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Don　Louis　of　Spain；　who　with　a　considerable　following　was　fighting　in　the　French　ranks；　hearing　from　the　flying　camp　followers　that　the　countess　herself　was　at　the　head　of　the　party　which　had　destroyed　the　camp；　instantly　mounted；　and　with　a　large　number　of　horsemen　set　off　in　hot　pursuit。　　A　few　of　the　countess's　party　who　were　badly　mounted　were　overtaken　and　slain；　but　the　rest　arrived　safely　at　Auray；　when　the　gates　were　shut　in　the　face　of　their　pursuers。

The　blow　was　a　heavy　one　for　the　besiegers；　but　they　at　once　proceeded　to　build　huts；　showing　that　they　had　no　intention　of　relinquishing　the　siege。　Spies　were　sent　from　Auray；　and　these　reported　that　the　new　camp　was　established　on　the　site　of　the　old　one；　and　that　the　French　evidently　intended　to　renew　the　attack　upon　the　side　on　which　they　had　first　commenced；　leaving　the　other　side　almost　unwatched。

Accordingly；　on　the　fifth　day　after　leaving　the　town；　the　countess　prepared　to　return。　Except　Walter；　none　were　informed　of　her　intention；　as　she　feared　that　news　might　be　taken　to　the　French　camp　by　friends　of　Charles　of　Blois；　but　as　soon　as　it　was　nightfall；　and　the　gates　were　shut；　the　trumpet　sounded　to　horse。　　In　a　few　minutes　the　troop　assembled　in　the　market…place；　and　the　countess；　accompanied　by　Walter；　placing　herself　at　their　head；　rode　out　from　the　town。　　The　strictest　silence　was　observed。　On　nearing　the　town　all　were　directed　to　dismount；　to　tear　up　the　horse…cloths；　and　to　muffle　the　feet　of　their　horses。　　Then　the　journey　was　resumed；　and　so　careless　was　the　watch　kept　by　the　French　that　they　passed　through　the　sentries　unobserved；　and　reached　in　safety　the　gate　from　which　they　had　issued。　As　they　neared　it　they　were　challenged　from　the　walls；　and　a　shout　of　joy　was　heard　when　Walter　replied　that　the　countess　herself　was　present。　The　gates　were　opened　and　the　party　entered。　The　news　of　their　return　rapidly　ran　through　the　town；　and　the　inhabitants；　hastily　attiring　themselves；　ran　into　the　streets；　filled　with　joy。　Much　depression　had　been　felt　during　her　absence；　and　few　had　entertained　hopes　that　she　would　be　able　to　re…　enter　the　town。　She　had　brought　with　her　from　Auray　two　hundred　men；　in　addition　to　the　party　that　had　sallied　out。



CHAPTER　IX：　THE　SIEGE　OF　HENNEBON


The　besiegers　of　Hennebon　were　greatly　discouraged　at　the　success　of　the　enterprise　of　the　countess。　They　had　already　attempted　several　desperate　assaults；　but　had　each　time　been　repulsed　with　very　heavy　loss。　They　now　sent　to　Rennes　for　twelve　of　the　immense　machines　used　in　battering　walls；　which　had　been　left　behind　there　on　a　false　report　of　the　weakness　of　Hennebon。　Pending　the　arrival　of　these；　Charles　of　Blois；　with　one　division　of　the　army；　marched　away　to　attack　Auray；　leaving　Don　Louis　to　carry　on　the　siege　with　a　force　considered　amply　sufficient　to　compel　its　surrender　after　the　arrival　of　the　battering　machines。

In　a　few　days　these　arrived　and　were　speedily　set　to　work；　and　immense　masses　of　stone　were　hurled　at　the　walls。

Walter　continued　to　act　as　the　countess's　especial　squire。　　She　had　informed　Sir　William　Caddoudal　and　Sir　John　Powis　that　it　was　at　his　suggestion　that　she　had　made　the　sudden　attack　upon　the　French　camp；　and　he　had　gained　great　credit　thereby。

The　effect　of　the　new　machines　was　speedily　visible。　　The　walls　crumbled　under　the　tremendous　blows；　and　although　the　archers　harassed　by　their　arrows　the　men　working　them；　the　French　speedily　erected　screens　which　sheltered　them　from　their　fire。　The　spirits　of　the　defenders　began　to　sink　rapidly；　as　they　saw　that　in　a　very　short　time　great　breaches　would　be　made　in　the　walls；　and　that　all　the　horrors　and　disasters　of　a　city　taken　by　assault　awaited　them。　　The　Bishop　of　Quimper　who　was　within　the　walls；　entered　into　secret　negotiations　with　his　nephew；　Henry　de　Leon；　who　had　gone　over　to　the　enemy　after　the　surrender　of　Nantes；　and　was　now　with　the　besieging　army。　The　besiegers；　delighted　to　find　an　ally　within　the　walls　who　might　save　them　from　the　heavy　losses　which　an　assault　would　entail　upon　them；　at　once　embraced　his　offers；　and　promised　him　a　large　recompense　if　he　would　bring　over　the　other　commanders　and　nobles。　The　wily　bishop　set　to　work；　and　the　consequences　were　soon　visible。　Open　grumbling　broke　forth　at　the　hardships　which　were　endured；　and　at　the　prospect　of　the　wholesale　slaughter　which　would　attend　a　storm　when　all　hope　of　a　successful　resistance　was　at　an　end。

〃I　fear；　Walter；〃　Sir　John　said　one　morning；　〃that　the　end　is　at　hand。　On　all　sides　submission　is　spoken　of；　and　all　that　I　can　say　to　keep　up　their　spirits　is　useless。　Upon　our　own　little　band　we　can　rely；　but　I　doubt　if　outside　them　a　single　determined　man　is　to　be　found　in　the　town。　In　vain　do　I　speak　of　the　arrival　of　Sir　Walter　Manny。　Nearly　ninety　days　have　elapsed　since　we　sailed；　and　all　hope　of　his　coming　is　gone。　I　point　out　to　them　that　contrary　winds　have　been　blowing；　and　that　at　any　moment　he　may　arrive；　but　they　will　not　hear　me。　　The　bishop　has　gained　over　the　whole　of　them　by　his　promises　that　none　shall　be　molested　in　property　or　estate　should　they　surrender。〃

〃It　is　sad　to　see　the　countess；〃　Walter　replied；　〃she　who　has　shown　such　high　spirit　throughout　the　siege　now　does　nothing　but　weep；　for　she　knows　that　with　her　and　her　child　in　the　hands　of　the　French　the　cause　of　the　count　is　lost。　If　she　could　carry　off　the　child　by　sea　she　would　not　so　much　care　for　the　fall　of　the　town；　but　the　French　ships　lie　thick　round　the　port；　and　there　is　no　hope　of　breaking　through。〃

Two　days　later　the　conspiracy　came　to　a　head；　and　the　people；　assembling　round　the　countess's　house；　clamoured　for　surrender。　The　breaches　were　open；　and　the　enemy　might　pour　in　at　any　time　and　put　all　to　the　sword。　The　countess　begged　for　a　little　further　delay；　but　in　vain；　and　withdrew　to　the　turret　where　she　had　for　so　many　weary　weeks　watched　the　horizon；　in　hopes　of　seeing　the　sails　of　the　approaching　fleet。　Walter　was　at　the　time　with　Sir　John　Powis　on　the　walls。

Presently　a　large　body　of　French　were　seen　approaching　headed　by　Henry　de　Leon；　who　summoned　the　town　to　surrender。　Many　standing　on　the　walls　shouted　that　the　gates　should　be　thrown　open；　but　Sir　John　returned　for　answer　that　he　must　consult　the　countess；　and　that　upon　her　answer　must　depend　whether　he　and　his　men　would　defend　the　breach　until　the　last。

〃Come　with　me；　Walter；〃　he　said；　〃we　must　fain　persuade　the　countess。　If　she　says　no；　we　Englishmen　will　die　in　the　breach；　but　though　ready　to　give　my　life　for　so　brave　a　lady；　I　own　that　it　is　useless　to　fight　longer。　Save　our　own　little　band　not　one　in　the　town　will　lift　a　sword　again。　Such　resistance　as　we　can　offer　will　but　inflame　them　to　fury；　and　all　the　horrors　of　a　sack　will　be　inflicted　upon　the　inhabitants。　　There　she　is；　poor　lady；　on　the　turret；　gazing；　as　usual；　seaward。〃

Suddenly　they　saw　her　throw　up　her　arms；　and　then；　turning　towards　the　city；　she　cried；　as　she　perceived　the　English　knight：　〃I　see　them！　I　see　them！　The　English　fleet　are　coming！〃

〃Run　up；　Walter；〃　Sir　John　exclaimed；　〃maybe　the　countess　is　distraught　with　her　sorrows。

Walter　dashed　up　to　the　turret；　and　looking　seaward　beheld　rising　over　the　horizon　a　number　of　masts。

〃Hurrah　！　Sir　John；〃　he　shouted；　〃we　are　saved；　the　English　fleet　is　in　sight。〃

Many　others　heard　the　shout；　and　the　tidings　ran　like　lightning　through　the　town。　In　wild　excitement　the　people　ran　to　the　battlements　and　roofs；　and　with　cheering　and　clapping　of　hands　hailed　the　appearance　of　the　still　far…distant　fleet。　The　church　bells　rang　out　joyfully　and　the　whole　town　was　wild　with　excitement。

The　Bishop　of　Quimper；　finding　that　his　plans　were　frustrated；　gathered　around　him　some　of　those　who　had　taken　a　leading　part　in　the　intrigue。　These；　leaving　the　city　by　a　gate　at　which　they　had　placed　some　of　their　own　faction　to　open　it　to　the　French；　issued　out　and　made　their　way　to　the　assailants'　camp；　to　give　news　of　the　altered　situation。　Don　Louis　at　once　ordered　an　attack　to　be　made　with　his　whole　force；　in　hopes　of　capturing　the　place　before　the　arrival　of　the　English　succour。　But；　animated　by　their　new　hopes；　those　so　lately　despondent　and　ready　to　yield　manned　the　breaches　and　repulsed　with　great　slaughter　all　attempts　on　the　part　of　the　French　to　carry　them。　While　the　struggle　was　still　going　on；　the　countess；　aided　by　the　wives　of　the　burghers；　busied　herself　in　preparing　a　sumptuous　feast　in　honour　of　her　deliverers　who　were　fast　approaching；　their　ships　impelled　by　a　strong　and　favourable　breeze。　The　vessels　of　the　French　hastily　drew　off；　and　the　English　fleet　sailed　into　the　port　hailed　by　the　cheers　of　the　inhabitants。　The　countess　herself　received　Sir　Walter　Manny　on　his　landing；　and　the　townspeople　vied　with　each　other　in　offering　hospitality　to　the　men…at…arms　and　archers。

〃Ah！　Sir　John　Powis；〃　Sir　Walter　exclaimed；　〃what；　are　you　here？　I　had　given　you　up　for　lost。　We　thought　you　had　gone　down　in　the　gale　the　night　you　started。〃

〃We　were　separated　from　the　fleet；　Sir　Walter；　but　the　master　held　on；　and　we　arrived　here　four　days　after　we　put　out。　We　took　part　in　the　siege　of　Rennes；　and　have　since　done　our　best　to　aid　the　countess　here。〃

〃And　their　best　has　been　much；〃　the　countess　said；　〃not　to　say　how　bravely　they　have　fought　upon　the　walls；　it　is　to　Sir　John　and　his　little　band　that　I　owe　it　that　the　town　was　not　surrendered　days　ago。　They　alone　remained　steadfast　when　all　others　fell　away；　and　it　is　due　to　them　that　I　am　still　able；　as　mistress　of　this　town；　to　greet　you　on　your　arrival。　　Next　to　Sir　John　himself；　my　thanks　are　due　to　your　young　esquire；　Walter　Somers；　who　has　cheered　and　stood　by　me；　and　to　whose　suggestions　I　owe　it　that　I　was　able　at　the　first　to　sally　out　and　destroy　the　French　camp　while　they　were　attacking　the　walls；　and　so　greatly　hindered　their　measures　against　the　town。　And　now；　sir；　will　you　follow　me？　I　have　prepared　for　you　and　your　knights　such　a　banquet　of　welcome　as　our　poor　means　will　allow；　and　my　townspeople　will　see　that　good　fare　is　set　before　your　soldiers。〃

That　evening　there　was　high　feasting　in　the　town；　although　the　crash　of　the　heavy　stones　cast　by　the　French　machines　against　the　walls　never　ceased。　Early　the　next　morning　Sir　Walter　Manny　made　a　survey　of　the　place　and　of　the　disposition　of　the　enemy；　and　proposed　to　his　knights　to　sally　forth　at　once　and　destroy　the　largest　of　the　enemy's　machines；　which　had　been　brought　up　close　to　the　walls。　In　a　few　minutes　the　knights　were　armed　and　mounted。　Three　hundred　knights　and　esquires　were　to　take　part　in　the　sortie；　they　were　to　be　followed　by　a　strong　body　of　men…at…arms。

As　soon　as　the　gates　were　opened　a　number　of　archers　issued　out；　and　taking　their　place　at　the　edge　of　the　moat；　poured　a　rain　of　arrows　upon　the　men　working　the　machine　and　those　guarding　it。　Most　of　these　took　to　flight　at　once；　the　remainder　were　cut　down　by　the　men…at…arms；　who　at　once　proceeded　to　hew　the　machine　in　pieces　with　the　axes　with　which　they　were　provided。　Sir　Walter　himself　and　his　mounted　companions　dashed　forward　to　the　nearer　tents　of　the　French　camps；　cut　down　all　who　opposed　them；　and　setting　fire　to　the　huts　retired　towards　the　city。

By