ass of Roncevalles, Roland took up his ground and prepared for
the fight, which he knew must come shortly. And Ganelon, the traitor,
knew it too.

High were the mountains, and dark the valleys; terrible were the
defiles amidst the black rocks. The army marched slowly and with great
difficulty; fifteen miles away you could hear the sound of their
tramping. But when they caught sight of Gascony, of France, where they
had left their homes and their wives, there was not a man among them
who did not weep for happiness. Charles alone shed tears of sorrow,
for he thought of his nephew in the passes of Spain. 'Ganelon has
betrayed us,' said he to Duke Naimes, 'and he has betrayed Roland too.
It was he who caused him to stay behind with the rear-guard, and if I
lose him--O God! I shall never find such another.'

The nephew of Marsile had craved a boon, that he and eleven of his
comrades should measure themselves against the Twelve Peers of France,
and that none but himself should strike the first blow at Roland. The
noblest subjects of Marsile flocked at his call, and a gay show they
made when ready for battle, and mounted on horses as eager for the
fray as themselves. So great was the noise that the sound reached even
to the French camp. 'I think, comrade, that it will not be long before
we fight with the Saracens,' said Oliver.

'May it be as you say,' answered Roland; 'it is our duty to make a
stand here for the King, as one should be ready to suffer all pains
for one's liege lord. For him one must endure heat and cold, hunger
and thirst, and strike hard blows with all one's might, and take heed
that no evil song can be made on us after we are dead. The right is on
the side of the Christians. Look to yourselves, for you will never see
a bad example from me.'

THE BATTLE

Oliver had climbed a hill, from which he could see into the plains of
Spain. 'Roland,' cried he, 'do you see those shining helmets and
glittering swords? It is Ganelon who has done this, and it was he who
had you left here.'

'Be silent, Oliver,' answered Roland. 'He is my stepfather. I will not
hear him ill spoken of.' Then Oliver went down the hill and told his
soldiers what he had seen. 'No battle will ever be like this one,' he
said; 'you will need all your strength to keep your ground and not be
driven back.' 'Cursed be he who runs away,' answered they. 'There is
not one of us but knows how to die.'

'The Infidels are many,' said Oliver agai