“If any one of us escapes, his life must be devoted to the extermination of Ganelon, and all his race. For my part, I swear to do this!” All repeated the oath. Roland heard behind him a voice, shriller than any of the others, cry, “By the Shrine of St. Landri, death to the Count of Mayence!” He turned, and saw Mitaine. “Ah, unhappy child, what are you doing here? You know well what fate awaits us. Is this a place for babes-in-arms?” “You do wrong to blame me, sir knight. You will, perhaps, have reason to be sorry for your words before sunset.” Mitaine was on the summit of a peak. She gazed around on all sides, and soon discovered the enemy. The sun was shining brightly, and glistened on corslet and casque, spear and pennon. At the same moment the neighing of horses reached her ear. [Illustration: 255] “The Saracens are coming from the Spanish side. They are so many in number, it is difficult to understand how any troops can be left to guard the cities. If we had to encounter so large a Christian army, the result would be doubtful. But these are Pagans, and Heaven will not fail us.” “If that be the case,” said Oliver, “you had better sound your horn, friend Roland. Charlemagne has not gone far and will return at once to our aid on hearing it.” “We must wield swords, not horns, here. The way is open, if you fear the adventure is too arduous.” “Trust me, comrade; in a few moments it will be too late. Wind your horn!” “You give me base counsel! It shall never be told that Roland quitted his grasp of Durandal to wind his horn for aid against Pagans!” “So be it,” said Oliver. “We will not quarrel about it.” Roland turned to Gautier de Luz, and said to him-- “Dismount, Gautier, and let two thousand of our knights do the same. You will take the command of them, climb the mountain, and take these accursed Gascons in the rear before we enter the pass. Cut them up without mercy, like dogs as they are, and then, when you have accomplished the task, sound on your horn. We shall then draw on the Saracens in pursuit, and when I give the signal, do you roll down on them the rocks prepared for our destruction.” “Well conceived,” said Hoel of Nantes. “An excellent jest. I would not exchange my place here for anything in the whole world!” Two thousand knights dismounted, and with Gautier de Luz at their head, commenced the ascent. Mitaine, more active and lighter than the others, went first to reconnoitre. Roland followed them with his eyes until they disappeared behind the rocks. In about a quarter of an hour, which, I can assure you, seemed long enough to those below, a great uproar broke out, and the Navarrese and Gascons appeared in disorder on the cliffs. They were close pressed, and those who were not put to the sword on the spot, were flung down into the ravine, in which there was soon an almost insurmountable heap of dead bodies. There was hardly a bush that was not adorned with some bleeding fragment or other.