As he had quite a numerous party, and as he laid the lieutenant low at the outset, the others were speedily routed, and, fearing a fresh display of generosity by Bois-Doré, the coachman lost no time in despatching those who were taken, Lieutenant Saccage at their head. The latter's belt proved to be a valuable capture; but Aristandre did not choose to appropriate it, but reserved it for general distribution. A moment later, as he was hurrying to join the marquis, he fell in with one of the men who had accompanied Lucilio to Brilbault. "Ho! Denison!" he shouted to him, "what have you done with our bag-piper?" "Ask me rather," replied Denison, "what those brigands of _reitres_ have done with him. God knows! We started for Etalié with him to find monsieur le marquis, but at the foot of the hill we were surrounded by those devils, who pulled us from our horses and made us prisoners. At first, they proposed to shoot Master Jovelin on the spot. They were frantic because he did not reply to them, and they took his silence for contempt. But there was a lady there who recognized him and said that monsieur le marquis would pay a very big ransom for him. So they bound him like the rest of us, and at this moment he and the other four of us must either be free like me, or have been killed in the battle. As for the lady, who was dressed like an officer, I don't know who she is; but may the devil take me if you wouldn't say she was our Demoiselle Bellinde!" "Well, Denison, let us go and see," replied Aristandre, "and let us save all our friends if it can be done!" The honest coachman, as he ran, collected as many men as he could, and attacked the flank of the _reitres_ skilfully and most opportunely. Assailed thus on three sides, and reduced to half their original number, for Bois-Doré, Guillaume and Monsieur Robin had killed as many as Saccage had taken away by his defection, the compact little battalion of _reitres_ devoted their energies to effecting their retreat in good order. But so small a force was too easily surrounded; their cannon, which was with the rear-guard, had already fallen into Monsieur Robin's hands. They could not even disperse. They were forced to surrender at discretion, with the exception of a few who were blinded with rage and whom it was necessary to kill, but not until they had inflicted some damage upon their unmounted adversaries. Some time, was lost in disarming and binding the prisoners; for they could hardly trust the promises of _reitres_; and day was breaking when they all assembled, victors and vanquished, in the courtyard of the château.