Three good giants

" 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.

" Oh, ho ! Friar John," he muttered to himself, " thou thinkest thyself a fine soldier, truly ! But it is high time now to call the Giant." So he shouted w T ith the full strength of his sturdy lungs : —

" Help ! help ! help ! Prince Gargantua to the rescue ! "