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 M
aid 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.
A Heroine of France: The Story of Joan of Arc Page 10