"Those pious men found, perhaps, the feast too profane. They offered the two men on guard at the lodge where the punt lands to take their places this evening, in order that our brothers might assist at the celebration." "Somehow, I mistrust that breed!" CHAPTER III. ON THE WATCH AT THE RIVER. The river that rose in the Valley of Charolles crossed it in its full length, then parted into two arms, and thus served both for boundary and natural defense to the territory of the colony. As a matter of precaution, Loysik ordered a punt that served as the only means of communication with the opposite territory, belonging to the diocese of Chalon, to be beached every evening and tied on the Charolles side of the stream. A little lodge, where two brothers of the community always were on guard, was constructed near the landing place of the punt. The limpid waters of the stream, which was at its widest at that point, reflected that night the mellow light of the moon at its fullest; the two priests who fraternally offered to take the places of the monks and mount guard in their stead walked uneasily up and down near the lodge. "Placidus, do you see anything? Do you hear anything?" his companion inquired. "Nothing. I see and hear nothing." "And yet the moon is high--it must be nearly midnight--and no one yet." "Let us not lose hope, Felibien." "It will be a great misfortune if they break their appointment. It will be long before we have another such opportunity to install ourselves as the watchmen of the punt." "It is only on such a night that the monastery could be safely attacked." "And yet no one comes." "Listen--listen--" "Do you hear anything?" "No, I was mistaken--it is the rippling of the water on the pebbles of the river bank." "Perhaps our bishop renounced his project of attacking the monastery." "That is not likely, seeing that he obtained the consent of Queen Brunhild." "Listen--listen--this time I am not mistaken. Look yonder, on the opposite bank--do you notice anything sparkling?" "It is the reflection of the moon on the armor of the warriors." "Now they are coming! Do you hear the three bugle blasts?" "It is the signal agreed upon. Quick, now, quick! Let us unfasten the punt and cross over to the other side." The ropes were unfastened; pushed by Placidus and Felibien by means of long poles the punt arrived at the opposite bank. Mounted on a mule a man awaited them on the opposite shore. He was a Catholic priest. His face was hard and imperious. At his side was a Frankish chief on horseback and escorted by about a score of riders cased in iron. A wagon filled with baggage, drawn by four oxen and followed by several slaves on foot attended the Frankish chief.