Chapter 26

CHAPTER XXVI.
OGIER, THE DANE, CONTINUED. WHEN Charlemagne had somewhat recovered his composure, he was
surprised to observe that Ogier appeared in good case, and had a
healthy color in his cheeks. He turned to the Archbishop, who could
not help blushing as he met his eye. "By the head of Bertha, my
queen," said Charlemagne, "Ogier has had good quarters in your castle,
my Lord Archbishop; but so much the more am I indebted to you." All
the barons laughed, and jested with Turpin, who only said, "Laugh as
much as you please, my lords; but for my part I am not sorry to see
the arm in full vigor that is to avenge us on the proud Saracen."
Charlemagne immediately despatched his herald, accepting the
challenge, and appointing the next day but one for the encounter.
The proud and crafty Bruhier laughed scornfully when he heard the
reply accepting his challenge, for he had a reliance on certain
resources besides his natural strength and skill. However, he swore by
Mahomet to observe the conditions as proposed and agreed upon.
Ogier now demanded his armor, and it was brought to him in excellent
condition, for the good Turpin had kept it faithfully; but it was
not easy to provide a horse for the occasion. Charlemagne had the best
horses of his stables brought out, except Blanchard, his own
charger; but all in vain, the weight of Ogier bent their backs to
the ground. In this embarrassment the Archbishop remembered that the
Emperor had given Beiffror to the Abbot of St. Faron, and sent off a
courier in haste to re-demand him.
Monks are hard masters, and the one who directed the laborers at the
abbey had but too faithfully obeyed the orders of the Abbot. Poor
Beiffror was brought back lean, spiritless, and chafed with the
harness of the vile cart that he had had to draw so long. He carried
his head down, and trod heavily before Charlemagne; but when he
heard the voice of Ogier he raised his head, he neighed, his eyes
flashed, his former ardor showed itself by the force with which he
pawed the ground. Ogier caressed him, and the good steed seemed to
return his caresses; Ogier mounted him, and Beiffror, proud of
carrying his master again, leapt and curvetted with all his youthful
vigor.
Nothing being now wanted, Charlemagne, at the head of his army,
marched forth from the city of Paris, and occupied the hill of
Montmartre, whence the view extended over the plain of St. Denis,
where the battle was to be fought.
When the appointed day came, the Dukes Namo and Salomon, as
seconds of Ogier, accompanied him to the place marked out for the
lists, and Bruhier, with two distinguished Emirs, presented himself on
the other side.
Bruhier was in high spirits, and jested with his friends, as he
advanced, upon the