he; 'strike and avenge the noble Vivian; woe to the
King Desrame if he crosses my path.' And a messenger came and said to
Desrame, 'It is Rainouart with the iron staff, the strongest man in
the world.'

Rainouart and his cowards pressed on and on, and the Saracens fell
back, step by step, till they reached the sea, where their ships were
anchored.

Then Rainouart drove his staff in the sand, and by its help swung
himself on board a small vessel, which happened to be the very one in
which the nephews of William were imprisoned. He laid about him right
and left with his staff, till he had slain all the gaolers, and at
last he came to a young man whose eyes were bandaged and his feet tied
together. 'Who are you?' asked Rainouart.

'I am Bertrand of France, nephew of William Short Nose. Four months
ago I was taken captive by the Pagans, and if, as I think, they carry
me into Arabia, then may God have pity on my soul, for it is all over
with my body.'

'Sir Count,' answered Rainouart, 'for love of William I will deliver
you.'

Bertrand was set free and his companions also. Seizing the weapons of
the dead Saracens, they scrambled on shore, and, while fighting for
their lives, looked about for their uncle, whom they knew at last by
the sweep of his sword, which kept a clean space round him. More than
once Rainouart swept back fresh foes that were pressing forwards till
the tide of battle carried him away and brought him opposite Desrame
the King. 'Who are you?' asked Desrame, struck by his face, for there
was nothing royal in his dress or his arms.

'I am Rainouart, vassal of William whom I love, and if you do hurt to
him I will do hurt to you also.'

'Rainouart, I am your father,' cried Desrame, and he besought him to
forswear Christianity and to become a follower of Mahomet; but
Rainouart turned a deaf ear, and challenged him to continue the
combat. Desrame was no match for his son, and was soon struck from his
horse. 'Oh, wretch that I am,' said Rainouart to himself, 'I have
slain my brothers and wounded my father--it is my staff which has done
all this evil,' and he flung it far from him.

He would have been wiser to have kept it, for in a moment three giants
surrounded him, and he had only his fists with which to beat them
back. Suddenly his hand touched the sword buckled on him by Gibourc,
which he had forgotten, and he drew it from its scabbard, and with
three blows clove the heads of the giants in twain. Mea