“We found there an armed knight entangled beneath his steed, and all alone; for, as we learned later, he had outridden his train, and, losing his way in the darkness with but two followers, had got deeper into the wood instead of out. Then his horse, taking fright at the fire-glow and the din of our wild ado, had fallen with him and kept him down, while his two retainers, thinking themselves assailed by the forest-demons, had left their lord and taken flight, like chicken-hearted dastards as they were.”
“So, then,” cried Bertrand, with sparkling eyes, “this child came alone into the midst of a band of armed robbers to seek help for her father! In good truth, ’twas as bold a deed as ever was done!”
“You say sooth, my lord. Braver deed hath no man done—no, not Roland himself! In a trice we got the knight clear of his steed and bore him away, for he was too sore hurt to walk. But there was well-nigh a fight among us who was to carry the child, for every one would be the man to do it. Howbeit, it was at last accorded to me as captain; and when I lifted her in my arms, and felt her tiny hand cling trustfully to my neck, I bethought me how St. Christopher bare the Holy Child in like manner across the flooded river, and, for the first time for many a weary month, I dared to pray.”
Du Guesclin, more moved than he would have cared to own, held out his hand to the ex-robber, who grasped it warmly.
“By good hap the knight had no bones broken, though he was sore bruised; and, there being no doctor within a league, he mended apace, being a strong and likely man, and having the free air of the greenwood to aid him. As for the little demoiselle, she made friends with us straightway, sitting on our knees and taking food from our hands as if she had known us all her life; and ere she had abode three days with us, there was not a man but would gladly have perilled his life to please her; and from brawls and blasphemy and mis-seeming words we refrained as heedfully as had we been before our holy father the pope.
“Now, when the good knight was once more able to sit saddle-fast, he called me unto him, and thus he said—
“‘Good fellow, thou and thy comrades have done me right masterful service, and it is not the wont of Robert de Raguenel to show himself ungrateful. What men ye are I know not, nor care; but if ye be disbanded soldiers in quest of fresh employ’ (and there was a twinkle in his eye as he spake, which showed he knew right well how the case really stood), ‘ye might do worse than take service with me. How say ye?’
“You may think we were not minded to haggle over such an offer; but that all might be done fairly and honestly, I told him of our impious vow, which devoted our lives and souls to the Evil One. But he made light of it, saying that such vows were better broken than kept, and that as Satan had not claimed the forfeit, it was plain that he had no power to do it; and we should all be absolved from our rash oath as soon as we got into Brittany.
“‘Then,’ quoth I, ‘ere we pledge ourselves to be thy men, let yon fair child of thine pray for us to God; for methinks her pure soul is nearer to Him than the holiest monk in Christendom.’
“As I said, so it was done; and when I saw her tiny hands folded, and heard her clear, sweet voice praying for me—for me! it was as if a heavy stone were rolled from off my heart.”