fond of children,
and had a girl's love of babies. A boy of three days old was dying or
seemed dead, and the girls of Lagny carried it to the statue of Our Lady
in their church, and there prayed over it. For three days, ever since
its birth, the baby had lain in a trance without sign of life, so that
they dared not christen it. 'It was black as my doublet,' said Joan at
her trial, where she wore mourning. Joan knelt with the other girls and
prayed; colour came back into the child's face, it gasped thrice, was
baptised, then died, and was buried in holy ground. So Joan said at her
trial. She claimed no share in this good fortune, and never pretended
that she worked miracles.

HOW THE MAID FOUGHT HER LAST FIGHT

The name of Joan was now such a terror to the English that men deserted
rather than face her in arms. At this time the truce with Burgundy
ended, and the duke openly set out to besiege the strong town of
Compiegne, held by de Flavy for France. Joan hurried to Compiegne,
whence she made two expeditions which were defeated by treachery.
Perhaps she thought of this, perhaps of the future, when in the church
of Compiegne she declared one day to a crowd of children whom she loved
that she knew she was sold and betrayed. Old men who had heard her told
this tale long afterwards.

Burgundy had invested Compiegne, when Joan, with four hundred men, rode
into the town secretly at dawn. That day Joan led a sally against the
Burgundians. Her Voices told her nothing, good or bad, she says. The
Burgundians were encamped at Margny and at Clairoix, the English at
Venette, villages on a plain near the walls. Joan crossed the bridge on
a grey charger, in a surcoat of crimson silk, rode through the redoubt
beyond the bridge, and attacked the Burgundians. Flavy in the town was
to prevent the English from attacking her in the rear. He had boats on
the river to secure Joan's retreat if necessary.

[Illustration: Joan captured]

Joan swept through Margny, driving the Burgundians before her; the
garrison of Clairoix came to their help; the battle was doubtful.
Meanwhile the English came up; they could not have reached the
Burgundians, to aid them, but some of the Maid's men, seeing the
English standards, fled. The English followed them under the walls of
Compiegne; the gate of the redoubt was closed to prevent the English
from entering with the runaways. Like Hector under Troy, the Maid was
shut out from the town which she came to