During this time, Richard, who, next to Maugis, was the strongest of the brothers, had become separated from the rest. He tried at any sacrifice to rejoin them and they on their side sought for him. Richard, covered with wounds and spent with fatigue, was fast sinking down by the rock, without sufficient force to climb upon it. He was surrounded by a circle of knights whom he had killed. At this supreme moment, Gerard de Vanvier, cousin of Foulques de Morillon, seeing that he was nearly dead, charged upon him with his horse, lance abreast, and wounded him in the shoulder, but Richard, who had become somewhat rested, summoned all his strength and stopped his assassin with a terrible stroke of the sword, hurling him from his horse, then the conqueror and the conquered fell down together, the one nearly dead, and the other beyond recall. The three brothers, who had been all this time fighting, were searching for Richard, without perceiving him, now gained the rock, and only then saw his figure lying in the midst of the bodies of his enemies. Maugis quickly ordered his two brothers to dismount and carry their wounded brother within the opening of the rock for shelter, he meanwhile would fight the enemy off. “My poor brother!” cried Maugis, “you are the victim of the treachery of King Yon. May God preserve me until I have taken vengeance, for it shall be terrible.” Alard and Guichard had tenderly raised the body of Richard and in the midst of a storm of projectiles of all sorts had borne him within the rock. During the journey he made a slight movement, opened his eyes and said to them: “My dear brothers, go to the assistance of Maugis. I am yet strong enough to defend myself. I shall see you all again, for I am sure we will be able to extricate ourselves.” Taking his advice, Alard and Guichard hastened to rejoin Maugis, whom they found surrounded by the bodies of dead enemies. Their own horses had disappeared, and making a sortie they easily captured more, and then continued the furious combat, being enabled finally to regain the opening of the rock, which they contented themselves in defending. The four intrepid brothers, reunited, and for a time safe, were hoping that their enemy would withdraw, which was suddenly dashed to the earth, when Oger, at the head of three thousand men, appeared and completely surrounded them. The situation now seemed indeed hopeless. Amid an impressive silence the grizzled old soldier, Oger, rode forward from the serried ranks and cried out in a stern tone: “Wretched men, give thyselves up, resistance is useless; or,” he added menacingly, “take care of yourselves, for I shall not regard the family ties that exist between us, and I shall use every means to force you to obey me. The only thing for you to do is to cease your resistance.” “You give yourself useless trouble,” replied Maugis defiantly, “we fear you not.”