him that Ganelon
had arrived, and Charles hastened forth with Roland and Oliver, Duke
Naimes and a thousand more, to meet Ganelon. 'Greeting,' said the
traitor, bowing low; 'I bring you the keys of Saragossa, and twenty
hostages, and great gifts. The noble King Marsile beseeches you not to
blame him, because the Caliph, his uncle, has not come with me. I have
seen--seen with my own eyes--three hundred thousand men all covered
with armour sail away in ships with the Caliph for their leader,
because they could neither defend their own faith nor forswear it. But
hardly were they out of sight of land than a fierce tempest overtook
them, and they were all lost. The Caliph must have died with the rest,
or the King would have bade him come with me. As to the King himself,
sire, before a month has passed he will be in France, ready to receive
baptism in your presence. And he will become your vassal, and do
homage for the kingdom of Spain.'

'You have done wisely,' said Charles, 'and your reward shall be
great.' So trumpets were sounded and tents were struck, and the host
marched with gaiety in their hearts to France the Fair.

[Illustration: The Dream of Charlemagne]

'My war is finished,' said the King, as his army gladly turned their
backs on Spain, and at nightfall spread their tents and slept till day
began. But little he knew that four hundred thousand Unbelievers, with
shields slung from their necks and swords in their hands, were riding
silently through the mountain passes with the intent of hiding
themselves in a wood till the moment came. There they were, and the
Franks knew nothing of it, nor what would come.

Charles slept, and in his sleep he dreamed that Ganelon took his stout
lance of ash wood from his hands and brandished it in the air, then
broke it with his fists. After this dream came another. He was no
longer shut fast in by the mountains, but was at home in France,
standing in his chapel at Aix. Here a bear appeared before him and bit
so deep into his arm that it reached the bone. Then from the other
side, from the Ardennes, there sprang a leopard and would have torn
him in pieces, had not a greyhound come to his aid, and attacked first
the bear and then the leopard. 'A fight! a fight!' cried the Franks,
but they knew not which would be victorious. And all the while Charles
slept soundly. With the dawn a thousand horns awoke the sleepers, and
the clamour of a camp began. 'My lords,' said Charles, calling