The army was almost non-existent; the soldiers could scarce be brought to face the foe.

One Englishman could chase ten of ours.

The horror as of a great darkness seemed to have fallen upon the land.
And yet in three months' time what had not been accomplished! The King was riding into the ancient city of Rheims, to be crowned King of France; Orleans was relieved; a score of fortresses had been snatched from the hands of the English.

These were fleeing from us in all directions back to Paris; where they hoped to make a stand against us, but were in mortal fear of attack; and now it was our soldiers who clamoured to be led against the English--the English who fled helter-skelter before the rush and the dash of the men whom heretofore they had despised.
And all this was the work of yonder marvellous Maid--a girl of seventeen summers, who, clad in white armour, shining like an angelic vision, was riding at the King's side towards the city.
He turned and looked at her at the moment my gaze was thus arrested, and I saw his face change.

He put out his hand and touched hers gently; but he had to touch her twice and to speak twice ere she heard or knew.
"Jeanne--fairest maiden--what do you see ?" She turned her gaze upon him--radiant, misty, marvellous.
"I see the Land of Promise," she answered, speaking very low, yet so clearly that I heard every word.