In the meantime the emperor awaited the result of the enterprise of Hernier de la Seine with impatience, until two wounded soldiers, who had escaped the massacre, arrived in camp and announced the disaster to the royal troops. The emperor, always very violent, could not receive such news without flying into a fury. He could not regard such a check otherwise than as a disgrace. He was even more disturbed at the escape of the fugitives, but hoping to capture them he sent a corps of his army in pursuit. Guichard was the first to receive the news of this movement from a friendly peasant, and Maugis promptly combined the forces of the four, and placing them in a favorable position, turned and suddenly fell upon the pursuing army, having first placed their impedimenta and non-combatants in charge of a few trusted men. The suddenness of this unexpected attack completely demoralized the enemy, who not being able to withstand the charge retreated. In spite of the bravery of Charlemagne, who had arrived on the scene, his soldiers fled for safety. The king, wild with rage, rushed at Maugis and aimed a furious blow at him, with all the force of his mighty arm, which Maugis skillfully parried. Quick as lightning, Hughes, who saw the peril of the emperor, threw himself between the combatants and fell mortally wounded under the blow of Maugis that was intended for his chief. “Forward!” shouted Charlemagne, and the pursuit of the four brothers commenced anew, without the loss of any time. The four young men, however, had profited by the stupor caused by the peril to the emperor, and quickly assembling their men, fled once more, pursued closely for twelve leagues. During this time Maugis performed prodigies of valor by hovering in the rear of his command. Man after man fell under his irresistible sword and he did not lose a soldier during the entire running fight. A swollen river was finally reached, and the emperor, exultant, now thought the end had come. But even this did not stop the intrepid brothers, for boldly plunging in they gained the other side in safety, leaving their astonished enemy on the banks of the flood, convinced this time that it was impossible to vanquish Maugis. In face of this result in which he had met his match, and which Charlemagne received with consternation, he abandoned the pursuit and retraced his steps. Then, disbanding his army, he put off until some other time the taking of his vengeance. In passing the ruins of the Château de Montfort, he caused it to be razed to the ground, tumbling the remaining walls into the moat and placing it beyond all possibility of repair.