nsive then? No! She sprang to her feet;
she set down the little Charlotte, who was playing in her arms; she
seized her weapons, her page flew to bring her full armour. Her
horse was already in waiting; she swung upon his back. She waved
her hand and called to us to rally about her.

"The English are preparing to fight!" she cried (how did she know?
none had told her), "but follow me, and they will strike no blow."

Already La Hire was at her side, seeking to dissuade her from
leaving the shelter of the town. She smiled at him, and rode
through the gate, her white banner floating in the wind.

"See yonder; that is the point of danger. We will station ourselves
there, and watch our brave army march past. They shall not be hurt
nor dismayed. All shall be well!"

So we rode, wondering and amazed, behind and around her, and at the
appointed spot, in the very midst of the English lines, we halted,
and made a great avenue for the army from Blois to pass through.
All gazed in wonder at the Maid. All saluted deeply. The English in
their towers gazed in amaze, but fired no shot. We all passed into
the city in safety.

Great God, but how would it be with our Maid when the real battle
and bloodshed should begin?

CHAPTER X. HOW THE MAID LED US INTO BATTLE.

"It was well indeed that you sent me forth on that mission, my
Chieftainess," spoke Dunois, as we sat at the long table in the
Treasurer's house, refreshing ourselves after the fatigues of the
march to and from the city, and the anxiety of awaiting an attack,
which had not come. He bowed towards the Maid in speaking, calling
her by a playful title in vogue amongst the officers and Generals
who were her friends. "Though what prompted you to that act of
sagacity is more than I know. I had no misgivings that there would
be trouble with the army."

"My voices warned me," answered the Maid gently. "It was not much;
yet a little leaven often leavens the whole lump. They needed just
the leader's eye and voice to recall them to their duty."

"Truly that is just how the matter stood," spoke Sir Guy in low
tones to us twain, Bertram and I, who sat on either side of him at
the other end of the board.

He had been one to depart and return with Dunois, and we looked
eagerly to him for explanation.

"There are ever timid spirits in all ranks, and traitors or
faint-hearted friends are never far away in such times as these.
The army which would have followed the Maid to the