But it was Pasquerel's desire to let ferry her across secretly to Orleans.

This was an ill hearing for me, yet it was put about in the army that the Maid had but taken a slight scratch, and again would lead us on, a thing which I well deemed to be impossible.

So the day waxed late, and few onslaughts were made, and these with no great heart, the English standing on the walls and openly mocking us.
They asked how it went with the Maid, and whether she would not fain be at home among her kine, or in the greasy kitchen?
We would cry back, and for my own part I bade them seek the kitchen as pock-puddings and belly- gods, and that I cried in their own tongue, while they, to my great amaze, called me "prentice boy" and "jackanapes." Herein I saw the craft and devilish enmity of Brother Thomas, and well I guessed that he had gotten sight of me; but his face I saw not.
Ill names break no bones, and arrows from under cover wrought slight scathe; so one last charge the Bastard commanded, and led himself, and a sore tussle there was that time on the wall-crest, one or two of our men leaping into the fort, whence they came back no more.
Now it was eight hours of the evening, the sky grey, the men out-worn and out of all heart, and the captains were gathered in council.

Of this I conceived the worst hope, for after a counsel men seldom fight.

So I watched the fort right sullenly, and the town of Orleans looking black against a red, lowering sky in the west.