ht of Ogier bent their backs to the ground. In
this embarrassment the Archbishop remembered that the Emperor had given
Beiffror to the Abbot of St. Faron, and sent off a courier in haste to
re-demand him.

Monks are hard masters, and the one who directed the laborers at the
abbey had but too faithfully obeyed the orders of the Abbot. Poor
Beiffror was brought back, lean, spiritless, and chafed with the
harness of the vile cart that he had had to draw so long. He carried
his head down, and trod heavily before Charlemagne; but when he heard
the voice of Ogier he raised his head, he neighed, his eyes flashed,
his former ardor showed itself by the force with which he pawed the
ground. Ogier caressed him, and the good steed seemed to return his
caresses; Ogier mounted him, and Beiffror, proud of carrying his master
again, leapt and curvetted with all his youthful vigor.

Nothing being now wanted, Charlemagne, at the head of his army, marched
forth from the city of Paris, and occupied the hill of Montmartre,
whence the view extended over the plain of St. Denis, where the battle
was to be fought.

When the appointed day came the Dukes Namo and Salomon, as seconds of
Ogier, accompanied him to the place marked out for the lists, and
Bruhier, with two distinguished Emirs, presented himself on the other
side.

Bruhier was in high spirits, and jested with his friends, as he
advanced, upon the appearance of Beiffror. "Is that the horse they
presume to match with Marchevallee, the best steed that ever fed in the
vales of Mount Atlas?" But now the combatants, having met and saluted
each other, ride apart to come together in full career. Beiffror flew
over the plain, and met the adversary more than half-way. The lances of
the two combatants were shivered at the shock, and Bruhier was
astonished to see almost at the same instant the sword of Ogier
gleaming above his head. He parried it with his buckler, and gave Ogier
a blow on his helmet, who returned it with another, better aimed or
better seconded by the temper of his blade, for it cut away part of
Bruhier's helmet, and with it his ear and part of his cheek. Ogier,
seeing the blood, did not immediately repeat his blow, and Bruhier
seized the moment to gallop off at one side. As he rode he took a vase
of gold which hung at his saddle-bow, and bathed with its contents the
wounded part. The blood instantly ceased to flow, the ear and the flesh
were restored quite whole, and the Dan