what, are you here? I had
given you up for lost. We thought you had gone down in the gale the
night you started."

"We were separated from the fleet, Sir Walter, but the master held on,
and we arrived here four days after we put out. We took part in the
siege of Rennes, and have since done our best to aid the countess here."

"And their best has been much," the countess said; "not to say how
bravely they have fought upon the walls, it is to Sir John and his
little band that I owe it that the town was not surrendered days ago.
They alone remained steadfast when all others fell away, and it is due
to them that I am still able, as mistress of this town, to greet you on
your arrival. Next to Sir John himself, my thanks are due to your young
esquire, Walter Somers, who has cheered and stood by me, and to whose
suggestions I owe it that I was able at the first to sally out and
destroy the French camp while they were attacking the walls, and so
greatly hindered their measures against the town. And now, sir, will you
follow me? I have prepared for you and your knights such a banquet of
welcome as our poor means will allow, and my townspeople will see that
good fare is set before your soldiers."

That evening there was high feasting in the town, although the crash
of the heavy stones cast by the French machines against the walls never
ceased. Early the next morning Sir Walter Manny made a survey of the
place and of the disposition of the enemy, and proposed to his knights
to sally forth at once and destroy the largest of the enemy's machines,
which had been brought up close to the walls. In a few minutes the
knights were armed and mounted. Three hundred knights and esquires were
to take part in the sortie, they were to be followed by a strong body of
men-at-arms.

As soon as the gates were opened a number of archers issued out, and
taking their place at the edge of the moat, poured a rain of arrows upon
the men working the machine and those guarding it. Most of these took to
flight at once, the remainder were cut down by the men-at-arms, who at
once proceeded to hew the machine in pieces with the axes with which
they were provided. Sir Walter himself and his mounted companions
dashed forward to the nearer tents of the French camps, cut down all who
opposed them, and setting fire to the huts retired towards the city.

By this time the French were thoroughly alarmed, and numbers of knights
and men-at-arms dashed after the lit