260 The King Orgulous

Desiderius was summoned from his cell on
the lonely mountain, and, despite his tears
and supplications and his protestations of
ignorance and inexperience and extreme
youth, made Archbishop of Sarras. Only
one answer was vouchsafed to him. ‘“ One
of thy vows was entire obedience, and the
grace of God is sufficient for thee.”

In that same year a horde of the fierce
Avars poured out from the round green
earth-walls of their mysterious stronghold,
which lay beyond Danube, and, crossing the
river, fell on Sarras; and clashing with that
ravening horde, Astulf the King of Sarras
was slain.

Ill had it then fared with the folk of
Sarras, city and plain alike, but for a certain
Talisso, a free-rider, who from a green knoll
had watched the onset. When he saw the
slaying of the King, he plunged into the
battle, cleaving his way through the ranks of
squat and swarthy Avars ; and heartening the
men of Sarras with his ringing cheer and
battle-laughter, shaped them into wedges of
sharp iron and drove them home through
the knotted wood of their foemen, till the
Avars fled hot-foot to Danube water, and