The Executioner's Knife; Or, Joan of ArcSue, Eugène
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The Executioner's Knife; Or, Joan of Arc
Sue, Eugène
Biographical fiction; Christian fiction; Christian women saints -- Fiction; Joan, of Arc, Saint, 1412-1431 -- Fiction
Like all other professional equerries, Daulon was expert in surgery. He
carried about him, in a leather case suspended from his shoulder, lint,
bandages and a bottle of balm. With these he tended the wound which he
pronounced so serious that he considered it highly imprudent for Joan to
return to the combat. But on that point she remained inflexible. So
great was the relief she speedily experienced, that she said she hardly
felt the wound. Tightly laced, her armor would keep the bandage in
position. All she wanted was a few mouthfuls of water to slake her
burning thirst. Master John ran to a nearby streamlet, filled up full a
pouch that was half full of wine and returned with it to the Maid. She
drank and felt better, rose, put on her armor and took a few steps to
test her strength. Her celestial face, grown pale with the loss of
blood, speedily recovered its serene and resolute expression. She
requested those near her to step aside for a moment, whereupon she knelt
down near the old oak tree, joined her hands, prayed, thanked her good
saints for having delivered her from a mortal danger, and besought them
further to sustain and protect her. Immediately she heard the mysterious
voices murmur in her ear:
"Go, daughter of God. Courage! Combat with your wonted audacity. Heaven
will give you victory. By you Gaul will be delivered."
Inspired anew the heroine rose, put on her casque, seized her banner
that had been placed against the tree, and cried out aloud:
"Now, to the assault! Ours will the Tournelles be, by the order of God!
To arms! Be brave! Forward, victory to Gaul!"[100]
The cry was repeated from mouth to mouth with a tremor of impatient
bravery. The quick peals from the belfry rent the air. The detonations
of the artillery resounded from the side of the town, announcing the
execution of the Maid's orders, however tardy. The Tournelles was
assailed by the captains from the bridge at the moment when the Maid
marched to the attack of the fortress in front. The happy plan redoubled
the already exalted ardor of the assailants under the Maid. Led by her
they resumed the assault with irresistible impetus. After a stubborn and
bloody struggle that lasted until night the Tournelles was carried. As
on the previous day, the sinking rays of the sun cast the gleam of their
ruddy aureola upon the folds of Joan Darc's standard, planted by herself
upon the battlements of the fortress. The enemy was vanquished again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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