“But, Maiden, I have so few troops; and I have no money; and the way lies through a hostile land,” the King would urge, when day after day she pleaded with him.  “All my counsellors advise delay.  Is it not right that I should listen to them as well as to you?  Wherefore such haste?  Is it not wiser to act with deliberation and prudence?”

“It is right to follow the voice of the Lord,” spoke the Maid with grave and forceful earnestness, “and to put your trust in Him rather than in any child of man.”

But the King could not be persuaded; indolence and fear held him captive, whilst his traitorous advisers sought by every means to undermine the influence of the Maid.  And although in this they were not successful, for he believed in her mission, admired her prowess, and looked to her for guidance and help, he must needs listen also to these others who were of contrary mind, and so the weary days dragged on, and nothing was done.

“Noble Dauphin,” pleaded the Maid at last, “hold not such long or so many councils; or if, indeed, these be needful to you, let me, I pray you, go forth again with a small army and clear the way.  And when all the country betwixt this place and Rheims has submitted to your power, then follow yourself, and take your kingdom!”

Ah me!—­to think that he, a King, could consent again to let her go thus, whilst he remained in ease and indolence surrounded by his Court!  But so it was.  What she could not persuade him to do himself, she at last obtained leave to do for him, and with a joyful face she came to us with the news: 

“Gentlemen and my good comrades, be ready for a speedy march; we will go forward and clear the way; and afterwards the Dauphin shall follow and be made King!”

CHAPTER XIV.  HOW THE MAID CLEARED THE KING’S WAY.

We started forth from Selles, where the army which was to do this work had assembled.  It was not so great a force as it would have been but for the hesitations of the King, and the delays imposed by his Council.  For the men who had marched from Orleans, flushed with victory, eager to rush headlong upon the foe and drive them back to their own shores, had grown weary of the long waiting, and had been infected by the timidity or the treachery of those about the Court.  They had melted away by little and little, carrying with them the booty they had found in the English bastilles round Orleans, glad to return to their homes and their families without further fighting, though had the Maid been permitted to place herself at their head at once, as she did desire, they would have followed her to the death.

Still, when all was said and done, it was a gallant troop that responded to her call and mustered at her summons.  The magic of her name still thrilled all hearts, and throughout the march of events which followed, it was always the common soldiers who trusted implicitly in the Maid; they left doubts and disputings and unworthy jealousies to the officers and the statesmen.