Against foes within the town and foes without the town the captains judged that we were of no avail.

So we departed, heavy at heart.

Now the companies scattered, and Barthelemy and I, sorry enough, rode behind Xaintrailles, due north to Guermigny, whence we threatened Amiens.
At Guermigny, then, for a short season, lay Xaintrailles, gathering all the force he might along the Picardy marches, for the Duke of Burgundy was in Peronne, full of wrath and sorrow, so many evils had befallen him.
For ourselves, we were in no gentler temper, having lost our hope of pushing on to Rouen.
I was glad, therefore, when Xaintrailles himself rode one day to the door of our lodging in Guermigny, strode clanging into our chamber, and asked if we were alone?
We telling him that none was within ear-shot, he sat him down on the table, playing with his dagger hilt, and, with his hawk's eye on Barthelemy, asked, "You know this land well ?" "I have ridden over it, in war or peace, since I was a boy." "How far to Lihons ?" "A matter of two leagues." "What manner of country lies between ?" "Chiefly plain, rude and untilled, because of the distresses of these times.

There is much heath and long grasses, a great country for hares." "Know you any covert nigh the road ?" "There runs a brook that the road crosses by a bridge, midway between Guermigny and Lihons.

The banks are steep, and well wooded with such trees and undergrowth as love water." "You can guide me thither ?" "There is no missing the road." "God could not have made this land better for me, if He had asked my counsel," said Xaintrailles.