laughed at her fears; and the more she tried to dissuade
him, the more he set his mind on seeing his brother the Lorrainer, and
on carrying to him the head of the great wild boar of Puelle. Neither
prayers nor tears could turn him from his purpose. All the gold in the
world, he said, would not tempt him to give up the adventure.

So on the morrow morning, before the sun had fairly risen, Bego made
ready to go. As this was no warlike enterprise, he dressed himself in
the richest garb of knightly hero,--with mantle of ermine, and spurs of
gold. With him he took three dozen huntsmen, all skilled in the lore
of the woods, and ten packs of hunting hounds. He had, also, ten
horses loaded with gold and silver and costly presents, and more than a
score of squires and serving-men. Tenderly he bade fair Beatrice and
his two young sons good-by. Ah, what grief! Never was he to see them
more.

Going by way of Orleans, Bego stopped a day with his sister, the lovely
Helois. Three days he tarried at Paris, the honored guest of the king
and queen. Then pushing on to Valenciennes, which was on the borders
of the great forest, he took up lodging with a rich burgher called
Berenger the Gray.

"Thou hast many foes in these parts," said the burgher, "and thou
wouldst do well to ware of them."

Bego only laughed at the warning. "Didst thou ever know a Gascon to
shun danger?" he asked. "I have heard of the famed wild boar of
Puelle, and I mean to hunt him in this wood, and slay him. Neither
friends nor foes shall hinder me."

On the morrow Berenger led the duke and his party into the wood, and
showed them the lair of the beast. Out rushed the monster upon his
foes; then swiftly he fled, crashing through brush and brake, keeping
well out of the reach of the huntsmen, turning every now and then to
rend some too venturesome hound. For fifteen leagues across the
country he led the chase. One by one the huntsmen lost sight of him.
Toward evening a cold rain came up; and they turned, and rode back
toward Valenciennes. They had not seen the duke since noon. They
supposed that he had gone back with Berenger. But Bego was still
riding through the forest in close pursuit of the wild boar. Only
three hounds kept him company.

The boar was well-nigh wearied out, and the duke knew that he could not
go much farther. He rode up close behind him; and the fierce animal,
his mouth foaming with rage, turned furiously upon him. But t