But Renaud and his companions slept so soundly that they would have been surprised had not the intelligent Bayard awakened his master by a very opportune kick.

Springing to his feet, Renaud roused his companions, vaulted upon his steed, and charged the guard.

He soon delivered his captive brother and carried him off in triumph, after hanging the knight who had volunteered to act as executioner.
[Sidenote: Montauban besieged by Charlemagne.] Charlemagne, still anxious to seize and punish these refractory subjects, now collected an army and began again to besiege the stronghold of Montauban.

Occasional sallies and a few bloody encounters were the only variations in the monotony of a several-years' siege.

But finally the provisions of the besieged became very scanty.