ce combat
with some Pagans on the road the Count was forced to abandon his
nephew's body and fight for his own life. He knew the two Saracens
well as brave men, but he soon slew one, and the other he unhorsed
after a struggle.

'Come back, come back,' cried the Unbeliever; 'sell me your horse, for
never did I behold his like! I will give you for him twice his weight
in gold, and set free besides all your nephews that have been taken
prisoners.' But William loved his horse, and would not have parted
with him to Charles himself; so he cut off the Saracen's head with his
sword, and mounted his horse Folatisse, taking the saddle and bridle
off Bausant so that he might the more easily escape from the Pagans.

At length, after fighting nearly every step of the way, he saw the
towers of Orange before him, and his palace, Gloriette, where dwelt
his wife, the Lady Gibourc. 'Ah, with what joy did I leave these
walls,' he said to himself, 'and how many noble Knights have I lost
since then! Oh! Gibourc, my wife, will you not go mad when you hear
the tidings I have brought!' And, overcome with grief, the Count bowed
his head on the neck of his horse.

When he recovered himself he rode straight to the City Gate, and
commanded the porter to let him in. 'Let down the drawbridge,' called
he, 'and be quick, for time presses.' But he forgot that he had
changed his own arms, and had taken instead those of Aerofle the
Saracen; therefore the porter, seeing a man with a shield and pennon
and helmet that were strange to him, thought he was an enemy, and
stood still where he was. 'Begone!' he said to William; 'if you
approach one step nearer I will deal you a blow that will unhorse you!
Begone, I tell you, and as quick as you can, or when William Short
Nose returns from the Aliscans it will be the worse for you.'

'Fear nothing, friend,' replied the Count, 'for I am William himself.
I went to the Aliscans to fight the Saracens, and to help Vivian; but
all my men are dead, and I only am left to bring these evil tidings.
So open the gates, for the Saracens are close behind.'

'You must wait a moment,' answered the porter, and he quitted the
turret where he had been standing and hastened to the chamber of the
Lady Gibourc. 'Noble Countess,' cried he, 'there knocks at the
drawbridge a Knight in pagan armour, who seems fresh from battle, for
his arms are bloody. He is tall of stature and bears himself proudly,
and he says he is William Short N