Then Maugis and the little company proceeded to make a thorough exploration of the castle, visiting in succession all of its towers and subterranean parts. In every underground passage and room Maugis would pause, and standing erect, with arm outstretched, slowly sweep a circle about him, when it was complete only to drop his hand and bow his head, saying: “I find nothing.” Hope seemed to have left them, there was only one more place to visit, one of the towers at the northeast part of the ramparts, known as “Tour de la Bellevue.” Here, in its subterranean depths, the little company assembled for the last trial, pausing breathless with expectancy, while Maugis closed his eyes and slowly made the mystic circle around the torch-lighted room. When half-complete, he paused and a look of hope stole over his face; once more he swept the circle and again paused at the same point; a third time did he repeat this motion, then opening his eyes, with joy lighting his face, he said: “It is here.” Tools were hurriedly brought, digging commenced, and at the end of an hour the passage opening stood revealed. Richard went forward to explore it, while the rest hastened upward to make preparations there for immediate departure. Nearly overcome with joy, to think not only would they succeed in escaping from Charlemagne, but in mystifying him as well. In the meantime, Richard having returned with the joyful news that the passage was all clear, Maugis summoned his people, and distributed torches among them, and giving the stronger the more precious objects to carry, started them under the leadership of Richard on their journey though the passage. Maugis hastened to his tower, where in the hurry and excitement of his departure, Yon, his brother-in-law, was lying forgotten, confined to his bed by a sickness which had affected him ever since his treason. Maugis was about to lift him in his arms to bear him away, when Alard said: “Let him lie. He is the cause of all our misfortunes.” “He is culpable, that is true,” replied Maugis, “but he is miserable, and that is claim enough upon us not to abandon him;” and with these words he took the suffering king and bore him away among the others. At sunset they had made the passage of the tunnel safely and came out into the forest. A little later they entered another forest called “D’Arsene,” under the leadership of the old man, who conducted them to the abiding place of an old hermit, whose store of food illy sufficed for the wants of the famished people, and who, exhausted, here stopped all further progress and ate whatever they could find. The soldiers threw themselves upon the surrounding foliage and devoured it. By great good fortune they then encountered some shepherds with their flocks, and Maugis having bought sheep to feed the famished people, and having fully satisfied their voracious hunger, they rested during the whole of the succeeding day and the day following.