he said; and I said to myself, "By the ring of that, I
think she has turned this braggart into a hero. It is another of her
miracles, I make no doubt of it."

"I believe you," said Joan. "Here--take my banner. You will ride with me
in every field, and when France is saved, you will give it me back."

He took the banner, which is now the most precious of the memorials that
remain of Joan of Arc, and his voice was unsteady with emotion when he
said:

"If I ever disgrace this trust, my comrades here will know how to do a
friend's office upon my body, and this charge I lay upon them, as knowing
they will not fail me."

Chapter 11 The War March Is Begun

NO L and I went back together--silent at first, and impressed.

Finally Noel came up out of his thinkings and said:

"The first shall be last and the last first--there's authority for this
surprise. But at the same time wasn't it a lofty hoist for our big bull!"

"It truly was; I am not over being stunned yet. It was the greatest place
in her gift."

"Yes, it was. There are many generals, and she can create more; but there
is only one Standard-Bearer."

"True. It is the most conspicuous place in the army, after her own."

"And the most coveted and honorable. Sons of two dukes tried to get it,
as we know. And of all people in the world, this majestic windmill
carries it off. Well, isn't it a gigantic promotion, when you come to
look at it!"

"There's no doubt about it. It's a kind of copy of Joan's own in
miniature."

"I don't know how to account for it--do you?"

"Yes--without any trouble at all--that is, I think I do."

Noel was surprised at that, and glanced up quickly, as if to see if I was
in earnest. He said:

"I thought you couldn't be in earnest, but I see you are. If you can make
me understand this puzzle, do it. Tell me what the explanation is."

"I believe I can. You have noticed that our chief knight says a good many
wise things and has a thoughtful head on his shoulders. One day, riding
along, we were talking about Joan's great talents, and he said, 'But,
greatest of all her gifts, she has the seeing eye.' I said, like an
unthinking fool, 'The seeing eye?--I shouldn't count on that for much--I
suppose we all have it.' 'No,' he said; 'very few have it.' Then he
explained, and made his meaning clear. He said the common eye sees only
the outside of things, and judges by that, but the seeing eye pierces
through and reads the heart and the s