CHAPTER VIII.

Boulag Akasir had by this time come to the environs of Bordeaux and was threatening that city. He established his camp a short distance away, his army consisting of twenty thousand troops, and feeling sure of victory, commenced at once to devastate the suburbs.

These exciting events, while they in a measure diverted Maugis from his perplexity and gloom by appealing to his warlike spirit, by no means lightened the intense depression. The coldness of Yolande and her inexplicable aversion and avoidance of him were maddening. Do what he would, she would not meet him and a note that he addressed to her demanding the reason of her strange conduct was returned to him with the seal unbroken.

Had Maugis been less absorbed by the prospect of being united to Yolande when he first entered the court of King Yon, he would have seen among the entourage of the king an evil face that glanced at him in no friendly way. It was that of a monk, who had but recently arrived from the north, and whose great learning and piety had gained him almost instant favor and an influential position in court. This friar, Anselm Gorieux, was the uncle of the perfidious Ganelon, who was inspired by bitter hatred and jealousy of Maugis. This monk hated Maugis, as well on his own account, because in a conflict at wit with Maugis, at a banquet, the latter had turned the laugh against him and caused his proud soul to chafe under the humiliation, and to resolve upon the direst revenge. He had purposely come to the court of King Yon, in the interest of his nephew, urged by him to seek the ear of Yolande and prejudice Maugis, persistently hoping that with his rival dethroned from her favor his own chances might improve, and that he yet might be able to win her.

The crafty monk found little difficulty in gaining the confidence of Yolande, to whose fervent religious nature his great piety, humility and learning at once appealed.

Cautiously, so as not to alarm his timid prey, he held much discourse with her upon the awful power of the evil one; how he possessed himself of the souls of those who were willing to barter them for worldly gain. Then he held up to her, casually, Maugis as such a one; told her that even an emissary of Satan had abode under his father’s roof, and under the guise of a learned man of the east had taught the young man the worst of black arts and sorceries.

The monk told her Maugis had been won over to Satan, had become a sorcerer, and a practicer of all the foul arts. He showed her how the great exploits that had made him the hero of the day were simply manifestations of the evil one to whom he had sold his soul; that his time of glory was brief, and he, and all who loved him, would finally rest under the curse of God.

Yolande, as she slowly comprehended these dreadful revelations, was grief-stricken and dismayed. Her idol was shattered, and although she concealed the anguish that consumed her heart, she nearly sobbed her reason away in the quiet of her chamber.

The surprise of Friar Anselm was indeed great at the unexpected presence of Maugis at the court. He had not looked for this and would have certainly devoted himself to prejudicing the king also, only the exciting events then occurring gave him no opportunity.

Meanwhile a force of the Saracens was devastating the suburbs of Bordeaux, and the alarm caused by this movement spread quickly.

Maugis, to observe for himself the operations, mounted the walls, and his trained eye saw at once it was only a small part of the main army of the enemy who were making the attack. He then advised his brothers and his cousin Renaud to arm and place themselves in readiness at the head of their men. Arming himself also he hastened to the king.

He gave King Yon the assurance that the advance guard of the enemy would be destroyed, and having accomplished that he would attack the main army, he and his brothers, and that they would drive him from the field. He recommended the king to hold himself in readiness to come to their succor if it should be required. As he left the royal presence he cast one look at Yolande, who stood there pale and proud, but who only gazed upon him coldly. He little knew that within, and beneath that forbidding exterior, her gentle heart was surging with love and pity for him.

A sad heart makes some men more determined, and it was this feeling that possessed Maugis as he hastened to place himself at the head of the attacking party.

When he saw the forces of Maugis emerge from the gate of Bordeaux, Boulag Akasir advanced promptly to meet him. His unvarying successes had made him arrogant and over-confident, and when he perceived this small army of King Yon he hoped to capture it. But he counted without Maugis, who, cool and calm, disposed his troops skillfully and quietly encouraged his men both by voice and gesture.

At a given signal the troops of Maugis charged upon the enemy with great vigor, and they being accustomed to conduct just the reverse from their opponents, stopped, struck with stupor. Boulag Akasir, who saw at once that it was their chief who had infused that small army with so much ardor, rushed upon Maugis to fell him, but the latter skillfully parried the awful blow, which instead laid low a knight of Bordeaux. Alard, in his turn, attacked the Saracen, but that celebrated warrior seemed to bear a charmed life and evaded with amazing dexterity the furious blows aimed at him.

The battle then became general all along the line. The brothers Aymon were everywhere, and each performed prodigious deeds of valor.

Yolande, breathless with anxiety and almost fainting, witnessed the bravery of Maugis from the walls, and in her inmost heart could not believe that such great actions could be inspired by the evil one.

It was now King Yon, who, until this time had remained a spectator, could no longer resist action, and giving his war-cry, rushed at the head of his troops to the side of Maugis, and hurled himself upon the Saracens, taking them completely by surprise. But they resisted desperately, as Saracens always do, because their religion would never permit them to fly, and who would stand and even submit to have their throats cut rather than retreat.

Boulag, seeing his army diminishing every minute, and wishing to preserve his soldiers for another battle under more favorable auspices, gave the signal to retreat. But that order was contrary to the law of Mohammed and his troops executed it very unwillingly.

During this period of hesitation, Maugis, supported by his Cousin Renaud and his brothers, were creating havoc in the ranks of the confused enemy, until, finally, becoming panic-stricken, the Saracens took to flight.

Boulag himself turned his back and fled, with Maugis in pursuit.

The chief of the Saracens was mounted on an Arab horse of great speed, and Bayard, the magnificent horse of Maugis, had great difficulty in keeping up with him. But he persistently followed until the chase had kept up for three hours, and fully thirty miles had been covered at this terrific pace. The blood of Maugis was up and it was a pursuit of life and death.

In the meantime every one thought that Maugis was lost. They searched for him everywhere, but he could not be found. They gave him up for dead and the whole army uttered cries of sorrow and despair. The three brothers of Maugis were inconsolable. Supported by her maidens, Yolande was removed, half-fainting to her chamber. It was in vain King Yon tried to reassure the brothers.

Renaud, however, who never despaired, assembled two hundred soldiers, and accompanied by the king and the three brothers, followed in the tracks of the pursuer and pursued.

[Illustration: OLD SPANISH HOUSES.]

Meanwhile, Maugis had caught up with Boulag Akasir, who, trembling at the persistence of the pursuit, and infuriated withal, saw that he could not escape defending himself, and suddenly turned and struck at Maugis with his lance. Quick as the movement was, Maugis luckily saw it and with consummate skill parried the blow with such force that the weapon of Boulag was shivered in pieces over his shield. Profiting by the momentary stupefaction of his enemy, Maugis felled the horse of the Saracen to the ground, stunned by a blow of his sword. Boulag was himself stunned, but quickly arose to his feet and faced Maugis. He, however, with true chivalry, would not take advantage of his position, but descended from his own horse to do battle with him on equal footing, even courteously waiting for his opponent to recover his breath.

Then there commenced a terrible conflict, a duel to the death, in which the furious strokes and parryings followed each other with lightning rapidity. But the brave Boulag finally fell to the earth sore wounded. In an instant Maugis was upon him and was about to give him a finishing stroke, when Boulag cried: “Grace! I pray thee!”

“Dog of an infidel,” replied Maugis, “thou doest well to crave mercy, thou who hast never given!”

“Sir knight,” pleaded Boulag, “I will give thee anything thou mayst ask of me, so long as my life be spared.”

“No!” answered Maugis, “I will take nothing from thee, but thou art brave and I will accord thee life only on one condition. That is that you abjure thy religion of Mohammed and become converted to mine.”

“I accept thy terms,” cried Boulag, “the more willing because I never have been a firm believer in Mohammed.”

Then regaining his feet he tendered his sword to Maugis, but Maugis generously refused to take it from him.

They then mounted horse and set out for Bordeaux. Maugis, with his prisoner, giving thanks that he had been able to exterminate the army of the Saracens.

Thus the conqueror and the conquered were quietly pursuing their way to the city, whiling the time in conversation on religion and other topics, when they were met unexpectedly by King Yon and his suite. Thereupon there was a most happy meeting between Maugis, his three brothers and his Cousin Renaud.

“Sire,” then said Maugis, “I deliver up to thee Boulag Akasir, who has delivered himself into my hands and hath abjured his religion to be henceforth a Christian. I pray thee grant him all the regard due a brave knight.”

“Brave knight!” exclaimed the king to Maugis, “I should ill, indeed, requite thee, savior of my kingdom, did I other than thou desirest with this mighty warrior. So be it. He shall be presented to our court with a dignity becoming his rank, and the past shall be forgotten.”

In the excess of his gratitude. King Yon further insisted on dividing his kingdom into three parts. One to be given Maugis, one to the three brothers and Renaud, and the remaining portion to the army.

Maugis would not hear of this and was inflexible in his refusal to accept.

King Yon was much disconcerted by the declination of Maugis to accept any reward, and casting about in his mind for some delicate way to reward him for his inestimable services, the thought came of offering him the hand of his beautiful sister. He could think of no greater way of showing his regard, but at the time he remained silent on the subject.

Boulag, having in due form been made a Christian, was longing ardently to return to his native land. He appealed to the tender-hearted Yolande to secure him this boon. She willingly undertook to do so, and pleaded his cause so earnestly with the king that the request was granted, provided he paid to Maugis a ransom; the king courteously pretending to conduct the negotiations in the name of Maugis. The king, agreeable to the proposition of Boulag himself, fixed the ransom at six mule-loads of gold and that he also abandon Toulouse, and the country thereabouts.

Having thus been freed, Boulag, accompanied by some faithful servitors, departed for his own land.

Yon, who had now become richer and more powerful than ever, tried to induce Maugis to accept entire the ransom of Boulag, but he again refused, praying the king to reserve his bounty until the day came when he should demand his services.

That day was very soon in presenting itself.

The war being concluded, and Boulag having departed with his followers from the territories of King Yon, there remained little for Maugis, his three brothers and Renaud to do, but ride about the country and pursue the chase.

One day Maugis, followed by his companions, were riding out when a view burst upon their eyes that caused them, as if moved by one impulse, to stop. They were riding on the banks of the Dordogne. The eyes of Maugis were fixed upon a mountain on the other side of the river which, surrounded by beautiful plains, rose high into the blue sky. Easy of access, while perfect for defense, its top presented a fine level surface upon which to build.

This site suggested to Maugis an idea he had long entertained. Said he: “Montfort no longer exists, but we can easily replace it if we choose. Here is a situation which combines all the necessary conditions of impregnability, and here we could brave the anger of Charlemagne.”

His companions being equally impressed in favor of this idea, the five gave the place a most careful examination, and on their return to the court they sought the royal presence, and Maugis said: “Sire, we are homeless and would make for ourselves an abiding place. We have found a certain mountain near the river Dordogne, on which we could build a château, if we have thy royal favor.”

King Yon, anxious to reward the great services of the brave knights, was about to give his consent when the crafty monk, Gorieux, stepped to his side and whispered in his ear:

“Sire! I pray thee have a care. Dost want the wrath of Charlemagne to descend on thee, then harbor these outlaws, for such they be, and no sooner shall the emperor learn that thou hast housed them and enriched them than thy peace, and perhaps thy life, will be jeopardized.”

At these words the king only frowned and replied: “Dost suppose the fear of any such consequences will deter me from rewarding these brave men who have saved me my kingdom and my very life?” and turning to the five knights he not only gave them the mountain, but besides, authorized them to construct a château upon it, and gave them likewise all the land that surrounded it.

Such a great favor as this did not fail to create jealousy among certain of his courtiers. One of his peers, who was in love with the beautiful Yolande, and who had been jealous of Maugis ever since his arrival, could not support the idea of this being carried out without an attempt to discourage the king from making a false move. He therefore remarked:

“Sire! without doubt these brave knights are masters of the situation, but is it wise or for thy well being to support and nourish a foreign force at thy door, whom chance might make thy master, or is it wise to support these men in all their exigencies? Reward them well and suffer them to depart.”

The king, however, was not to be moved, and appealing to Maugis, said:

“Sir knight! if I grant thee this favor it would be well we should know what to expect from thee on thy part, for in so doing I put myself at thy mercy in a certain sense, but,” continued the king, “I have every confidence and I believe you will never abuse it.”

In reply the five knights kneeled before the king, kissed his hand and then swore eternal fidelity.

The brothers and Maugis were not long in commencing the work and the fortress was rapidly constructed. The fortifications were made truly formidable, and the mountain bestrewn with heavy walls and towers to protect the principal works, which in due time were finished.

Maugis and Renaud prayed that King Yon would come and baptize the new fortress, an invitation which he courteously accepted, and the imposing ceremonies were attended by all the court. Maugis, however, observed with a sad heart the absence of Yolande. His mind was torn with various doubts and conjectures to account for the strange conduct of the princess, and he resolved at the first opportunity to seek an interview and demand an explanation.

The fortress was named Montaubon, and Maugis then sent to all the surrounding country and caused to be published an edict of the king, that whosoever would take service under Maugis in the new city would be granted six years freedom.[1]

[Footnote 1: In those feudal days the common people were in a condition of serfdom, little better than slavery.]

This had the effect of rapidly filling the new city with inhabitants, and soon Maugis, Renaud and the three brothers took possession of their new domain.

Meanwhile the complaints of the discontented courtiers grew louder and deeper, and rumors of the alliance of Maugis with the evil one, cautiously spread by the crafty monk, flew from lip to lip, until reaching the ears of Maugis, caused him to become aware of the seriousness of the position and the impending liability of his falling under the displeasure of the king. Active steps must at once be taken, and he, who had never a thought of breaking his oath, at once renewed his oath of fidelity.

The council of state was convened when he presented himself, and he took the occasion to face his accusers and demand of the discontented to formulate their complaints to his face, and that he would satisfactorily explain anything that could be offered.

Then spoke Adelbert Leon de Bayonne: “Sire!” said he, “it doubtless be true this knight hast rendered thee great service and it is fitting thou should reward him, but thou art not called upon to abandon all caution and deliver thyself into his power. He is now installed in a strong fortress, and with a powerful army in the midst of thy kingdom thou hast placed him in a position of power over thee.”

“And what else be there to my disfavor?” demanded Maugis.

“Sire!” said Gorieux, the monk, “there is much reason for believing this knight hath given himself into the service of the evil one. It is well known that he, in his tender youth, hath been in the power of a learned magician of the East, a worker of evil, a follower of the evil arts, a minion of Satan, who hath instilled into him much magical knowledge, and hath persuaded him to give his soul up to Satan.”

A dark frown overspread the face of Maugis at these words, but he controlled himself.

“Are there others who would accuse me?” he demanded, fixing his stern gaze on the assembled courtiers.

Silence was the only reply, and stepping forward, Maugis said impressively: “Sire! if it be true that I am in the service of Satan, how ill hath he requited me? I am persecuted by the emperor, attacked, pursued, hunted and banished from my home. It is true, a learned pundit from the East, a good and holy man, though his beliefs were not our beliefs, was my tutor. It is true he taught me much of occult things, but only relating to the laws of nature, which are as an open book to the wise of the Orient. It is true that this knowledge of the mysteries of nature, when I seek to direct them to my use, would give me certain powers over men, and it is true that this noble, wise man died blessing those who had saved him from death and counseling me ever to be true to my faith and my honor. Callest thou this noble philosopher a minion of evil? Can any man say here aught but that in battle I have relied on any occult aid other than this good sword and my strong arm? Or, if I be a follower of the evil one, why should I seek to make Boulag Akasir a Christian?”

These brave and candid words made a deep impression on the council.

“More, sire!” continued Maugis, “I stand now ready to swear my fealty to my God and his saints and to never henceforth on any occasion seek to use my occult powers; to utterly abandon and to never recall them. As to my fidelity to your majesty, my brothers and myself have given our word, and you all know we are incapable of breaking it. If thou knowest of any other means whereby we can reassure you, be pleased to indicate them and we will accept them.”

The fairness, the candor, and the noble bearing of Maugis convinced the king of his sincerity, and even those who hated the brave knight were conquered though not changed.

The council then broke up, the king retiring with Godefroy de Moulin, his counselor, promising to consider the matter and soon give his decision.