Maugis then installed himself a short distance away, in a cave under a rock which he made habitable. From that time no day passed without their seeing each other. It was the delight of these two brave old warriors, whose days were numbered, to recall together their deeds in the past, and the many things they had accomplished in company. Thus, after a life of activity and turmoil, their isolation seemed peaceful and blessed to them, and they found that peace which passeth all understanding in their old age, which made them never regret having quitted the world. It happened that one day, when Maugis went as usual to the old oak which served as their rendezvous, Renaud was not there, and after waiting vainly for a long time, he hurried to his hermitage and there found him feeble and depressed. “My dear Maugis,” said Renaud to him, “I am now approaching the end of my existence. I will soon enjoy eternal repose. I die with only one regret, and that is, I cannot have you with me in death. That we must at last leave each other. God is not willing that we should go together, but we do not die, except from the vengeance of God, until we are no longer useful to humanity.” “What are you saying, my dear cousin,” replied Maugis. “Am I not also useless; am I not old and infirm, and my forces completely disappeared?” “That is true,” responded Renaud, “but you must remain on earth to obey the destiny of your Lord. He is always ready to execute His will. Adieu! my dear Maugis, we shall shortly meet again. I die happy because I am dying in your arms.” Renaud hardly spoke these last words when he yielded up his soul. Maugis then tenderly disposed of his remains in the grave Renaud had himself prepared, accomplishing this sad ceremony with complete serenity. After having rendered these last duties to his cousin, Maugis retired to his hermitage and remained there. His end was near. It was decreed by God that he should soon follow his cousin. One day as he was walking on the banks of the river Meuse, near his hermitage, he heard cries of distress. It was the voices of young women calling for assistance. Without regarding the infirmities of age, Maugis hastened in the direction of the cries, and when he arrived at the banks of the river he was astonished to find a young woman lying there half-fainting, bound hand and foot; collecting all her resources the swooning girl indicated the water, and upon turning his eyes in that direction Maugis perceived a man, who was dragging another young woman by the hair of her head and was about to cast her into the water. Maugis, at the sight of this outrage, felt his old-time vigor returning, and hastening to her assistance, he took his staff in both hands and smote the villain on the head.