ights, and
joined them in arranging the terms of combat.

While this was going on the perfidious Charlot remained behind and gave
his men the signal to advance. That cowardly troop issued from the wood
and encompassed the three knights. All three were equally surprised at
the attack, but neither of them suspected the other to have any hand in
the treason. Seeing the attack made equally upon them all, they united
their efforts to resist it, and made the most forward of the assailants
bite the dust. Cortana fell on no one without inflicting a mortal
wound, but the sword of Carahue was not of equal temper and broke in
his hands. At the same instant his horse was slain, and Carahue fell,
without a weapon, and entangled with his prostrate horse. Ogier, who
saw it, ran to his defence, and leaping to the ground covered the
prince with his shield, supplied him with the sword of one of the
fallen ruffians, and would have him mount his own horse. At that moment
Charlot, inflamed with rage, pushed his horse upon Ogier, knocked him
down, and would have run him through with his lance if Sadon, who saw
the treason, had not sprung upon him and thrust him back. Carahue leapt
lightly upon the horse which Ogier presented him, and had time only to
exclaim, "Brave Ogier, I am no longer your enemy, I pledge to you an
eternal friendship," when numerous Saracen knights were seen
approaching, having discovered the treachery, and Charlot with his
followers took refuge in the wood.

The troop which advanced was commanded by Dannemont, the exiled king of
Denmark, whom Geoffroy, Ogier's father, had driven from his throne and
compelled to take refuge with the Saracens. Learning who Ogier was, he
instantly declared him his prisoner, in spite of the urgent
remonstrances and even threats of Carahue and Sadon, and carried him
under a strong guard to the Saracen camp. Here he was at first
subjected to the most rigorous captivity, but Carahue and Sadon
insisted so vehemently on his release, threatening to turn their arms
against their own party if it was not granted, while Dannemont as
eagerly opposed the measure, that Corsuble, the Saracen commander,
consented to a middle course, and allowed Ogier the freedom of his
camp, upon his promise not to leave it without permission.

Carahue was not satisfied with this partial concession. He left the
city next morning, proceeded to the camp of Charlemagne, and demanded
to be led to the Emperor. When he reache