CHAPTER VI.

Maugis now perceived that their position was no longer tenable, as the flames by this time had made great headway and everything around them was doomed to destruction. He at once advised his brothers that it would be best to gather the remainder of their garrison together and that very night quietly vacate the fortress. When all had assembled, Hernier de la Seine was brought out, and despite all his excuses and abject protestations of devotion in the future, he was hurled from the ramparts to accompany his twelve acolytes.

Having accomplished this act of justice the little band mounted their horses and quietly rode away without trusting themselves one look behind at the ruins of their poor castle. Maugis, above all, was inconsolable, and but for the restraining words of his brother Alard, would have at one time retraced his steps.

In the meantime the emperor awaited the result of the enterprise of Hernier de la Seine with impatience, until two wounded soldiers, who had escaped the massacre, arrived in camp and announced the disaster to the royal troops.

The emperor, always very violent, could not receive such news without flying into a fury. He could not regard such a check otherwise than as a disgrace. He was even more disturbed at the escape of the fugitives, but hoping to capture them he sent a corps of his army in pursuit.

Guichard was the first to receive the news of this movement from a friendly peasant, and Maugis promptly combined the forces of the four, and placing them in a favorable position, turned and suddenly fell upon the pursuing army, having first placed their impedimenta and non-combatants in charge of a few trusted men.

The suddenness of this unexpected attack completely demoralized the enemy, who not being able to withstand the charge retreated. In spite of the bravery of Charlemagne, who had arrived on the scene, his soldiers fled for safety.

The king, wild with rage, rushed at Maugis and aimed a furious blow at him, with all the force of his mighty arm, which Maugis skillfully parried. Quick as lightning, Hughes, who saw the peril of the emperor, threw himself between the combatants and fell mortally wounded under the blow of Maugis that was intended for his chief.

“Forward!” shouted Charlemagne, and the pursuit of the four brothers commenced anew, without the loss of any time.

The four young men, however, had profited by the stupor caused by the peril to the emperor, and quickly assembling their men, fled once more, pursued closely for twelve leagues. During this time Maugis performed prodigies of valor by hovering in the rear of his command. Man after man fell under his irresistible sword and he did not lose a soldier during the entire running fight.

A swollen river was finally reached, and the emperor, exultant, now thought the end had come. But even this did not stop the intrepid brothers, for boldly plunging in they gained the other side in safety, leaving their astonished enemy on the banks of the flood, convinced this time that it was impossible to vanquish Maugis.

In face of this result in which he had met his match, and which Charlemagne received with consternation, he abandoned the pursuit and retraced his steps. Then, disbanding his army, he put off until some other time the taking of his vengeance.

In passing the ruins of the Château de Montfort, he caused it to be razed to the ground, tumbling the remaining walls into the moat and placing it beyond all possibility of repair.

Maugis and his followers now traveled more tranquilly, when, at the moment, supposing they were beyond all danger, they stumbled on the troops of their father, the Duke d’Aymon, who, with other lords and peers of the court, were proceeding to their homes. The duke, holding his duty to his emperor above all others, summoned his sons to surrender or to fight.

This the young men refused to do and begged their father to have a regard for their position and not reduce them to the last extremities.

The duke, however, turned a deaf ear to the prayer of his sons and ordered his troops to charge, himself riding at their head. The young men, fearing to wound or kill their parent, were in a most desperate place. Their men were falling all around them—so rapidly was their force diminishing, that of five hundred troops they had at beginning of the conflict only fifty now remained who were capable of fighting.

They must do something to relieve them of their terrible position.

Then it was that Maugis dismounted, and giving his horse, Bayard, to Alard, who followed him closely, suddenly ran to his father, and taking him by surprise, threw his muscular arms around him and held him firmly, Alard having meanwhile struck down Hermanfroi, who would have prevented them. During the delay this astonishing scene caused they had traversed with their men a small river that was their last chance of safety.

When he saw this movement was completed Maugis released his father, after having begged his pardon, and throwing himself on his horse behind the waiting Alard, gained the banks of the river in safety, and was soon on the other side, despite all efforts to bar his passage.

The old duke at once returned to the emperor to acquaint him of his defeat, but well pleased in his own heart that his sons should have escaped.

The great Charlemagne well illustrated the contradictory aspects of his character by his reception of the old duke as he himself possessed a strong paternal feeling. Said he:

“By the beard of St. Anthony! an unnatural father art thou, who would destroy his own children. Out of my presence! Come here no more with falsehoods on thy lips hoping to obtain new favors.”

Honest, and the reverse of all this, the poor old duke bowed his head, sighed, and departed for his château. There he recounted to his wife what had occurred and the humiliation he had received. But Edwige, instead of consoling him, reproached him bitterly for his actions.

“Thou need not,” she cried, “carry thy fidelity to the king to such a point as to destroy thine own children.”

“I know, I see now!” sighed the poor old duke, holding out his arms to the sorrowing mother as a sign of reconciliation.

“I promise thee faithfully never again will I do anything against the interest of my sons,” he cried with tears in his eyes.