A Heroine of France

from Fierbois, and he supplemented the priests' gift of a scabbard by this second rich one. The Maid accepted it with graceful thanks; yet both the gorgeous cases were

rand pointed out that although now clean and shining, its edges were too blunt for real use. She look

Lord that it may never be my duty to shed Christian blood. And if the English King will but listen to th

ew beforehand would bring to her renown, the like of which no woman in the world's history has ever won. She would have gone back gladly, I truly believe,

what of the strange thing which had happened, and how the French were rallying round the standard of the Angelic Maid, yet would they not

the day came that we marched forth out of the Castle of Chinon, a gallant little army, with the Maid in her shining white armour and her fluttering white pennon at our head, and too

were those who declared that so desperate was the condition of the city, and so disheartened the garrison and citizens that they welcomed with joy the thought of this deliverer, and believed already that she was sent of God for their succour and salvation. Others, on the contrary, averred that the officers of

ndered greatly what view the redoubtable La Hire took of this matter, and Dunois, the Bastard of Orleans, as he was often called. For these two men, with Xaintrailles, were the ruling Generals in O

daring leader, yet cautious and sagacious withal; a man feared and beloved by those whom he led in warfare; a gay roysterer at other times, with as many strange oaths upon his lips as there are saints in t

r. Truth to tell, I was something nervous of this ordeal, and there were many who shared my doubts and fears. But the Maid rode onward, serene and calm, the light of joy

ssings of an excited populace, who regarded the Maid as the saviour of the realm. They crowded to their windows and w

eserve. And so we came to the house which had been set apart for her use on her stay, and there we saw, standing at the foot of the steps which led from the courtyard into the house, a mighty, mailed fi

ugh the ranks of our escort to know that

s in a salute, and giving her his arm, he assisted her to alight, and for a few moments the two stood l

bable smile, which she kept for her friends alone. When I saw that smile in her

nk you, monsieur, for your courtesy in coming thus to meet me. For so can we

e have been like men beneath a spell--a spell too strong for us to break. You come to snap the spell, to break the yoke, and therefore I bid you great welcome on the part of myself and the citizens and soldiers o

spoke the Maid; "but soon or late it is one with

ll. Again and again, even we, who had come to believe so truly in her divine commission, were astonished at the insight she showed, the sagacity of her counsels, the wonderful authority she was able to exert over the soldiers brought together, a rude, untrained, insubordinate mass of men, collected from all ranks and classes of the people, some being little better than bands of marauders, living on prey and plunder, since

estness and power of her voice and look, for her face kindled as she spoke, and the sunshine playing upon her as she sat her charger in the glory of her s

rely it is an Angel of God come straigh

is possible for men to be concerned in, for it is as saviours and deliverers of your brethren and our country that we go; and the Lord of Hosts is with us. He has bidden us march, and He has promised to go with us, even as

ttered the name of the Most High. It seemed as though a light from Heaven fell upon her as she spoke, and a deep murm

be amongst us! Let us cleanse ourselves from all impurities; let our conversation be yea, yea, nay, nay. Let none take the name of the Lord in vain, nor soil His holy cause by vice and uncleanness. O let us all, day by day, as the sun rises anew each morning, assemble to hear Mass, and to receive the Holy Sacrament. Let every man make his confession. Holy priests are w

. Then she lifted it, and a radiant smile passed over her face, a smile as of assurance and thankful joy. She raised her hand and waved it, almost as though she blessed, whilst she greeted her sol

were utterly gone. The soldiers were gathered in the churches to hear Mass. All that could do so attended where it was known the Maid would be, and when she had received the Sacrament herself, hundreds crowded to do the like;

onal household generally followed her example. Even La Hire would come and kneel beside her, a little behind, though it was some while before he desired to partake of the Sacrament himself. But to be near her in this act of

id with one of her frank and almost boy-like smiles, and told him that he might swear by his

kly sprung up between that rough warrior and the Maid, whom h

Dunois yet to reckon with, who had promised to come forth and meet her outside the town (for the blockade, as I have before said, was not perfect; and on t

she entered the town at all. But since the city lies to the north of the river, and the English had built around it twelve great bastilles, as they called them, and lay in all their strength on this side, it seemed too venturesome to attack in such a manner; and in this La Hire and Dunois were both agreed. But La Hire did not tell the Maid of

but there were now many notable generals and marshals and officers with the army, all of whom were resolved upon this course of action, which had been agreed upon beforehand with Dunois, and they had overborne his objections, which were something faint-hearted perhaps, for with his love an

ave touched me. We should have entered unopposed. Now much precious time must needs be lost, for how can this great army be transported

of the provisions brought for the starving city could be dispatched in the boats assembled there, it was plain that there was no transport suffici

men call the Ba

re beset by our foes; yet all within the city are taking heart of g

to come. But wherefore have I been led hither by this bank,

leaders held that this

rals and soldiers," she answered gravely. "You have made an error in this. See to

isdom of her counsel and the folly of her adversaries; for the bulk of the army had perforce to march back to Blois to cross the river there, whilst only a

on, and the deeply-laden boats began to be in peril of foundering. But as we stood watching them from the bank, an

nd a favouring breeze shall carry us all safe into the city. The English shall

ut a very few minutes later that the wind dropped to a dead calm, and a light air sprang up from a contrary direction,

to us. Moreover, with those frowning towers of the English so close upon us, crowded with soldiers who seemed to know w

ong. A silence strange and sinister seemed to hang over the line

by water and land, and entered the devoted town. There the chiefest citizens ca

men; women and children hung from the windows, showering flowers at our feet. Torches lit up the darkening scene, and shone from the breastplates and headpieces of the mailed m

eople flocked with her, till the great building was filled to overflowing with her retinue of soldiers and her self-constitute

with a little natural quiver of emotion in her voice. "Tell them

whole of the joyful and loving crowd to the house of the Treasurer Boucher, where were her quarters, and w