第57章 COMPIèGNE.(4)

"The action began well：the garrison of Margny yielded in the twinkling of an eye.That of Clairoix rushing to the support of their brothers in arms was repulsed，then in its turn repulsed the French；and three times this alternative of advance and retreat took place on the flat ground of the meadow without serious injury to either party.

This gave time to the English to take part in the fray；[1]though thanks to the precautions of Flavy all they could do was to swell the ranks of the Burgundians.But unfortunately the rear of the Maid's army was struck with the possibility that a diversion might be attempted from behind，and their retreat cut off.A panic seized them；they broke their ranks，turned back and fled，some to the boats，some to the barrier of the boulevard.The English witnessing this flight rushed after them，secure now on the side of Compiègne，where the archers no longer ventured to shoot lest they should kill the fugitives instead of the enemies.They (the English)thus got possession of the raised road，and pushed on so hotly after the fugitives that their horses'heads touched the backs of the crowd.It thus became necessary for the safety of the town to close the gates until the barrier of the boulevard should be set up again."

These disastrous accidents had taken place while Jeanne，charging in front with her companions and body-guard，remained quite unaware of any misfortune.She would hear no call to retreat，even when her companions were roused to the dangers of their position."Forward，they are ours！"was all her cry.As at St.Pierre-le-Moutier she was ready to defeat the Burgundian army alone.At length the others perceiving something of what had happened seized her bridle and forced her to retire.She was of herself too remarkable a figure to be concealed amid the group of armed men who rode with her，encircling her，defending the rear of the flying party.Over her armour she wore a crimson tunic，or according to some authorities a short cloak，of gorgeous material embroidered with gold，and though by this time the twilight must have afforded a partial shelter，yet the knowledge that she was there gave keenness to every eye.Behind，the scattered Burgundians had rallied and begun to pursue，while the armour and spears of the English glittered in front between the little party and the barrier which was blocked by a terrified crowd of fugitives.Even then a party of horsemen might have cut their way through；but at the moment when Jeanne and her followers drew near，the barrier was sharply closed and the wild，confused，and fighting crowd，treading each other down，struggling for life，were forced back upon the English lances.Thus the retreating band riding hard along the raised road，in order and unbroken，found the path suddenly barred by the forces of the enemy，the fugitives of their own army，and the closed gates of the town.

An attempt was then made by the Maid and her companions to turn towards the western gate where there still might have been a chance of safety；but by this time the smaller figure among all those steel-clad men，and the waving mantle，must have been distinguished through the dusk and the dust.There was a wild rush of combat and confusion，and in a moment she was surrounded，seized，her horse and her person，notwithstanding all resistance.With cries of "Rendez vous，"and many an evil name，fierce faces and threatening weapons closed round her.

One of her assailants--a Burgundian knight，a Picard archer，the accounts differ--caught her by her mantle and dragged her from her horse；no Englishman let us be thankful，though no doubt all were equally eager and ready.Into the midst of that shouting mass of men，in the blinding cloud of dust，in the darkening of the night，the Maid of France disappeared for one terrible moment，and was lost to view.

And then，and not till then，came a clamour of bells into the night，and all the steeples of Compiègne trembled with the call to arms，a sally to save the deliverer.Was it treachery？Was it only a perception，too late，of the danger？There are not wanting voices to say that a prompt sally might have saved Jeanne，and that it was quite within the power of the Governor and city had they chosen.Who can answer so dreadful a suggestion？it is too much shame to human nature to believe it.Perhaps within Compiègne as without，they were too slow to perceive the supreme moment，too much overwhelmed to snatch any chance of rescue till it was too late.