So, amid the plaudits of the people, the fanfare of trumpets, the rolling of drums, the rhythmical tread of thousands of mailed feet, we rode forth from Selles, led by the Maid, beside whom rode the King’s cousin, the Duc d’Alencon, now resolved to join us, despite his former hesitancy and the fears of his wife.  He had marched with us to Orleans, but had then turned back, perhaps with the not unnatural fear of again falling into the hands of the English.  This had happened to him at Agincourt, and only lately had he been released.

Perhaps his fears were pardonable, and those of his wife more so.  She had sought earnestly to hold him hack from this new campaign; and, when she could not prevail with him, she had addressed herself to the Maid with tears in her eyes, telling her how long had been his captivity in England, and with how great a sum he had been ransomed.  Why must he adventure himself again into danger?

The Maid had listened to all with gentle sympathy.  Though so fearless herself she was never harsh to those who feared, and the appeal of the Duchesse touched her.

“Fear nothing, Madame,” she answered, “I will bring him back to you safe and sound.  Only pray for him always—­pray for us day and night.  I will make his safety my special care.  He shall return to you unharmed; but I pray you hinder him not from serving his country in this great hour of need.”

So the Maid prevailed, and the Duc was entrusted with the command of the army, second only to the Maid herself, who was distinctly placed at the head of all—­whose word was to be supreme; whilst the King’s fiat went forth that no Council should be held without her, and that she was to be obeyed as the head in all things!

And men like Dunois, La Hire, and the Chevalier Gaucourt heard this without a murmur!  Think of it!—­a campaign conducted by a girl of seventeen, who, until a few weeks before, had never seen a shot fired in her life!  Ah; but all men remembered Orleans, and were not surprised at the King’s decree.

As we marched along in close array, we gathered many recruits by the way, notwithstanding that we were in the territory which had submitted to the English rule.  Knights and gentlemen flocked forth from many a chateau to join themselves to the army of the miraculous Maid, whilst humble peasants, fired by patriotism and zeal, came nightly into our camp seeking to be enrolled amid those who followed and fought beneath her banner.

And so for three days we marched, our ranks swelling, our hearts full of zeal and confidence, till news was brought us that the Duke of Suffolk, one of the bravest and most chivalrous of English knights and soldiers, had thrown himself and his followers into Jargeau, and was hastily fortifying it for a siege.

This news reached us at Orleans itself, whither we had returned in the course of our march, to be received with wild acclamations by the people there.  So loving were the citizens, that they were loth indeed to see the Maid set forth upon any mission which threatened danger to herself or her army; and their protestations and arguments so wrought upon many of the generals and officers, that they united to beg her to remain inactive awhile, and send to the King for fresh reinforcements before attempting any such arduous task.