Picrochole reflected. “Of course not, of course not,” he cried testily. “Grangousier is too old after all; and that son of his is off at school in Paris. A mere handful of shepherds coming to surprise us, no doubt! Well, then, sound the charge; and follow me, every mother’s son. We shall teach these blockheads once again to eat the cakes of Lerné.”
So, in a vain fury of boldness, Picrochole led his men helter-skelter through the gate and down the hill upon Grangousier’s army. He drew his sword to charge, when suddenly against the morning sky, he saw Gargantua’s great figure looking down.
Picrochole staggered; then turned and scurried like a rabbit across the dewy grass. “The giant!” he shrieked. “The giant!” And his men scampered breathlessly after.
Gargantua stooped, and scooped up four or five of them in each of his great hands. As for the rest, his army chased them so hard that every baker of them was caught. Only Picrochole got away; but perhaps it was just as well, for the kingdom was rid of him, as he was never seen or heard of afterward.
When every captive was brought back, Gargantua called them all about him. “Cake-bakers of Lerné,” he boomed, “my father, Grangousier, is the mildest king in all the world, and the first friend of cooks.”
“Aye, aye,” cried all the bakers, waving their caps.
“And because you have served him with good cakes these many years,” went on Gargantua, “he will not throw you into prison as you deserve, but he will let you all go free and forgiven to your homes on one condition,”—and here the giant’s voice grew stern,—“that you and your families forever give his shepherds as many good cakes as they wish to buy. As for Marquet and the captain of the guard, Grangousier orders them to his palace kitchen. There they shall bake every day six cakes for every one he sent by Ulrich Gallet.”
“Long live good King Grangousier, and his son Gargantua!” cried the cake-bakers.
Gargantua turned his horse, and pranced joyously toward home, with his army streaming after. Last of all came Marquet and the captain of Picrochole’s guard, very humble and crestfallen, marched between four strong soldiers.