e Peers over the fright he has
caused us. And again, who is there who would dare to attack Roland?
No one. March on, sire; why make halt? France is still distant.'

Count Roland suffered grievous pain and a great wound was across his
forehead. He sounded his horn for the third time, and Charles and his
Franks heard it. 'That horn carries far,' said he, and Naimes
answered, 'It is Roland who is calling for help. A battle is going on;
some one has betrayed him. Quick, sire, he has called often enough.
Sound your war-cry and hasten to his help.' Then the Emperor ordered
his trumpets to be sounded, and his army gathered itself together and
girded on their armour with what speed they might, and each man said
to the other, 'If only we are in time to save Roland from death, what
blows we will strike for him.' Alas, they are too late, too late!

But before the march back there was something for the Emperor to do.
He sent for his head cook to appear in his presence, and he delivered
the traitor Ganelon into his custody, and told him to treat his
prisoner as he liked, for he had shown himself unworthy to mix with
warriors. So the head cook did as he pleased with him, and beat him
with sticks and put a heavy chain about his neck. And thus he guarded
him till Charles came back.

How tall the mountains seemed to the returning army! how deep the
valleys, and how swift the streams! but all the while the trumpets
were sounded, that Roland might hear them and take heart. And as he
rode, Charles had only one thought, 'If Roland is slain, shall I find
one man alive?'

Roland stood looking at the mountains and at the plains, and wherever
his eyes fell his dead comrades lay before him. Loudly he mourned
their loss, and then he turned to Oliver, saying, 'Brother, we must
die here with the rest of the Franks.' He spurred his horse and blew
his horn, and dashed into the ranks of the foe, shouting 'Montjoie!
Montjoie!' The remnant that was left closed eagerly round him, and the
battle-cries were fierce and loud. If Marsile and his host fled
before them, others not less valiant remained behind, and Roland knew
that the hour of his doom was come. And in valour, Oliver was no whit
behind him, but flung himself into the thickest of the battle. It was
the Caliph who gave Oliver his death blow. 'Charles made a mistake
when he left you to guard these defiles,' said he, 'but your life will
pay for many that you have slain.' But Oliver was not dead