Fighting with the greatest ardor, the soldiers of Renaud had completely routed the command of Oger, but were temporarily arrested by the royal ambuscaders, who though in full retreat, stopped them so suddenly that the pursuers fell over each other. During the fight, Maugis, who had mounted his horse Bayard, had charged upon Oger and dismounted him; he then descended, and courteously assisting the veteran to remount, said to him: “Thou hast not succeeded in bathing your hands in our blood, but you have participated in a treachery; you have acted the part of a coward. Go! you are despicable. Never come before me again or I will not be so forgiving.” This taunt made Oger furious, and he charged upon Maugis, giving him a terrible stroke upon the head, which for an instant caused him to totter on his horse. Oger was about to renew the attack, when Alard and Guichard came up with some soldiers, and attacked the escort of Oger with great fury, putting them to flight, and massacring all who resisted; afterward they sought the wounded Richard and bore him to a place of safety. CHAPTER XII. For a time Richard was thought to be dying; they tenderly put him upon a hastily constructed litter, enveloped in the remains of their cloaks, and then returned to Montaubon, where they were received with the rejoicings of the people. The meeting between Maugis and Yolande was most affecting; she shed tears of happiness upon his breast, overjoyed to see again him whom she thought was lost forever. After a few days of rest, Maugis resolved to punish King Yon, and was actively making his preparations to do so when a messenger arrived at the court from his brother-in-law. He was immediately shown into the presence of Maugis. “How now!” sternly demanded Maugis of the envoy; “what wouldst thou?” “My lord,” replied the messenger, “I come to thee from thy sorrowing and repentant brother-in-law, King Yon. He doth most humbly crave thy forgiveness and pardon and doth relate to thee his most sorrowful and unhappy condition. Roland doth hold him captive, and he craves thee to lay aside thy just resentment and to deliver him from his hands.” Maugis was silent for a moment and could not resist a sigh at thus perceiving how the treachery of the King of Acquitaine had served to punish and degrade him. “’Tis well,” said Maugis, “the baseness of thy master hath brought to him its own reward, yet great as my resentment is, I do not recognize the right of Roland to hold King Yon his prisoner, even though he be my worthless relative, I shall wrest him from his bonds. Get thee gone!” Maugis then called a council of his brothers and acquainted them with his plans. The troops were ordered under arms, and all preparations were made to go out and attack the enemy at once.