“Do you not know, then? My child, who, some years ago lost his reason, has become the cleverest of the family since daybreak this morning. Henceforth there are no saints in the calendar I shall revere as I do you!” said he to Mitaine, who had no small difficulty in freeing herself from the demonstrations of gratitude of which she was the object. She called for the horse which she had left with her host of the previous night, and rode away at full gallop, followed by her fantastic escort. In about six hours she saw the camp of Charlemagne. The sentinels on outpost duty, seeing a cloud of dust in the distance coming along towards them with such speed, fell back and gave the alarm. “What is it?” said the Emperor. “Who are these that thus fall into our hands? Go, Miton; mount your horse, take an escort, and inspect these new comers.” In a moment the whole camp was alive. Every one put on his corslet, laced his helm, seized his lance, and sprang to saddle. Miton chose thirty mounted knights and led them out. “By my faith!” said he, “these be strange folks. To judge from their size they ought not to be far off, and yet I can hardly make them out. Can you see them better, Red John?” he asked one of his men. “Not I! My wonder is as great as yours. But is not that a page in the imperial livery who is riding at their head?” “By my life, it is Mitaine!” And Miton spurred forward at such speed that in three minutes he was in his daughter’s arms. The ghostly squadron halted, and the thirty knights halted likewise, striving to pacify their startled horses, which were snuffing the air, snorting with dilated nostrils, pawing the ground, and neighing as if ready to die of terror. “Who are these whom you are leading?” “Those whom I have liberated.” “Liberated! How?” “I will tell you all in the Emperor’s presence. The sun is low already, and we have no time to spare.” Miton and his thirty knights, and Mitaine with her strange followers, rode towards the camp. Charlemagne, surrounded by his peers, came out to meet them. “By St. James! these people look as if they didn’t belong to this world. And if I am not stupidly mistaken, it is my godchild who commands them.” Mitaine dismounted, and approached her royal godsire, who asked her, “Well, little one, what is this strange array? Do you know that I have a mind to punish you, and yet I haven’t the heart to scold you, I am so rejoiced to see you again, and so anxious to learn who these are that accompany you.” “My prisoners, sire!” And the spectres lowered their lances to show their submission to her. “But whence come they? Have you been to seek them in another world?” “By my faith, sire, I could almost believe I passed last night there;” and she related her adventures briefly to Charlemagne in the presence of his peers and knights. “Come, let me embrace you, my darling. So it appears I have promised you something. What is it?”