"Let them come at once," he said. "If my little boy should choose to stay among those wild Paris lads, they may be useful. But if he once gets home, I wouldn't give that"—snapping his fat old fingers—"for the whole Picrochole gang!"
For a wonder, the army got to the Palace a week before Gargantua reached it.
GRANDGOUSIER'S ARMY.
[CHAPTER XX.]
GARGANTUA'S MARE SCORES A VICTORY.
This was the army that followed Gargantua at daybreak and came up with him at the Ford of Vede. Gargantua was commander-in-chief in place of Grandgousier, who, being old, of course stayed at home. But that was a glorious early breakfast which the old King gave to the soldiers before they left; and he made it more glorious by promising great gifts to every man who would do some wonderful act of prowess. "They will not have a chance to do anything," he whispered confidentially to his Chief Butler, whom he had raised to a level with his mouth. "My boy will be there!"