after a struggle.

"Come back, come back," cried the Saracen; "sell me your horse, for
never did I behold his like! I will give you for him twice his weight
in gold, and set free besides all your nephews that have been taken
prisoners." But William loved his horse, and would not have parted
with him to Charles himself.

At length, after fighting nearly every step of the way, he saw the
towers of Orange before him, and his palace, Gloriette, where dwelt his
wife, the Lady Gibourc. "Ah, with what joy did I leave these walls,"
he said to himself, "and how many noble Knights have I lost since then!
Oh, Gibourc, my wife, will you not go mad when you hear the tidings I
have brought!" And, overcome with grief, the Count bowed his head on
the neck of his horse.

PART III.

When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and
commanded the porter to let him in. "Let down the drawbridge," called
he, "and be quick, for time presses." But he forgot that he had
changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of a Saracen;
therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon and helmet
that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and stood still
where he was. "Begone!" he said to William, "if you approach one step
nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you! Begone, I tell
you, and as quick as you can, or when William Short Nose returns from
the Aliscans it will be the worse for you."

"Fear nothing, friend," replied the Count, "for I am William himself.
I went to the Aliscans to fight the Saracens, and to help Vivian; but
all my men are dead, and I only am left to bring these evil tidings.
So open the gates, for the Saracens are close behind."

"You must wait a moment," answered the porter, and he quitted the
turret and hastened to the Lady Gibourc. "Noble Countess," cried he,
"there knocks at the drawbridge a Knight in Pagan armour, who seems
fresh from battle, for his arms are bloody. He is tall of stature and
bears himself proudly, and he says he is William Short Nose. I pray
you, my lady, come with me and see him for yourself."

The face of Gibourc grew red when she heard the porter's words, and she
left the Palace and mounted the battlements, where she called,
"Warrior, what is your will?"

"Oh, lady," answered he, "open the gate, and that quickly. Twenty
thousand Saracens are close upon my track; if they reach me, I am a
dead man."

"You cannot enter," replied Gibour