Volume I Part 26 (1/2)
”It is the same it was in the beginning, seven months ago?to get provisions for a long siege, then sit down and tire the English out.”
”In the name of G.o.d! As if seven months was not enough, you want to provide for a year of it. Now ye shall drop these pusillanimous dreams?the English shall go in three days!”
Several exclaimed:
”Ah, General, General, be prudent!”
”Be prudent and starve? Do ye call that war? I tell you this, if you do not already know it: The new circ.u.mstances have changed the face of matters. The true point of attack has s.h.i.+fted; it is on the other side of the river now. One must take the fortifications that command the bridge. The English know that if we are not fools and cowards we will try to do that. They are grateful for your piety in wasting this day.
They will reinforce the bridge forts from this side to-night, knowing what ought to happen to-morrow. You have but lost a day and made our task harder, for we will cross and take the bridge forts. b.a.s.t.a.r.d, tell me the truth?does not this council know that there is no other course for us than the one I am speaking of?”
Dunois conceded that the council did know it to be the most desirable, but considered it impracticable; and he excused the council as well as he could by saying that inasmuch as nothing was really and rationally to be hoped for but a long continuance of the siege and wearying out of the English, they were naturally a little afraid of Joan's impetuous notions. He said:
”You see, we are sure that the waiting game is the best, whereas you would carry everything by storm.”
”That I would!?and moreover that I will! You have my orders?here and now. We will move upon the forts of the south bank to-morrow at dawn.”
”And carry them by storm?”
”Yes, carry them by storm!”
La Hire came clanking in, and heard the last remark. He cried out:
”By my baton, that is the music I love to hear! Yes, that is the right time and the beautiful words, my General?we will carry them by storm!”
He saluted in his large way and came up and shook Joan by the hand.
Some member of the council was heard to say:
”It follows, then, that we must begin with the bastille St. John, and that will give the English time to?”
Joan turned and said:
”Give yourselves no uneasiness about the bastille St. John. The English will know enough to retire from it and fall back on the bridge bastilles when they see us coming.” She added, with a touch of sarcasm, ”Even a war-council would know enough to do that itself.”
Then she took her leave. La Hire made this general remark to the council:
”She is a child, and that is all ye seem to see. Keep to that superst.i.tion if you must, but you perceive that this child understands this complex game of war as well as any of you; and if you want my opinion without the trouble of asking for it, here you have it without ruffles or embroidery?by G.o.d, I think she can teach the best of you how to play it!”
Joan had spoken truly; the sagacious English saw that the policy of the French had undergone a revolution; that the policy of paltering and dawdling was ended; that in place of taking blows, blows were ready to be struck now; therefore they made ready for the new state of things by transferring heavy reinforcements to the bastilles of the south bank from those of the north.
The city learned the great news that once more in French history, after all these humiliating years, France was going to take the offensive; that France, so used to retreating, was going to advance; that France, so long accustomed to skulking, was going to face about and strike. The joy of the people pa.s.sed all bounds. The city walls were black with them to see the army march out in the morning in that strange new position?its front, not its tail, toward an English camp. You shall imagine for yourselves what the excitement was like and how it expressed itself, when Joan rode out at the head of the host with her banner floating above her.
We crossed the five in strong force, and a tedious long job it was, for the boats were small and not numerous. Our landing on the island of St.
Aignan was not disputed. We threw a bridge of a few boats across the narrow channel thence to the south sh.o.r.e and took up our march in good order and unmolested; for although there was a fortress there?St.
John?the English vacated and destroyed it and fell back on the bridge forts below as soon as our first boats were seen to leave the Orleans sh.o.r.e; which was what Joan had said would happen, when she was disputing with the council.
We moved down the sh.o.r.e and Joan planted her standard before the bastille of the Augustins, the first of the formidable works that protected the end of the bridge. The trumpets sounded the a.s.sault, and two charges followed in handsome style; but we were too weak, as yet, for our main body was still lagging behind. Before we could gather for a third a.s.sault the garrison of St. Prive were seen coming up to reinforce the big bastille. They came on a run, and the Augustins sallied out, and both forces came against us with a rush, and sent our small army flying in a panic, and followed us, slas.h.i.+ng and slaying, and shouting jeers and insults at us.