1 66 THE WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES 



The ladies and squires and burgesses of Rheims 

 came often to his cell to visit him, and the arch- 

 bishop played chess with him almost every 

 evening. His beard became white as snow, but 

 his arms remained as big and as strong as ever, 

 and he never lost hope. 



By and by, however, sad changes came to 

 France and to Ogier. The archbishop was slain 

 in that famous fight at Roncesvalles, where all 

 the flower of French chivalry perished. The 

 prison at Rheims passed into the hands of other 

 keepers. All of Ogier's old friends were dead, 

 and it was not long until Ogier himself seemed 

 to be forgotten. 



Charlemagne was hard beset by his foes. A 

 pagan king named Brehus invaded France from 

 the south, and threatened to overrun the whole 

 empire. Battle after battle was fought, and the 

 French, having no leaders, were beaten every 

 time. Everybody was in despair. People began 

 to compare the former glorious times with the 

 present. They thought of Roland and of Oliver, 

 and of Reinold, and of the brave archbishop of 

 Rheims, who used to lead them in battle — all 

 dead, now. Then they thought of Ogier, and 

 wondered if he, too, was dead. 



