my lance!--Advance banner!--Lay your spears
in the rest!--Crevecoeur to the Rescue!"

Crying his war cry, and followed by his men at arms, he galloped rapidly
forward to charge the Schwarzreiters.

CHAPTER XXIV: THE SURRENDER

Rescue or none, Sir Knight, I am your captive:
Deal with me what your nobleness suggests--
Thinking the chance of war may one day place you
Where I must now be reckon'd--I' the roll
Of melancholy prisoners.

ANONYMOUS

The skirmish betwixt the Schwarzreiters and the Burgundian men at arms
lasted scarcely five minutes, so soon were the former put to the rout by
the superiority of the latter in armour, weight of horse, and military
spirit. In less than the space we have mentioned, the Count of
Crevecoeur, wiping his bloody sword upon his horse's mane ere he
sheathed it, came back to the verge of the forest, where Isabelle had
remained a spectator of the combat. One part of his people followed him,
while the other continued to pursue the flying enemy for a little space
along the causeway.

"It is shame," said the Count, "that the weapons of knights and
gentlemen should be soiled by the blood of those brutal swine."

So saying, he returned his weapon to the sheath and added, "This is a
rough welcome to your home, my pretty cousin, but wandering princesses
must expect such adventures. And well I came up in time, for, let me
assure you, the Black Troopers respect a countess's coronet as little
as a country wench's coif, and I think your retinue is not qualified for
much resistance."

"My Lord Count," said the Lady Isabelle, "without farther preface, let
me know if I am a prisoner, and where you are to conduct me."

"You know, you silly child," answered the Count, "how I would answer
that question, did it rest on my own will. But you, and your foolish
match making, marriage hunting aunt, have made such wild use of your
wings of late, that I fear you must be contented to fold them up in a
cage for a little while. For my part, my duty, and it is a sad one, will
be ended when I have conducted you to the Court of the Duke, at Peronne
for which purpose I hold it necessary to deliver the command of this
reconnoitring party to my nephew, Count Stephen, while I return with you
thither, as I think you may need an intercessor.--And I hope the young
giddy pate will discharge his duty wisely."

"So please you, fair uncle," said Count Stephen, "if you doubt my
capacit