, callingher by a playful title in vogue amongst the officers and Generalswho were her friends. "Though what prompted you to that act ofsagacity is more than I know. I had no misgivings that there wouldbe trouble with the army. "

"My voices warned me, " answered the Maid gently. "It was not much;yet a little leaven often leavens the whole lump. They needed justthe leader's eye and voice to recall them to their duty. "

"Truly that is just how the matter stood, " spoke Sir Guy in lowtones to us twain, Bertram and I, who sat on either side of him atthe other end of the board. 

He had been one to depart and return with Dunois, and we lookedeagerly to him for explanation. 

"There are ever timid spirits in all ranks, and traitors orfaint-hearted friends are never far away in such times as these. The army which would have followed the Maid to the death with joy, felt depression and disappointment at being parted from her. Hadthey been able to ford the river and march straight into the city, there would have been no trouble, no tremors or doubts; but theturning back was a discouragement, and alas! the French have hadtoo much of this of late. There were whisperers at work seeking toundermine faith in the Maid and her mission. As she says, no greathurt was done; it was but the work of a few--and some of thesepriests, who should better have understood the counsels of God--buta little leaven will work mightily in the lump, as she herself didjustly remark; and ere we reached Blois, we had heard rumours thatthe army was talking of disbanding itself and dispersing hither andthither. The truth was not so bad as that; but there was waveringand doubt in the ranks. 

"Our appearance with the message from the Maid worked like a charm. The soldiers, when they knew that she had been told of theirhesitation, were instantly horribly ashamed. They clamoured to beled back to her, to show the mettle of which they were made. I trowthey will not waver again, now that she hath them beneath her eye. "

"It is marvellous how she doth hold them by the power of herglance, by her gentleness and devotion. And, look you, what hathshe done to the English? It was rumoured through the city that sosoon as the relief army approached the English lines, there wouldbe an attack in force, and our comrades would be driven back at thesword's point, and have to fight every inch of the way. Yet whathas been the truth? The Maid led us to the spot which commanded theroad--well in the heart of the English lines. Their fortresses werehumming like hives of bees disturbed. The English knew what wasbeing done, and watched it all; yet not a gun was fired, not anarcher launched his shaft, not a man moved out to oppose theentrance of the relief force nor even the convoy of provisions forthe garrison. They watched it all as men in a dream, not a dogmoved his tongue against us. "

"She told us it would be so, " spoke I, leaning towards Sir Guy, "there will be fighting anon; but it was not to be then. Surelytheir arms were holden by a power they wot not of. If she herselfhad not gone forth to guard the way--standing like the flamingcherubim with the sword which turned every way--I misdoubt me butthat a heavy action must have been fought, ere the army wassuffered to enter the gates. "

There was much talk all down the table of these matters; but theMaid took little part in this. Her eyes were heavy, and she lookedweary and pale. I doubt not she had spent the night previous invigil and prayer, as was so often her wont. When we rose from ourrepast, she retired into a small inner room reserved for her use, and the little Charlotte went with her. A curtain, partly drawn, shut off this room from the outer one in which we knights and someof her pages and gentlemen sat talking; and I was just able to seefrom where I sat that the Maid had laid herself down upon a couch, the little one nestled beside her, and I felt sure by her stillnessand immobility that she was soon soundly asleep, taking the restshe sorely needed after the exertions and excitements of the earlyhours of the day. 

Our conversation languished somewhat, for the warmth of the Mayafternoon made us all drowsy. We, like the Maid herself, had laidaside our coats of mail, and were enjoying a spell of rest andleisure; and there was silence in both the rooms, when suddenlywe--if indeed we slept--were awakened by the voice of the Maidspeaking in the tones of one who dreams. 

"I must up and against the English!" she cried, and at the firstword I started broad awake and was on my feet at the door ofcommunication, looking towards her. 

She still lay upon the couch, but her eyes were wide open andfixed; her lips moved. 

"I hear! I hear!" she went on, yet still as one who dreams, "I amready--I will obey. Only tell me what I must do. Is it against thetowers I must go, to assail them? Or is it that Fastolffe comesagainst us with yet another host?"

Little Charlotte here pulled the Maid by the hand, crying out:

"What are you saying? To whom do you speak? There is nobody herebut you and me!"

The Maid sprang to her feet, wide awake now in an instant. She bentfor one moment over the wondering child, and kissed her tenderly, as though to soothe the alarm in the baby eyes. 

"Run to your mother, ma mie, for I must off and away on theinstant, " then wheeling round with her air of martial command, shecalled to me and said, "To arms at once! I must to the front!French blood is flowing. They are seeking to act without me. O mypoor soldiers, they are falling and dying! To horse! to horse! Icome to save them!"

Was she dreaming? What did it mean? The town seemed as quiet as thestill summer afternoon! Not a sound of tumult broke the silence ofthe streets. Yet the Maid was having us arm her with lightningspeed, and Bertrand had rushed off at the first word for her horseand ours. 

"I know not what they are doing, " spoke the Maid, "but my voicestell me to fly to their succour! Ah! why could they not have toldme before! Have I not ever been ready and longing to lead themagainst the foe?"

She was ready now. We were all ready, and the echoes of the quiethouse awoke beneath our feet as we clattered down the staircase tothe courtyard below, where already the horses were standing pawingthe ground with impatience, seeming to scent the battle from afar. The Maid swung herself lightly to the saddle with scarce a touchfrom me. 

"My banner! My banner!" she suddenly cried; and looking upwards wesaw a pretty sight. The little Charlotte, her mother beside her, was hanging out of the window, the light staff of the Maid's whitebanneret clasped in her chubby hands; and she was leaning out ofthe window, holding it towards the white mailed figure, of whom (inarmour) she always spoke, in hushed tone, as mon ange. The Maidlooked upwards, kissed her gauntletted hand to the little one, seized the staff of her banner, and then, calling upon herfollowers in clear tones of command, dashed out through the gatewayinto the street beyond, and without an instant's hesitation turnedtowards that gate of the city nearest to the English bastille namedSt. Loup. And though we all spurred after her, so that the sparksflew from under our horses' feet, and the Chevalier d'Aulon broughtup the rear bearing the great white standard, which was to lead thearmies into battle, we none of us knew wherefore we had come forthnor whither we were going; and the city being yet still and quiet, the citizens rushed to doors and windows to watch us pass by, andshouted questions to us which we were not able to answer. 

Now, the house of the Treasurer is hard by the Renart Gate, and wewere making for the Burgundy Gate; so you who know Orleans willunderstand that we had the whole distance of the city to traverseere we cleared the walls. And sure enough, as we approached thefortifications upon the eastern side, a change came over the spiritof the scene; signs of excitement and fear and wonder began to showthemselves; the walls were alive with men at arms, gazing fixedlyout eastward, shouting, gesticulating, wild with a tumult ofemotion. Soldiers buckling on their arms, citizens with pale, yetresolute, faces, and swords or axes in their hands, were hurryingforth, and at sight of the Maid on her chestnut charger (for theCrusader was ever her favourite horse, and she had declared that hemust carry her into her first battle whenever that should be) theyshouted aloud with joy, and vowed themselves her servants andfollowers, wherever she should lead them. 

A young blacksmith, armed with a great club, was hanging upon mystirrup, and bounding along beside my horse with a swiftness andstrength which excited my admiration. From him I heard first of thething which had taken place. 

"It was De Gamache and some of the other lesser officers whodesigned it, " he cried. "They declared that the power of theEnglish was already broken; that they would not leave their wallsor show fight today; that already they had grown faint hearted, andwere ready to fly before the French. 

"My Captain, I tell you the truth, these men are jealous of theAngelic Maid whom Heaven has sent us. They say that she will takefrom them all the honour and glory; that they will fight and risktheir lives, but that she alone will have the praise. So they werefull of bitterness and anger; and some, methinks, may have thoughtto shame her by showing that they could act without her aid, and dothe work she has come to do, whilst she takes her rest and holdsher councils. So, gathering a band of soldiers together, theseofficers have sallied forth to try and storm and take the fortressof St. Loup, which lies some two thousand English yards from thewalls along the river banks. But the soldiers on the walls areshouting out that the English have swarmed forth like angry bees, and are beating back our soldiers and slaying them by the score. "

"They should have known better than to go forth without theknowledge and command of the Maid, " I said sternly, and the youngman at my side nodded vehemently, his face alight. 

"That is what we said--we others--we citizens, who have seen howpowerless the soldiers are against the English. Have they notfought again and again, and what has come of it but loss anddefeat? And now that the good God has sent a Deliverer, it is likeflying in His face to seek and do without her. I said as much againand again. I knew no good would come of it. But when we saw theMaid herself flying to the rescue, then did I vow that I, too, would fight under her banner. For now I know that God will give usthe victory!"

We were at the Burgundy Gate by this time and, dashing through, wesaw a terrible sight. The whole open plain between the walls of thetown and the fortress of St. Loup was covered with soldiers, strewnwith dying and dead. A horrible sort of fight was going on, horrible to us, because the French were in full retreat before ourfoe, going down like sheep before the butcher's knife, rushingpanic stricken hither and thither as men demented, whilst theEnglish soldiers, as though ashamed of their recent inaction andparalysis, were fiercely pursuing, shouting "Kill! kill! kill!" asthey went about their work of slaughter, driving back theirenemies, and striking at them remorselessly. 

Here and there a brave officer, with his band of chosen followers, would be presenting a bold face to the foe, making a stand andseeking to rally the flying ranks. I was certain that I saw DeGamache himself, hewing his way like a very Paladin through theranks of the English, and dealing death and destruction wherever hewent. But the valour of a few had no power to turn the fortunes ofthe field; and the rout had already begun, when the Maid and herattendants, closely followed by an enthusiastic band of soldiersand citizens, dashed forth from the Burgundy Gate, and mingled withthe flying French hastening towards the city for safety. 

"Courage, my children, courage!" cried the Maid, waving her whitepennon. "Be not dismayed. The Lord has heard your cries. He hassent me to your aid. Take courage! Fear nothing, for the victoryshall be ours!"

She did not even pause to note the effect of her words upon them, but sped onwards, fearless of danger, right into the very heart ofthe battle. We followed and closed up round her; but that shiningwhite figure could not be hidden. The English saw it bearing downupon them, and instantly there was wavering in their ranks. Beforeour swords had had time to strike at them, something touched themas with an icy hand. 

"The Maid! the Maid! The White Witch!" they cried, and they pausedin their pursuit to gaze upon that dazzling figure, and methinkstheir hearts melted like wax within them. 

From behind now arose a mighty tumult, and shouts and cries as oftriumph thundered from the city walls. Dunois and La Hire, moretardily advised of what was happening, but prompt and decisive inaction, were galloping out of the Gate at the head of the pickedsoldiers under their command. Rank behind rank we could see themflashing through the shadow into the sunshine, and dashing forwardin compact order, their gaze fixed full upon the Maid in the centreof the plain, who stood with uplifted sword and fluttering pennon, a veritable angel of the battle. 

But we saw other sights, too; for Lord Talbot was not idle on hisside, but sent forth from other of the bastilles bodies of men tothe aid of the defenders of St. Loup. 

The whole plain was filled with surging masses of soldiers, rushingone upon the other in the fury of the fray. 

How would the Maid bear it? She whose tender heart ached at thethought of human suffering, and whose soul was filled with yearningsorrow for men struck down in their sins. I pressed up towards herand saw her pitiful eyes fixed upon a convoy of wounded men, whomwe had sent to rescue from their peril, lying as they did in thevery heart of the plain. The eyes which had been flashing fire amoment before, were suffused with tears, as the melancholyprocession passed her by. 

She turned to her page and said, "Ride quickly into the city, andbid the priests come forth to hear the confessions and giveabsolution to the dying. Lose not a moment! Tell them that soulsare every moment being hurried to their last account. Bid them makehaste and come, and let them give equal care to friend and foe; forin death all men are equal in the sight of God, and I would notthat any English soldier or prisoner should fall without theconsolations of religion. "

Then, having thus done all that she could for the wounded and thedying, the Maid was once again the resolute soldier. Her keen eyesswept the plain; she saw with lightning speed where the need wasthe greatest, where the peril to the French cause was direst, andsweeping into the midst of the press, her sword and her bannerflashing in the sunshine, she ever brought succour and victory inher wake. 

No foe could stand before her. Not that she struck blows with herown hand. There seemed no need for that, and when at the close ofthe day I relieved her of her arms, there was no spot of blood uponher shining blade, though her coat of silver mail had receivedstains from the fray. She was like the Angel of Victory, flashingthrough the ranks of the combatants. Wherever she appeared, theflying French turned back to face the foe, and the pursuing Englishwavered, paused, and finally broke rank and fled backwards to theshelter of their walls and forts. Our men fought gallantly--let menot deny them their due--soldiers and citizens alike, who had comeforth with and after the Maid, all were inspired by confidence andcourage. But it was her presence in the ranks which gave assuranceof victory. Wherever French soldiers wavered it was when she wasfar away and her back towards them. Yet so soon as she turned intheir direction--and some power seemed to whisper to her wheneverher soldiers were dismayed--and galloped to their assistance, allwas well again; and ere an hour had passed the English were drivenback within their towers, and the victory was ours. 

Dunois and La Hire rode up to the Maid and saluted. From the cityin our rear we could already hear the pealing of the joy bells, thetriumphant acclamation of the populace. 

"Let us lead you back thither to receive the plaudits you have sowell deserved, " spoke Dunois, who was man enough to give all thecredit of the victory to the Maid. "Right valiantly have youaccomplished your task. Now let us take you to receive thegratitude of the town. "

"Accomplished!" repeated the Maid with a glance of surprise. "Why, my friends, the task is scarcely yet begun!"

They gazed at her in amazement; but she calmly pointed towards thefrowning walls and battlements of St. Loup. 

"We must take yonder tower, " she said quietly, "that is what ourbrave, but rash young officers set themselves to do. They shall notbe disappointed. It shall be ours ere night fall upon us. Call tome the bold De Gamache; I would have speech with him and hiscomrades. "

The greater Generals looked at her and at one another, speaking noword. The walls and battlements of St. Loup were strong and welldefended. The tower could spout fire and smoke like a livingmonster. Already the troops had marched far and fought hotly. Surely if assault were to be made it should wait for another day. Thus they communed together a stone's throw from the Maid; but sheonly looked upon them with her deep inward smile, and softly Iheard her speak the words:

"No, it must be done today. "

De Gamache rode up, and some half dozen other officers with him. His face was stained with blood and blackened by smoke. He had ascarf bound about his left arm; but his bearing was bold andresolute, and though his cheek flushed at the clear, direct gaze ofthe Maid's eyes, he neither faltered nor trembled as he stoodbefore her. 

"You did desire a good thing, my Captain, " she said, "and had youtold me of your brave wish, I would have put myself at your headand led you to victory forthwith. Yet this victory has not beenforfeited, only delayed by your eager rashness. Say, if I lead youmyself, this very hour, against yon frowning tower, will you followme like brave soldiers of the Cross, and not turn back till my Lordhas given us the victory? For He will deliver yon place into ourhands, albeit not without bloodshed, not without stress or strife. Many must be slain ere we can call it ours, but will you follow andtake it?"

The shout which arose from a thousand throats rang to the welkin, and methinks must have smote with dread import upon the Englishears. The Maid's voice seemed to float through the air, andpenetrate to the extreme limits of the crowd, or else her wordswere taken up and repeated by a score of eager tongues, and so ranthrough the mighty muster with thrilling import. The eyes weredazzled by the flashing blades as men swung them above their heads. 

"Lead us, O Maid, lead us! We follow to death or victory! We fearnothing so that you are our leader and our guide!"

There was no withstanding a spirit like that! La Hire's voice wasone of the foremost in the cry; his great blade the first to leapfrom its scabbard. Sage counsels of war, prompted by experience, had to give way before a power different from anything which theveterans had known before. With a dash, the elan of which was amarvellous sight to see, the soldiers poured themselves like aliving stream against the walls of St. Loup. The English behind thefortifications rained upon them missiles of every description. Theair was darkened by a cloud of arrows. The cannon from the wallsbelched forth smoke and flame, and great stone and iron balls camehurtling down into our midst, dealing death and destruction. TheEnglish soldiers with their characteristic daring sallied forthsword in hand to beat us back and yet we pressed on and ever on;driven backwards here and there by stress of fighting; but nevergiving great way, and always rallied by the sight of that gleamingwhite armour, and by the clear, sweet voice ringing out through allthe tumult of arms. 

"Courage, my children, courage. The fight is fierce; but my Lordgives you the victory. A little more courage, a little morepatience, and the day is ours!"

She stood unscathed amid the hail of stones and arrows. Her clearglance never quailed; her sweet voice never faltered; she hadthought for everyone but herself. Again and again with her ownhands she snatched some follower from a danger unseen by him, butwhich a moment later would have been his death. She herself stoodunmoved in the awful tumult. She even smiled when Dunois and LaHire would have drawn her from the hottest of the fighting. 

"No, no, my friends, my place is here. Have no fear. I shall notsuffer. I have guardians watching over me that you wot not of. "

And so she stood unmoved at the foot of the tower, till theEnglish, overcome with amaze, gave up the defence, and fled from aplace they believed must surely be bewitched. 

And as the last of the sunlight faded from the sky, the fortress ofSt. Loup was ours. The Maid had fought her first battle, and hadtriumphed. 

CHAPTER XI. HOW THE MAID BORE TRIUMPH AND TROUBLE. 

The people of Orleans, and we her knights and followers, werewell-nigh wild with joy. I do not think I had ever doubted how shewould bear herself in battle; and yet my heart had sometimestrembled at the thought of it. For, after all, speaking humanly, she was but a girl, a gentle maid, loving and tender-hearted, towhom the sight of suffering was always a sorrow and a pain. And topicture a young girl, who had perhaps never seen blows struck inanger in her life--save perchance in some village brawl--suddenlyset in the midst of a battle, arms clashing, blood flowing, all thehideous din of warfare around her, exposed to all its fearful risksand perils--was it strange we should ask ourselves how she wouldbear it? Was it wonderful that her confidence and calmness andsteadfast courage under the trial should convince us, as neverperhaps we had been convinced before, of the nearness of thosesupernatural beings who guarded her so closely, who warned her ofdanger, who inspired her with courage, and yet never robbed her forone moment of the grace and beauty and crown of her pure womanhood?

And so, whilst we were well-nigh mad with joy and triumph, whilstjoy bells pealed from the city, and the soldiers and citizens wereready to do her homage as a veritable saint from heaven, she wasjust her own quiet, thoughtful, retiring self. She put aside theplaudits of the Generals; she hushed the excited shouting of thesoldiers. She exercised her authority to check and stop thecarnage, to insist that quarter should be given to all who askedit, to see that the wounded upon both sides were carried into thecity to receive attention and care, and in particular that theprisoners--amongst whom were several priests--should receive humanetreatment, and escape any sort of insult or reprisal. 

These matters occupied her time and thought to the exclusion of anypersonal pride or triumph. It was with difficulty that the Generalscould persuade her to ride at their head into the city, to receivethe applause and joyful gratitude of the people; and as soon as shecould without discourtesy extricate herself from the crowd pressinground to kiss her hands or her feet, or even the horse upon whichshe rode, she slipped away to give orders that certain badlywounded English prisoners were to be carried to the Treasurer'shouse, and laid in the spacious guest chamber, which, having beenprepared for her own reception, had been permitted to no one else. Here she begged of Madame Boucher permission to lodge them, thatshe might tend their hurts herself, and assure herself that all waswell with them. 

No one could deny the Maid those things she asked, knowing wellthat others in her place would have issued commands withoutstooping to petition. But with the Maid it was never so. Her gentlecourtesy never deserted her. No association with men, no militarydignity of command, which she could so well assume, ever tarnishedthe lustre of her sweet humility. A gentle maiden, full oftenderness and compassion, she showed herself now. Instead ofresting after the sore strife of the battle, which had exhaustedeven strong men, nothing would serve her but that she must herselfdress the wounds of these English prisoners; and so deft was hertouch, and so soft and tender her methods with them, that not agroan passed the lips of any of them; they only watched her withwondering eyes of gratitude; and when she had left the room theylooked at each other and asked:

"Who is it? Is it boy, or angel, or what? The voice is as the voiceof a woman, and the touch is as soft; but the dress is the dress ofa man. Who can it be?"

I understood them, for I knew something of the English tongue, andI saw that they were in great amazement; for all who had seen theMaid bore her image stamped upon their hearts; and yet it wasimpossible for these prisoners of war to believe that thetriumphant, angelic Commander of the Forces could stoop to tend thehurts of wounded prisoners with her own hands. 

"Gentlemen, " I said, "that is the Angelic Maid herself--she who hasbeen sent of Heaven for the deliverance of France. I trow that yousoldiers and knights of England have called her witch, andthreatened to burn her if you can lay hands upon her. Perchance nowthat you have seen her thus face to face, your thoughts towards herwill somewhat change. "

They gazed at me and at one another in amaze. They broke intoquestions, eager and full of curiosity. When I had answered themthey were ready to tell me what was spoken of her in the Englishranks; all averred that some strange power seemed to fall upon themwith the advent of the Maid into the city--a power that withheldthem from sallying forth to hinder her coming, or that of therelieving army. 

"We had meant to fight her to the death, " spoke one English knight. "I was in counsel with the Generals when it was so proposed; andyet more resolved were we to keep out the army from Blois, which weheard must needs pass straight through our lines--an easy prey, wesaid, to our gunners, archers and swordsmen. All was in readinessfor the attack--and yet no word was ever given. No trumpet sounded, though the men were drawn up ready. We all stood to arms; but thesight of that dazzling white figure seemed to close the lips of ourcommanders, to numb the limbs of our soldiers. I can say no more. When the chance was gone--the hour passed--we gazed into eachother's face as men awaking from a dream. We cursed ourselves. Wecursed the witch who had bound us by her spells. We vowed to redeemand revenge ourselves another day. And when we saw the Frenchissuing forward to the attack scarce two hours after the entry ofthe relieving army, and there was no white figure with them, thenindeed did we tell ourselves that our time was come; and we thoughtto win a speedy victory over the men who had so often fled beforeus. Yet you know how the day did end. The Maid came--victory rodebeside her! Nought we could do availed when she appeared. I hadthought to be left to die upon the battlefield, but behold I amhere, and she has dressed my wounds with her own hands! It iswonderful! Past belief! Tell me who and what is she? A creature ofearth or of heaven?"

I had already told him all I knew; but they were never tired ofhearing the story of the Maid; and as I, at her request, watchedbeside them during the night, ministering to their wants, and doingwhat I was able to relieve their pain, I found that nothing sohelped them to forget the smart of their wounds as the narration ofall the wonderful words and deeds of this Heavenly Deliverer ofFrance. 

They were frank enough on their side also, and told me much of thedisposition of their forces, and how that they were expecting astrong army to join them quickly, headed by Sir John Fastolffe, anotable knight, whose name we well knew, and had trembled beforeere this. They admitted that their ranks were somewhat thinned bydisease and death, and that they had scarce sufficient force bothto maintain all the bastilles erected on the north side of theriver and also to hold the great forts of Les Tourelles and LesAugustins on the south; but that when the reinforcements shouldarrive all would be well, and but for the marvellous power of theMaid, they would have felt no doubt whatever as to the speedyreduction of the city either by assault or blockade. 

With the first golden shafts of sunlight came the Maid once more, little Charlotte beside her, both bearing in their hands suchcooling drinks and light sustenance as the condition of the woundedmen required. The Maid wore the white, silver embroidered tunic andsilken hose which Queen Yolande had provided for her indoor dress;she carried no arms, and her clustering curls framed her lovelyface like a nimbus. All eyes were fixed upon her as upon a vision, and as she bent over each wounded man in turn, asking him of hiswelfare and holding a cup to his lips, I could see the amazementdeepening in their eyes; and I am sure that they were well-nighready to worship the ground upon which she trod, so deep was theimpression made upon them by her beauty and her gentle treatment. 

When she left the room I followed her at her sign, and asked:

"Then you go not forth to battle today, General?"

"Nay, " she replied, "for today the Church keeps the blessed Feastof the Ascension; which should be to all a day of peace andthanksgiving and holy joy. I am going forthwith to hear Mass andreceive the Holy Sacrament; and I would have my faithful knightsabout me. Let us forget warfare and strife for this day. "

Her own face was transfigured as she spoke. The light shone upon itall the time that she knelt before the high altar in the Cathedral, rapt in a mystery of thanksgiving and heavenly joy. O how real itall was to her--those things which were to us articles of faith, grounds of hope, yet matters which seemed too far above us toarouse that personal rapture which was shining from the eyes andirradiating the whole face of the Maid. 

It was a beautiful beginning to the day; and all the early hourswere spent by the Maid in meditation and prayer within the walls ofthe Cathedral, where the people flocked, as perhaps they had neverdone before, to give thanks for the mercies received with theadvent of the Maid, and to gaze upon her, as she knelt in a tranceof rapture and devotion in her appointed place not far from thealtar. We, her knights, went to and fro, some of us always near toher, that the crowd might not too curiously press upon her when shewent forth, or disturb her devotions by too close an approach. 

I noted that none of the Generals appeared or took part in the actsof devotion that day. And as I issued forth into the sunny streetat the close of the High Mass, Bertrand met me with a look oftrouble and anger on his face. 

"They are all sitting in council of war together, " he said, "andthey have not even told her of it, nor suffered her to join them!How can they treat her so--even Dunois and La Hire--when they haveseen again and yet again how futile are all plans made by theirskill without the sanction of her voice? It makes my gorge rise! Dothey think her a mere beautiful image, to ride before them andcarry a white banner to affright the foe? It is a shame, a shame, that they should treat her so, after all that they have seen andheard!"

I was as wroth as Bertrand, and as full of surprise. Even now, looking back after all these years, the blindness of these men ofwar astonishes and exasperates me. They had seen with their owneyes what the Maid could accomplish; again and again she had provedherself the abler in counsel as in fight; and yet they nowdeliberately desired to set her aside from their councils, and onlyinform her of their decisions when made, and permit her to take ashare in the fighting they had planned. 

Bertrand was furiously angry. He led me up into a lofty turretwhich commanded a bird's-eye view of the whole city and itsenvirons, and he pointed out that which the Maid had declared shewould straightway do, so soon as the Feast of the Ascension wasover, and how the Generals were about to follow a quite differentcourse. 

Orleans, as all men know, lies upon the right--the north--bank ofthe Loire, and the country to the north was then altogether in thepower of the English; wherefore they had built their greatbastilles around the city upon that side without molestation, andwere able to receive supplies from their countrymen without let orhindrance. 

But these bastilles were not the chiefest danger to the city, orrather I should say, it was not these which were the chiefest causeof peril, since no help could reach the garrison from that side. They looked to the country to the south to help them, and it was tostop supplies from reaching them by water or from the south thatthe English had long since crossed the river and had establishedthemselves in certain forts along the south bank. Of these, St. Jean le Blanc was one; but by far the most important and dangerousto the city were the two great towers commanding the bridge, whosenames I have given before. Let me explain how these greatfortifications stood. 

Les Augustins had once been a convent, and it stood on the southbank, very near to the end of the bridge, guarding it securely fromattack, and commanding the waterway and the approach to the city. Les Tourelles was an even stronger tower, constructed upon the verybridge itself, and menacing the town in formidable fashion. Dunoishad broken down the main portion of the bridge on the north side toprevent the advance into the city of the English from their tower;so it stood grimly isolated from either bank; for the permanentbridge at the south end had been destroyed to be replaced by adrawbridge which could rise or fall at will. 

And it was these towers of Les Augustins and Les Tourelles whichhad reduced the city to such straits by hindering the entrance offood supplies. Moreover, from Les Tourelles great stone cannonballs had been hurled into the city in vast numbers, battering downwalls and doing untold damage to buildings and their inhabitants. 

Now it was evident to all that these fortresses must be taken ifthe city were to be relieved and the siege raised. But the Maid, with her far-seeing eyes, had decreed that first the bastilles uponthe north bank should be attacked and destroyed; and it was easy tofollow her reasoning; "For, " she said, "when the English arefiercely attacked there, they will, without doubt, yield up theselesser fortresses without a great struggle, concentratingthemselves in force upon the left bank, where they think to do usmost hurt. We shall then destroy their bastilles, so that they willhave no place of shelter to fly back to; and then we shall fallupon them hip and thigh on the south side, and drive them before usas chaff before the wind. They must needs then disperse themselvesaltogether, having no more cover to hide themselves in; so will theenemies of the Lord be dispersed, and the siege of Orleans beraised. "

This was the plan she had confided to her own immediate attendantsand staff the previous evening, and which Bertrand repeated to me, gazing over the ramparts, and pointing out each fortress andbastion as it was named. But now the Generals in Council, withoutreference to the Maid, had decreed something altogether different. What they desired to do was not to make any real or vigorous attackupon any of the English forts, but to feign an assault upon thetowers on the south bank, and whilst the attention of the foe wasthus engaged, get great quantifies of stores--all lying inreadiness at hand--into the city, enough to last for a long while, and then quietly sit down behind the strong walls, and tire out theEnglish, forcing them thus to retreat of their own accord!

Think of it! After all that had been promised, all that had beenperformed! To be content to shut ourselves in a well-provisionedtown, and just weary out the patience of the foe! And, moreover, ofa foe who expected daily reinforcements from the north, and whowould be quite capable of exercising as much patience, and perhapsmore daring than ourselves. 

Even now my blood boils at the thought, and I find it hard toconceive how such men as Dunois and La Hire let themselves be ledfrom their allegiance and confidence in the Maid to listen to suchcounsel as this from her detractors, and those many lessercommanders who were sorely jealous of her success and influence. But so it was, not once nor twice, but again and again; though inaction they were staunch to her, would follow her everywhere, rallyround her standard, fly to her defence when danger threatened, andshow themselves gallant soldiers and generous-hearted men, neverdenying her all her share of praise and honour. But when sitting inthe council room, surrounded by officers and men of experience inwar disposed to scorn the counsels of an unlettered girl, and scoffat her pretensions to military rule, they were invariably led awayand overborne, agreeing to act without her sanction, or evencontrary to her advice, notwithstanding their belief in hermission, and their trust in her power as a leader. 

The shades of evening had fallen in the Treasurer's house beforeword was brought to the Maid of the decision of the Generals inCouncil. We were sitting around her after supper; and she hadfallen into a very thoughtful mood. The Chevalier d'Aulon had beencalled away, and now returned with a troubled face. He stood justwithin the doorway, as though half afraid to advance. The Maidlifted her eyes to his and smiled. 

"Do not fear to tell me your news, my kind friend. I know that yourfaithful heart is sore at the dishonour done to me; but let us notjudge harshly. It is hard for men full of courage and fleshly powerto understand how the Lord works with such humble instruments. Perchance, in their place, we should not be greatly different. 

"So they have refused my plan, and made one of their own. We are toattack the foe upon the south? Is that agreed? And even so not withall our heart and strength?"

D'Aulon recoiled a step in amaze. 

"Madame, that is indeed so--a feint upon the south bank has beendecreed, whilst provisions are thrown into the city--"

"Yes, yes, I know. Well, so be it. We will attack on the southbank. It must have come sooner or later, and if we fight with awill, the Lord will be with us and uphold our cause. But, myfriends, understand this, and let the men likewise understand it. There shall be no mockery of fighting. It shall be true anddesperate warfare. Let the Generals decree what they will, the Maidwill lead her soldiers to victory! Tomorrow Les Augustins shall beours; upon the next day Les Tourelles shall fall--" she pausedsuddenly and turned towards Bertrand. 

"What day will that be--the day after to-morrow?"

"The seventh day of May, " he answered at once. 

"Ah!" she said, "then it will be on that day--the day which shallsee Orleans relieved--the power of the English broken. "

She spoke dreamily, and only Madame Boucher, who sat in the shadowswith her child upon her lap, ventured to ask of her:

"What will be on that day, gentle Jeanne?"

"That I shall be wounded, " she answered quietly. 

"Did I not tell you long since, " turning to Bertrand and me, "thatI should not come unscathed through the assault; but that on acertain day I should receive a wound?"

I pulled out my tablets, upon which I often recorded the sayings ofthe Maid, and sure enough there it was written down as she said. Wefelt a great burning revolt at the thought of any hurt befallingher, and somebody spoke vehemently, saying that the holy Saintswould surely protect her from harm. But she lifted her hand withher gentle authority of gesture, and spoke:

"Nay, my kind friends, but thus it must needs be; nor would I haveit otherwise. Listen, and I will tell you all. I often had my daysand hours of fear because this great work was put upon one so weakand ignorant as I, and it was long before I clearly understood thatI was but the instrument in a mighty Hand, and that power for allwould be given me. Then my fear left and great joy came; perhapseven some pride and haughtiness of spirit in that I had been chosenfor such a task. 

"And then it was that my voices asked of me: 'Jeanne, hast thou nofear?'

"And I answered without pause, 'I fear nothing now. '

"Then St. Catherine herself suddenly appeared to me in a greatwhite light and said: 'Child, thou art highly favoured of heaven;but the flesh is easily puffed up. And for this cause, and becauseit may be well that thou thyself and all men shall know that thouart but human flesh and blood, thou shalt not escape unscathed inwarfare; but thou too shalt feel the sting of fiery dart, and knowthe scald of flowing blood. '

"I bowed my head and made answer I would bear whatever my Lordthought fit to lay upon me; and I asked if I might know when thisthing would happen. It was not told me then; but later it wasrevealed to me; and I know that upon the seventh day of May I shallbe wounded--" and she touched her right shoulder as she spoke, justbelow the neck. 

"But what matter will that be, when the siege of Orleans shall beraised?"

Her face was aglow; nothing could touch her joy, not the insults ofthe proud Generals, nor the knowledge of coming pain for herself. Her thought was all of the mission entrusted to her; and so, thoughthwarted and set aside, she showed no petty anger, dreamed not ofany paltry vengeance such as others might have dealt the soldiers, by refusing to march with them on the morrow. Oh, no; hurt shemight be--indeed we knew she was--her pain being for the dishonourdone her Lord in this disrespect of His messenger; but no thoughtof reprisal entered her head. She rose from her seat, and liftedthe little Charlotte in her strong young arms. 

"Gentlemen, let us early to rest, " she said, holding her headproudly, "for tomorrow a great work shall be done, and we must allhave our share in it. "

CHAPTER XII. HOW THE MAID RAISED THE SIEGE. 

To tell the tale of how Les Augustins was taken is but to tellagain the tale of St Loup. 

I know not precisely what instructions the lesser officersreceived, nor what they told their men. But whether frompreconcerted arrangement that the attack was only to be a feint, orwhether from the dash and energy of the English, it appeared atfirst as though the tide of war was rolling back in its old track, and that the prowess of the English as destined to win the day. 

For one thing the assault was commenced before the Maid had crossedthe river and could put herself at the head of the men. A largebody of troops had been transported to the south side in boatsduring the night, under cover of darkness; and this was all verywell; but they should have waited hen daylight came for the Maid tomarch at their head, instead of which they sought to rush thefortress before ever she had appeared at all; and when we arrivedat the river's bank, it was to see a furious battle raging roundthe base of Les Augustins, and ere we were half across the river, we saw only too plainly that the French were being badly beaten, were fleeing in all directions from the pursuing foe, and weremaking for the river bank once more as fast as their legs couldcarry them. 

The Maid watched it all, with that strange, inscrutable look uponher face, and that battle light in her eyes which we were alllearning to know. She was sitting upon her horse; for though anumber of animals had been taken across in the night, no horse ofhers had been so conducted, and we had led the creature with itsrider into the great flat-bottomed boat; so that she was on ahigher level than the rest of us, and could better see what waspassing, though it was plain to all that our soldiers were gettingbadly beaten. 

"O foolish children, silly sheep!" murmured the Maid as shewatched, "and yet you are not to blame, but those who lead you. When will they understand? When will they believe?"

We reached the shore, and the Maid, without waiting for any of usto mount or form a bodyguard round her, leaped her horse to thebank, and charged up it, her pennon flying, her eyes alight withthe greatness of her purpose. 

But even as she climbed the slippery bank, a great rush of flyingsoldiers met her, and by their sheer weight forced back horse andrider almost to the river's brink before they were aware who orwhat it was. 

Then her silver trumpet voice rang out. She called upon them toreform, to follow her. She cried that her Lord would give them thevictory, and almost before we who had accompanied her had formedinto rank for the charge, the flying, panic-stricken men from thefront, ashamed and filled with fresh ardour, had turned themselvesabout, closed up their scattered ranks, and were ready to followher whithersoever she might lead them. 

Yet it was to no speedy victory she urged them. No angel with aflaming sword came forth to fight and overcome as by a miracle. Butit was enough for that white-clad figure to stand revealed in thethickest of the carnage to animate the men to heroic effort. As Isay, it was the story of St. Loup over again; but if anything thefighting was more severe. What the Generals had meant for a merefeint, the Maid turned into a desperate battle. The English werereinforced many times; it seemed as though we had a hopeless taskbefore us. But confidence and assurance of victory were in ourhearts as we saw our Deliverer stand in the thick of the fight andheard her clarion voice ringing over the field. Ere the shades ofnight fell, not only was Les Augustins ours, but its stores of foodand ammunition had been safely transported into the city, and theplace so destroyed and dismantled that never again could it be asource of peril to the town. 

And now the Maid's eyes were fixed full upon the frowning bulk ofLes Tourelles, rising grim and black against the darkening sky, with its little "tower of the Boulevard, " on this side thedrawbridge. Thither had the whole English force retired--all whowere not lying dead or desperately wounded on the plain or roundthe gutted tower of Les Augustins--we saw their threatening faceslooking down fiercely upon us, and heard the angry voices from thewalls, heaping abuse and curses upon the "White Witch, " who hadwrought them this evil. 

"Would that we could attack at once!" spoke the Maid. "Would thatthe sun would stay his course! Truly I do believe that we shouldcarry all before us!"

The leaders came up to praise and glorify her prowess. They heardher words, but answered how that the men must needs have a night'srest ere they tried this second great feat of arms. But, theyadded, there should be no going back into the city, no delay on themorrow in crossing the river. 

It was a warm summer-like night. Provisions were abundant, sheltercould be obtained beneath the walls of the captured citadel. They, with the bulk of the army, would remain on the south bank for thenonce, and the Maid should return to the city with the convoys ofwounded, to spend a quiet night there, returning with the dawn ofthe morrow to renew the attack and take Les Tourelles. 

Thus they spoke, and spoke suavely and courteously. But I did notea strange look in the eyes of the Maid; and I wondered why it wasthat Dunois, the speaker, grew red and stumbled over his words, whilst that La Hire, who had done a giant's work in the fightingthat day, ground his teeth and looked both ashamed and disturbed. 

The Maid stood a brief while as though in doubt. But then she madequiet reply:

"Then, gentlemen, it shall be as you will. I will return to thecity for the night. But with the dawn of day I will be here, andLes Tourelles shall be ours. The siege of Orleans shall be raised!"

They bowed low to her; every one of them made obeisance. Yet wasthere something ironical in the very humility of some? I could nottell; yet my heart burned within me as I followed our mistress; andnever had I known her so silent as she was upon our journey back, or as we sat at supper, the rest of us telling of the day's doings, but the Maid speechless, save when she bent her head to answer someeager question of little Charlotte's, or to smile at her childishprattle. 

Suddenly the door was flung open, and Sir Guy strode in with a facelike a thundercloud. Behind him came a messenger sent by theGenerals to the Maid, and this was the news he brought:

There had been a council held after dark, and it was thenunanimously agreed that all now had been done that was necessary. The city was provisioned, the power of the English had been greatlyweakened and broken. The army would now be content with the triumphsalready won, and would quietly await further reinforcements beforetaking any fresh step. 

The man who brought this message faltered as he delivered it. TheMaid sat very still and quiet, her head lifted in a dignified butmost expressive disdain. 

"Monsieur, " she replied, when the envoy ceased speaking, "go backto those who sent you. Tell them that they have had their counciland I have had mine. I leave the city at dawn as I have said. Ireturn not to it till the siege has been raised. "

The man bowed and retired confusedly. The Maid lifted the littlechild in her arms, as was her wont, to carry her to bed. She turnedto her chaplain as she did so:

"Come to me at dawn, my father, to hear my confession; and I prayyou accompany me upon the morrow; for my blood will be shed. But donot weep or fear for me, my friends, nor spread any banquet for meere I start forth upon the morrow; but keep all for my return inthe evening, when I will come to you by the bridge. "

She was gone as she spoke, and we gazed at her and each other inamaze; for how could she come back by a bridge which had beendestroyed, and how did she brook such slights as were heaped uponher without showing anger and hurt pride?

"And there is worse yet to come!" cried Sir Guy in a fury of rage, "for I lingered behind to hear and see. If you will believe it, there are numbers and numbers of the lesser officers who woulddesire that the Maid should now be told that her work is done, andthat she can retire to her home in Domremy; that the King will comehimself with another reinforcing army to raise the siege, so thatthey may get rid of her, and take the glory to themselves wheneverthe place shall be truly relieved. Could you believe such folly, such treachery?"

We could not; we could scarce believe our ears, and right glad wasI to hear how that La Hire had had no part in this shamefulcouncil; and I hope that Dunois had not either, though I fear me hewas less staunch. 

La Hire had returned to the city to seek to infuse into thecitizens some of the spirit of the Maid. He was always for boldattack, and would be ready on the morrow, we did not doubt, forwhatever might betide. 

It was little after dawn when we rode forth, the Maid in her whitearmour at our head, carrying her small pennon, whilst D'Aulon borethe great white standard close behind. Her face was pale and rapt. None of us spoke to her, and Pasquerel, her good chaplain, rodebehind telling his beads as he went. 

We reached the Burgundy Gate; and behold it was fast shut. At theportal stood De Gaucourt, a notable warrior, with a grim look abouthis mouth. The Maid saluted him courteously, and quietly bid himopen the gate. But he budged not an inch. 

"Madam, " he said, "I have my commands from the Generals of thearmy. The gate is to remain shut. No one is to be suffered to passforth today. "

We understood in a moment. This was a ruse to trap the Maid withinthe city walls. Our hands were upon the hilts of our swords. At aword from her, they would have flashed forth, and De Gaucourt wouldhave been a dead man had he sought to hinder us in the opening ofthe gate. But the Maid read our purpose in our eyes and in ourgestures, and she stayed us by her lifted hand. 

"Not so, my friends, " she answered gravely, "but the Chevalier deGaucourt will himself order the opening of the gate. I have to ridethrough it and at once. My Lord bids it!"

Her eyes flashed full and suddenly upon him. We saw him quiver fromhead to foot. With his own hands he unlocked the gate, and itseemed to swing of its own accord wide open before us. The Maidbent her head in gracious acknowledgment, swept through and was offto the river like a flash of white lightning. 

The river lay golden in the glory of the morning. The boats whichhad transported us across last night bore us bravely over now. Iknow not how the Generals felt when they saw the Maid, a dazzlingvision of brightness, her great white standard close behind, herphalanx of knights and gentlemen in attendance, gallop up to thescene of action, from which they thought they had successfullybanished her. I only know that from the throats of the soldiersthere arose a deafening shout of welcome. They at least believed inher. They looked to her as to none else. They would follow herunwaveringly, when no other commander could make them budge. 

A yell that rent the very firmament went up at sight of her, andevery man seized his arms and sprang to his post, as thoughinspired by the very genius of victory. 

"Courage, my children, forward! The day shall be ours!" she cried, as she took her place at the head of the formidable charge againstthe walls which frowned and bristled with the pikes and arrows ofthe English. Her voice, like a silver clarion, rang clear throughthe din of the furious battle which followed:

"Bon coeur, bonne esperance, mes enfants, the hour of victory is athand! De la part de Dieu! De la part de Dieu!"

That was her favourite battle cry! It was God who should give thevictory. 

But it was no easy victory we were to win that day. The Englishfought with the energy of despair. They knew as well as we thatwhen Les Tourelles fell the siege would be raised. True they hadtheir bastilles upon the north side of the river to fall back upon, since the Maid's counsel of destruction had not been followed. Butonce dislodged from the south bank, and Orleans would lie open tothe support of her friends in the south, and the position of theEnglish army would be one of dire peril. For now the French were nomore cowed by craven fear of the power of their enemies. They hadfound them capable of defeat and overthrow; the spell was broken. And it was the Maid who had done it!

Oh, how we fought around her that day! She was on foot now, for thebanks of the moat were slippery, and the press around the walls wastoo great to admit easily of the tactics of horsemen. I never sawher strike at any foe. It was her pennon rather than her sword inwhich she trusted. Here was the rallying point for the bravest andmost desperate of the assailants, ever in the thickest of thestrife, ever pointing the way to victory. 

It was the tower of the Boulevard against which we were directingour attack. If that fell, Les Tourelles itself must needs follow, isolated as it would then be in the midst of the river. We did notknow it then, but we were to learn later, that La Hire in the citywith a great band of citizens and soldiers to help him, was alreadyhard at work constructing a bridge which should carry him and hismen across to Les Tourelles, to take the English in the rear, whilst their attention was concentrated upon our work on the otherside. 

No wonder that the clash and din was something deafening, that theboom of the great cannon ceased not; smoke and fire seemed toenvelop the walls of the towers; the air was darkened by clouds ofarrows; great stones came crashing into our midst. Men fell onevery side; we had much ado to press on without treading under footthe dead and dying; but the white pennon fluttered before us, andfoot by foot we crept up towards the base of the tower. 

Victory! Victory! was the cry of our hearts. We were close to thewalls now--the Maid had seized a ladder, and with her own hands wassetting it in position, when--O woe! woe!--a great cloth-yard shaftfrom an English bow, tipped with iron and winged with an eagle'splume, struck upon that white armour with such crashing force thata rent was made in its shining surface, and the Maid was borne tothe ground. 

Oh, the terrible fear of that moment! The yell of triumph and joywhich arose from the walls of the fortress seemed to turn my bloodinto liquid fire. 

The English had seen the fall of our champion. They shouted likemen drunk with victory! They knew well enough that were she dead, they would drive back the French as sheep are driven by wolves. 

I had been close beside the Maid for hours; for I never forgot whatshe had spoken about being wounded that day; yet when she fell Ihad been parted from her a brief space, by one of those battlewaves too strong for resistance. But now I fought my way to herside with irresistible fury, though there was such a strugglingpress all about her that I had much ado to force my way through it. But I was known as one of her especial personal attendants, and waywas made for me somehow; yet it was not I who was the first torender her assistance. 

When I arrived, De Gamache was holding her in his arms; someone hadremoved her headpiece, and though her face was as white as thesnowy plumes, her eyes were open, and there was a faint brave smileupon her lips. De Gamache had his horse beside him, his arm slippedthrough the reins. 

"My brave General, " he said, as the Maid looked in his face, "letme lift you to my saddle and convey you to a place of safety. Ihave done you wrong before; but I pray you forgive me, and bear nomalice; for I am yours till death. Never was woman so brave. "

"I should be wrong indeed to bear malice against any, my goodfriend, " spoke the Maid, in her gentle tones, "above all againstone so courteous, so brave. "

We lifted her upon the horse. We formed a bodyguard round her. Wedrew her out of the thick of the press, for once unresisting; andwe laid her down in a little adjacent vineyard, where the goodPasquerel came instantly, and knelt beside her offering prayers forher recovery. But the great arrow had pierced right through hershoulder, and stood out a handbreadth upon the other side. We hadsent for a surgeon; but we dreaded to think of the pain she mustsuffer; must be suffering even now. Her face was white; her browwas furrowed. 

But suddenly, as we stood looking at her in dismay, she sat up, took firm hold of the cruel barb with her own hands, and drew itsteadily from the wound. 

Was ever courage like hers? As the blood came gushing forth, staining her white armour red, she uttered a little cry and herlips grew pale. Yet I think the cry was less from pain than to seethe marring of her shining breastplate; and the tears started toher eyes. Never before had this suffered hurt; the sight of theenvious rent hurt her, I trow, as much as did the smart of herwound. 

The surgeon came hurrying up, and dressed the wound with a pledgetof linen steeped in oil; and the Maid lay very white and still, almost like one dying or dead, so that we all held our breath infear. In sooth, the faintness was deathlike for awhile, and she didbeckon to her priest to come close to her and receive herconfession, whilst we formed round her in a circle, keeping off allidle gazers, and standing facing away from her, with bent, uncovered heads. 

Was it possible that her Lord was about to take her from us, hertask yet unfulfilled? It was hard to believe it, and yet we couldnot but fear; wherefore our hearts were heavy within us during thatlong hour which followed. 

And the battle? It was raging still, but the heart of it seemed tobe lacking. The English were crying out that the White Witch wasdead, taunting their foes with being led by a woman, and askingthem where she was gone to now. 

Dunois came hurrying up for news of her. The Maid roused herselfand beckoned to him to come to her where she lay, and asked him ofthe battle. Dunois told her that the courage of the men seemedfailing, that he thought of sounding the retreat. 

For a few moments she lay still; her eyes bent full upon theblinding blue of the sunny sky. Then she spoke:

"Sound no retreat, my General, " she spoke, "but give the men abreathing space. Let them draw off for a brief moment. Let them eatand drink and refresh themselves. Tell them that I will come tothem again; and when you and they see my standard floating againstthe wall, then know by that token that the place is yours. "

Dunois went his way, and soon the sound of the struggle ceased. There came a strange hush in the heat of the noontide hours. TheMaid lay still a while longer; then raising herself, asked thatwater should be brought to cleanse away all stains from her handsand face and her white armour. 

That being done she called to D'Aulon and said to him:

"Take the great standard; plant it again upon the edge of the moat;and when the silken folds touch the tower wall, call and tell me;and you, my knights and gentlemen, be ready to follow me tovictory!"

Did we doubt her ability, wounded as she was, to lead us? Not onewhit. We looked to our arms; we stood silently beside her. Wewatched D'Aulon move quietly forward to the appointed place, andunfold the great white banner, which hung down limply in the sultryheat of the May afternoon. He stood there, and we stood beside theMaid a great while; she lay upon the heap of cloaks which had beenspread to form a couch for her; her hands were clasped and her eyesclosed as though in prayer. 

Then a little puff of wind arose, followed by another, and yetanother--soft, warm wind, but we saw the folds of the banner beginto unfurl. Little by little the breeze strengthened; breathlesslywe watched the gradual lifting of the silken standard, till, withan indescribably proud motion--as though some spirit was infusedinto the lifeless silk--it launched itself like a living thingagainst the tower wall. 

"It touches! It touches!" cried D'Aulon. 

"It touches! It touches!" we shouted in response. 

"It touches! It touches!" came an echoing wave sound from thesoldiers watching from their resting places. 

The Maid was on her feet in a moment. Where was the weakness, thefeebleness, the faintness of the wounded girl? All gone--allswallowed up in the triumph of the victorious warrior. 

"Onward! Onward, my children. Onward, de la part de Dieu! He hasgiven you the victory! Onwards and take the tower! Nothing canresist you now!"

Her voice was heard all over the field. The white folds of thebanner still fluttered against the wall, the white armour of theMaid shone dazzling in the sunshine as she dashed forward. The armyto a man sprang forward in her wake with that rush, with that powerof confidence against which nothing can stand. 

The English shrieked in their astonishment and affright. The deadhad come to life! The White Witch, struck down as they thought bymortal wound, was charging at the head of her armies. The Frenchwere swarming up the scaling ladders, pouring into their tower, carrying all before them. 

Fighting was useless. Nothing remained but flight. Helter skelter, like rabbits or rats, they fled this way and that before us. Not anEnglishman remained upon the south side of the river. The Frenchflag waved from the top of the tower. The seven months' siege wasraised by the Maid eight days after her entrance into the city. 

CHAPTER XIII. HOW THE MAID WON A NEW NAME. 

"Entrez, entrez--de la part de Dieu--all is yours!"

Thus spoke the Maid, as we rushed the tower of the boulevard, theEnglish flying this way and that before us. The Maid found herselfface to face with the commander--that Sir William Glasdale, who hadcalled her vile names a few days before, and had promised to burnher for a witch if once she fell into his hands. 

But she had no ill words for him, as she saw him, sword in hand, seeking to make a last stand upon the drawbridge leading to LesTourelles. 

"Now yield you, Classidas, " she said; "I bear you no ill will. Ihave great pity for your soul. Yield you, and all shall be well. "

But he would not listen; his face was black like a thundercloud, and with his picked bodyguard of men, he retreated backwards, swordin hand, upon the bridge, seeking to gain the other tower, notknowing its desperate condition, and hoping there to make a laststand. 

But he was not destined to achieve his end. Suddenly the bridgegave way beneath his feet, and he and his men were all precipitatedinto the water. It looked to us as though a miracle had beenwrought before our eyes; as though the gaze of the Maid had doneit. But the truth was afterwards told us, that a fire ship from thecity had been sent across and had burned the bridge, cutting offthe retreat of the English that way. 

And now we heard the din of battle going on within Les Tourelles;for La Hire had crossed the repaired bridge with a gallant band ofsoldiers, and our men, hearing the shouts of their comrades, andthe cries of the trapped English, flung themselves into boats, orswam over, sword in mouth, anything to get to the scene of thefray; whilst others set to work with planks, and whatever theycould lay hands upon, to mend the broken drawbridge that they mightswarm across into Les Tourelles and join in the final act ofvictory, that should free Orleans from the iron grip in which shehad been held so long. 

But the face of the Maid was troubled, as she looked into the darkwater which had closed over the head of Glasdale and his men. Shehad seized upon a coil of rope; she stood ready to fling it towardsthem when they rose; but encased as they were in their heavy mail, there was no rising for them. Long did she gaze into the black, bloodstained water; but she gazed in vain; and when she raised hereyes, I saw that they were swimming in tears. 

"I would we might have saved them, " she spoke, with a little catchin her voice, "I have such great pity for their souls!"

These were the first words I heard the Maid speak after herwonderful victory had been won; and whilst others went hither andthither, mad or drunk with joy, she busied herself about thewounded, making no distinction betwixt friend or foe, sendingurgent message into the city for priests to come forth and bringthe last Sacraments with them, and so long as there were any dyingto be confessed or consoled, or wounded to be cared for andtransported into the city, she seemed to have no thought for aughtbeside. Thankful joy was indeed in her heart, but her tenderwoman's pity was so stirred by sights of suffering and death thatfor the moment she could think of nothing else. 

Thus the daylight faded, and we began to think of return. How shallI describe the sight which greeted our eyes in the gathering dusk, as we looked towards the city? One might have thought that theEnglish had fired it, so bright was the glare in which it wasenveloped; but we knew better. Bonfires were blazing in everysquare, in every open place. Nay, more, from the very roofs oftower and church great pillars of flame were ascending to theheavens. 

Joy bells had rung before this, but never with such a wildjubilation, such a clamour of palpitating triumph. The city hadgone mad in its joy--and it was no marvel--and all were awaitingthe return of the Maid, to whom this miraculous deliverance wasdue. Eight days--eight days of the Maid--and the seven-months'siege was raised! Was it wonderful they should hunger for herpresence amongst them? Was it wonderful that every house shouldseek to hang out a white banner in honour of the Angelic Maid, andher pure whiteness of soul and body?

"I will come to you by the bridge, " had been her own word; and now, behold, the bridge was there! Like Trojans had the men workedbeneath the eagle eyes of La Hire. An army had already crossed fromthe city; now that their task was done, the Maid's white chargerhad been led across, and the cry was all for her, for her; that sheshould let the people see her alive and well, now that her task wasaccomplished and Orleans was free!

She let us mount her upon her horse, and D'Aulon marched in frontwith the great white standard. Weary and white and wan was she, with the stress of the fight, with the pain and loss of blood fromher wound, above all, with her deep, unfailing pity for thesufferings she had been forced to witness, for the souls gone totheir last account without the sacred offices of the Church. 

All this weighed upon her young spirit, and gave a strange, ethereal loveliness to her pale face and shining eyes. Methoughtshe seemed almost more like some angelic presence in our midst thana creature of human flesh and blood. 

The Generals formed an advance guard before her. The soldiers followed, rank behind rank, in the rear. We of her household rode immediately inher wake, ready to protect her, if need be, from the too great pressureof the crowd. And so we crossed the hastily-repaired bridge, and enteredby the Bride Gate--or St. Catherine's gate, as it was equally called;for a figure of St. Catherine stands carved in a niche above the porch, and I saw the Maid glance upwards at it as she passed through, a smileupon her lips. 

Shall I ever forget the thunder of applause which fell upon ourears as we passed into the city through the bridge? It was like the"sound of many waters"--deafening in volume and intensity. And wasit wonder? Had not something very like a miracle been wrought? Forhad not rumours reached the city many times that day of the deathof the Deliverer in the hour of victory? None well knew what tobelieve till they saw her in their midst, and then the cry whichrent the heavens was such as methinks is heard but once in alifetime. 

I know not who first spoke the words; but once spoken, they werecaught up by ten thousand lips, and the blazing heavens echoed themback in great waves of rolling sound:

"THE MAID OF ORLEANS! THE MAID OF ORLEANS! Welcome, honour, glory, praise to THE MAID OF ORLEANS!"

The people were well-nigh mad with joy; they rushed upon her tokiss her hands, her knees, the folds of her banner, the neck or theflanks of her horse. In the red glare of the hundred bonfires thewhiteness of her armour seemed to take a new lustre. The rent uponthe shoulder could be plainly seen, showing where the arrow hadtorn its way. Women sobbed aloud as they looked; men cursed thehand which had shot the bolt; all joined in frantic cheers of joyto see her riding alone, erect and smiling, though with a dreamystillness of countenance which physical lassitude in part accountedfor. 

"I thank you, my friends, I thank you, " she kept saying, as thoughno other words would come, save when now and again she would add, "But to God must you give your thanks and blessings. It is He whohas delivered you. "

It was not far to the house of the Treasurer, and there in thethreshold stood the little Charlotte, a great wreath of bay andlaurel in her tiny hands. She was lifted up in her father's strongarms, and ere the Maid was able to dismount from her horse thelittle one had placed the triumphal wreath upon her fair head. 

O, what a shout arose! It was like the mighty burst of some greatthunderstorm. The Maid, blushing now at the tumult of applause, stretched out her arms, took the little one into them, and held herin a close embrace whilst she bowed her last graceful thanks to thejoy-maddened crowd. Then she slipped from her horse, and holdingthe little one fast by the hand, disappeared into the house, whilstthe people reluctantly dispersed to hear the story all over againfrom the soldiers pouring in, each with some tale of his own totell of the prowess of THE MAID OF ORLEANS. 

Yes, that was the name by which she was henceforth to be known. Thecity was wild with joy and pride thus to christen her. And she, having crossed by the bridge, as she had said, sat down for a briefwhile to that festal board which had been spread for her. Butfatigue soon over-mastering her, she retired to her room, onlypausing to look at us all and say:

"Tomorrow is the Lord's own day of rest. Remember that, my friends. Let there be no fighting, no pursuit, no martial exercise, whateverthe foe may threaten or do. Tomorrow must be a day of thanksgivingand praise. Look to it that my words are obeyed. "

They said she slept like a child that night; yet with the earlylight of day she was up, kneeling in the Cathedral with herhousehold beside her, listening to the sound of chant and prayer, receiving the Holy Sacrament, the pledge of her Lord's love. 

Not until we had returned from that first duty did she listen towhat was told her anent the movements of the English. They weredrawn up in battle array upon the north side of the river, spokethose who had gone to the battlements to look. Thinned as weretheir ranks, they were still a formidable host, and from the menaceof their attitude it might be that they expected the arrival ofreinforcements. Would it not be well, spoke La Hire, to go forthagainst them at once, whilst the soldiers' hearts were flushed withvictory, whilst the memory of yesterday's triumphs was green withinthem?

But the Maid, hitherto all in favour of the most dashing and daringpolicy, answered now, with a shake of the head:

"It is Sunday, my Generals, " she replied; "the day of my Lord. Theday He has hallowed to His service. "

She paused a moment, and added, quite gently, and without reproach, "Had you acted as I did counsel, the English would now have had nofooting on the north side of the river; they must needs have fledaltogether from the neighbourhood of the city. Nevertheless, myLord is merciful. He helps, though men hinder His designs. Let noman stir forth with carnal weapons against the foe this day. Wewill use other means to vanquish them. "

Then turning to me, she bid me go to the Bishop, and ask him togive her audience; and shortly she was ushered into his presence, and we waited long for her to reappear. 

How shall I tell of the wonderful scene which the sun looked downupon that bright May morning, when the purpose of the Maid becamefully revealed to us? Even now it seems rather as a dream, than asan incident in a terrible war. 

Out upon the level plain, in full sight of the city, in full viewof the serried ranks of the English army, a great white altar wasset up. The army from Orleans marched out and stood bareheadedbeneath the walls, unarmed by order of the Maid, save for the smallweapon every man habitually carried at his belt, citizen as well assoldier. The townspeople flocked to the walls, or out into theplain, as pleased them best; and from the Renart Gate there issuedforth a grave and sumptuous procession; the Bishop in hisvestments, accompanied by all the ecclesiastics within the citywalls, each of them robed, attended by acolytes swinging censers, the incense cloud ascending through the sunny air, tapers swayingin the breeze, their light extinguished by the brilliance of thesunshine. 

The Maid in her white tunic, with a white mantle over hershoulders, followed with bent head, leading the little Charlotte bythe hand succeeded by her household. 

And there, in the sight of the rival armies, High Mass wascelebrated by the Bishop, both armies kneeling devoutly, andturning towards the Altar as one man. Never have I witnessed such ascene. Never shall I witness such another. 

The Mass over, the procession filed back through the gate, botharmies kneeling motionless till it had disappeared. Then the Maidrose, and we with her, and followed her in its wake, and the Frencharmy, in perfect order, re-entered the city by the appointed gates, as had been ordered. 

One hour later and the Maid sent D'Aulon up to the battlements tolook what the English army was doing. He returned to say that theywere still drawn up in rank as before. 

"Which way are their faces?" she asked. 

"Their faces are turned away from the city, " was the reply. 

The countenance of the Maid brightened with a great light. 

"Then let them go, a part de Dieu!" she answered. "My God, I thankThee for this great grace!"

And so, without further battle or bloodshed, the English armymarched away from Orleans; and upon the next morning not a man ofthe foe was left; and the citizens pouring out from the town, destroyed, with acclamations of joy, those great bastilles, whichhad so long sheltered the foe and threatened the safety of thecity. 

It was a day ever to be remembered. The bells pealed ceaselessly, the houses were decked with garlands, white banners or silkenpennons floated everywhere, the townsfolk arrayed themselves inholiday garb, and poured out through the gates to wander at willover the plain, so lately held by the English. Gladness and thewonder of a great relief was stamped upon every face, andconstantly songs of triumph arose or thunders of applause, of whichthe burden always was--THE MAID OF ORLEANS! THE MAID OF ORLEANS!

They would have kept her with them for ever, if it might so havebeen. They talked wildly, yet earnestly, of building her a palace, where she should live at ease all the rest of her days, the objectof universal admiration and homage. 

But the Maid listened to such words, when repeated to her, with adreamy smile. Her wound required rest; and for two days sheconsented to remain quiet in the house of the Treasurer, lying forthe most part upon a couch in a great cool chamber, with the littleCharlotte for her companion and playfellow. She sometimes rose andshowed herself at a window in answer to the tumultuous shoutings ofthe crowd without; and she received with pleasure some greatbaskets and bouquets of flowers which the wives and children of thecitizens had culled for her. But she gently put aside allsuggestions of rewards for herself, which some would fain havebestowed upon the Deliverer, and which men of all ranks were buttoo ready to claim and receive for service rendered. 

"I have all that I want, myself--and more, " she said; "if any wouldoffer gifts, let them be thank offerings to the Lord. Let the poorreceive alms, let Masses be sung for the souls of those killed inthe war; but for me--I want nothing but the love of the people ofFrance. I am come to do the will of my Lord. I ask only Hisapproving smile. "

And all the while she was eagerly desirous to return to the King, and urge upon him the need to repair instantly to Rheims, and therereceive his crown. To her he was not truly King till he had beenanointed as such. She knew that the blow to the English arms juststruck must have a paralysing effect upon their forces, and that arapid march with even a small army would be accomplished withoutresistance, if only it were quickly made. 

I need not say that the city of Rheims lay in the very heart ofterritory owning the English sway. To reach that city we mustperforce march right through a hostile country, garrisoned by theenemy. But of that the Maid made light. 

"The hearts of the people will turn towards us, " she said. "Theyhave submitted to the English yoke; but they are Frenchmen still. Once let them see that the power of the enemy is broken, and theywill rally to our standard. But precious time should not be lost. The Dauphin should place himself at the head of such an army as hecan spare for the march, and journey forthwith to Rheims. Thereshall the crown be set upon his head--the pledge and earnest thatone day he shall rule the whole realm of France, as his fathers didbefore him!"

And so, before a week had passed, we set forth with the Maid to goto the King, who had by this time moved his Court from Chinon toLoches, another fortress upon the Loire, where there was space forhis train, and which could, if necessary, be fortified against asiege. 

It was a strange journey--more like a triumphal progress thananything we had yet met with. The fame of the Maid and hermiraculous exploit in the matter of the siege of Orleans had gonebefore her, and from every town or village through which she passedthe people flocked out to see her, bearing garlands and banners, crowding about her, asking her blessing, seeking to touch her, pouring out blessings and praises, so that the heart of anyone lessfilled with the humility which comes from above must needs havebeen altogether puffed up and filled with pride. 

But it was never so with the Maid. Her gentle courtesy and devouthumility never failed her. Lovingly and gratefully she receivedlove and affection, but praise and honour she set aside, biddingall remember that to God alone belonged the issues from death, andthat she was but an instrument in His mighty hands. 

We wondered how she would be received at the Court, and whether LaTremouille and her other adversaries had been convinced of herdivine mission, and would now remove all opposition. As weapproached the fortress we saw that flags were floating from everytower; that the place wore a festive aspect, and that the town waspouring out to welcome us and gaze upon the Maid. 

Then, with a great fanfare of trumpets, the gates of the fortresswere flung wide open, and forth came a gay procession, in the midstof which, we could not doubt, rode the King himself. 

Yes, there was no doubt of it. The crowd parted this way and that, and we saw how the young King himself was marching towards us, andat the sight of the Maid, not only did every courtier in the trainuncover, but the King himself bared his head, and bowed low to theMAID OF ORLEANS. 

She was off her horse in a moment, kneeling at his feet; but heraised her instantly, held her hands in his, gave her thanks withtrue emotion in face and voice, and, turning to her brothers, whorode amongst us of her household, he cried to them in loud tones, saying how he had decreed that the family of the D'Arcs shouldhenceforth have the right to quarter the hues of France on theirarms! An empty honour, perhaps, to simple peasants; and yet anhonour that the proudest families in the land might envy!

They carried her into the fortress. The two Queens and the ladiesof the Court knew not how to make enough of her. They seemed tothink that our coming must be regarded as the signal for anoutburst of merrymaking and carousing, such as the King found somuch to his liking. 

It amazed us to find him still wrapped in idle luxury, joyful, itis true, over the relief of Orleans, over the discomfiture of theEnglish; but as indisposed as ever to take the field himself, or toput himself at the head of an army and march to his coronation asthe Maid instantly urged him. 

"Gentle Dauphin, the Lord would have you King of your realm; Hewould set the crown upon your head. He has smitten your enemies andscattered them. Then wherefore not do His will and march to theappointed spot? All will be well if you but follow His counsels. "

"But, Maiden, I have so few troops; and I have no money; and theway lies through a hostile land, " the King would urge, when dayafter day she pleaded with him. "All my counsellors advise delay. Is it not right that I should listen to them as well as to you?Wherefore such haste? Is it not wiser to act with deliberation andprudence?"

"It is right to follow the voice of the Lord, " spoke the Maid withgrave and forceful earnestness, "and to put your trust in Himrather than in any child of man. "

But the King could not be persuaded; indolence and fear held himcaptive, whilst his traitorous advisers sought by every means toundermine the influence of the Maid. And although in this they werenot successful, for he believed in her mission, admired herprowess, and looked to her for guidance and help, he must needslisten also to these others who were of contrary mind, and so theweary days dragged on, and nothing was done. 

"Noble Dauphin, " pleaded the Maid at last, "hold not such long orso many councils; or if, indeed, these be needful to you, let me, Ipray you, go forth again with a small army and clear the way. Andwhen all the country betwixt this place and Rheims has submitted toyour power, then follow yourself, and take your kingdom!"

Ah me!--to think that he, a King, could consent again to let her gothus, whilst he remained in ease and indolence surrounded by hisCourt! But so it was. What she could not persuade him to dohimself, she at last obtained leave to do for him, and with ajoyful face she came to us with the news:

"Gentlemen and my good comrades, be ready for a speedy march; wewill go forward and clear the way; and afterwards the Dauphin shallfollow and be made King!"

CHAPTER XIV. HOW THE MAID CLEARED THE KING'S WAY. 

We started forth from Selles, where the army which was to do thiswork had assembled. It was not so great a force as it would havebeen but for the hesitations of the King, and the delays imposed byhis Council. For the men who had marched from Orleans, flushed withvictory, eager to rush headlong upon the foe and drive them back totheir own shores, had grown weary of the long waiting, and had beeninfected by the timidity or the treachery of those about the Court. They had melted away by little and little, carrying with them thebooty they had found in the English bastilles round Orleans, gladto return to their homes and their families without furtherfighting, though had the Maid been permitted to place herself attheir head at once, as she did desire, they would have followed herto the death. 

Still, when all was said and done, it was a gallant troop thatresponded to her call and mustered at her summons. The magic of hername still thrilled all hearts, and throughout the march of eventswhich followed, it was always the common soldiers who trustedimplicitly in the Maid; they left doubts and disputings andunworthy jealousies to the officers and the statesmen. 

The Maid went forth with a greater glory and honour than has, methinks, ever been bestowed upon woman before--certainly upon nohumbly-born maiden of seventeen years. Some said that she wasactually ennobled in her own person by the grant to quarter thelilies of France, and that her brothers ranked now amongst theknights and nobles. Others declared that she had refused allpersonal honours, and that she still remained a humble peasant, though so high in the favour of the King, and so great a personagein the realm. 

As for me, I cared nothing for all this. To me she was always theAngelic Maid, heaven sent, miraculous, apart from the earth, thoughliving amongst us and leading us on to victory. 

To the army she was--and that was enough. She was the companion andfriend of princes, nobles, and knights; but she was never as otherswere. An atmosphere of sanctity seemed ever to encompass her. Allwho approached her did her unconscious homage. None could be withher long without being conscious that she was visited by soundsunheard by them, that her eyes saw sights to which theirs wereclosed. We were to have added witness to this in the days whichfollowed. 

So here we were gathered at Selles upon that bright June morning, just one month after the relief of Orleans. The King had presentedto the Maid a great black charger; a mighty creature of immensestrength and spirit, but with something of a wicked look in hisrolling eyes which made me anxious as he was led forward. The Maidin her white armour--its rent deftly mended, its silver brilliancefully restored--with her velvet white-plumed cap upon her head anda little axe in her hand, stood waiting to mount. But perhaps itwas the gleaming whiteness of this slender figure that startled thehorse, or else the cries and shouts of the populace at sight of theMaid excited him to the verge of terror; for he reared and plungedso madly as his rider approached that it was with difficulty he washeld by two stalwart troopers, and we all begged of the Maid not totrust herself upon his back. 

She looked at us with a smile, and made a little courteous gesturewith her hand; then turning to the attendants she said:

"Lead him yonder to the cross at the entrance to the church; I willmount him there. "

Snorting and struggling, casting foam flakes from his lips, andfighting every inch of the way, the great charger was led whitherthe Maid had said. But once arrived at the foot of the cross, hesuddenly became perfectly quiet. He stood like a statue whilst theMaid approached, caressed him gently with the hand from which shehad drawn her mailed gauntlet, and, after speaking kindly words tohim, vaulted lightly on his back. 

From that moment her conquest of the fierce creature was complete. He carried her throughout that wonderful week with a gentleness anddocility, and an untiring strength which was beautiful to see. Thebrute creation owned her sway as well as did men of understanding, who could watch and weigh her acts and deeds. 

So, amid the plaudits of the people, the fanfare of trumpets, therolling of drums, the rhythmical tread of thousands of mailed feet, we rode forth from Selles, led by the Maid, beside whom rode theKing's cousin, the Duc d'Alencon, now resolved to join us, despitehis former hesitancy and the fears of his wife. He had marched withus to Orleans, but had then turned back, perhaps with the notunnatural fear of again falling into the hands of the English. Thishad happened to him at Agincourt, and only lately had he beenreleased. 

Perhaps his fears were pardonable, and those of his wife more so. She had sought earnestly to hold him hack from this new campaign;and, when she could not prevail with him, she had addressed herselfto the Maid with tears in her eyes, telling her how long had beenhis captivity in England, and with how great a sum he had beenransomed. Why must he adventure himself again into danger?

The Maid had listened to all with gentle sympathy. Though sofearless herself she was never harsh to those who feared, and theappeal of the Duchesse touched her. 

"Fear nothing, Madame, " she answered, "I will bring him back to yousafe and sound. Only pray for him always--pray for us day andnight. I will make his safety my special care. He shall return toyou unharmed; but I pray you hinder him not from serving hiscountry in this great hour of need. "

So the Maid prevailed, and the Duc was entrusted with the commandof the army, second only to the Maid herself, who was distinctlyplaced at the head of all--whose word was to be supreme; whilst theKing's fiat went forth that no Council should be held without her, and that she was to be obeyed as the head in all things!

And men like Dunois, La Hire, and the Chevalier Gaucourt heard thiswithout a murmur! Think of it!--a campaign conducted by a girl ofseventeen, who, until a few weeks before, had never seen a shotfired in her life! Ah; but all men remembered Orleans, and were notsurprised at the King's decree. 

As we marched along in close array, we gathered many recruits bythe way, notwithstanding that we were in the territory which hadsubmitted to the English rule. Knights and gentlemen flocked forthfrom many a chateau to join themselves to the army of themiraculous Maid, whilst humble peasants, fired by patriotism andzeal, came nightly into our camp seeking to be enrolled amid thosewho followed and fought beneath her banner. 

And so for three days we marched, our ranks swelling, our heartsfull of zeal and confidence, till news was brought us that the Dukeof Suffolk, one of the bravest and most chivalrous of Englishknights and soldiers, had thrown himself and his followers intoJargeau, and was hastily fortifying it for a siege. 

This news reached us at Orleans itself, whither we had returned inthe course of our march, to be received with wild acclamations bythe people there. So loving were the citizens, that they were lothindeed to see the Maid set forth upon any mission which threateneddanger to herself or her army; and their protestations andarguments so wrought upon many of the generals and officers, thatthey united to beg her to remain inactive awhile, and send to theKing for fresh reinforcements before attempting any such arduoustask. 

The Maid listened with her grave eyes wide in amazement. 

"You say this to me--here in Orleans! You who have seen what myLord accomplished for us before! Shame upon you for your lack offaith--for your unworthy thoughts. We march for Jargeau at dawntomorrow!"

Never before had we heard the Maid speak with quite such severityof tone and word. Her glorious eyes flashed with a strange lambentlight. She looked every inch the ruler of men. All heads were bentbefore her. None dared speak a word to hinder her in her purpose. 

The morrow saw us before Jargeau. Its walls were strong, it waswell supplied with those great guns that belched forth fire andsmoke, and scattered huge stone balls against any attacking force. But we had brought guns with us--great pieces of ordnance, to setagainst the city walls, and the Maid ordered these to be broughtand placed in certain positions, never asking counsel, alwaysacting on her own initiative, without hesitation and without haste, calm and serene; with that deep, farseeing gaze of hers turned fromher own position to the city and back again, as though she saw insome miraculous vision what must be the end of all this toil. 

"Mort de Dieu!" cried La Hire, forgetting in his wonder the loyallykept promise to swear only by his baton, "but the Maid has nothingto learn in the art of gunnery! Where hath she learnt such skill, such wisdom! We never had guns to place at Orleans! Where has thechild seen warfare, that she places her artillery with the skill ofa tried general of forces!"

Ah!--where had the Maid learned her skill in any kind of warfare?Had we not been asking this from the first? This was but anotherdevelopment of the same miracle. For my part I had ceased now towonder at anything which she said or did. 

At daybreak on the morrow the roar of battle began. The air wasshaken by the crash and thunder of the guns from both sides. But itwas plain to all eyes how that the cunning disposition of ourpieces, set just where they could deal most effectively with a weakpoint in the fortifications, or a gateway less capable than othersof defence, were doing far more hurt to the enemy than their firedid to us. For the most part their balls passed harmlessly over ourheads, and the clouds of arrows were for us the greater danger, though our armour protected us from over-much damage. 

But it was before Jargeau that the incident happened, which so manywriters have told of the Maid and the Duc d'Alencon; how that shedid suddenly call to him, nay more, drew him with her own hand outof the place where he had stood for some time near to her, sayingin a voice of warning, "Have a care, my lord, there is death athand!"

Another young knight boldly stepped into that very position fromwhich she had snatched Alencon, and an instant afterwards his headwas struck off by a cannon ball. The Maid saw and covered her eyesfor a moment with her mailed hand. 

"Lord have mercy on that brave soul!" she whispered, "but why didhe not heed the warning?"

Well, the fighting round Jargeau was fierce and long; but the Maidwith her standard held stubbornly to the place beside the wallwhich she had taken up, and at sight of her, and at the sound ofher clear, silvery voice, encouraging and commanding, the men cameever on and on, regardless of peril, till the scaling ladders wereset, and through the breaches torn in the walls by the guns, oursoldiers swarmed over into the town, shouting with the shout ofthose with whom is the victory. 

Again the Maid triumphed. Again the hearts of the English meltedwithin them at the sight of the White Witch, as they wouldtauntingly call her, even whilst they cowered and fled before her. The French were swarming into the city; the great gates were flungopen with acclamations of triumph; and the Maid marched in to takepossession, her white banner floating proudly before her, her eyesalight, her cheeks flushed. 

One of the young gentlemen not long since added to her household, Guillame Regnault by name, from Auvergne, a very knightly youth, afavourite with us all, came striding up to the Maid, and salutingwith deep reverence, begged speech with her. She was never too muchoccupied to receive those who came to her, and instantly he had herear. 

"My General, " he said, "the Duke of Suffolk is close at hand. Wepressed him hard, and it seemed as though he would die sword inhand, ere he would yield. But I did beg of him in his own tongueswith which I am acquainted, not to throw away his noble life;whereupon he did look hard at me, pausing the while in thrust andparry, as all others did pause, for us to parley; and he said thathe would give up his sword to THE MAID OF ORLEANS, and to noneother. Wherefore I did tell him that I would run and fetch her toreceive his submission, or take him to her myself. But then hismind did change, and he said to me, 'Are you noble?' So I told himthat my family was noble, but that I had not yet won myknighthood's spurs. Then forthwith did he uplift his sword, and Iread his meaning in his eyes. I bent my knee, and there and then hedubbed me knight, and afterwards would have tendered me his sword, but I said, 'Not so, gentle Duke, but I hear by the sound of thesilver trumpet that the Maid, our General, is close at hand. Sufferme to tell her of what has passed, and I trow that she will herselfreceive your sword at her hands. '"

"You did well, Sir Guillame, " spoke the Maid, using the new titlefor the first time, whereat the youth's face kindled and glowedwith pleasure. "Bring the Duke at once to me here. I will receivehis surrender in person. "

Truly it was a pretty sight to watch--the dignified approach of thestalwart soldier; tall, upright, a knightly figure in battered coatof mail; bleeding from several wounds, but undaunted andundauntable; and the slim, youthful white figure, with uncoveredhead, and a face regal in its dignity; and yet so full of sweetcourtesy and honourable admiration for a beaten, yet noble foe. Hegazed upon her with a great wonder in his eyes, and then, droppingupon one knee, tendered his sword to her, which the Maid took, heldin her hands awhile, deep in thought, and then, with one of herwonderfully sweet smiles, held out to him again. 

"Gentle Duke, " she said, "it hath been told me that you are knownin France as the English Roland; and if so, I would be loth todeprive so noble a foe of his knightly weapon. Keep it, then, andall I ask of you is that you use it no more against the soldiers ofFrance. And now, if you will let my gentlemen lead you to my tent, your hurts shall be dressed, and you shall receive such tendance asyour condition requires. "

But I may not linger over every incident of that march, nor all theachievements of the Maid in the arts both of peace and of war. Towns and castles surrendered at her summons, or flung wide theirgates at the news of her approach. Sometimes we fought, but moreoften the very sound of her name, or the sight of the white figureupon the great black horse was sufficient, and fortress afterfortress upon the Loire fell before her, the English garrisonsmelting away or marching out, unable or unwilling to tryconclusions with so notable a warrior, who came, as it were, in thepower of the King of Heaven. 

And not only did she achieve triumphs in war's domains; she wasequally victorious as a promoter of peace. For when the news wasbrought to us that the Comte de Richemont, Constable of France, buthitherto inimical to the King, desired to join us with a body ofmen, the Duc d'Alencon would have sent him away with insult andrefused his proffer of help; but the Maid, with her gentleauthority and reasonable counsel, brought him to a different frameof mind, and the Constable was received with a fair show ofgraciousness. And although in the days which immediately followedhis aid was not of great importance (for when France had the Maidto fight for her she wanted none beside), yet in the time to come, when she was no longer there to battle for the salvation of hercountry, De Richemont's loyal service to the King was ofinestimable value, and had it not been for the Maid at thisjuncture, he might have been lost for ever to the French cause. 

Her generosity shone out the more in that De Richemont was nofriend to her; indeed, he had regarded her as little better than awitch before he came under the magic of her personality. Hisgreeting to her was rough and blunt. 

"Maiden, " he said, "they tell me that you are against me, and thatyou are a witch. I know not whether you are from God or not. If youare from Him, I do not fear you. If you are from the devil, I fearyou still less. "

She looked him full in the face, gravely at first, but with a smilekindling deep down in her eyes. Then she held out her hand in tokenof amity. 

"Brave Constable, this is well spoken. You have no cause to fearme. You are not here by my will, it is true; for I have enough menwith me to do the will of my Lord; but since you have come for loveof the Dauphin, who soon must be crowned King, you are welcomeindeed; and I know that you will live to serve him faithfully, though in the present you have foes at Court who turn his heartfrom you. "

So again she saw what lay beyond our ken, and which the future hasbrought to light. Alas, that she never saw the day when the Kingthrew off his supine fear and idleness, and played the man in theconquest of his kingdom, and when De Richemont fought like a lionat his side! Yet who dare say that she did not see and did notrejoice even then? If the light came only in gleams and flashes, surely it came to her charged with an infinite joy!

And now I must tell of the last exploit of this wonderful eightdays' triumphal march through a hostile country--that battle ofPatay, where, for the first time, the Maid met the foe in the open, and directed operations not against stone walls, as in every casebefore, but against an army drawn up in a plain. 

There had been marching and counter-marching which only a map couldmake clear. What matters it the route we pursued, so long only asour progress had been attended by victory, and the fortressescleared of foes, so that the journey of the King could now be takenin safety? Yet there was one more peril to face; for the army solong expected, under Sir John Fastolffe, was now heard of somewhereclose at hand. He had joined himself to Talbot, so it was rumoured, and now a great host was somewhere in our neighbourhood, ready tofall upon us if they could find us, and cut us to pieces, as theyhad done so often before--witness the fields of Crecy, Poictiers, and Agincourt!

For the first time there was uneasiness and fear in the ranks ofthe soldiers. They had infinite confidence in the Maid as a leaderagainst stone walls, for had they not seen her take tower aftertower, city after city? But she had never led them in the openfield; and how could they expect to meet and triumph over theEnglish, who had always vanquished them heretofore?

We knew not where the foe lay; all we knew was that it wassomewhere close at hand; and so strong grew the fear in the heartsof Alencon and many others, that they begged the Maid to fall backupon the camp at Beaugency, and to wait there for furtherreinforcements. But she shook her head with decision. 

"Let us find them first, and then ride boldly at them. Be notafraid; they will not stand. My Lord will give us the victory!"

And how did we come upon them at last? Verily, by a mere accident. We were marching in good order towards the great plain of Beauce, which at this time of the year was so thickly overgrown withvineyards and cornfields that we saw nothing of any lurking foe;and I trow that we were not seen of them, although a great host waslying at ease in the noontide heat, watching for our coming, Idoubt not; but not yet drawn up in battle array. 

A stag, frightened by our approach, broke from the thicket, andwent thundering across the plain. All at once a shower of arrowslet loose from English bows followed the creature's flight, together with eager shouts and laughter, betraying the presence ofthe unsuspecting foe. 

With a lightning swiftness the Maid grasped the whole situation. Here was an army, waiting to fight, it is true, but for the momentoff its guard. Here were we, in order of march. One word from her, and our whole force would charge straight upon the foe!

And was that word lacking? Was there an instant's hesitation? Needsuch a question be asked of the Maid? Clear and sweet rose herwonderful voice, thrilling through the hot summer air. 

"Forward, my children, forward, and fear not. Fly boldly upon them, and the day shall be yours!"

She charged, herself, at the head of one column; but La Hire, inthe vanguard, was before her. With shouts of triumph and joy theold veteran and his followers thundered into the very midst of thestartled English, and we followed in their wake. 

The Duc d'Alencon rode beside the Maid. His face was pale withexcitement--perhaps with a touch of fear. He remembered the fightat Agincourt, and the wound received there, the captivity and wearywaiting for release. 

"How will it end, my General, how will it end?" he said, and Iheard his words and her reply, for I was riding close behind. 

"Have you good spurs, M. De Duc?" she asked, with one flashingsmile showing the gleam of white teeth. 

"Ah Ciel!" he cried in dismay; "then shall we fly before them?"

"Not so, " she answered; "but they will fly so fast before us thatwe shall need good spurs to keep up with them!"

And so, indeed, it was. Perhaps it was the sight of the elan of theFrench troops, perhaps the fear of the White Witch, perhaps becausetaken at unawares and in confusion, but the English for once madeno stand. Fastolffe and his men, on the outer skirts of the force, rode off at once in some order, heading straight for Paris, but thebraver and less prudent Talbot sought, again and again, to rallyhis men, and bring them to face the foe. 

But it was useless. The rout was utter and complete. They could notstand before the Maid; and when Talbot himself had fallen aprisoner into our hands, the army melted away and ran for its life, so that this engagement is called the "Chasse de Patay" to thisday. 

CHAPTER XV. HOW THE MAID RODE WITH THE KING. 

Thus the English were routed with great loss, their leadinggenerals prisoners in the hands of the Maid, and the road for theKing open, not to Rheims alone, but to the very walls of Paris, hadhe so chosen. 

Indeed, there were those amongst us who would gladly and joyfullyhave marched under our great white banner right to the capital ofthe kingdom, and driven forth from it the English Regent and allthe soldiers with him, whether Burgundians or those of his ownnation. For Fastolffe was flying along the road which led himthither, and it would have been a joy to many of us to pursue andovertake, to rout him and his army, or put them to the sword, andto march up beneath the walls of Paris itself, and demand itssurrender in the name of the Maid!

Those there were amongst us who even came and petitioned of her tolead us thither, and strike a death blow, once and for all, againstthe power of the alien foe who had ruled our fair realm too long;but though her eyes brightened as we spoke, and though all that wasmartial in her nature responded to the appeal thus made to her--forby this time she was a soldier through every fibre of her being, and albeit ever extraordinarily tender towards the wounded, thesuffering, the dying--be they friends or foes--the soldier spiritwithin her burned ever higher and higher, and she knew in her clearhead that humanly speaking, we could embark upon such a victoriousmarch as perchance the world has never seen before--certainly notbeneath such a leader. 

And yet she shook her head, even whilst her cheek flushed and hereyes sparkled. Little as the King had done to merit the deepdevotion of such a nature as hers, the Maid's loving loyaltytowards, and faith in him never wavered. Although we all saw in himthe idle, pleasure loving, indolent weakling, which in those dayshe was, she could, or would, find no fault with him. Often as hedisappointed her, she never ceased to love and honour him. Perchance it was given to her to see something of that manliernature which must have underlaid even then that which we saw andgrieved over. For she would hear no word against him. He was thecentre and sun of her purpose, and her answer to us was spokenwithout hesitation. 

"Nay, my friends, we have other work to do ere we may stand beforethe walls of Paris. The Dauphin must be brought to Rheims, and thecrown set upon his head; for thus hath my Lord decreed, and I maynot act other than as my voices direct. "

And when the Maid spoke thus, there was no contradicting orgainsaying her. We had such confidence in her by this, thatwhatever she did was right in our eyes The soldiers would havefollowed her eagerly to the very walls of Paris; but at her commandthey turned back and marched, with pennons flying and musicsounding, to the Court of the King, where news of the Chasse ofPatay had already preceded us, and where a joyous welcome awaitedour return, though even now there were sour and jealous facesamongst the nearest advisers of the King. 

If you would believe it, they still opposed the journey of the Kingto Rheims, working on his fears, his irresolution, his indolence, and seeking to undermine the influence of the Maid, when she wentpersonally to see him, that she might speak with him face to face. He himself had many excuses to offer. 

"Sweet Chevaliere, " he would say, calling her by one of the nameswhich circulated through the Court, "why such haste? Is it not timethat you should rest and take your ease after your many and arduoustoils? Think what you have accomplished in these few days! Fleshand blood cannot continue at such a strain. Let us now enjoy thefruits of these wonderful victories; let us feast and rejoice andenjoy a period of repose. Surely that is prudent counsel; for wemust have care for our precious Maid, whom none can replace in ourarmy, if she, by too arduous toil, should do herself an injury!"

But the Maid looked at him with her grave eyes full of earnestpleading and searching questioning. 

"Gentle Dauphin, I beseech you speak not thus, nor reason aftersuch carnal fashion. Think of what your Lord and my Lord has donefor you! Think of what hath been accomplished by Him since first itwas given to me to look upon your face. Think what He hath decreedand what He hath already wrought for the furtherance of His purposetowards your Majesty and this realm! And shall His will be setaside? Shall we, His children, hang back and thwart Him, just inthe hour when He has put the victory in our hands? Ah, sweetDauphin, that would be shame, indeed! That would be pain and griefto Him. Cast away all such unworthy thought! Press on to the goal, now in sight! When you stand, crowned and anointed, King of France, you shall know the power wherewith you have been upheld, and liftedfrom the very mire of humiliation and disgrace!"

And at these words the Duc d'Alencon, who was by this an ardentbeliever in the Maid, and devotedly attached to her service, prostrated himself before the King, and cried:

"Sire, this Maid speaks words of wisdom. I pray your Majesty togive full heed to what she says. Had you watched her as I havedone, had you marched with her and seen her in battle as well as inscenes of peace, you would know well that the power of God is withher. Fear not to do her bidding! Go forth as she bids. Let us hailyou King of your fair realm, and then let the Maid lead us on toother and greater victories!"

We all joined our entreaties to that of the Duke. We marvelled howthe King could be so blind. But whilst others spoke and urged him, whilst we saw the light kindle in the monarch's eyes, and knew thather words had prevailed with him, she stood apart as one whodreams; and over her face there stole a strange, pale shadow, unlike anything I had seen there before. She saw nothing of thescene about her; heard no word of what passed. I think she did noteven know what was meant by the great shout which suddenly went upwhen the King arose and declared, once and for all, that his mindwas made up, that he would march with the Maid to Rheims; that hewould not be daunted by the fact that in Troyes and in ChalonsEnglish garrisons yet remained, which might give him trouble inpassing. What the Maid had done before she could do again. All thathitherto she had promised had been fulfilled; the fear of her hadfallen upon the English, and the terror of the English no longerweighed upon the spirits of the French. He would go, come whatmight. He would trust in the power of the Maid to finish that whichshe had begun. 

The shouts and plaudits of the courtiers within the castle, and ofthe soldiers without, when this thing was known, was evidenceenough of the confidence and enthusiasm which the exploits of theMaid had awakened. Not a soldier who had followed her heretoforebut would follow her now, wherever she should lead them. Surely herheart must have swelled with joy and pride as she heard the clamourof frantic applause ringing through the place. 

But when she was back in her own apartments, and I was able toapproach her alone, I ventured to ask her something concerning hersilence of a short time back. 

I always think with a great pride and tender joy of the trust andfriendship which the Maid reposed in me, thereby doing me a vasthonour. I had often ridden beside her on our marches, especially inthe earlier days, when she had not so many to claim her words andcounsels. Methinks she had spoken to Bertrand, to me, and to SirGuy de Laval with more freedom respecting her voices and hervisions than to any others, save, perhaps, the King himself, ofwhom she had ever said she had revelations for his ear alone. Shewould talk to us of things which for the most part she kept lockedaway in her own breast; and now when I did ask her what it was thathad robbed her cheek of its colour, and wrapped her in a strangetrance of grave musing, she passed her hand across her eyes, andthen looked at me full, with a strange intensity of gaze. 

"If I only knew! If I only knew myself!" she murmured. 

"Did your voices speak to you, mistress mine? I have seen you fallinto such musing fits before this, when something has beenrevealed; but then your eyes have been bright with joy--this timethey were clouded as with trouble. "

"It was when the Duke spoke of other victories, " she said, dreamily; "I seemed to see before me a great confusion as of menfighting and struggling. I saw my white banner fluttering, as itwere, victoriously; and yet there was a darkness upon my spirit. Isaw blackness--darkness--confusion; there was battle andstrife--garments rolled in blood. My own white pennon was thecentre of some furious struggle. I could not see what it was, wavesof black vapour rose and obscured my view. Then, in the midst ofthe smoke and vapour, I saw a great pillar of fire, rising up as tothe very sky itself, and out of the fire flew a white dove. Then avoice spoke--one of my own voices; but in tones different from anyI have heard before--'Have courage, even to death, Jeanne, ' itsaid, 'for we will still be with you. ' Then everything faded oncemore, and I heard only the shouting of the people, and knew thatthe King had made his decision, and that he had promised to receivehis crown, which has waited for him so long. "

As she spoke these last words, the cloud seemed to lift. Her ownwonderful smile shone forth again. 

"If this be so; if, indeed, the Dauphin shall be made King, whatmatters that I be taken away? My work will end when the crown shallbe set upon his head. Then, indeed, my soul shall say: 'Lord, nowlettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace. '"

Her face was suddenly transfigured--radiant--with some great andglorious thought. I was glad at heart to see that the shadow hadpassed entirely away. Only for a moment could any presage ofpersonal fear cloud the sweet serenity of the Maid's nature. Andyet I went from her something troubled myself; for had I not reasonto know what strange power she possessed of reading the future, andwhat did it mean, that confusion of battle, that intermingling ofvictory and defeat, that darkness of smoke and blaze of fire, andthe white dove flying forth unscathed? I had heard too often theshouts of the infuriated English--"We will take you and burn you, you White Witch! You shall perish in the flames from whence thedevil, your father, has sent you forth!"--not to hear with ashudder any vision of smoke and of fire. But again, had not theMaid ever prevailed in battle over her foes? Might she not laugh toscorn all such threats?

Ah me! It is well that we may not read the future, else how couldwe bear the burden of life?

Joyous and triumphant was the day upon which, after some inevitabledelays, we started forth--a goodly company in sooth--an army at ourback, swelling with pride and triumph--to take our young King tothe appointed place, and see the crown of France there set upon hishead. From all quarters news was pouring in of the hopelessdisruption of the power of the English after the Chasse de Patay. Towns and villages which had submitted in sullen acquiescencebefore, now sent messages of loyalty and love to the King. Menflocked daily to join our standard as we marched. It was a sight tosee the villagers come forth, clad in their holiday dress, eager tosee and pay homage to the King, but yet more eager to look upon thewhite mailed figure at his side and shout aloud the name of THEMAID OF ORLEANS!

For the place of honour at the King's right hand was reserved forthe Maid, and she rode beside him without fear, without protest, without shame. Gentle, humble, and simple as she always was, sheknew herself the Messenger of a greater King than that of France, and the honour done to her she accepted as done to her Lord, andnever faltered beneath it, as she was never puffed up or madehaughty or arrogant thereby. Nor did she ever lose her tendernessof heart, nor her quick observation of trivial detail in theabsorbing interests of her greatness. 

She was the first to note signs of distress upon the part of thesoldiers, during this march in the midsummer heat. It was she whowould suggest a halt in the noontide, in some wooded spot, that"her children" might rest and refresh themselves, and it was shewho, never tired herself, would go amongst them, asking them oftheir well being, and bringing with her own hands some lusciousfruit or some cooling draught to any soldier who might be sufferingfrom the effects of the sun. 

She who rode beside a King, who was the greatest and most renownedof that great company, would minister with her own hands to thehumblest of her followers; and if ever King or Duke or courtierjested or remonstrated with her on the matter, her answer wasalways something like this:

"They are my own people. I am one of them. At home when any wassick in the village, I was always sent for. And wherefore not now?I am the same as I was then. Soon I shall be going back to them, mytask accomplished. Wherefore should I not be their friend andsister still?"

Then all would laugh to think of the Maid of Orleans going back totake up the life of a peasant again at Domremy; but the Maid's facegrew grave and earnest as she would make reply:

"Indeed, if my work for my King is accomplished, I would fain doso. I was so happy, so happy in my sweet home. "

But now our triumphal march was suddenly brought to a halt; for wewere approaching the town of Troyes--a place of ill omen to France, and to the young King in particular, for there the shameful treatywas signed which robbed him of his crown; and great was thedissension amongst the King's counsellors as to what should bedone. 

The place was strong, the English garrison there large. A summonsto surrender sent on in advance had been ignored, and now came thequestion--should the army pass on its way to Rheims leaving thisplace in the rear unattacked and untaken, or should it run the riskof a long delay, and perhaps some peril and loss in attempting toreduce it?

La Hire and Dunois spoke out insistently. At all costs the townmust be taken. It would be folly and madness to leave such astronghold of the enemy in the rear. Other places had fallen beforethe victorious Maid, and why not this? The army would go anywherewith her. The soldiers only desired to be told what she counselled, and to a man they would support her. They had lost all fear of thefoe, if only the Maid led them into battle, whether in the open oragainst massive walls. 

But as usual the King's nearest counsellors were all for delay, foravoiding battle, for retreat rather than risk. The Archbishop ofRheims, instead of being eager to push on to the place which so farwas only his in name, for he had never been aught but titularArchbishop as yet, was always one with La Tremouille in advisingcaution and a timid policy. Both were the enemies of the Maid, jealous of her gifts and of her influence with the King, andfearful lest her power over him should grow and increase. They evenplotted that she should be excluded from the council now sittinganent this very matter, and it was only when the King and the Ducd'Alencon, growing restless and impatient at her absence, desiredher presence instantly, that she was sent for. 

There was a grave dignity about her as she entered, which satimpressively upon her young face, so fair and sweet and gentle. Sheknew that timid counsels were being held, and that she, theCommander-in-Chief of the army, was being set aside--the Messengerfrom the Lord was being ignored. Not for herself, but for Him washer spirit moved. 

The Archbishop with much circumlocution told her of the difficultyin which the King's Council was placed, and would have discoursedfor long upon the situation, only that in his first pause the Maidspoke, addressing herself to the King:

"Shall I be believed if I speak my counsel?" she asked. 

"You will be believed according as you speak, " answered the King, thoroughly uneasy, as he ever was, when torn in twain by themultitude of counsellors with whom he must needs surround himself, though his heart ever inclined towards the Maid. 

"I speak that which my Lord gives me to speak, " she answered, herwonderful eyes full upon the King. "Shall I be believed?"

"If you speak that which is reasonable and profitable, I willcertainly believe you, " he answered, still uneasy beneath her look. 

"Shall I be believed?" she questioned a third time, and there was afire in her eyes which seemed to leap out and scathe thepusillanimous monarch as he sat quaking in his Council. 

"Speak, Maiden, " he cried out then, "I at least will believe!"

"Then, noble Dauphin, " she cried, "order your army to assault thiscity of Troyes, where such despite has been done you, and hold nomore councils; for my Lord has told me that within three days Ishall lead you into the town, and false Burgundy and proud Englandshall there be overthrown!"

"Pouf!" cried the Chancellor, one of the Maid's worst foes, "ifthere was a chance of doing such a thing in six days we wouldwillingly wait; but--"

He stopped suddenly--none knew why, save that the Maid's eyes werefixed full upon him, and in those eyes was that strange shininglight which some of us knew so well. She did not speak to him, butwhen his voice suddenly wavered and broke, she addressed herself tothe King, speaking as one who repeats a message. 

"You shall be master of the city of Troyes, noble Dauphin, not insix days--but tomorrow. "

And even as she spoke, without waiting for any response, she turnedand went forth, walking with her head well up, and her eyes fixedstraight before her, yet as one who walks in sleep, and pays noheed to what lies before him. She called for her horse; and leapinginto the saddle, rode out bareheaded in the summer sun to the campwhere the soldiers lay, in doubt and wonderment at this delay; andas they sprang up to a man at sight of her, and broke into theacclamations which always greeted her appearance amongst them, shelifted up her clear ringing voice and cried:

"Be ready, my children, against the morrow, confess your sins, makeyour peace with God and man. For tomorrow He will lead youvictorious into yonder frowning city, and not a hair of your headsshall suffer!"

They crowded about her, filling the air with shouts of triumph;they clamoured to be led at once against the grim frowning walls. Iverily believe, had she put herself at their head then and there, that nothing could have withstood the elan of their attack; but theMaid received her orders from a source we knew not of, and fleshlypride never tempted her to swerve from the appointed path. Shesmiled at the enthusiasm of the men, but she shook her head gentlyand firmly. 

"Do my bidding, my children, confess yourselves and pray till setof sun. Then I will come to you and set you your appointed tasks, and tomorrow I will lead you into the city!"

That night there was no sleep for the Maid or for her soldiers. Atno time was it dark, for midsummer was over the land, and the moonhung in the sky like a silver lamp when the sun had set. The Maidcame forth as she had said with the last of the daylight, and ather command a great mound was speedily raised, of earth, brushwood, faggots, stones--anything that the soldiers could lay hands upon;and when this hillock was of height sufficient to satisfy the youngGeneral, the great guns were brought and set upon it in suchmasterly fashion, and in such a commanding way, that La Hire, Dunois and Xantrailles, who came to see, marvelled at it, and wecould note from the top of this earthwork that within the citygreat commotion reigned, and that it was as busy as a hive that hasbeen disturbed. 

As the first mystic glow of the summer's dawn kindled in theeastern sky, the Maid stood, a white luminous figure in fullarmour, poised lightly on the top of one of our pieces of ordnance, her drawn sword in her hand, pointing full in the direction of thecity. 

I have heard since from those within that the anxious garrison andcitizens saw this motionless figure, and cried aloud in terror andawe. To them it seemed as though St. Michael himself had come downto fight against them, and terror stricken they ran to thegovernors of the city and implored that surrender might be made, ere the heavens opened and rained lightnings down upon them. 

And thus it came about that ere the dawn had fairly come, anembassy was sent to the King and terms of surrender offered. TheKing, from motives of policy or fear, the Maid, from pity andgenerosity, accepted the messengers graciously, and granted thegarrison leave to depart with their horses and their arms, if thetown were peacefully given up; and thus it came about that afterthe King had finished his night's slumber, and the Maid had doneher gracious part in redeeming and releasing the French prisoners, which, but for her, would have been carried away by the retiringEnglish and Burgundians, she rode beside the King, and at the headof the cheering and tumultuous army into the city of Troyes, whichhad surrendered to the magic of her name without striking a blow. 

"O my Chevaliere, " cried the happy and triumphant monarch, as heturned to look into her grave serene face. "What a wonderful Maidyou are! Stay always with me, Jeanne, and be my friend and Generalto my life's end. "

She looked at him long and earnestly as she made answer:

"Alas, Sire, it may not be! For a year--perhaps for a year. But Ishall last no longer than that!"

CHAPTER XVI. HOW THE MAID ACCOMPLISHED HER MISSION. 

Shall I ever forget that evening? No, not if I live to be ahundred!

June had well-nigh passed ere we began our march from Gien--thattriumphant march headed by the King and the Maid--and July had runhalf its course since we had been upon the road. For we had had agreat tract of country to traverse, and a large army must needshave time in which to move itself. 

And now upon a glorious golden evening in that month of sunshineand summertide, we saw before us--shining in a floating mist ofreflected glory--the spires and towers, the walls and gates of thegreat city of Rheims--the goal of our journeyings--the promisedland of the Maid's visions and voices!

Was it indeed a city of stone and wood which shone before us in thelevel rays of the sinking sun? I asked that question of myself;methinks that the Maid was asking it in her heart; for when Iturned my eyes upon her, I caught my breath in amaze at her aspect, and I know now what it is to say that I have looked upon the faceof an angel!

She had dropped her reins, and they hung loose upon her horse'sneck; her hands were clasped together in a strange rapture ofdevotion. Her head was bare; for she often gave her headpiece toher page to carry for her, and in the evenings did not alwaysreplace it by any other covering. Her hair had grown a littlelonger during these months, and curled round her face in a loosehalo, which in the strong and ruddy light of the setting sun, shonea glorious golden colour, as though a ray of heavenly light wereenmeshed within it. 

But it was the extraordinary brightness of those great luminouseyes, the rapt and intense expression of her face which arrested myattention, and seemed for a moment to stop the triumphant beatingof my heart. It was not triumph which I read there, though therewas joy and rapture and peace, beyond all power of understanding. It was the face of one who sees heaven open, and in the wonder andawe of the beatific vision forgets all else, and feels not thefetters of the flesh, heeds not those things which must needsintervene ere the spirit can finally be loosed to enter uponblessedness and rest, but soars upwards at once into heavenlyregions. 

The town of Rheims lay before us. The inhabitants were pouringforth to meet us. We saw them coming over the plain, as we watchedthe walls and buildings, glowing in the mystic radiance of thesummer's evening, loom up larger and grander and sharper before us. It was no dream!

And yet who would have thought it possible three months ago? Inmid-April the iron grip of the English lay all over the land northof the Loire, and the south lay supine and helpless, stricken withthe terror of the victorious conqueror. Orleans was at its lastgasp, and with its fall the last bulwark would be swept away; allFrance must own the sway of the conqueror. The King was powerless, indolent, ready to fly at the first approach of peril, with no hopeand no desire for rule, doubtful even if he had the right to takeupon himself the title of King, careless in his despair and hisdifficulties. The army was almost non-existent; the soldiers couldscarce be brought to face the foe. One Englishman could chase tenof ours. The horror as of a great darkness seemed to have fallenupon the land. 

And yet in three months' time what had not been accomplished!

The King was riding into the ancient city of Rheims, to be crownedKing of France; Orleans was relieved; a score of fortresses hadbeen snatched from the hands of the English. These were fleeingfrom us in all directions back to Paris; where they hoped to make astand against us, but were in mortal fear of attack; and now it wasour soldiers who clamoured to be led against the English--theEnglish who fled helter-skelter before the rush and the dash of themen whom heretofore they had despised. 

And all this was the work of yonder marvellous Maid--a girl ofseventeen summers, who, clad in white armour, shining like anangelic vision, was riding at the King's side towards the city. 

He turned and looked at her at the moment my gaze was thusarrested, and I saw his face change. He put out his hand andtouched hers gently; but he had to touch her twice and to speaktwice ere she heard or knew. 

"Jeanne--fairest maiden--what do you see?"

She turned her gaze upon him--radiant, misty, marvellous. 

"I see the Land of Promise, " she answered, speaking very low, yetso clearly that I heard every word. "The chosen of the Lord will goforward to victory. He will drive out the enemy before the face ofhim upon whom He shall set the crown of pure gold. France shallprosper--her enemies shall be confounded. What matter whose thework, or whose the triumph? What matter who shall fall ere the taskbe accomplished--so that it be done according to the mind of theLord?"

"And by the power of the Maid--the Deliverer!" spoke the King, agush of gratitude filling his heart, as he looked first at theslight figure and inspired face of the Maid, and then at the citytowards which we were riding, the faint clash of joy bells bornesoftly to our ears. "For to you, O my General, I owe it all; andmay the Lord judge betwixt us twain if I share not every honourthat I may yet win with her who has accomplished this miracle!"

But her gaze was full of an inexplicable mystery. 

"Nay, gentle Dauphin, but that will not be, " she said; "One shallincrease, another shall decrease--hath it not ever been so? My taskis accomplished. My work is done. Let another take my place aftertomorrow, for my mission will be accomplished. "

"Never!" cried the King firmly and earnestly, and when I heard himthus speak my heart rejoiced; for I, no more than others, believedthat success could attend the King's further efforts without herwho was the inspiration of the army, and the worker of these greatmiracles which had been wrought. How often have I wonderedsince--but that is no part of my story. Let me tell those thingswhich did happen to us. 

How can I tell of our entry into Rheims? Have I not spoken in otherplaces of other such scenes, often in the early dusk of evening, when whole cities flocked out to meet the Maid, to gaze in awe andwonder upon her, to kiss her hands, her feet, her knees, the neckand flanks of the horse she rode, and even his very footprints inthe road, as he moved along with his precious burden?

As it was there, so was it here--the same joy, the same wonder, thesame enthusiasm. The King was greeted with shouts and acclamations, it is true; but the greater admiration and wonder was reserved forthe Maid, and he knew it, and smiled, well pleased that it shouldbe so; for at that time his heart was full of a great gratitude andaffection, and never did he seek to belittle that which she hadwrought on his behalf. 

Thankfulness, peace, and happiness shone in the eyes of the Maid asshe rode; but there was a nearer and more personal joy in store forher; for as we passed through the town, with many pauses on accountof the greatness of the throng, pouring in and out of the churches(for it was the vigil of the Madelaine), or crowding about the Kingand the Maid, she chanced to lift her eyes to the windows of an innin the place, and behold her face kindled with a look differentfrom any I had seen there before, and she looked around for me, andbeckoning with her hand, she pointed upwards, and cried in tones ofstrange delight and exultation:

"My father, fair knight, my father! I saw his face!"

Now, I knew that Jacques d'Arc had been greatly set against hisdaughter's mission, and it had been declared that he had disownedher, and would have withheld her from going forth, had such a thingbeen within his power. She had never received any message of loveor forgiveness from him all these weeks, though her two youngerbrothers had joined the army, and were always included in herhousehold. So that I was not surprised at the kindling of herglance, nor at the next words she spoke. 

"Go to him, my friend; tell him that I must needs have speech withhim. Ah, say that I would fain return home with him when my task isdone, if it be permitted me. Go, find him speedily, ere he canbetake himself away. My father! My father! I had scarce hoped tolook upon his face again!"

So whilst the King and the Maid and their train rode on to the hugeold palace of the Archeveche, hard by the Cathedral, I slipped outof my place in the ranks, and passed beneath the archway into thecourtyard of the old inn, where the Maid declared that she had seenthe face of her father looking forth. 

I had not much trouble in finding him; for already a whisper hadgone forth that certain friends and relatives of the wonderful Maidhad journeyed from Domremy to witness her triumphant entry intoRheims. Indeed, some of these had followed us from Chalons, allunknown to her, who would so gladly have welcomed them. Chalons, though a fortified town, and with a hostile garrison, had openedits gates to us without resistance, feeling how hopeless it was tostrive against the power of the Maid. 

The wonder and awe inspired by her presence, and by her marvellousachievements, had sunk deeply into the spirits of these simplecountry folk, who had only heretofore known Jeanne d'Arc as agentle village maiden, beloved of all, but seeming not in any wayseparated from her companions and friends. Now they had seen her, white and glistening, in martial array, riding beside a King, anarmy at her back, acclaimed of the multitude, the idol of the hour, a victor in a three months' campaign, the like of which never wasbefore, and methinks can never be again. 

So now, when I stood face to face with the rugged prud'homme, thefather of this wonderful Maid, and told him of her desire to speakwith him upon the morrow, when the King should have received hiscrown, I saw that many emotions were struggling together in hisbreast; for his soul revolted yet, in some measure, at the thoughtof his girl a leader of men, the head of an army, the friend ofkings and courtiers, whilst it was impossible but that some measureof pride and joy should be his at the thought of her achievements, and in the assurance that at last the King, whom loyal littleDomremy had ever served and loved, was to receive his crown, and bethe anointed sovereign of the land. 

"She desires speech with me? She, whom I have seen riding besidethe King? What have I to do with the friends of royalty? How canshe consort with princes and with peasants?"

"Let her show you that herself, my friend, " I answered. "We, whohave companied with her through these wonderful weeks, know wellhow that she is no less a loving daughter, a friend of the people, for being the friend of a King and the idol of an army. Give mesome message for her. She longs for a kind word from you. Let meonly take her word that you will see her and receive her as afather should receive his child, and I trow that it will give heralmost the same joy as the knowledge that by her miraculous callshe has saved her country and crowned her King. "

I scarce know what answer Jacques d'Arc would have made, for he wasa proud, unbending man, and his face was sternly set whilst Ipleaded with him. But there were others from Domremy, entirelyfilled with admiration of the Maid, and with desire to see heragain; and their voices prevailed, so that he gave the answer forwhich I waited. He would remain at the inn over the morrow of thegreat function of the coronation, and would receive his daughterthere, and have speech with her. 

"Tell her that I will take her home with me, if she will come, " hespoke; "for she herself did say that her work would be accomplishedwhen the crown was placed upon the King's head. Let her be true toher word; let her return home, and become a modest maiden againbeneath her mother's care, and all shall be well betwixt us. But ifpride and haughtiness possess her soul, and she prefers the companyof courtiers and soldiers to that of her own people, and the lifeof camps to the life of home, then I wash my hands of her. Let hergo her own way. She shall no longer be daughter of mine!"

I did not tell those words to the Maid. My lips refused to speakthem. But I told her that her father would remain in the place tillshe had leisure to have speech with him; and her eyes kindled withjoy at hearing such news, for it seemed to her as though this wouldbe the pledge of his forgiveness, the forgiveness for which she hadlonged, and for the lack of which none of her triumphs couldaltogether compensate. 

There was no sleep for the city of Rheims upon that hot summer'snight. Although the coming of the King had been rumoured for sometime, it had never been fully believed possible till news had beenbrought of the fall of Troyes, and the instant submission ofChalons. Then, and only then, did citizens and prelates trulyrealise that the talked-of ceremony could become an accomplishedfact, and almost before they had recovered from their amazement atthe rapidity of the march of events, courtiers brought in word thatthe King and his army were approaching. 

So all night long the people were hard at work decorating theircity, their churches, above all their Cathedral; and the priestsand prelates were in close conference debating what vestments, whatvessels, what rites and ceremonies should be employed, and how thelack of certain necessary articles, far away at St. Denis, could besupplied out of the rich treasuries of the Cathedral. 

As the dawn of the morning brightened in the east, the sun roseupon a scene of such splendour and magnificence as perhaps hasseldom been witnessed at such short notice. The whole city seemedone blaze of triumphal arches, of summer flowers, of costly stuffsand rich decoration. Every citizen had donned his best andbrightest suit; the girls and children had clothed themselves inwhite, and crowned themselves with flowers. Even the war-wornsoldiers had polished their arms, furbished up their clothes, andborrowed or bought from the townsfolk such things as were mostlacking; and now, drawn up in array in the great square, withtossing banners, and all the gay panoply of martial glory, theylooked like some great victorious band--as, indeed, theywere--celebrating the last act of a great and wonderful triumph. 

As for the knights, nobles, and courtiers, one need not speak ofthe outward glory of their aspect--the shining armour, the gaydresses, the magnificent trappings of the sleek horses--that canwell be pictured by those who have ever witnessed a like brilliantscene. 

But for the first part of the day, with its many and variedceremonies, there was lacking the shining figure of the Maid; nordid the King himself appear. But forth from the Palace of theArcheveche rode four of the greatest and most notable peers of therealm, attended by a gorgeous retinue; and with banners waving, andtrumpets blowing great martial blasts, they paced proudly throughthe streets, between the closely-packed ranks of soldiers andcitizens, till they reached the ancient Abbey of Sainte Remy, wherethe monks of Sainte Ampoule guard within their shrine the holy oilof consecration, in that most precious vial which, they said, wassent down from heaven itself for the consecration of King Clovisand his successors. 

Upon bended knees and with bared heads these great peers of Francethen took their solemn oath that the sacred vial should never leavetheir sight or care, night or day, till it was restored to thekeeping of the shrine from which the Abbot was about to take it. Then, and only then, would the Abbot, clothed in his most sumptuousvestments, and attended by his robed monks, take from its place thatholy vessel, and place it in the hands of the messengers--KnightsHostages, as they were termed for the nonce--and as they carried itslowly and reverently forth, and retraced their steps to the Cathedral, accompanied now by the Abbot and monks, every knee was bent and everyhead bowed. 

But all the while that this ceremony was taking place, the Maid wasshut up in her room in the Palace, dictating a letter of appeal tothe Duke of Burgundy, and praying him in gentle, yet authoritativeterms, to be reconciled to his King, join hands with him againstthe English foe, and then, if need there were to fight, to turn hisarms against the Saracens, instead of warring with his brethren andkinsmen. I trow that this thing was urged upon her at this time, inthat she believed her mission so nearly accomplished, and that soonshe would have no longer right to style herself "Jeanne the Maid, "and to speak with authority to princes and nobles. 

As yet she was the appointed messenger of Heaven. Her words andacts all partook of that almost miraculous character which they hadborne from the first. I will not quote the letter here; but it iswrit in the page of history; and I ask of all scholars who peruseits words, whether any village maiden of but seventeen years, unlettered, and ignorant of statecraft, could of herself compose solofty and dignified an appeal, or speak with such serene authorityto one who ranked as well-nigh the equal of kings. It was her lastact ere she donned her white armour, and passed forth from herchamber to take part in the ceremony of the coronation. In somesort it was the last of her acts performed whilst she was yet thedeliverer of her people. 

When I looked upon those words, long after they had been penned, Ifelt the tears rising in mine eyes. I could have wept tears ofblood to think of the fate which had befallen one whose thoughtswere ever of peace and mercy, even in the hour of her supremesttriumph. 

How can my poor pen describe the wonders of the great scene, ofwhich I was a spectator upon that day? Nay, rather will I only seekto speak of the Maid, and how she bore herself upon that greatoccasion. She would have been content with a very humble place inthe vast Cathedral today; she had no desire to bear a part in thepageant which had filled the city and packed the great edifice fromend to end. 

But the King and the people willed it otherwise. The thing whichwas about to be done was the work of the Maid, and she must bethere to see all, and the people should see her, too--see her closeto the King himself, who owed to her dauntless courage and devotionthe crown he was about to assume, the realm he had begun toconquer. 

So she stood near at hand to him all through that long, impressiveceremony--a still, almost solemn figure in her silver armour, along white velvet mantle, embroidered in silver, flowing from hershoulders, her hand grasping the staff of her great white banner, which had been borne into the Cathedral by D'Aulon, and besidewhich she stood, her hand upon the staff. 

She was bareheaded, and the many-coloured lights streamed in uponher slim, motionless figure, and the face which she lifted inadoration and thanksgiving. I trow that none in that vast assembly, who could see her as she thus stood, doubted but that she stoodthere the accredited messenger of the Most High. The light fromHeaven itself was shining on her upturned face, the reflection ofan unearthly glory beamed in her eyes. From time to time her lipsmoved, as though words of thanksgiving broke silently forth; butsave for that she scarcely moved all through the long and solemnceremony. Methinks that she saw it rather in the spirit than in theflesh; and the knights and nobles who had poured in from thesurrounding country to witness this great function, and had notcompanied with the Maid before, but had only heard of her fame fromafar, these regarded her with looks of wonder and of awe, andwhispering together, asked of each other whether in truth she werea creature of flesh and blood, or whether it were not some angelicpresence, sent down direct from Heaven. 

And so at last the King was anointed and crowned! The blare of thethousand trumpets, the acclamations of a vast multitude proclaimedthe thing done! Charles the Seventh stood before his people, theirKing, in fact as well as in name. 

The work of the Maid was indeed accomplished!

CHAPTER XVII. HOW THE MAID WAS PERSUADED. 

The ceremony was over. The Dauphin stood in our midst a crowned andanointed King. We were back in the great hall of the Archeveche, and the thunders of triumphant applause which had been restrainedwithin the precincts of the sacred edifice now broke forth again, and yet again, in long bursts of cheering, which were echoed fromwithout by the multitudes in the street and great square Place, andcame rolling through the open windows in waves of sound like thebeating of the surf upon the shore. 

The King stood upon a raised dais; his chiefest nobles and peersaround him. He was magnificently robed, as became so great anoccasion, and for the first time that I had ever seen, he looked animposing and a dignified figure. Something there was of truekingliness in his aspect. It seemed as though the scene throughwhich he had passed had not been without effect upon his nature, and that something regal had been conveyed to him through thesolemnities which had just taken place. 

The Maid was present also; but she had sought to efface herself inthe crowd, and stood thoughtfully apart in an embrasure of thewall, half concealed by the arras, till the sound of her name, proclaimed aloud in a hundred different tones, warned her thatsomething was required of her, and she stepped forward with aquestioning look in her startled eyes, as though just roused fromsome dream. 

She had been one of the first to prostrate herself at the new-madeKing's feet when the coronation ceremony was over; and the tearsstreaming down her face had been eloquent testimony of her deepemotion. But she had only breathed a few broken words of devotionand of joy, and had added something in a choked whisper which nonebut he had been able to hear. 

"The King calls for the Maid! The King desires speech with theMaid!" such was the word ringing through the hall; and she camequietly forth from her nook, the crowd parting this way and thatbefore her, till she was walking up through a living avenue to theplace where the King was now seated upon a throne-like chair on thedais at the far end of the hall. 

As she came towards him the King extended his hand, as though hewould meet her still rather as friend than as subject; but shekneeled down at his feet, and pressing her lips to the extendedhand, she spoke in a voice full of emotion:

"Gentle King, now is the pleasure of God fulfilled towards you. Nowis the will of my Lord accomplished. To Him alone be the praise andglory! It was His will that I should be sent before you to raisethe siege of Orleans, to lead you to this city of Rheims, there toreceive your consecration. Now has He shown to all the world thatyou are the true King--that it is His will you should reign overthis fair realm, that this kingdom of France belongs to you and youalone. My task is now accomplished. His will in me is fulfilled. Goforward, then, noble King--strong in the power of your kingly mightand right, doubting not that He will aid you still; though He willwork with other instruments, with other means, for my task in thisis now accomplished!"

There was a little stir and thrill throughout the hall as thesewords were spoken. Dismay fell upon many, wonder upon all, triumphgleamed from the eyes of a few; but most men looked one at theother in consternation. What did she mean by these words?--thisHeaven-sent Maid to whom we owed so much? Surely she did not thinkto leave us just in the hour of her supreme triumph? How could wehope to lead on the armies to fresh victories, if the soldiers weretold that the Maid would no longer march with them? Who woulddirect us with heavenly counsel, or with that marvellous clearnessof vision which is given only to a few in this sinful world, and tothose only whose hearts are consecrated by a great devotion, and agreat love? She could not mean that! She loved France with anoverwhelming fervour. She was devoted to the service of the King, in whom she had never been able or willing to see wrong. She knewher power with the army; she loved the rough soldiers who followedher unshrinkingly in the teeth of the very fiercest perils, and whowould answer to her least command, when they would obey none othergeneral. 

O no, she could not think of deserting France in this her hour ofneed! Much had been done; but much yet remained to do. If she wereto quit her post, there could be no telling what might not follow. The English, cowed and bewildered now, might well pluck up heart ofgrace, and sweep back through the country once owning their sway, driving all foes before them as in the days of old. The victorieswon in these last weeks might soon be swallowed up in fresh defeatand disaster. How could we expect it to be otherwise if thepresence of the Maid were withdrawn?

These and a hundred other questions and conjectures were buzzingthrough the great hall. Wonder and amaze was on every face. TheKing himself looked grave for a moment; but then his smile shoneout carelessly gay and confident. He looked down at the Maid, andthere was tender friendliness in his glance. He spoke nothing toher at the first as to what she had said; he merely asked of her aquestion. 

"My Chevaliere, my guardian angel, tell me this, I pray. You havedone all these great things for me; what am I to do in return foryou?"

She raised her eyes towards him, and the light sprang intothem--that beautiful, fearless light which shone there when she ledher soldiers into battle. 

"Go forward fearlessly, noble King. Go forward in the power of youranointing; and fear nothing. That is all I ask of you. Do that, andyou will give to me my heart's desire. "

"We will talk of that later, Jeanne, " he answered, "I have manythings to speak upon that matter yet. But today I would ask you ofsomething different. You have done great things for me; it is notfitting that you should refuse to receive something at my hands. This day I sit a King upon my father's throne. Ask of me some giftand grace for yourself--I your King and your friend demand it ofyou!"

It was spoken in a right kingly and gracious fashion, and we allheld our breath to listen for the answer the Maid should give. Wehad known her so long and so well, and we had learned how littleshe desired for herself, how hard it was to induce her to expressany wish for her own gratification. She was gentle and gracious inher acceptance of the gifts received from friends who had furnishedher from the beginning with such things as were needful for heraltered life; but she had ever retained her simplicity of thoughtand habit; and though often living in the midst of luxury andextravagance, she was never touched by those vices herself. And nowshe was bidden to ask a boon; and she must needs do it, or thedispleasure of the King would light upon her. 

He had raised her to her feet by this time, and she stood beforehim, a slim boy-like figure in her white point-device dress, hercheeks a little flushed, her slender fingers tightly entwined, thebreath coming and going through her parted lips. 

"Gentle King, " she answered, and her low full voice thrilledthrough the hall to its farthermost end in the deep hush which hadfallen upon it, "there is one grace and gift that I would rightgladly ask of you. Here in this city of Rheims are assembled a fewof mine own people from Domremy; my father, my uncle, and with themsome others whom I have known and loved from childhood. I would askthis thing of you, noble King. Give me at your royal pleasure adeed, duly signed and sealed by your royal hand, exempting thevillage of Domremy, where I was born, from all taxes such as arelevied elsewhere throughout the realm. Let me have this deed togive to those who have come to see me here, and thus when I returnwith them to my beloved childhood's home, I shall be witness to thejoy and gladness which such a kingly boon will convey. Grant methis--only this, gentle King, and you will grant me all my heartdesires!"

The King spoke aside a few words to one of those who stood abouthim, and this person silently bowed and quitted the hail; then heturned once more to the Maid, standing before him still with ahappy and almost childlike smile playing over her lips. 

"The thing shall be done, Jeanne, " he said; "and it shall be doneright soon. The first deed to which I set my hand as King shall bethe one which shall for ever exempt Domremy from all taxation. Youshall give it to your father this very day, to take home with himwhen he goes. But as for those other words of yours--what did youmean by them? How can you witness the joy of a distant village, when you will be leading forward the armies of France to freshvictories?"

He gazed searchingly into her face as he spoke; and she looked backat him with a sudden shrinking in her beautiful eyes. 

"Sire, " she faltered--and anything like uncertainty in that voicewas something new to us--"of what victories do you speak? I havedone my part. I have accomplished that which my Lord has set me todo. My task ends here. My mission has been fulfilled. I have nocommand from Him to go forward. I pray you let me return home to mymother and my friends. "

"Nay, Jeanne, your friends are here, " spoke the King gravely, "andyour country is your mother. Would you neglect to hear her cry toyou in the hour of her need? Her voice it was that called you forthfrom your obscurity; she calls you yet. Will you cease to hear andto obey?"

The trouble and perplexity deepened in the eyes of the Maid. 

"My voices have not bidden me to go forward, " she faltered. 

"Have they bidden you to go back--to do no more for France?"

"No, " she answered, throwing back her head, her eyes kindling onceagain with ardour; "they have not bidden me return, or I would havedone it without wavering. They tell me nothing, save to be of agood heart and courage. They promise to be with me--my saints, whomI love. But they give me no commands. I see not the path before me, as I have seen it hitherto. That is why I say, let me go home. Mywork is done; I have no mission more. Shall I take upon me thatwhich my Lord puts not upon me--whether it be honour or toil orpain?"

"Yes, Jeanne, you shall take that upon you which your country callsupon you to take, which your King puts upon you, which even yoursaints demand of you, though perchance with no such insistence asbefore, since that is no longer needed. Can you think that the mindof the Lord has changed towards me and towards France? Yet you mustknow as well as I and my Generals do, that without you to lead themagainst the foe, the soldiers will waver and tremble, and perchanceturn their backs upon our enemies once more. You they will followto a man; but will they follow others when they know that you havedeserted them? You tell me to go forward and be of good courage. How can I do this if you turn back, and take with you the hearts ofmy men?"

"Sire, I know not that such would be the case, " spoke the Maidgravely. "You stand amongst them now as their crowned and anointedKing. What need have they of other leader? They have followed meheretofore, waiting for you; but now--"

"Now they will want you more than ever, since you have ever ledthem to victory!" cried the King; and raising his voice and lookingabout him, especially to those generals and officers of his staffwho had seen so much of the recent events of the campaign, he criedout:

"What say you, gentlemen? What is our chance to drive away theEnglish and become masters of this realm if the MAID OF ORLEANStake herself away from us, and the soldiers no longer see herstandard floating before them, or hear her voice cheering them tothe battle?"

Some of those present looked sullenly on the ground, unwilling toown that the Maid was a power greater than any other which could bebrought into the field; but there were numbers of other and greatermen, who had never denied her her meed of praise, though they hadthwarted her at times in the council room; and these with oneaccord declared that should the Maid betake herself back toDomremy, leaving the army to its fate, they would not answer forthe effect which this desertion would have, but would, in fact, almost expect the melting away of the great body of the trainedsoldiers and recruits who had fought with her, and had come toregard her presence with them as the essential to a perfectvictory. 

But we were destined to have a greater testimony than this, for awhisper of what was passing within the great hall had now filteredforth into the streets, and all in a moment we were aware of amighty tumult and hubbub without, a clamour of voices louder andmore insistent than those which had hailed the King a short timebefore, and the words which seemed to form themselves out of theclamour and gradually grow into the burden of the people's cry wasthe repeated and vehement shout, "THE MAID OF ORLEANS! THE MAID OFORLEANS! We will fight if the Maid goes with us--without her we beall dead men!"

They came and told us what the crowd of soldiers in the street wasshouting; they begged that the Maid would show herself at somewindow, and promise that she would remain with the army. Indeed, there was almost a danger of riot and disaster if something werenot done to quell the excitement of the soldiery and the populace;and at this news the Maid suddenly drew her slender, droopingfigure to its full height, and looked long and steadfastly at theKing. 

"Sire, " she said, "I give myself to you and to France. My Lordknows that I seek in this to do His will, though differently fromheretofore. You will be disappointed. Many will misjudge me. Therewill be sorrow and anguish of heart as well as triumph and joy. Butif my country calls, I go forth gladly to meet her cry--even thoughI go to my death!"

I do not know how many heard her last words; for they were drownedin the roar of joyful applause which followed her declaration. TheKing gave her his hand, and led her forth upon a balcony, where thegreat concourse in the street below could see them; and by signs hemade them understand that she would continue with him as one of hisCommanders-in-Chief; and in hearing this the city well nigh wentmad with joy; bonfires blazed and bells pealed madly; and the cryheard in the streets was less "Long live the King!" than that otherfrantic shout, "THE MAID OF ORLEANS! THE MAID OF ORLEANS!"

But the Maid returned to her apartments with a strange look uponher face; and she held out her hand to me as one who would fain askhelp and sympathy of a trusted comrade, as I am proud to think Iwas regarded at that time by her. 

"The King's word has prevailed, O my friend, " she said, "but Iwould that I were sure it will be for the best!"

"How can it be otherwise than for the best?" I answered as I heldher hand in mine, and looked searchingly into her fair, grave face. "Will not your Lord help you yet? Do not all men trust in you? Willnot the soldiers fight for and with you? And are you not sure inyour heart that the cause of the French King will yet triumph?"

Her eyes were misty with unshed tears as she made reply:

"I know that my Lord will not desert me; and I trust I may serveHim yet, and the King whom I love. I know that all will be well--atthe last--for this fair realm of France. But I have no commissiondirect from my Lord as I have had hitherto. My voices yet speakgentle and kindly words. I trow that my saints will watch over me, and that they will give me strength to strive and to overcome. Formyself I fear not--I am ready to die for my King and my country ifthat be the will of God. Only the shadow lies athwart my path, where until today all was brightness and sunshine. It would havebeen so sweet to go home to my mother, to see the Fairy Tree, andthe old familiar faces, and listen once more to the Angelus bell! Ihad thought that I should by this have earned my rest. I had notthought that with so many to serve him, the King would have hadfurther use for me. "

"Yet how could it be otherwise, my General, when the soldiers willfollow you alone?--when all look to you as their champion and theirfriend?"

"Nay, but I have enemies too, " she answered sadly, "and I know thatthey will work me ill--greater ill in the future than they have hadpower to do heretofore, when I was watched over and guarded for thetask that was set me. That task is now accomplished. Can I look toreceive the same protection as before? The Lord may have otherinstruments prepared to carry on His work of deliverance. I doubtnot that He will use me yet, and that I shall never be forsaken;but my time will not be long. I shall only last a year. Let theKing use me for all that I am worth!--after that he must look forothers to aid him!"

I could not bear to hear her speak so. I would have broken in withprotestations and denials; but something in the look upon her facesilenced me. My heart sank strangely within me, for had I notlearned to know how truly the Maid did read that which the futurehid from our eyes? I could only seek to believe that in this shemight be mistaken, since she herself did say how that things weresomething different with her now. 

She seemed to read the thoughts that crowded my brain; for shelooked into my face with her tender, far-seeing smile. 

"You are sad, my kind friend, my faithful knight, and sometimesmine own heart is sad also. But yet why should we fear? I know thatI have enemies, and I know that they will have more power to hurtme in the times that are coming, than has been permitted hitherto, yet--"

With an uncontrollable impulse I flung myself at her feet. 

"O my General--O my dear lady--speak not such things--it breaks myheart. Or if, indeed, the peril be so great, then let all else go, and bid your father to take you back to Domremy with him. There, atleast, you will be safe and happy!"

Her eyes were deep with the intensity of her emotion. 

"It may not be, " she said with grave gentleness and decision. "Ihad hoped it for myself, but it may not be. My word is pledged. MyKing has commanded. I, too, must learn, in my measure, the lessonof obedience, even unto death!"

Her hands were clasped; her eyes were lifted heavenwards. A shaftof light from the sinking sun struck in through the coloured windowbehind her, and fell across her face with an indescribable glory. Iwas still upon my knees and I could not rise, for it seemed to meas though at that moment another Presence than that of the Maid waswith us in the room. My limbs shook. My heart seemed to melt withinme; and yet it was not fear which possessed me, but a mysteriousrapture the like of which I can in no wise fathom. 

How long it lasted I know not. The light had faded when I rose tomy feet and met her wonderful gaze. She spoke just a few words. 

"Now you know what help is given us in our hours of need. Myfaithful knight need never mourn or weep for me; for that help andcomfort will never be withheld. Of this I have the promise clearand steadfast!"

I was with her when she went to see her father. It was dark, andthe old man sat with his brother-in-law, Durand Laxart--he who hadhelped her to her first interview with De Baudricourt--in one ofthe best rooms of the inn. Since it had been known that these menwere the kinsfolk of the Maid, everything of the best had been putat their disposal by the desire of the citizens, and horses hadbeen provided for them for their return to Domremy. For the city ofRheims was filled with joy at that which had been accomplished, andthe Maid was the hero of the hour. 

But I could see that there was a cloud upon the old man's face--thefather's; and he did not rise as his daughter entered--she beforewhom nobles had learnt to bend, and who sat at the Council of theKing. His sombre eyes dwelt upon her with a strange expression intheir depths. His rugged face was hard; his knotted hands wereclosely locked together. 

The Maid gazed at him for a moment, a world of tender emotions inher eyes; and then she quickly crossed the room and threw herselfat his feet. 

"My father! My father! My father!"

The cry seemed to come from her heart, and I saw the old man's facequiver and twitch; but he did not touch or embrace her. 

"It is the dress he cannot bear, " whispered Laxart distressfully tome, "it is as gall and wormwood to him to see his daughter go aboutin the garb of a man. "

The Maid's face was raised in tender entreaty; she had hold of herfather's hands by now. She was covering them with kisses. 

"O my father, have you no word for me? Have you not yet forgivenyour little Jeanne? I have but obeyed our Blessed Lord and His holySaints. And see how they have helped and blessed and guided me! Omy father, can you doubt that I was sent of them for this work? Howthen could I refuse to do it?"

Then the stern face seemed to melt with a repressed tenderness, andthe father bent and touched the girl's brow with his lips. Sheuttered a little cry of joy, and would have flung herself into hisarms; but he held her a little off, his hands upon her shoulders, and he looked into her face searchingly. 

"That may have been well done, my daughter; I will not say, I willnot judge. But your task is now accomplished--your own lips havesaid it; and yet you still are to march with the King's army, I amtold. You love better the clash of arms, the glory of victory, thecompanionship of soldiers and courtiers to the simple duties whichawait you at home, and the protection of your mother's love. Thatis not well. That is what no modest maiden should choose. I hadhoped and believed that I should take my daughter home with me. Butshe has chosen otherwise. Do I not well to be angry?"

The Maid's face was buried in her hands. She would have buried itin her father's breast, but he would not have it so. 

I could have wept tears myself at the sight of her sorrow. I sawhow utterly impossible it would be to make this sturdy peasantunderstand the difficulty of the Maid's position, and the claimsupon her great abilities, her mysterious influence upon thesoldiers. The worthy prud'homme would look upon this as rather adishonour and disgrace than a gift from Heaven. 

The words I longed to speak died away upon my tongue. I felt thatto speak them would be a waste of breath. Moreover, I was here as aspectator, not as a partaker in this scene. I held the document, signed and sealed by the King, which I was prepared to read to thevisitors from Domremy. That was to be my share in this interview--notto interpose betwixt father and child. 

For a few moments there was deep silence in the room; then the Maidtook her hands from her face, and she was calm and tranquil onceagain. She possessed herself of one of her father's reluctanthands. 

"My father, I know that this thing is hard for you to understand. It may be that my brothers could explain it better than I, had youpatience to hear them. But this I say, that I long with anunspeakable desire to return home with you, for I know that thepath I must tread will darken about me, and that the end will besad and bitter. And yet I may not choose for myself. My Kingcommands. My country calls. I must needs listen to those voices. Oh, forgive me that I may not follow yours, nor the yearnings ofmine own heart!"

The old man dropped her hand and turned away. He spoke no word; Ithink perchance his heart was touched by the tone of the Maid'svoice, by the appealing look in her beautiful eyes. But he wouldnot betray any sign of weakness. He turned away and leant his browupon the hand with which he had grasped the high-carved ledge ofthe panelled shelf beside him. The Maid glanced at him, her lipsquivering; and she spoke again in a brighter tone. 

"And yet, my father, though you may not take me back with you, youshall not go away empty-handed. I have that to send home with youwhich shall, I trust, rejoice the hearts of all Domremy; and if youfind it hard to forgive that which your child has been called uponto do, yet methinks there will be others to bless her name and prayfor her, when they learn that which she has been able toaccomplish. "

Then she made a little sign to me, and I stepped forward with theparchment, signed and sealed, and held it towards the Maid'sfather. He turned to look at me, and his eyes widened in wonder andsome uneasiness; for the sight of so great a deed filled him andhis kinsman with a vague alarm. 

"What is it?" he asked, turning full round, and I made answer:

"A deed signed by the King, exempting Domremy from all taxation, henceforward and for ever, by right of the great and notableservices rendered to the realm by one born and brought upthere--Jeanne d'Arc, now better known as THE MAID OF ORLEANS. "

The two men exchanged wondering glances, and over Laxart's facethere dawned a smile of intense joy and wonder. 

"Nay, but this is a wonderful thing--a miracle--the like of whichwas never heard or known before! I pray you, noble knight, let mecall hither those of our kinsfolk and acquaintance from Domremy ashave accompanied us hither, that they may hear and understand thismarvellous grace which hath been done us!"

I was glad enough that all should come and hear that which I readto them from the great document, explaining every phrase that washard of comprehension. It was good to see how all faces glowed andkindled, and how the people crowded about the Maid with words ofgratitude and blessing. 

Only the father stood a little apart, sorrowful and stern. And yetI am sure that his heart, though grieved, was not altogetherhardened against his child; for when at the last, with tears in hereyes (all other farewells being said), she knelt at his feetbegging his blessing and forgiveness, he laid his hand upon herhead for a moment, and let her embrace his knees with her arms. 

"Go your way, my girl, if needs must be. Your mother will ever prayfor you, and I trust the Lord whom you serve will not leave you, though His ways are too hard of understanding for me. "

That was all she could win from him; but her heart was comforted, Ithink; for as she reached her lodging and turned at the door of herroom to thank me in the gracious way she never forgot, for suchpoor services as I had rendered, she said in a soft and happyvoice:

"I think that in his heart my father hath forgiven me!"

CHAPTER XVIII. HOW I LAST SAW THE MAID. 

I had thought, when I started, to tell the whole tale of theAngelic Maid and all the things which she accomplished, and allthat we who companied with her did and saw, both of success and offailure. But now my brain and my pen alike refuse the task. I mustneeds shorten it. I think my heart would well nigh break a secondtime, if I were to seek to tell all that terrible tale which theworld knows so well by now. 

Ah me! Ah me!--what a world is this wherein we live, in which suchthings can be! I wake sometimes even yet in the night, a cold sweatupon my limbs, my heart beating to suffocation, a terror as ofgreat darkness enfolding my spirit. 

And is it wonderful that it should be so? Can any man pass throughsuch experiences as mine, and not receive a wound which time cannever wholly heal? And though great things have of late been done, and the Pope and his Court have swept away all such stain and taintas men sought to fasten upon the pure nature of the wonderful andmiraculous Maid, we who lived through those awful days, and heardand saw the things which happened at that time, can never forgetthem, and (God pardon me if I sin in this) never forgive. There aremen, some living still, and some passed to their last account, whomI would doom to the nethermost hell for their deeds in the days ofwhich I must now write--though my words will be so few. And (withhorror and shame be it spoken) many of these men were consecratedservants of the Holy Church, whose very office made the evil oftheir deeds to stand out in blacker hues. 

It is easy for us to seek to fasten the blame of all upon theEnglish, who in the end accomplished the hideous task; but at leastthe English were the foes against whom she had fought, and they hadthe right to hold her as an adversary whose death was necessary fortheir success; and had the English had their way she would have mether end quickly, and without all that long-drawn-out agony andmockery of a trial, every step and process of which was an outrageupon the laws of God and of man. No, it was Frenchmen who doomedher to this--Frenchmen and priests. The University of Paris, theofficers of the Inquisition, the Bishops of the realm. These it waswho formed that hideous Court, whose judgments have now been setaside with contumely and loathing. These it was who after endlessformalities, against which even some of themselves were forced inhonour to protest, played so base and infamous a part--culminatingin that so-called "Abjuration, " as false as those who plotted forit--capped by their own infamous trick to render even that"Abjuration" null and void, that she might be given up into thehands of those who were thirsting for her life!

Oh, how can I write of it? How can I think of it? There be timesyet when Bertrand, and Guy de Laval, and I, talking together ofthose days, feel our hearts swell, and the blood course wildly inour veins, and truly I do marvel sometimes how it was that we andothers were held back from committing some desperate crime torevenge those horrid deeds, wrought by men who in blasphemousmockery called themselves the servants and consecrated priests ofGod. 

But hold! I must not let my pen run away too fast with me! I amleaping to the end, before the end has come. But, as I say, I haveno heart to write of all those weary months of wearing inactivity, wherein the spirit of the Maid chafed like that of a caged eagle, whilst the counsellors of the King--her bitter foes--had his ear, and held him back from following the course which her spirit andher knowledge alike advocated. 

And yet we made none so bad a start. 

"We must march upon Paris next, " spoke the Maid at the firstCouncil of War held in Rheims after the coronation of the King; andLa Hire and the soldiers applauded the bold resolve, whilst LaTremouille and other timid and treacherous spirits sought ever tohold him back. 

I often thought of the words spoken by the Maid to those friends ofhers from Domremy, when she bid them farewell on the evening ofwhich I have just written. 

"Are you not afraid, Jeanne, " they asked, "of going into battle, ofliving so strange a life, of being the companion of the great menof the earth?"

And she, looking at them with those big grave eyes of hers, hadmade answer thus:

"I fear nothing but treachery. "

I wondered when she spoke what treachery she was to meet with; butsoon it became all too apparent. The King's ministers weretreacherously negotiating with false Burgundy, some say with theRegent Bedford himself. They cared not to save France. They caredonly to keep out of harm's way--to avoid all peril and danger, andto thwart the Maid, whose patriotism and lofty courage was such afoil to their pusillanimity and cowardice. 

So that though she led us to the very walls of Paris, and wouldhave taken the whole city without a doubt, had she been permitted, though the Duc d'Alencon, now her devoted adherent, went down uponhis very knees to beg of the King to fear nothing, but trust all toher genius, her judgment; he could not prevail, and orders weresent forth to break down the bridge that she had built for thestorming party to pass over, and that the army should fall backwith their task undone!

Oh, the folly, the ingratitude, the baseness of it all! How well doI remember the face of the Maid, as she said:

"The King's word must be obeyed; but truly it will take him sevenyears--ah, and twenty years now--to accomplish that which I woulddo for him in less than twenty days!"

Think of it--you who have seen what followed. Was Paris in theKing's hands in less than seven years? Were the English driven fromFrance in less than twenty?

She was wounded, too; and had been forcibly carried away from thefield of battle; but it was against her own will. She would havefought through thick and thin, had the King's commands notprevailed; and even then she begged to be left with a band ofsoldiers at St. Denis. 

"My voices tell me to remain here, " she said; but alas! her voiceswere regarded no longer by the King, whose foolish head andcowardly heart were under other influences than that of the Maid, to whom he had promised so much such a short while since. 

And so his word prevailed, and we were perforce obliged to retreatfrom those walls we had so confidently desired to storm. And therein the church of St. Denis, where she had knelt so many hours inprayer and supplication, the Maid left her beautiful silver armour, which had so often flashed its radiant message of triumph to hersoldiers, and with it that broken sword--broken outside the wallsof Paris, and which no skill had sufficed to mend--which had beentaken from St Catherine's Church in Fierbois. 

It was not altogether an unwonted act for knights to deposit theirarms in churches, though the custom is dying away, with so manyother relics of chivalry; but there was something very strange andsolemn in this act of the Maid. It was to us a significant sign ofthat which she saw before her. We dared not ask her wherefore shedid it. Something in her sad, gentle face forbade us. But I feltthe tears rising to my eyes as I watched her kneel long in prayerwhen the deed was done, and I heard stifled sobs arising from thatend of the building where some women and children knelt. For theMaid was ever the friend of all such, and never a woman or childwhom she approached, whether she were clad in peasant's homespun orin shining coat of mail, but gave her love and trust and friendshipat sight. 

Henceforth the Maid went clothed in a light suit of mail, such asany youthful knight might wear. She never spoke again of her fairwhite armour, or of the sword which had shivered in her hand, nonesave herself knew how or when. 

Alas! for the days of glory which had gone before! Why did we keepher with the King's armies, when the monarch's ear was engrossed byadverse counsel, and his heart turned away from her who had beenhis Deliverer in the hour of his greatest need?

Methinks she would even now have returned home, but for thedevotion of the soldiers and the persuasions of the Duc d'Alencon, and of some of the other generals, amongst whom the foremost wereDunois and La Hire. These chafed equally with the Maid at thesupine attitude of the King; and the Duke, his kinsman, spoke outboldly and fearlessly, warning him of the peril he was doing to hiskingdom, and the wrong to the Maid who had served him so faithfullyand well, and to whom he had made such fair promises. 

But for the present all such entreaties or warnings fell upon deafears. The time for the King's awakening had not yet come. 

Nevertheless, we had our days of glory still, under the banner ofthe Maid, when, after many months of idleness, the springtide againawoke the world, and she sallied forth strong in the assurance ofvictory, whilst fortress after fortress fell before her, as in thedays of yore. Oh, how joyous were our hearts! Now did we believetruly that the tide had turned, and that we were marching on tovictory. 

But upon the Maid's face a shadow might often be seen to rest; andonce or twice when I would ask her of it, she replied in a low, sorrowful voice:

"My year is well-nigh ended. Something looms before me. My voiceshave told me to be ready for what is coming. I fear me it will bemy fate to fall into the hands of the foe!"

I would not believe it! Almost I was resolved to plunge mine owndagger into her heart sooner than she should fall into the hand ofthe pitiless English. But woe is me! I was not at her side thatdreadful evening at Compiegne, when this terrible mishap befell. Ihad been stricken down in that horrid death trap, when, hemmed inbetween the ranks of the Burgundians and English, we found ourretreat into the city cut off. 

Was it treachery? Was it incapacity upon the part of the leaders ofthe garrison, or what was the reason that no rush from the citybehind took the English in the rear, and effected the rescue of theMaid?

I know not--I have never known--all to me is black mystery. I wasone of those to see the peril first, and with Bertrand and Guy deLaval beside me, to charge furiously upon the advancing foe, cryingaloud to others to close round the Maid and bear her away intosafety, whilst we engaged the enemy and gave them time. 

That is all I know. All the rest vanishes in the mists. When thesemists cleared away, Bertrand and I were in the home of Sir Guy, tended by his mother and grandmother--both of whom had seen andloved well the wonderful Maid--and she was in a terrible prison, some said an iron cage, guarded by brutal English soldiers, anddeclared a witch or a sorceress, not fit to live, nor to die asoldier's death, but only to perish at the stake as an outcast fromGod and man. 

Months had passed since the battle of Compiegne. Fever had had mefast in its grip all that while, and the news I heard on recoverybrought it all back again. Bertrand and Guy were in little bettercase. We were like pale ghosts of our former selves during thosewinter months, when, hemmed in by snow, we could learn so littlenews from without, and could only eat out our hearts in rage andgrief. 

With the spring came the news of the trial at Rouen--the bitterhatred of Bishop Cauchon--the awful consummation he had vowed tobring about. 

I know not whether it were folly to hope such a thing, but we threeknights made instantly for the coast and crossed to England, toseek the ear of the young King there, and plead the cause of theMaid before him. I need not say how our mission failed. I care notto recall those sickening days of anxiety and hope deferred, andutter defeat at the last. 

Heartbroken and desperate we returned; and made our way to Rouen. The whole city was in confusion. Need I say more? That very day, within an hour, the Maid, the Messenger from God, the Deliverer ofthe King, the Saviour of France, was to die by fire, to perish as aheretic. And the King whom she had saved had not lifted a hand tosave her; the country she had delivered from a crushing disgrace, stood idly by to watch her perish thus!

Oh, the shame!--the treachery!--the horror! Let me not try to writeof it. The King has striven now to make amends; but I wonder how hefeels sometimes when he sees the May sunshine streaming over thefair earth--over that realm which he now rules from sea to sea, when he thinks of the Maid who was led forth in that blaze of gloryto meet her fiery doom. 

O God of Heaven look down and judge! How shall I tell of the sightI beheld?

Suddenly I came upon it--mad with my grief, desperate with horrorand despair. I saw the face of the Maid again! I saw her upraisedeyes, and her hands clasped to her breast, holding thereto a roughwooden cross, whilst someone from below held high in the air acrucifix taken from some church and fastened upon a long wand. 

The pile on which she stood was so high--so high; they said it wasdone in mercy, that the rising clouds of smoke might choke her erethe flame touched her. She was clad in a long white garment fromhead to foot; her hair had grown and fell about and back from herface in a soft cloud gilded by the sun's rays. Her face wasrapt--smiling--yes, I will swear it--smiling, as a child smiles upinto the face of its father. 

There was an awful hush throughout the wide place. Everythingreeled and swam before me; but I saw that face--that serene andsmiling face, wan and pale, but tranquil and glad and triumphant. 

Then came the rush of smoke, and the glare of ruddy fire. A stifledcry, like one immense groan rose from below--above in the reek andblaze all was silent. But from out that fire I saw--yes, andanother saw it too (an English soldier, rushing to add a faggot tothe pyre, a token of his hate to the Maid), and it so wrought uponhim that he dropped his burden, fell upon his knees and was like todie of the fear--I saw a white dove rise from the smoke wreaths ofthat ghastly pile, hover a moment, just touched by the glare of thefire, and then dart heavenwards as upon eagle's wings. 

Yes, I saw it. To the day of my death will I swear it. I saw whatshe had seen in vision long ago; and upon my heart there fell astrange sense of peace and calm. It had not hurt her--it had beenas she once said. Her saints had been with her to the end. She hadtriumphed. All was well. Called of her Country, she had answerednobly to the call. Her Country had awarded her a fiery death; butin that fiery chariot she had ascended to the Lord, in whom shetrusted, hereafter to receive the crown of glory that fadeth notaway.