nd,
while fighting for their lives, looked about for their uncle, whom they
knew at last by the sweep of his sword, which kept a clear space around
him. More than once Rainouart swept back fresh foes that were pressing
forwards, till the tide of battle carried him away and brought him
opposite Desrame the King. "Who are you?" asked Desrame, struck by his
face, for there was nothing royal in his dress or his arms.

"I am Rainouart, vassal of William whom I love, and if you do hurt to
him I will do hurt to you also."

"Rainouart, I am your father," cried Desrame, and he besought him to
forswear Christianity and to become a follower of Mahomet; but
Rainouart turned a deaf ear, and challenged him to continue the combat.
Desrame was no match for his son, and was soon struck from his horse.
"Oh, wretch that I am," said Rainouart to himself, "I have slain my
brothers and wounded my father--it is my staff which has done all this
evil," and he flung it far from him. He would have been wiser to have
kept it, for in a moment three giants surrounded him, and he had only
his fists with which to beat them back. Suddenly his hand touched the
sword buckled on him by Gibourc, which he had forgotten, and he drew it
from its scabbard, and with three blows clove the heads of the giants
in twain. Meanwhile King Desrame took refuge in the only ship that had
not been sunk by the Christians, and spread its sails. "Come back
whenever you like, fair father," called Rainouart after him.

PART XIV.

The fight was over; the Saracens acknowledged that they were beaten,
and the booty they had left behind them was immense. The army, wearied
with the day's toil, lay down to sleep, but before midnight Rainouart
was awake and trumpets called to arms. "Vivian must be buried," said
he, "and then the march to Orange will begin."

Rainouart rode at the head, his sword drawn, prouder than a lion; and
as he went along a poor peasant threw himself before him, asking for
vengeance on some wretches who had torn up a field of beans, which was
all he had with which to feed his family. Rainouart ordered the
robbers to be brought before him and had them executed. Then he gave
to the peasant their horses and their armour in payment of the ruined
beans. "Ah, it has turned out a good bargain for me," said the
peasant. "Blessed be the hour when I sowed such a crop."

William entered into his Palace, where a great feast was spread for the
visitors, bu