that the dejection of spirits he imagined he con- enormous size, used in casting stone balls, under cealed from all but himself was observed in his the direction, as it seemed, of a little, active, monkey-like being who stood by with a lighted piece of tow in his hand.

say yourself, Sir John-can truly report to us," | This amicable portion of the dialogue was insaid Talbot, with a scornful laugh.

“Why, what manner of woman deem you she is?" said the Earl of Suffolk, anxiously. "The soldiers affright each other with dismal forebodings that she is a witch sent from hell to drive us out of France, but surely you, Sir John, the Dragon Knight

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"To drive us out of France!" interrupted the amazed Talbot. By the cross, and the rood, and the thrice-blessed tree, if she make Talbot yield one foot of French earth to her, be she angel or devil, may he stumble backward with it into a dishonored grave!"

"My lords, as ye well wot, my blood is a churl's, and but churlishly renowned until these wars," said Sir Thomas Gladesdale, whose vigorous pride took refuge in disdaining the advantages possessed by his noble comates. "Yet as I think -if this witch comes red-hot from the lowest hell, with an army of iron-winged fiends beating the air into lightning about us-she shall not make my cheek bate a jot of its color, or my quarterless shield retire !"

16

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terrupted by the arrival of the Earl of Suffolk's brother, Sir Alexander de la Pole, who rushed out on the battlements laughing in peals, in spite of the respect due to the presence in which he stood. Jesu, have mercy! Pardon me, lords; but here we have a herald-two heralds from this precious maid at Blois-come to scold with us!" he exclaimed. "Will ye see them; or shall I put them in a barrel of tar, and send them alight into Orleans from a culverin?"

"Peace, Alick!-the devil's own heralds should have courteous entreatment," said the Earl of Suffolk."Let them come-we will see them."

"Nay, brother, you are to blame," said Talbot. "This is too great insolence in a low-born serf, to send messages to the chivalry of England! As you will; but by the little faith they say I have, if I catch her, her petticoats shall scarcely save her from a fitting punishment !"

"Let me have the chastisement of her then, my lord; but yet she comes in no petticoats, but in armor of complete steel!" said young de la Pole. "One of our prisoners saw her vault from the But, Talbot, it is scarcely a week since you ground upon her horse like the hardiest knight did counsel me even as Sir John now counsels-that ever mounted, and wield all her arms as dexto win these proud walls ere their boasted deli- terously as Sir John himself when he was at the verance can come ?" said Suffolk, who remarked Empress's tournament at Cologne." with much internal misgiving the paleness of Fastolfe's looks.

"But that was ere these mad old gossips' tales were spread among us,” replied Talbot. "I know not how it is, but methinks all our lusty cheer has left us and gone to beat ruddily in the hungerfainting hearts of Orleans! With grief and shame be it said, but not, I trust, to our wives at home, the soldiers have no heart to the work! But let

only this last attempt of the French fail, (and perchance 'tis naught but a French vaunt and lie,) and either those of Orleans must surrender, or famish, or our merry men will regain their crowing spirits to overleap these walls and make them ours! And how is it possible for French art or force to break this sixty-linked chain with its six tower-stancheons ?"

re

"Well, let us hear what she hath to say," sumed Suffolk. It will not strike us with the palsy, nor wither our arms, nor change us to wild beasts of the forest, but to hear her words from a Christian mouth!"

"Nay, by my advice, let us neither see nor hear aught from her," said the Lord Scales, somewhat tremulously.

"What, Scales has caught this white-faced lethargy!" exclaimed Talbot. "Let us see and hear all that we may or can, and not take our granddame's white cow for our grandsire's ghost in the dark! Let come these heralds, Alexander: the earl will see them."

Considerably sobered in his mood, the young knight retired to give the messengers the requisite permission. They were waiting in a chamber below, and almost immediately afterward made their appearance.

With all his emulous dislike of his younger and renowned rival, Talbot looked anxiously and inquiringly at Fastolfe, whose eye once more The garb of these officials might reasonably perused the scene below. All was now tranquil. have excited wonder, even in members of their The little cannoneer had left his piece after the fantastic profession. They wore long robes of feu-de-joie with which he had ironically saluted the finest white linen, with a surcoat of white the new arrival. The encampment of the army velvet sewn with fleur-de-lys, emblazoned at the in its regular little huts along the vast line of the breast with a huge crimson heart pierced with blockade presented a perfectly orderly and vil-arrows, so set as to represent a glory. The prinlage-like aspect. Only the distant gleam of the cipal of the two carried in one hand a naked arms of scouts or foragers returning to the camp sword, in the other a branch of olive. disturbed the deceptive appearance of peace and security.

"Is there aught that may be amended, deem you, Sir John?" continued Talbot, anxiously. "Nothing: the bastilles command all the sallyports of the city; they cannot stir from within but at great hazard," he replied. "And as for those from Blois, if they come on the north shore of the river, your St. Laurent blocks the way; if on the south, my St. Loup."

Talbot nodded assent, and with more cordiality than he had yet shown proceeded to point out in detail to Fastolfe more minute particulars of the strength and weaknesses of the English position. Suffolk and the other captains listened like men who know their master in a science is speaking.

66

Welcome, heralds !-or are ye the merryandrews of a fair ?" said Talbot.

Speak we with the Earl of Suffolk, noble sire ? returned the herald.

"A witch's messenger should have eyes at his fingers' ends, to search in dark corners, and know without asking matters," replied Talbot. "I am not so famous an earl, but a baron of battle-creation; yet I bear a name with which they say French mothers affright their froward babes to stillness."

"The great Talbot, that should be?" replied the herald, with a startled look at the veteran hero. "The little Talbot, if thou ratest him by bulk at least, not a mere bullock of bone and sinew, which doubtless thou seekest with those starting crab's eyes," returned Talbot.

maid of yours, on my bended knees! Tell her Talbot kneels, that never thought to do so but on his tomb, or to his king! And what achievement is this we are all to do together? Oh, by my life, I have thought of it, and if it come not speedily, this same will even burst my heart, for lack of blows to vent it in."

"When will this devil's paramour-this Maid of yours-approach us?" said Sir John Fastolfe, in a low tone that strongly contrasted with the angry accents of Talbot.

"I marveled but that the shadow should be so-rogue! beware lest thou startle the bones of vast, and the substance so slight," said the French Henry the Fifth from their cerements in Westherald, boldly. "But now, hear tidings of God minster. What king of England dost thou speak and the Maid.” to? Our child, our baby, whom we will crown "Let them be civil then. What is thy name?" in Paris when we have made our peace in Orsaid the Earl of Suffolk. leans! Oh, such peace! God give me defeat "Orleans-that shall be king-of-arms in and ruin and slaughter, and a vile death by Rheims!" replied the herald, with a joyful flush French hands, if I leave so much of Orleans that denoted he was a thorough convert to the together as shall mark where it has been! Ay, prophetess whose message he came to deliver. ay, but 'tis a woman talks to a child. She will Now, listen, King of England, and you, Duke slap our little king, no doubt, when she hath him of Bedford, who call yourself Regent of the at her mercy! What, she will give us mercy? kingdom of France; you, William de la Pole, marry, not till we ask it, I do implore this Earl of Suffolk; you, John, Lord Talbot; and you, Thomas, Lord Scales; who call yourselves Lieutenants of the said Duke of Bedford; render submission to the King of Kings! Restore to the Maid who is sent by God, the King of Heaven, the keys of all the good towns ye have taken and ravaged in France. God has sent her to restore the glory and inheritance of France. Most willing is she to give you peace, if ye will hear reason, lay down whatever ye have wrongfully despoiled in France, and pay for the harms ye have already done. And ye, archers, companies of war, gentles, and others, in siege before the town of Orleans, depart into your country, in the name of God, or look to hear such tidings of the Maid as shall make ye grieve that ye abided her coming here! King of England, if thus thou dost not, I, Jeanne, am the leader of battle, and wherever I meet your people in France, be they willing or unwilling, I will force them to depart; or, if they refuse, I will slay and utterly destroy them all. I am sent by God, the King of Heaven, body to body, to thrust ye out of all France, but if you obey, I will take ye into mercy and good friendship. And be not obstinate, for you shall not keep the realm of France, witness Jesus, the King of Heaven, and son of Mary! The Dauphin, Charles, its true inheritor, shall possess it; for God, the Mightiest, hath so decreed, and so hath revealed His will to the Maid: he shall enter Paris with a noble company!"

"Here is a precious cart-load of stony words turned all into our ears at once!" exclaimed Talbot, when the herald paused for breath. "But is there more?"

"Thus she bade me reply, 'Better to-day than to-morrow, better to-morrow than later!" replied the herald.

A learned herald, that may only utter what is put into his mouth like a trumpet," said Sir Thomas Gladesdale. "Yet I'll wager me, he would blazon us our Lord's coat armor as wisely as any man! Tell the Maid from me, I will make her welcome to my tent, an she will come without her steel petticoats. There is no devil in any woman that Gladesdale cannot tame."

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But this is an angel, Sir Thomas Gladesdale," returned the fanatic herald. "And for thy blasphemy, I tell thee, never shalt thou depart alive from her presence when ye meet."

"Dost thou share her gifts? canst thou prophesy too? why then, by that Heaven she keeps ringing in our ears, thou shalt share her rewards," shouted Talbot. "Take hence these wizard messengers and burn them, as we will the hag their mistress, when we catch her."

"I am ready, do your worst!" returned the undaunted herald.

"Nay, Talbot, we may not offer harm to a man of his office," interposed Suffolk. "It would shame us before all knighthood." "I have but spoken the truth. Burn me if indeed all that I have said comes not to pass !" said the herald.

"If ye believe not these tidings from Heaven and the Maid," continued the herald, "this more am I to add: wherever we find you, we will pour upon ye, and make so wild a Ha-ha! among your ranks as hath not, for a thousand years, been seen in warlike France. And know for certain, that So be it: and Sir John Fastolfe shall have the Mighty One will give more power to the the custody of him, for he it is that chiefly avers Maid and those she leads, than all resistance, this Joan to be a witch," returned Talbot, laughmarched all England to the rescue! And on the ing bitterly. Orleans, that shall be Rheims! day of battle, it shall be seen which hath the thou shalt tarry with us until thy lady comes for better right to France-her children, or strangers. thee, and thy fellow shall return to her to bid her Duke of Bedford! the Maid prays and requires go back to her cow-keeping, or come hither and you to destroy no more. Do justice, and yet ye be grilled with her harbinger." of England may go in her company to do the most glorious achievement that ever yet hath been done in Christendom. And now, answer whether ye will make a gentle peace with the city of Orleans, for if ye do not, in brief time great harm will there befall you. Thus from the Maid, noble messires."

The herald was silent, and so was the whole audience for several moments, with amazement. "What, nothing else; nothing more from prating Joan?" said Talbot, at length. "Hark, Bedford! canst thou hear this loud talk in Paris? Dost thou quake at it? The King of England? |

CHAPTER XIII.

ORLEANS.

"But you, that are polluted with your lusts,
Stain'd with the guiltless blood of innocents,
Corrupt and tainted with a thousand vices,
Because you want the grace that others have,
You judge it straight a thing impossible
To compass wonders, but by help of devils."
HENRY VI.

WHILE thus Jeanne d'Arc spread terror as a

sorceress through the English camp, she was al- chosen by heaven to redeem France! The symmost worshiped as a divinely inspired prophet-pathy of class was roused. The superstition of ess by the soldiery of France, and its enthusiastic the age gave unbounded scope to credulity; the populations. And not the least of the miracles reverence toward women, inspired by Celtic destined to be wrought by the heroic peasant tradition, and by the worship of the Virgin, girl, was the unanimity which prevailed among smoothed the way of the warlike prophetess. all parties at the court concerning her. Envy In an incredibly brief time, the renown of Jeanwas mute, and even ridicule silenced beneath the ne d'Arc spread throughout the length and sway of the mingled grandeur and simplicity of breadth of France. Hope revived instantaneousa nature, which excited so many hopes, and so ly, as the flowers spring beneath the steps of a few fears. The despairing and voluptuous king goddess, and three short weeks undid the labors himself was roused to exertion; the beauteous of twenty years. Agnes stifled a vague dread of the woman in her admiration of the warrior; the jealous La Trimouille closed for an instant, all the hundred eyes of his suspicions.

Powerful motives were no doubt at work that aided the effect produced by the appearance of so bright and pure a luminary in those alien skies. The desperation to which things were reduced, made any chance of relief, however wild, be clutched at with avidity. Agnes Sorel loved the king, but with an ambitious and haughty spirit that required him to continue a king to be loved, and her taste for magnificence and splendor gave her a gamester's recklessness of the means to attain them. The secret bitterness that dwelt in her heart at the degradation she had brought on a lofty name, made her willing to hazard even the idol she had sacrificed it to, in order to deck it with glories that might excuse the idolator. La Trimouille's hatred of the constable, his fears that necessity would else compel the king to receive him again, encouraged him to any venture that might restore the balance without his aid.

From Poictiers, Jeanne was conveyed to Blois, where preparations for the relief of Orleans were actively advancing. A retinue was now assigned her; armor, horses, and attendants, liberally provided. An old knight of good renown, called Jean d'Olun, a squire, pages, and Friar Richard, as confessor, formed the principal part of her attendants.

A large convoy of provisions was nearly in readiness, furnished either by the new zeal of the towns, or the gold found by the argentier in his magic coffers of credit. A resolute host was assembled, consisting chiefly of volunteers, attracted by curiosity and enthusiasm, to combat under a supernatural leader. The famous generals and nobles who were appointed to lead these forces, were mostly animated by a different spirit, but conducing to the same end. The ferocious Marshal de Raix, and the milder Saint Sevère, were equally glad to be rid of the sway of the Duke of Alençon, whom they disliked for different reasons. Neither expected that a woman would presume to exert authority in military matters, or that the glory of success would be attributed to her. Hatred and wrath against the conquerors, who had stripped so many among them of vast wealth and sway, disposed the rest to welcome an oracle that promised vengeance and restoration.

Much of Jeanne's sudden court favor was also to be ascribed to the influence of the Archbishop of Rheims. His tried wisdom and pontifical rank gave him an authority, which he exerted unceasingly in her behalf. In addition to mundane motives of the most powerful nature, it could not but flatter the feelings of a churchman to offer The archbishop felt that now the most hazardFrance a deliverer, whose inspiration was so ous period of his charge's probation had arrived. deeply tinged with a devotional spirit. The co- Surrounded by the luster and license of a camp, gitations of the ambitious minister, and of the ri- youthful, and endowed with beauty of a wild val statesman, might also be agreeably allured and rustic order, indeed, but of a grand and alby the certainty that he possessed the means of most unknown kind, in its irradiation of genius governing the powers of the sublime mechanism and high thought, there was reason enough for thus set in motion. apprehension. But the heroic severity and siThe archbishop accompanied Jeanne to Poic-lence of Jeanne's manner surrounded her with tiers, whither she was sent to be examined by an atmosphere into which the boldest feared to the doctors of theology and prelates, who formed break. Reserved and seemingly lost in visiona considerable part of the parliament there as-ary musings, save when some topic was touched sembled. A commission chosen by -Regnault that related to the great object of her mission, from among the most devoted adherents of the archbishop then observed with delight and Charles VII., and presided over by himself, was wonder, the change which came over his heronot likely to pronounce unfavorably; but the ine. Her brooding and dreamy contemplativeeloquence, passion, and enthusiasm of the heroic ness vanished, and she spoke with the authority girl won belief from many who came only to and decision of one born to command and guide. pretend to it. An unanimous judgment certified The oldest captains listened with amazement to her divine mission, though cautiously worded, the opinions she delivered on their science, and with an eye to very possible failure. found fault only with the extraordinary boldness of her plans.

The people, however, had not waited for the decrees of doctors and theologians, to pronounce A new sign came over the aspect of the on the lawfulness of the grand patriotic impulse times, and had the generals of Charles VII. which brought them so marvelous a deliverer. shrunk from the dangerous toil before them, The tidings roused the masses throughout they could no longer retract. The fire of that France, as if by one electric shock of sympathy. heroic spirit had fallen, and kindled the comThe common people, who had looked on the monest clay. The French soldiery, lately so struggle with much of the dismal indifference of despairing, who could scarcely be induced to an ox for which a wolf and panther contend, face the English when they stood ten to one, were stirred by the marvelous news, that one of now longed only to be led to battle against them, their despised and brutalized order had been in whatever number arrayed. The meanest be

lieved himself visibly supported by Heaven in eyes. "I brought you a nobler succor than ever the person of the maiden of Domremy. Gener- yet came to soldier or city-and ye have rejected ous and chivalric feeling revived in the souls of it!" the French knighthood when they beheld a woman dare the peril from which they had shrunk. The army for the relief of Orleans assembled at Blois, in numbers far exceeding the most sanguine hopes of the master mechanists, and composed of far better materials than of late the discomfited ranks of France had mustered.

To be led directly against the English, and against that Talbot, whose name had so long been the terror of France, was the constant entreaty and desire of the maiden-general. But dread of that renowned soldier and his host was not yet put out of the calculations of the French leaders, as it was by the flaming enthusiasm of the people. Moreover, there was probably some desire on the part of the marshals to show the world that military prudence had as much to do as inspiration in the expected triumphs.

The last fear of the archbishop now remained to be essayed, that the woman-heart of Jeanne d'Arc might fail her when she came to encounter the actual horrors of conflict. But the joyful serenity with which, in the presence of the whole army, she knelt to receive his parting blessing, -the bright lightning flash of exultation that streamed from her eyes when, leaping on her charger's back, she unfurled her banner for the first time amidst the deafening shouts of her troops,-tranquillized him on this head. He had only to stifle the deep inward pang of remorse he could not but feel when the devoted championess rode forth on her terrible enterprise; and with the usual anodynes that statesmen and rulers lay to their consciences, he managed it.

Much against his secret wish, Friar Richard was obliged to accompany the march of the troops. He was personally not very valiant; but he felt he had staked too much now to draw back, if he would reap the fruits of his enterprising ingenuity. Yet he was perhaps the only one that went with a faltering and uncertain heart, to the relief of Orleans, of all the host; and yet he might be said in one sense, to be the motive power of the whole.

"It is true," said Dunois, dejectedly turning to the two marshals. "The Loire is flooded at an unusual season of the year, and the force of the current is such that heavily laden boats can only mount it by strength of sail-the oar is powerless! But, lo, the wind is against us, and Fastolfe may by this time have heard of our tidings, beneath whose strongly fortified bastille we must pass, with a slow herd of bestial and corn-carts! The pause will give time for the English to pour in upon us from all sides-so ye must needs make the best of your way back to Blois !"

"Then will relief never more approach Orleans," exclaimed Friar Richard, in an agony of disappointment that overcame his physical fears.

"Is Fastolfe yonder-yonder in the ruined abbey, surrounded by walls and mounds of earth?" said Jeanne d'Arc, pointing to St. Loup, with her sheathed sword, and with dilating nostrils. "Halt! the false manslayer dares never meet me in the field! He knows that victory is given to me! And what say you of the winds? Behold they change-see ye not my plume waves toward Orleans? Let the boats descend; we shall have wind enough to mount against the waters!"

It was even so. By no miracle, but the prescience acquired by her habits of observation as a shepherdess, Jeanne d'Arc perceived that the wind was rapidly shifting in the desired direction. But it appeared so unhoped and singular an event that the spectators were struck as if with a visible prodigy.

"Let us march-God is with us!" exclaimed Dunois. "Send an arrow aloft with a trail of crimson silk; which is to be the signal to our boatmen in Orleans, and let us on to St. Loup !"

It was now the second day since Fastolfe had taken possession of his quarters at St. Loup. He found the massive ruin in excellent military order, as it had been left by the Burgundians, planned apparently with all possible strengths and defenses known to the science of the age. But his soldiers perceived that their captain applied his attention The captains persuaded Jeanne that they were as if against the spiritual foes they already so leading her against the main siege of the Eng- much apprehended. He caused numerous masses lish, instead of which, they advanced on the to be said, in which yet he did not join, to the southern shore of the river, and avoided any risk repose of the defunct whose violated tombs were of obstruction by taking a wide circuit through around them. He ordered Jeanne's herald to be the forest of Orleans. None of them expected bound in massive irons, and kept him prisoner the display of fiery wrath and indignation into in the vaults of the abbey-and yet was conwhich Jeanne burst when arriving on the out- tinually questioning him about her doings! The skirts of the forest the convoy and army halted, whole circuit of the fortification he caused to be and it was explained to her that they must await daily sprinkled with holy water, and prayers the arrival of Dunois from the opposite shores of offered at the chief points against the power of the Loire to ascertain if it would be possible to the enemy of mankind. All in vain! for when convey the provisions into the city. Dunois suddenly the convoy of provisions with his attenhimself was astonished when dexterously elud-dant army poured from the forest of Orleans, and ing the observation of the besiegers, he arrived approached the bastille of St. Loup, so panic a at the place of appointment, and found Jeanne terror assailed every heart that even the sentinels administering sharp and fierce rebukes to her on the ramparts made no attempt to give the deceivers. alarm, but stared aghast until nearly the whole mass of the defenders crowded up on the ramparts.

"Bastard of Orleans!" she exclaimed as soon as she saw him. "Is it you that gave counsel I should be brought hither, and not full shock on the English and Talbot ?"

66 I and others wiser gave that counsel, Jeanne, believing it wiser and safer," replied Dunois.

"In God's name, the counsel of heaven is wiser and safer than yours!" she returned with flashing

There was, indeed, something of magic in the abrupt apparition of this numerous host, so well covered was the march, or so negligent the English watch. It seemed as if the ground had yawned and cast up an armed multitude escorting so great a supply of provisions, in the shape of