"Very well, Friar," Gargantua said, laughing. " Every conqueror has the right to choose his weapons. You are a conqueror; keep yours."
When all the clocks were striking midnight, Gargantua left the Palace with Ponocrates, Friar John always carrying his staff, Gym-naste, Eudemon the page, and twenty-five of the most adventurous knights, all armed from head to foot, and mounted like great Saint George himself, each with a stout archer behind him.
These were to be followed, the next morning, by the whole army, which had been recruited in a fashion that would look very strange to-day. Let me tell you how it all was !
Before Gargantua had come back from Paris, and while Picrochole was still galloping with his wicked soldiers over rich fields, and trampling down fruits and vines, and cursing and cutting and slashing away, and killing just as the fancy took him, Father Grandgousier had sent messages to his friends and neighbors living a hundred miles around, telling them all about the war; how his son Gargantua,
\
in whom trusted, was far away in Paris, studying hard at his Latin; and asking them to help him just as much as they could in money and men.
It was in this way that it was made as clear as the bright sun shining in heaven at noonday, how many friends the good old Giant really had. Some might say all this was because he was a Giant; but I think it was not so much that as because he had always, through a long life, been kind and gentle to little men.
Taking what one Prince, and another, gave in money, Father Grandgousier raised among his neighbors one hundred and thirty-four million and two and a half crowns of pure gold.
When he read their lists, giving the number of soldiers each one was able to lend him, he found that he would have : —
15,000 men at arms. 32,000 cavalrymen. 89,000 arquebusiers. 140,000 volunteers.
That is to say, 276,000 stout soldiers, all well equipped and provisioned for six months and four days. To which were to be added : —
11,200 cannon.
47,000 double cannon, etc.
The good old Giant felt very grateful; but he swore, nevertheless, a round oath that there was no need for him to accept so great an army. Where was he to put two hundred and seventy-six thousand soldiers? Where could he store away fifty-eight thousand cannon? If he could only be sure that his Gargantua would come home in time, why, he wouldn't care for any army at all!
" If my boy Gargantua should once get among that Picrochole gang, he would scatter them over the border quicker than they ever crossed it," he was saying to himself all the time.
Meanwhile, that rogue Picrochole was going on at such a rate with his pastime of cursing, killing, cutting, and slashing at men, and ravaging vineyards, and burning houses, that Grandgousier found that he had really to do something that would strike terror. So he sent another Royal Messenger to his friends the Princes, telling them that he would be satisfied, for the present, with
2,500 men-at-arms.
66,000 infantry.
26,000 arquebusiers.
22,000 pioneers.
6,000 light cavalry.
122,500 men, all to be well equipped and provisioned by his friends, as promised. He added, in a postscript, that all else he needed would be two hundred pieces of heavy artillery.
THE ADVANCE GUARD STABTS.
"Let them come at once," he said. "It my little boy should choose to stay among those wild Paris lads, they may be useful. But if he once gets home, I wouldn't give that " — snapping his fat old fingers — " for the whole Picrochole gang!"
For a wonder, the army got to the i v it.
Palace a week before Gargantua reached
GRANDGOUS1ER 3 ARMY
CHAPTER XX.
GARGANTUA S MARE SCORES A VICTORY.
THIS was the army that followed Gar-gantua at daybreak and came up with him at the Ford of Vede. Gargautua was commander-in-chief in place of Grandgousier, who, being old, of course stayed at home. But that was a glorious early breakfast which the old King gave to the soldiers before they left; and he made it more glorious by promising great gifts to every man who would do some wonderful act of prowess. ' They will not have a chance to do anything," he whispered confidentially to his Chief Butler, whom he had raised to a level with his mouth. " My boy will be there!"
The army crossed the Ford in boats and on bridges lightly made over smaller boats, which dipped to the water's edge as the soldiers passed over. After a short march they came upon the city, which was placed upon a high hill. There they halted. Gargantua called a council, and with his friends discussed all night what was best to be done next morning. Gyninaste was the first to speak to the point.
" My lord," he said, tr I am in favor of attacking at once. You will do so if you know those French fellows as well as I do. They are terrible foes at the first assault, when they are worse than so many devils. But if they are kept idle, and dream too long of their sweethearts and their vines, they lose heart, and become worse than so many women."
Gargantua was nodding approval all the time Gymnaste was speaking. He was quite sure, in his own mind, that, when once he would show himself on his great Mare, and with his huge tree held as a lance, Picrochole would lose the field. But he had no idea of putting himself forward just then. So he said nothing more than : " So be it! We advance at daylight."
The advance-guard were stationed on the hill-side, while the main army remained on the . plain. Faithful Friar John took with him six companies a of infantry and two hundred horsemen, and, with all speed, crossed the marsh, and jf - gained, on the
MOUNTING FOB THE FRAY.
highway of London, a point just above the Castle. While the assault was going on, Picrochole and his people didn't know at first which was better : whether to march out from the Castle, resolved to conquer or to die, or to stay in the city, and let the enemy outside do their worst. At last Picrochole himself grew tired. He had done nothing during the whole war but take care of his own precious body behind the walls of the city, while his officers and soldiers slashed and killed the poor subjects of Grandgousier at their will. He had not heard a whisper of how Gargantua had come all the way from Paris, and was then actually in front. He swore roundly, over his cups, that Gargantua was not there, or he would have heard of it long before. " Ha ! ha ! Giants are too big to hide themselves. Victory shall be ours ! " he cried.
This was what made Picrochole bold enough to make an attack. Once beyond the gate, he and his army were received with such a welcome of cannon-balls that they were for a moment confused. Picrochole looked around for the Gargantuists; he couldn't see one of them, as Friar John had taken his men back with him to the hills, so as to give the artillery room to work. Encouraged by this, Picrochole defended himself so bravely under the terrible fires, and advanced so steadily all the time on the guns, that the gunners were obliged to flee for their lives, and Friar John himself found it hard to keep him from charging over his small force.