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diff --git a/18349.txt b/18349.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c8d2eef --- /dev/null +++ b/18349.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14726 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of In the Irish Brigade, by G. A. Henty + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: In the Irish Brigade + A Tale of War in Flanders and Spain + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Illustrator: Charles M. Sheldon + +Release Date: May 8, 2006 [EBook #18349] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN THE IRISH BRIGADE *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + +In the Irish Brigade: +A Tale of War in Flanders and Spain +By G. A. Henty. + + + +Contents + + +Preface. +Chapter 1: Fresh from Ireland. +Chapter 2: A Valiant Band. +Chapter 3: A Strange Adventure. +Chapter 4: At Versailles. +Chapter 5: A New Friend. +Chapter 6: An Ambuscade. +Chapter 7: In Paris Again. +Chapter 8: To Scotland. +Chapter 9: An Escape From Newgate. +Chapter 10: Kidnapping A Minister. +Chapter 11: On the Frontier. +Chapter 12: Oudenarde. +Chapter 13: Convalescent. +Chapter 14: A Mission. +Chapter 15: Treachery. +Chapter 16: Captured. +Chapter 17: An Old Friend. +Chapter 18: War. +Chapter 19: In Search of a Family. +Chapter 20: Gerald O'Carroll. + + + +Preface. + + +The evils arising from religious persecution, sectarian hatred, +ill government, and oppression were never more strongly +illustrated than by the fact that, for a century, Ireland, which +has since that time furnished us with a large proportion of our +best soldiers, should have been among our bitterest and most +formidable foes, and her sons fought in the ranks of our greatest +continental enemy. It was not because they were adherents of the +house of Stuart that Irishmen left their native country to take +service abroad, but because life in Ireland was rendered well-nigh +intolerable for Catholics, on account of the nature and severity +of the laws against them, and the bitterness with which those laws +were carried into effect. + +An Irish Catholic had no prospects of employment or advancement at +home. He could hold no civil appointment of any kind. He could not +serve as an officer, nor even enlist as a private, in the army. He +could not hold land. He was subject to imprisonment, and even +death, on the most trifling and frivolous accusations brought +against him by the satellites of the Irish Government. Not only +could he not sit in the parliament of Dublin, but he could not +even vote at elections. It was because they believed that the +return of the Stuarts would mean relief, from at least some of +their disabilities, and liberty to carry out the offices of their +religion openly, and to dwell in peace, free from denunciation and +persecution, that the Irish remained so long faithful to the +Jacobite cause. + +It was not, indeed, until 1774 that the Catholics in Ireland were +admitted to qualify themselves as subjects of the crown, and not +until the following year that they were permitted to enlist in the +army. Irish regiments had enlisted in France, previous to the +Convention of Limerick; but it was the Irish army that defended +that town, and, having been defeated, passed over to France, that +raised the Irish Brigade to the position of an important factor in +the French army, which it held for nearly a hundred years, bearing +a prominent part in every siege and battle in Flanders, Germany, +Italy, and Spain. A long succession of French marshals and +generals have testified to the extraordinary bravery of these +troops, and to their good conduct under all circumstances. Not +only in France did Irishmen play a prominent part in military +matters, but they were conspicuous in every continental army, and +their descendants are still to be found bearing honoured names +throughout Europe. + +Happily, those days are past, and for over a hundred years the +courage and military capacity of Irishmen have been employed in +the service of Great Britain. For records of the doings of some of +the regiments of the Irish Brigade, during the years 1706-1710, I +am indebted to the painstaking account of the Irish Brigade in the +service of France, by J. C. O'Callaghan; while the accounts of the +war in Spain are drawn from the official report, given in Boyer's +Annals of the Reign of Queen Anne, which contains a mine of +information of the military and civil events of the time. + +G. A. Henty. + + + +Chapter 1: Fresh from Ireland. + + +A number of officers of O'Brien's regiment of foot, forming a part +of the Irish Brigade in the service of France, were gathered in a +handsome apartment in the Rue des Fosses, on the 20th of June, +1701, when the door opened, and their colonel entered with a young +officer in the uniform of the regiment. + +"I have asked you here, gentlemen all," he said, "to present to +you a new comrade, Desmond Kennedy, who, through the good offices +of the Marshal de Noailles, has been appointed, by His Gracious +Majesty, to a cornetcy in our regiment. + +"Now, gentlemen, I have known, and doubtless you can all of you +recall, instances where the harmony of a regiment has been +grievously disturbed, and bad blood caused, owing to the want of a +clear understanding upon matters connected with a family; which +might have been avoided, had proper explanations been given at the +commencement. I have spoken frankly to Mr. Kennedy, and he has +stated to me certain particulars, and has not only authorized me, +but requested me to repeat them to you, feeling that you had a +right to know who it was that had come among you, and so to avoid +questioning on matters that are, of all others, prone to lead to +trouble among gentlemen. + +"Beyond the fact that he is a Kennedy, and that his father had to +fly from Ireland, two years after the siege of Limerick, owing to +a participation in some plot to bring about a fresh rising in +favour of King James, he is unacquainted with his family history. +He has never heard from his father, and only knows that he made +for France after throwing the usurper's spies off his track, and +there can be little doubt that it was his intention to take +service in this brigade. There have been several Kennedys in the +service, and I have little doubt that this young gentleman's +father was the Murroch Kennedy who joined the third regiment, +about that time, and was killed a few months afterwards at the +battle of Breda. His death would account for the fact that his son +never received a letter from him. At the time when he left +Ireland, the child was some two years old, and, as communication +was difficult, and the boy so young, Murroch might very well have +put off writing until the boy grew older, not thinking that death +might intervene, as it did, to prevent his doing so. + +"This is all simple and straightforward enough, and you will, I am +sure, have no hesitation in extending the hand of friendship to +the son of a gallant Irishman, who died fighting in the ranks of +the Irish Brigade, exiled, like the rest of us, for loyalty to our +king. + +"Still, gentlemen, you might, perhaps, wonder how it is that he +knows no more of his family, and it was that this question might +be disposed of, once for all, that I am making this statement to +you on his behalf. He was not brought up, as you might expect, +with some of his father's connections. Whether the family were so +scattered that there was no one to whom he could safely entrust +the child, I know not, but, in point of fact, he sent him to one +of the last houses where a loyal gentleman would wish his son to +be brought up. We all know by name and reputation--I and your +majors knew him personally--the gallant James O'Carroll, who died, +fighting bravely, at the siege of Limerick. He was succeeded in +his estate by his brother John, one of the few Irishmen of good +family who turned traitor to his king, and who secured the +succession to his brother's possessions by becoming an ardent +supporter of the usurper, and by changing his religion. + +"Why Murroch Kennedy should have chosen such a man as the guardian +of his son is a mystery. Whether they had been great friends in +earlier times, when John O'Carroll professed as warm an attachment +to the Stuart cause as did his brother James, or whether Kennedy +possessed such knowledge of O'Carroll's traitorous dealings with +the Dutchman as would, if generally known, have rendered him so +hateful to all loyal men that he could no longer have remained in +the country, and so had a hold over him, Mr. Kennedy can tell us +nothing. He was brought by his nurse to Castle Kilkargan, and was +left with John O'Carroll. It is clear that the latter accepted the +charge unwillingly, for he sent the child to a farm, where he +remained until he was eight years old, and then placed him with +the parish priest, who educated him. The lad visited at the houses +of the neighbouring gentry, shot and rowed and fished with their +sons. O'Carroll, however, beyond paying for his maintenance, all +but ignored his existence, showing no interest whatever in him, up +to the time when he furnished him with a letter of introduction to +de Noailles, except that he made him a present of a gun, as soon +as he became of an age to use one. He never attempted to tamper +with his loyalty to King James, and in fact, until he sent for him +to ask what profession he would choose, he never exchanged ten +words with him, from the time that he was brought to the castle. + +"We can each form our own theory as to the cause of such strange +conduct. He may have given a pledge, to Murroch, that the boy +should be brought up a loyalist, and a true son of the church. It +may have been that the loyalty of the boy's father formed so +unpleasant a contrast to his own disloyalty, and apostasy, that he +disliked the sight of him. However, these theories can make no +difference in our reception of Desmond Kennedy, as a gentleman of +a good family, and as the son of a loyal adherent of the king; and +as such, I think that I can, from what I have already seen of him, +assert that he is one who will be a good comrade, a pleasant +companion, and a credit to the regiment." + +The subject of these remarks was a tall and handsome young fellow, +some sixteen years of age. He was already broad at the shoulders, +and promised to become an exceedingly powerful man. He had stood +somewhat behind the colonel, watching calmly the effect of his +words on those whose comrade he was to be, for he knew how +punctilious were his countrymen, on the subject of family, placing +as much or even more value than did the Scots, on points of +genealogy, and of descent from the old families. His frank open +face, his bearing and manner, did as much to smooth his way as did +the speech of his colonel, who, when he had been introduced to +him, two days before, had questioned him very closely on the +subject of his family. It had almost been a matter of satisfaction +to Desmond when he heard, from the colonel, that the officer who +had fallen at Breda was probably the father of whom he had no +remembrance; for, from the time he attained the age of boyhood, it +had been a grief and pain that he should never have heard from his +father, who, it now appeared, had been prevented by death from +ever communicating with him. + +The officers received him cordially. They had little doubt that he +was the son of the Murroch Kennedy, of Dillon's regiment, +although, after they separated, some wonder was expressed as to +the reason why the latter had committed his son to the care of so +notorious a traitor as John O'Carroll. + +Desmond had been specially introduced to two of the young +lieutenants, Patrick O'Neil and Phelim O'Sullivan, and these took +him off with them to their quarters. + +"And what is the last news from Ireland? I suppose that the +confiscations have ceased, for the excellent reason that they have +seized the estates of every loyal gentleman in the country?" + +"That was done long ago, in the neighbourhood of Kilkargan, and, +so far as I know, everywhere the feeling is as bitter as ever, +among those who have been dispossessed, and also among the tenants +and peasantry, who have found themselves handed over to the +mercies of Dutchmen, or other followers of William. At Kilkargan +there was not that grievance; but, although they had still one of +the old family as their master, they could not forgive him for +deserting to the side of the usurper, nor for changing his +religion in order to do pleasure to William. Certainly, he can +have derived but little satisfaction from the estates. He seldom +showed himself out of doors, never without two or three armed +servants, all of whom were strangers from the north, and he was +often away, for months together, at Dublin." + +"And what did you do with yourself?" + +"I fished, shot, and rode. I had many friends among the gentry of +the neighbourhood, who would, doubtless, have shown less kindness +than they did, had it not been for the neglect with which +O'Carroll treated me. His unpopularity was all in my favour. + +"However, I have one good reason for being obliged to him, since +it was through him that I obtained my commission. He told me that, +in his young days, he had been at a French college with the duke. +They had been great friends there, and he thought that, in memory +of this, de Noailles would procure me a commission." + +"I suppose the real fact was, Kennedy, that he was glad to get rid +of you altogether?" + +"I think that is likely enough. He certainly raised no objection, +whatever, to my going abroad, and seemed to think it natural that +I should choose the Irish Brigade, here, in preference to the +British service. He said something unpleasant about its not being +singular that I should be a rebel, when I always associated with +rebels, to which I replied that it seemed to me that I could +hardly be blamed for that, seeing that my father had been what he +called a rebel, and that I had little choice in the matter of my +associates; and that if I had been educated at a school in +England, instead of by good Father O'Leary, I might have had other +sentiments. He replied that my sentiments were nothing to him, one +way or the other. He was glad to wash his hands of me altogether; +and, at any rate, if I went to France, I could drink the health of +King James every day without his being involved in my treason." + +"It almost looked as if he wished you to grow up a rebel, Kennedy, +or he would hardly have placed you in the charge of a priest. He +may have reckoned that if there was another rising, you might join +it, and so be taken off his hands, altogether." + +"Whatever the reason was, I have certainly cause for satisfaction +that he removed me from the care of the farmer's wife, with whom +he at first placed me, and arranged with the priest to take charge +of me altogether. O'Leary himself had been educated at Saint Omer, +and was a splendid fellow. He was very popular on the countryside, +and it was owing to my being with him that I was admitted to the +houses of the gentry around, whereas, had I remained in the +farmhouse in which O'Carroll first placed me, I should only have +associated with the sons of other tenants." + +"It looked, at any rate, as if he wished to make a gentleman of +you, Kennedy." + +"Yes, I suppose my father had asked him to do so. At any rate, I +was infinitely better off than I should have been if he had taken +me in at Kilkargan, for in that case I should have had no +associates, whatever. As it was, I scarcely ever exchanged a word +with him, until that last meeting. He sent down, by one of his +servants, the letter to the Duc de Noailles, and a bag containing +money for my outfit here, and for the purchase of a horse, +together with a line saying that he had done his duty by me, and +had no desire to hear from me in the future. I was inclined to +send the money back to him, but Father O'Leary persuaded me not to +do so, saying that I must be in a position to buy these things, if +I obtained a commission; and that, no doubt, the money had been +given me, not for my own sake, but because he felt that he owed it +to me, for some service rendered to him by my father." + +"It was an ungracious way of doing it," O'Sullivan said, "but, in +your circumstances, I should have taken the money had it come from +the old one himself. It is, perhaps, as well that it should have +been done in such a manner that you may well feel you owe no great +gratitude towards such a man." + +"And how did you get over here?" + +"There was no great difficulty about that. In spite of the +activity of the English cruisers, constant communication is kept +up between Ireland and France, and fortunately I had, a short time +before, made the acquaintance of one of your officers, who was +over there, in disguise, gathering recruits for the Brigade." + +"Yes, there are a good many agents in Ireland engaged in that +work. There is no difficulty in obtaining recruits, for there is +scarcely a young Irishman who does not long to be with his +countrymen, who have won such credit out here, and many abstain +from joining only because they do not know how to set about it. +The work of the agents, then, is principally to arrange means for +their crossing the channel. It is well that the supply is steadily +kept up, for, I can assure you, every battle fought makes very +heavy gaps in our ranks; but in spite of that, three fresh +regiments have been raised, in the last year, partly by fresh +comers from Ireland, and partly by Irish deserters from +Marlborough's regiments. + +"But I am interrupting your story." + +"Well, after leaving Mr. O'Carroll, and making my preparations, I +paid a visit to the cottage where the officer was staying, in +disguise, and told him that I wanted to cross. He gave instructions +as to how to proceed. I was to go to a certain street in Cork, and +knock at a certain door. When it was opened, I was to say, 'The sea +is calm and the sky is bright'. + +"'Then', he said, 'you will be taken in hand, and put on board one +of the craft engaged in the work of carrying our recruits across +the water. You will be landed at Saint Malo, where there is an +agent of the Brigade, who gives instructions to the recruits as to +how they are to proceed, supplies them with money enough for the +journey, and a man to accompany each party, and act as interpreter +on the way. + +"I carried out his instructions, crossed the channel in a lugger +with thirty young peasants, bound also for Paris, and, on landing +at Saint Malo, took my place in the diligence for Paris; having, +fortunately, no need for an interpreter. On my presenting my +letter to the Marquis de Noailles, he received me with great +kindness, and treated me as a guest, until he had obtained me a +commission in your regiment. + +"Now, when are we likely to go on active service?" + +"Soon, I expect," O'Neil said; "but whether we shall be sent to +the Peninsula, or to Flanders, no one knows. In fact, it is likely +enough that we shall, for the present, remain here; until it is +seen how matters go, and where reinforcements will be most +required. It is but ten months since we came into garrison, in +Paris, and we may therefore expect to be one of the last regiments +ordered off. + +"For my part, I am in no particular hurry to exchange comfortable +quarters, and good living, and such adventures as may fall to the +lot of a humble subaltern, for roughing it in the field; where, as +has been the case ever since the Brigade was formed, we get a good +deal more than our fair share of hard work and fighting." + +"I should have thought that you would all have liked that," +Desmond said, in some surprise. + +"Enough is as good as a feast," the other said; "and when you have +done a few weeks' work in trenches, before a town you are +besieging; stood knee deep for hours in mud, soaked to the skin +with rain, and with the enemy's shot coming through the parapet +every half minute or so; you will see that it is not all fun and +glory. + +"Then, too, you see, we have no particular interest in the +quarrels between France and Germany. When we fight, we fight +rather for the honour of the Irish Brigade, than for the glory of +France. We have a grudge against the Dutch, and fight them as +interested parties, seeing that it was by his Dutch troops that +William conquered Ireland. As to the English troops, we have no +particular enmity against them. Cromwell's business is an old +story, and I don't suppose that the English soldier feels any +particular love for Queen Anne, or any animosity against us. And +after all, we are nearer in blood to them than we are to the +Germans, Austrians, or Spaniards, for there are few, even of our +oldest families, who have not, many times since the days of +Strongbow, intermarried with the English settlers. At any rate, +there are still plenty of adherents of King James in England and +Scotland. We speak the same language, and form part of the same +nation, and I own that I would rather fight against any foreign +foe than against them." + +"So would I," Desmond said heartily. "Our only point of difference +is that we don't agree as to who should be king. We want a +Catholic king, and the majority of the English want a Protestant +king. We have fought on the subject, and been beaten. Next time, +we hope that we may succeed. If the king were to land in England +again, I would fight heart and soul in his cause; but whether the +French beat the English, in the present war, or the English beat +the French, will not, as far as I can see, make much difference to +King James; who, Father O'Leary tells me, is, in his opinion, +supported here by the French king from no great love for himself, +but because, so long as James has adherents in Ireland, Scotland, +and England, he is able to play him off against the English +Government." + +The other young men laughed. + +"For heaven's sake, Kennedy, keep such sentiments as these to +yourself. It is a matter of faith, in our brigade, that we are +fighting in the cause of King James, as against the English +usurper. Now that William is dead, and James's daughter on the +throne, matters are complicated somewhat; and if the Parliament +had settled the succession, after Anne, on her brother, there +might have been an end of the quarrel altogether. But now that +they have settled it on Sophia of Hanover, granddaughter of James +the 1st, and her descendants, subject to the restriction that they +shall be Protestants, the quarrel does not seem likely to be +healed." + +"This priest of yours must be a dangerous man," O'Sullivan said. + +"Not at all. I can assure you, he is devoted to the king; but, as +he told me, there is no use in Irishmen always closing their eyes +to the true state of things. He says that we must rely upon +ourselves, and our loyal friends in Scotland and England, but that +he is sure the king will never be placed on his throne by French +bayonets. A small auxiliary force may be sent over, but, in all +these years, Louis has made no real effort to assist him; and even +if, for his own purposes, he sent a great army to England, and +placed him on the throne, he would not be able to maintain himself +there for a month after the French had withdrawn, for even a +rightful king would be hated by the people upon whom he had been +forced, by a foreign power, especially a power that had, for +centuries, been regarded as their chief enemy. If he had been in +earnest, Louis would have sent over a great army, instead of a few +thousand men, to Ireland, when such a diversion would have turned +the scale in our favour. As he did not do so then, he is not +likely to do so in the future. The king is useful to him, here, by +keeping up an agitation that must, to some extent, cripple the +strength of England; but, were a Stuart on the throne, he would +have to listen to the wishes of the majority of his people, and +France would gain nothing by placing him there. Moreover, she +would lose the services of twenty thousand of her best soldiers, +for naturally the exiles would all return home, and what is now +the most valuable force in the French service, might then become +an equally important one in the service of Britain." + +"I am glad that this priest of yours remains quietly in Kilkargan, +for, if he were to come here, and expound his views among our +regiments, he might cause quite a defection among them. At any +rate, Kennedy, I should advise you not to take to propagating his +views in the regiment. It would not add to your comfort, or ours, +and there are a good many hot-headed men who would take up the +idea that you had been infected by O'Carroll's principles." + +"It would not be well for anyone to say as much to my face," +Desmond said. "Father O'Leary is loyal to the backbone, although +he has his own ideas as to the hopelessness of our obtaining any +efficient help from Louis. He thinks that it will be far better to +trust to our friends at home, and that, even did Louis carry out +his promises, it would in the long run harm rather than benefit +King James." + +"I am not saying that his view may not be correct, Kennedy. I am +only saying that the view would be a very unpopular one, among the +Brigade. We are fighting for France because we believe that +France, in turn, will aid in placing our rightful king on the +throne, and if we once entertained the notion that Louis was +deceiving us, that he had no intention of helping us, and that, if +he did place James on the throne, he would alienate all his +sympathizers at home, we should ask ourselves of what use was it, +spending our blood in fighting the battles of France." + +"At any rate, I will take your advice, O'Sullivan, and will keep +my lips sealed, as to Father O'Leary's views. As you see, by my +presence here, he has not convinced me, and as long as there is a +hope that, by the aid of a French army, we may yet see our king +come to his own again, I shall do my best to prove myself a +faithful soldier of France. I have chosen my career with my eyes +open. A loyal Irishman cannot obtain employment, still less +military employment, in his own country, and accordingly, we are +to be found fighting as soldiers of fortune in every country in +Europe. At least there is some chance that we may be benefiting +the royal cause by fighting for the country that gave King James +shelter, and rendered him armed assistance in his struggle with +the usurper, and will probably give aid, more or less efficient, +when the next attempt is made. In other countries we are but +soldiers of fortune. In France we may regard ourselves as serving +our own king by serving King Louis." + +"Do you speak French well, Kennedy?" O'Neil said, changing the +conversation abruptly. + +"Yes. Father O'Leary took care of that, for I always said that I +should take service abroad, as there was clearly nothing else to +do for a living, and, consequently, he generally talked to me in +that language, and I speak it as well as I do English or Irish." + +"You have not had much practice with the sword, I suppose?" + +"Not so much as I could wish, though I never lost an opportunity +of practising. There were several of the tenants who served in the +regiment James O'Carroll raised. I used to practise with them, but +I shall lose no time in getting the best instruction I can, here." + +"You may want it, Kennedy. We are not particularly liked by the +French officers, because we are generally chosen to lead an +assault, or for other desperate service. Duelling is, of course, +forbidden, but that in no way prevents duels from being frequent. +As for fighting in action, as far as I have seen or heard, +swordsmanship does not go for a great deal. If you press on hard +enough, and there are men following you, the enemy give way, +generally, before it comes to hand-to-hand fighting. If, on the +other hand, they are the more numerous, and hold their position in +the breach, it is the musketry that settles it. It is only when +two officers happen to meet, in a fierce fight, that swordsmanship +becomes of importance. + +"We have a good school in the regiment, and there are several +famous masters of fence in the town, so I should advise you to +give a couple of hours a day, for a time, to making yourself a +first-rate swordsman. I have just left off. Our maitre d'armes +tells me I am too hotheaded ever to make a fine blade; but I +should fancy, from the way you have been arguing, that you are +likely to be cooler than most of us in a fencing bout. It is the +fault with us all that we are apt to lose our tempers, and indeed +Maitre Maupert, who is the best teacher here, declines absolutely +to take any of us as pupils, saying that, while we may do +excellently well in battle, he can never hope to make first-class +fencers of men who cannot be relied upon to keep their heads cool, +and to fight with pointed weapons as calmly as they might fence +with a friend in a saloon." + +"Well, I shall work hard to become a fair swordsman," Desmond +said, with a laugh. "I suppose there is plenty of time to spare." + +"Plenty. We have a couple of hours' drill in the morning, and +after that, except when you are officer of the day, you can spend +your time as you like. The colonel and two of his officers attend +at the king's levees, when he is in Paris, but, as he spends the +greater portion of his time at Versailles, we are seldom called +upon for that duty." + +A few days after Desmond's arrival, the colonel took him with him +to Saint Germain, where James the 3rd, as his supporters called +him, held a miniature court. The colonel presented Desmond as a +loyal subject of His Majesty, and a newly-joined cornet in his +regiment. + +The young prince was a lad of eighteen. He was surrounded by a +group of courtiers, who had accompanied or followed his father +into exile, and whose insistence upon treating him with the +respect due to a monarch was in no slight degree galling to him, +for, as he often declared to the few friends he had about his own +age, he had all the disadvantages of being a king, without any of +the advantages. + +He was at once taken with the appearance of Desmond Kennedy. + +"Ah, Monsieur Kennedy," he said, after the ceremony of +presentation had been completed; "I wish that I had all my +faithful subjects, of the Irish Brigade, across the water with me; +and that I could put on a uniform like yours, and fight at their +head for my rights." + +"I would that you had, Sire. It would be a good day for us all; +and believe me, that either in Ireland or Scotland you would soon +find yourself at the head of an army, many times more numerous +than our brigade." + +"They all tell me that I must wait," the young prince said, with a +sigh, "but I have been waiting a long time now, and it seems no +nearer than when I was a child. However, the King of France has +promised me that it cannot be much longer; and that, when +Marlborough is defeated, and his army driven back across the sea, +he will send a fleet and an army to place me on my throne." + +"We shall all rejoice, indeed, when that time comes, Sire; and I +am sure there is not a man in the Irish Brigade who will not +follow you to the death, and serve you as faithfully as many of +them did your royal father." + +"I hope you will come here often, Monsieur Kennedy. I am sure that +I shall like you very much, and I think that you would always say +what you thought, and tell me the real truth about things." + +"Sire!" one of the older men exclaimed, reproachfully. + +"I mean no reflection on anyone, Dillon. You all say what I am +sure you feel, but you have grown accustomed to waiting, and all +think of what is politic, and complain that I speak too frankly. +Monsieur Kennedy comes straight from Ireland, and he is not old +enough, yet, to have learned to measure his words, and will not be +always afraid that anything he may say will be carried to the +king. + +"How I wish that the king would send me with Marshal Tallard!" + +"That would never do, Sire. The English are your subjects, and +they would never forgive you, if you were to appear in the field +with a French army, fighting against them." + +"But the Irish Brigade fight, Dillon?" + +"Yes, Your Majesty, but they are in the service of France, and, by +the terms of the treaty of Limerick, were allowed to expatriate +themselves, and to enter the French service. We have, in fact, +renounced our nationality, with the consent of the English, and, +if taken prisoners, could only be treated as captured foes, and +not as traitors. Of course, when Your Majesty ascends the throne, +we shall again become British subjects." + +"I trust that that may come soon, Dillon, and for your sake, +rather than my own. When the time comes, you will not find me +backward, but this weary waiting tries me sorely, and, were it not +for those who have remained faithful to our cause, I would gladly +resign such chances as I have of succeeding to the throne of +England, and take a commission in the Irish Brigade." + +Dillon and some of the elder men shook their heads. + +"Can you wonder?" the young prince said, passionately. "Here is +Master Kennedy, who is younger than myself, though a free life and +exercise have made him a man, in comparison to me. He has his life +before him. He will bear his part in many a pitched battle, and, +doubtless, in many a private adventure. He is his own master, and, +as long as he does his duty, there are none to say, 'you must not +do that; you must not say that; you must preserve your dignity; +you must speak softly and discreetly; you must wait patiently.' + +"I envy you, Master Kennedy. I envy you, from the bottom of my +heart! Come often to see me. You will always be welcome;" and, +turning abruptly away, he left the chamber hurriedly, to conceal +the tears which filled his eyes. + +His counsellors shook their heads solemnly, but Colonel O'Brien +said, warmly: + +"What the king says is natural, for a man of his age; and, for my +part, it has increased my respect for him. I say it without +offence, but what could be duller than the life this lad leads +here? He has been brought up, literally, without a pleasure. His +late Majesty, heaven rest his soul! was absorbed in his religious +exercises, and nothing could have been more trying, to a boy, than +a court in which the priests and confessors were practically +supreme. Since his father's death, things have been but little +better, and now I see that, at heart, the young king has plenty of +spirit and energy, I can feel that his life has been that of a +caged hawk, and I am not surprised that he occasionally breaks out +into revolt against it. It would, methinks, do him a world of +good, had he a few companions about his own age, like Ensign +Kennedy. I would even say that, although I can quite understand +that, as King of England, he could not well take a commission in +one of our regiments, he might at least be placed with one of our +most experienced and honoured colonels, in order to learn military +exercises, and to mix with the officers as any other nobleman +might do, when attached to the regiment." + +Murmurs of dissent arose among the counsellors. + +"Well, gentlemen," the colonel went on, "I have no desire to +interfere with your functions, but, in my opinion, it is good that +a king should also be a general. Did anyone think any the worse of +Dutch William, that he was able to command his army, personally? +None of us can believe that King James will ever succeed to the +inheritance of his fathers, without fighting; and it would be +well, indeed, that he should not appear as a puppet, but as one +qualified to command. It was the fault, or rather the misfortune, +of his father, that he was unfit to lead his troops in the field. +Had he been able to do so, he would, in all probability, have died +King of England, instead of as a fugitive and a pensioner of King +Louis. In one way, it grieves me to see that the young king feels +his position acutely; but, on the other hand, I am rejoiced to see +that he is in no way lacking in spirit, and that he longs to be +out of his cage, and to try his wings for himself. + +"Well, gentlemen, having had my say, I will take my leave of you, +as duty calls me back to my regiment. I trust that the frankness +with which I have spoken will not be misunderstood." + +So saying, with a bow to the courtiers he left the room, followed +by Kennedy. + +"They mean well," he said, after they had mounted, and ridden off +at a gallop; "but it is a pity that these gentlemen, all loyal and +honourable men as they are, should surround the young king. They +suited, well enough, to the mood of his father, who was always +wanting in spirit, and was broken down, not only by the loss of +his kingdom, but by the conduct of his daughters; and, what with +that, and his devotion to religion, he was rather a monk than a +monarch. He believed--but most mistakenly--that he had a genius +for politics, and was constantly intriguing with his adherents at +home, notably Marlborough and other lords, from whom he obtained +fair words and promises of support, but nothing else. But though +he could plan, he did not possess a spark of energy, and was one +of the most undecided of men, though, like most undecided men, he +could be extremely obstinate; and, unfortunately, the more wrong +he was, the more obstinately he held to his course. + +"However, all this can make no difference in our devotion to the +Stuart cause. But I hail, with satisfaction, the prospect that, in +his son, we may have one to whom we may feel personally loyal; for +there can be no doubt that men will fight with more vigour, for a +person to whom they are attached, than for an abstract idea." + +"I have heard Father O'Leary say the same, sir. His opinion was +that, had the late king possessed the qualities that commanded the +personal admiration and fidelity of his followers, and excited +something like enthusiasm among the people at large, he would +never have lost his throne; nor, could he have led his armies, as +did Gustavus or Charles the 12th of Sweden, would William of +Orange ever have ventured to cross to England." + +"It was a bad business, altogether, lad. His cause was practically +lost, from the day that William set foot upon English soil. He +had, in reality, no personal friends; and those who would have +remained faithful to the cause, were paralysed by his indecision +and feebleness. Charles the Martyr made many mistakes, but he had +the passionate adherence of his followers. His personality, and +his noble appearance, did as much for him as the goodness of his +cause; while his son, James, repelled rather than attracted +personal devotion. I trust that his grandson will inherit some of +his qualities. His outburst, today, gave me hope that he will do +so; but one must not build too much on that. It may have been only +the pettishness of a young man, sick of the constant tutelage to +which he is subjected, and the ennui of the life he leads, rather +than the earnestness of a noble spirit. + +"Of course, Kennedy, I need not tell you that it would be well to +make no mention, to anyone, of the scene that you have witnessed." + +"I shall certainly make no mention of it to anyone, sir. I am +sorry, indeed, for the young king. His life must be a dreadful +one, conscious of the impossibility of breaking the bonds in which +he is held, and knowing that his every word and action will be +reported, by spies, to the King of France." + +For three months, Desmond Kennedy worked hard at drill and sword +exercise. He became a general favourite in the regiment, owing to +his good temper, high spirits, and readiness to join in everything +that was going on. + +He went over, several times, to Saint Germain. At first, the +king's counsellors looked but coldly upon him, and he would have +ceased to come there, had it not been for the unaffected pleasure +shown by the king at his visits. In time, however, two of the +principal men at the little court requested him to have a +conversation with them, before going into the king's chamber. + +"You will understand, Mr. Kennedy," one of them said, when they +had seated themselves in a quiet spot in the garden; "that we, +standing in the position of His Majesty's counsellors, are in a +position of great responsibility. His Majesty, as we admit is but +natural, chafes over the inaction to which he is condemned by +circumstances; and is apt, at times, to express his desire for +action in terms which, if they came to the ears of King Louis, as +we have every reason to believe is sometimes the case, would do +him and the cause serious injury. Naturally, we should be glad for +him to have companions of his own age, but it behoves us to be +most careful that such companionship should not add to our +difficulties in this direction; and we should view with +satisfaction a friendship between the young king and one who, like +yourself, is nearly of his own age and, as we can see, full of +spirit and energy. In these matters the king is deficient; but it +would be better that he should, for the present, remain as he is, +rather than that he should, in acquiring more manly habits, grow +still more impatient and discontented with his position. + +"We have naturally taken some little trouble in finding out how +you stand in your regiment, and we hear nothing but good of you. +You are much liked by your comrades, pay the greatest attention to +your military exercises, and are regarded as one who will, some +day, do much credit to the regiment; and we feel that, in most +respects, your influence could not but be advantageous to the +young king; but the good that this might do him would be more than +balanced, were you to render him still more impatient than he is +for action. You may well suppose that we, exiles as we have been +for so many years from our country, are not less impatient than he +for the day of action; but we know that such action must depend +upon the King of France, and not upon ourselves. We would gladly +risk all, in an effort to place him on the throne of England, to +repair past injustices and cruel wrongs; but, were we to move +without the assistance of Louis, instead of achieving that object +we might only bring fresh ruin, confiscations, and death upon the +royalists of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Are you of our +opinion?" + +"Completely so, sir. Of course, I know but little of what is +passing, save in the neighbourhood where I have been brought up; +but I know that there, even among the king's most devoted +adherents, there is a feeling that nothing can possibly be done +until France lends her aid, in earnest. The English army is far +stronger than it was when we were last in arms, and when William +had to rely, almost entirely, upon his Dutch troops and Dutch +generals; while the friends of the Stuarts are almost without +arms, without leaders, and without organization." + +"That is good, Mr. Kennedy; and, if we were to sanction King +James's forming an intimacy with you, can I understand that we +could rely upon your not using your influence to add to his +impatience for action, and discontent with his present position?" + +"Certainly, sir. Being so recently from Ireland, I could assure +him that even his most devoted adherents, there, are of opinion +that no rising could be attended with success, unless backed by +French arms, and especially by the aid of the Irish Brigade, which +has already won such renown for itself, and whose appearance would +excite the greatest enthusiasm among all Irishmen." + +"In that case, Mr. Kennedy, so far from throwing any difficulties +in the way of His Majesty seeking your companionship, we shall +encourage him, and shall be glad to see you here, as often as your +military duties will permit." + + + +Chapter 2: A Valiant Band. + + +The permission was not attended with the result that the young +prince's counsellors had hoped. For a time, James showed a lively +pleasure when Desmond rode over to Saint Germain, walked with him +in the gardens, and talked to him alone in his private apartments, +and professed a warm friendship for him; but Desmond was not long +in discovering that his first estimate of the prince's character +had been wholly erroneous, and that his outburst at their first +meeting had been the result of pique and irritation, rather than +any real desire to lead a more active life. Upon the contrary, he +was constitutionally indolent and lethargic. There were horses at +his command, but it was seldom, indeed, that he would take the +trouble to cross the saddle, although walking was distasteful to +him. Even when speaking of his hopes of ascending the throne of +England, he spoke without enthusiasm, and said one day: + +"It is a pity that it cannot be managed without fuss and trouble. +I hate trouble." + +"Nothing can be done worth doing, without trouble, Your Majesty," +Desmond said sturdily. "It almost seems to me that, if everything +could be had without trouble, it would not be worth having." + +"How do you mean, Mr. Kennedy?" + +"I may illustrate it by saying, Sire, that no true fisherman would +care about angling in a pond, close to his house, and so full of +fish, that he had but to drop a baited hook into the water to +bring up one immediately. The pleasure of fishing consists largely +in the hard work that it demands. It is, perhaps, miles to a +stream across the hills, and a long day's work may produce but a +half dozen fish; but these the angler prizes in proportion to the +trouble he has had to get them. I think that, were I born heir to +a throne, I would rather that it should cost me hardship, toil, +and danger to obtain it, than walk into a cathedral, a few days +after my father's death, and there be crowned." + +"I do not agree with you, at all," James said, shortly. "If +anything could not be had without toil, hardship, and danger, as +you say, I would willingly go without it." + +"Then, Sire, I can only hope that the toil and danger may be borne +by your devoted followers, and that you may be spared them, +personally." + +James looked sharply up at his companion, to gather whether the +words were spoken sarcastically, but Desmond's face, though +flushed, was calm and serious. Nevertheless, indolent as he was, +James felt that the words were a reproof; that, although he had at +first liked him, there was in reality little in common between him +and this energetic young fellow; and the next time he came, he +received him with much less cordiality than before; while Desmond, +who was beginning to tire of the companionship of one who lacked, +alike, the fun and humour, and the restless activity of his +comrades, Patrick and Phelim; and who saw that the professions of +James's friendship were but short lived, came over to Saint +Germain less frequently, until, at last, he only rode over with +his colonel, or when some duty called him there. + +"So you have been a failure, Master Kennedy," the counsellor who +had first spoken to him said, one day, when the change in the +king's manner became evident to them all. + +"I am afraid so, sir," Desmond replied with a smile. "I have no +doubt that it was my fault. Perhaps I was not patient enough with +him; but, indeed, my efforts to rouse him to take exercise, to +practise in arms, and so on, were so ill received, that I felt I +was doing more harm than good." + +"I was afraid that it would be so," the other said, regretfully. +"You see, during his later years, his father gave up his time +almost entirely to religious observances; and, consequently, the +lad's life was very dull and monotonous. Constitutionally, he +undoubtedly takes after his father, who, with all his virtues, was +at once indolent and undecided. We have observed, with regret, his +disinclination to bestir himself in any way. Seeing that we, who +were his father's companions, are too old, or too much disheartened, +to be lively companions for him, we had hoped that the talk of one +of spirit, and of his own age, might have roused him to make some +exertions to overcome his disinclination for anything like active +exercise. I think now, however, that we were wrong; that the tonic +was too strong; that he could not but feel that your abundance of +spirits, and life, were too much for him; and that the companion he +needs is one who could, to some extent, sympathize with him, and +who could, perhaps, make more allowance for the manner in which he +has been brought up. + +"We do not blame you at all. I am sure that you have done your +best. But it is evident that the contrast between you and himself +has been too strong a one; and that, feeling he cannot hope to +emulate your soldierly activity, he has come to resent it, as a +sort of reflection upon himself." + +Desmond was, by no means, sorry at being relieved of the necessity +of paying frequent visits to Saint Germain. In the first place, he +begrudged the time that was taken from his fencing lessons, at +which he had worked enthusiastically; and in the next, he had +felt, after two or three visits, that between himself and the +young king there was really nothing in common. Full of life and +spirits himself, it seemed to him nothing short of disgraceful +that one, who aspired to rule, should take no pains whatever to +fit himself for a throne, or to cultivate qualities that would +render himself popular among a high-spirited people. And, as he +came to understand James more thoroughly, he had found his visits +increasingly irksome, all the more so, as he felt their inutility. + +"Thank goodness," he said, to his two friends, when he went home +that day, "I have done with Saint Germain. I am as warm an +adherent as ever of the cause of the Stuarts, and should be +perfectly ready, when the time comes, to fight my hardest for +them; but I would vastly rather fight for the king, than converse +with him." + +"I suppose, by what I have seen of him, that he must be somewhat +wearisome," Phelim O'Sullivan said, with a laugh. "Fortunately, +wit and gaiety are not essential qualities on the part of a +monarch; but I must own that, treasonable as it may sound, I fear +His Majesty is lacking in other qualities, far more essential in a +monarch. I should say that he is kindly and well disposed, he +wishes to be fair and just, and may turn out a wise ruler; but he +is altogether deficient in energy. I suppose there is no occasion +for a king, safely seated upon a throne, to be energetic; but a +prince in exile should possess the qualities that excite +enthusiasm, and bind men to him. Possibly, the qualities King +James possesses would be highly valued by the Scotch, but they +would certainly fail to inspire our people." + +"Yes," Patrick O'Neil agreed. "His father did more to ruin his +cause, in Ireland, than all William's Dutch generals and troops, +together. It was disheartening to be risking life and possessions +for a man who would do nothing for himself, whose indecision +paralysed our leaders, and who, the moment a reverse came, sought +safety in flight, instead of taking his place among the men who +were devoted to his cause. I can understand that, in England, +where the majority of those who professed to be devoted to him +were betraying him, and were in secret communication with William, +he should be by turns obstinate and vacillating; but in Ireland, +where every man who surrounded him was risking his life in his +cause, he should have shown absolute confidence in them, listened +to their advice, set an example of personal gallantry and courage, +and, at least, remained among them until all was definitely lost. +It was the desertion of James, rather than the loss of the battle +of the Boyne, that ruined his cause. + +"Well, I am glad you are out of it, for it was a pity that you +should be going without your work at the salle d'armes, when you +were making such progress that, the master reported, in a few +months you would become one of the best swordsmen in the +regiment." + +There were, in Paris, many Irish officers besides those belonging +to Colonel O'Brien's regiment. These were, for the most part, men +who had been severely wounded in the preceding campaign, and who +now remained in the capital with the depots of their regiments. +These were constantly recruited by fresh arrivals from Ireland, by +which means the Irish Brigade was not only kept up to their +original strength, in spite of the heavy losses they suffered, in +the engagements in which they had taken part, but largely +increased its force, new regiments being constantly formed. +Naturally, O'Brien's corps, being the only complete regiment in +Paris, at the time, was regarded as the headquarters and general +meeting place of all the Irish officers there; and, as some of +these had campaigned in Flanders, in Italy, and in Spain, Desmond +learned, from their talk and anecdotes, far more of the doings of +the Brigade than he had hitherto known. From the first they had, +by their reckless bravery, in almost every engagement that had +taken place, so distinguished themselves that they received the +highest commendation from the French generals, and were almost +invariably selected for specially dangerous service. + +"I think the hottest affair I was ever engaged in," a major, who +had served in Burke's regiment, said one evening, when some ten or +twelve of his companions had gathered, at the room which was the +general meeting place of the officers of the corps, "was at the +attack on Cremona by Eugene. You have all heard how our regiment, +and that of Dillon, distinguished themselves there, but you may +not have heard particulars. The place was a strong one, and it was +garrisoned by some 4000 men--all French, with the exception of our +two regiments. Marshal Villeroy was himself in command; an +excellent officer, but, as is often the case in the French army, +very badly served by his subordinates. + +"Here, as you know, almost everything goes by influence; and the +generals are surrounded by men who have been forced upon them by +powerful persons, whom they cannot afford to disoblige. The +consequence was that, relying upon the strength of the place, no +proper watch was set. There were guards, indeed, at the gates, but +with no communication with each other; no soldiers on the +ramparts; no patrols were sent out beyond the town, or maintained +in the streets. + +"No harm might have come of this, had it not been that treachery +was at work. There was a scoundrel, who was brother of the priest +of one of the parishes near the wall, and both were in favour of +the enemy. The priest's residence was near a sewer, which +communicated with the moat outside the walls. The entrance was +closed by an iron grating. Were this removed, troops could enter, +by the sewer, into the priest's wine cellar. + +"The priest, being promised a large sum of money, set to work. +First, he laid a complaint before the governor that the sewer was +choked with filth, which might be a source of disease to the town +unless removed; and to do this, it was necessary that the grating +should be taken down. Being altogether unsuspicious of evil, the +governor granted his request. + +"As soon as the grating was removed, Eugene despatched eight +miners, who crossed the moat at night, made their way up the +sewer, and opened a communication between it and the priest's +house. When all was ready, four or five hundred picked grenadiers +entered, and were concealed in the house of the priest, and other +adherents of the emperor. + +"Eugene set two strong bodies of picked troops in motion. The one +was to enter by the Saint Margaret gate, which would be seized by +the force already in the city. This column consisted of five +thousand men. The second force, of two thousand infantry and three +thousand cavalry, under the Prince de Vaudemont, was to cross the +river by a bridge of boats. + +"We slept like stupid dogs. Such watchmen as there were on the +walls gave no alarm. The gate of All Saints was seized, its guard +being instantly overpowered, and a party of engineers broke down +the gate of Saint Margaret, which had been walled up; and at +daylight Eugene rode into the town, followed by his troops and one +thousand cavalry; while another mounted force watched the gate, +and the country round, to prevent the escape of fugitives. + +"Before any alarm was given, Eugene had established himself at the +Hotel de Ville, was master of the great street that separated half +the garrison from the other half, had taken possession of the +cathedral; and, in fact, the place was captured without a shot +being fired. + +"Then the uproar began. Parties of troops, led by natives of the +town, seized a large number of officers at their lodgings; and as +the alarm spread, the troops seized their muskets and rushed out, +only to be sabred and trodden down by the enemy's cavalry. I was +asleep, and dreaming, when my servant rushed into my room, and +said: + +"'The Germans are in possession of the town, Captain.' + +"'You are a blathering idiot,' I said. + +"'It's true, your honour. Get up and listen.' + +"Very unwillingly, I got out of bed and opened the window, and, by +the holy poker, I found that Pat was right. There was a sound of +firing, shouting, and screaming, and I heard the gallop of a heavy +body of horsemen, and, directly afterwards, a squadron of German +cuirassiers came galloping down the street. + +"'It is time for us to be out of this, Pat,' I said, and jumped +into my clothes, quicker than I had ever done before. + +"We went downstairs, and I borrowed two overcoats that we found +hanging there, and put them on over our uniforms. Then we went +out, by the back door, and ran as hard as we could, keeping +through narrow lanes, to the barracks. + +"On my way, I had to pass a barrier near a toll gate. Here there +were thirty-six of our men under a sergeant. Not knowing where the +enemy were, or whether they were between me and the barracks, I +thought it best to stay there, and of course took the command. +Just as I had done so, I heard the tramping of cavalry, and had +the gate shut. We were just in time, for two hundred and fifty +cuirassiers came galloping along. + +"Their leader, Baron de Mercy, as soon as the troops began to +enter Saint Margaret's gate, was ordered to dash round and capture +the Po gate, through which Vaudemont's corps would, after crossing +the bridge, enter the town. He shouted to me to surrender, +promising us our lives. I told him that if he wanted the place, he +would have to come and take it. He used language which I need not +repeat, but he did not attack us, waiting for the arrival of four +hundred infantry, who had been ordered to follow him. They were +some time in coming up, having lost their way, owing to the +rascally native who was their guide being killed by a shot from a +window. + +"I was not sorry for the delay, for it gave us time to look at +matters quietly, and prepare for defence. Another six hundred +cavalry now came up, and Mercy placed them so as to cut off, +altogether, the French cavalry, who were quartered away to the +right; then he ordered the infantry to attack us. + +"Our position was a good one. The barricade was formed of square +piles, driven into the ground with small narrow openings between +them. I ordered the men to keep behind the timbers until the enemy +came up. The Germans opened a murdering fire as they approached, +but, though the bullets pattered like rain against the palisades, +and whistled in between them, not a man was touched. I waited till +they were within two paces, and then gave the word, and you may +well guess that there was not a bullet thrown away, and the +Germans, mightily astonished, drew back, leaving nigh forty of +their men behind them. Then, falling back a bit, they opened fire +upon us, but it was a game that two could play at. We could see +them, but they could not see us; and while we loaded our muskets +in shelter, they were exposed, and we picked them off by dozens. + +"The firing had, of course, given the alarm to our two regiments, +who turned out just as they were, in their nightshirts. Major +O'Mahony, who was in command of Dillon's regiment, as Lally was +away on leave, luckily made his way in safety from his lodgings to +the barracks, got his own men in order, while Colonel Wauchop, who +commanded our regiment, took the command of the two battalions. +Fortunately, a portion of the regiment had been ordered to fall in +early for inspection, and this gave time for the rest to get into +their uniforms; and, as soon as they were ready, Wauchop led them +out and fell suddenly upon a portion of Mercy's force, poured in a +volley, and then charged them. + +"Horse and foot fell back before the attack. Then they turned the +cannon on the ramparts, and thus secured possession of the Po +gate, and, pushing on, the guns helping them, drove the Austrians +from the houses they occupied, and so opened communications with +the French cavalry. + +"A brigadier now came up, and ordered the battalions to barricade +all the streets they had won, with barrels and carts. A French +regiment arrived, and occupied the church of Saint Salvador, and +the battery which commanded the bridge, across which Vaudemont's +corps could now be seen approaching. The redoubt on the other side +of the bridge was only held by fifty men, and they were now +strengthened by a hundred of the French soldiers. The Austrians +approached, making sure that the town had already been taken, and +looking out for a signal that was to be hoisted. Their astonishment +was great, when a heavy musketry fire was opened upon them by the +garrison of the outpost, while the guns of the battery on the wall +plunged their shot in among them. + +"The column was at once halted. Eugene had regarded the struggle +as over, when news was brought to him of the defeat of Mercy's +corps by the Irish. Everywhere else things had gone most +favourably. Marshal Villeroy had been wounded and made prisoner. +His marechal de camp shared the same fate. The Chevalier +D'Entregues, who advanced to meet the enemy, was defeated and +killed, as was Lieutenant General de Trenan, and the Spanish +Governor of the town mortally wounded. + +"On receiving the news, Eugene at once sent an officer to inspect +the Irish position; but his report was that they were too well +placed to be driven from it. He then sent Captain MacDonnell, an +officer in his service, to offer, if the Irish would leave their +position, to enrol them in the Austrian service, with higher pay +than they now received. You may guess the sort of answer he +received, and he was at once arrested for bringing such a message +to them. Eugene then endeavoured to engage Marshal Villeroy to +order the Irish to lay down their arms, as further resistance +would only end in their slaughter. Villeroy simply replied that, +as a prisoner, he could no longer give orders. + +"During this pause, the Count de Revel and the Marquis de Queslin +succeeded in gathering together a considerable number of the +scattered French infantry, and with these they marched to +endeavour to recover the gates that had been lost, and, having +occupied the church of Santa Maria, and a bastion near the gate of +All Saints, ordered the Irish to leave a hundred men at the +barricades, and with the rest to push forward to the gate of +Mantua. So I found myself in command of a full company. + +"O'Mahony was now in command of the two regiments, as Wauchop had +been wounded. It was pretty hard work they had of it, and they +suffered heavily in carrying the guardhouse, held by two hundred +Austrians. Eugene now launched a great force against our people, +and attacked them on all sides; but O'Mahony faced them each way, +and received the charge of the cuirassiers with so heavy a fire +that they fled in disorder. Another corps of cuirassiers came up, +and these charged with such fury that their leader, Monsieur de +Freiberg, pushed his way into the middle of Dillon's regiment, +where he was surrounded, and, refusing quarter, was killed; and +his men, disheartened by the fall of their leader, fled, carrying +with them the infantry who were ranged in their rear. + +"But our men were now exhausted by their exertions, and suffered +heavily; and O'Mahony, seeing that he was likely to be attacked by +fresh troops, and that my post guarding the approach of the Po +gate would then be left altogether unsupported, returned to it. I +was glad enough when I saw them coming, for it was mighty trying +work being left there, and hearing the storm of battle going on +all round, and knowing that at any moment we might be attacked. + +"They did not stop long, for orders came from Revel, who had +captured the gate of All Saints, and was preparing to attack Saint +Margaret's, to march again to the gate of Mantua. It seemed a +hopeless enterprise. Captain Dillon, of Dillon's regiment, marched +out and, after hard fighting, drove the Austrians from house to +house; but, on reaching a spot where the ground was open, he was +attacked on all sides, and for a time the enemy and our men were +mixed up together in a melee. + +"I could hear by the sound of the firing that our men were +returning, and posted my fellows so as to cover their retreat; and +as they came back, hotly pressed by the enemy, we opened so warm a +fire that they passed in through the gate of the barrier in +safety, but only half as strong as they had gone out. + +"As soon as they were in, they aided us in strengthening the +position. Seeing that Vaudemont's corps was on the point of +attacking the redoubt, the Marquis de Queslin sent orders to the +little garrison there to withdraw across the bridge, and destroy +the boats. This they effected, in spite of the heavy fire kept up +by the enemy. + +"In the meantime, fighting had been going on all over the town. +The gate of Mantua had been held by Captain Lynch, of Dillon's +battalion, and thirty-five men. As soon as he heard the din of +battle in the town, he collected a few fugitives, entrenched his +position at the guardhouse, and maintained it for the whole day; +not only that, but, finding that his position was commanded by a +party of Austrians, who had taken post in the church of Saint +Marie, close by, he sallied out, drove them from the church, and +maintained possession of that as well; until, late in the +afternoon, he was reinforced by two companies of our regiment, who +made their way this time without opposition. + +"The enemy fell back, but not unmolested, as, sallying out, we +pressed hotly upon them. There now remained only the gate of Saint +Margaret in the hands of the Austrians. Here a large body of +troops had been stationed, and succeeded in repulsing the repeated +attacks made upon them by Revel's force. + +"The fight had now lasted for eleven hours, and the position of +the Austrians had become critical. The desperate resistance of our +men had entirely changed the position. They had repulsed every +attack upon them, had given time for the scattered French to +gather, and the one gate remaining in Eugene's possession was +seriously threatened. Vaudemont's corps was helpless on the other +side of the river, and could render no assistance, and Eugene gave +the order for his troops to retire, which they did in good order. + +"It had been a hot day, indeed, for us, and we were only too glad +to see them go. We had lost three hundred and fifty men, out of +the six hundred with which we began the fight; altogether, the +garrison had lost, in killed, wounded, and in prisoners, fourteen +hundred men and officers, while Eugene's loss was between fifteen +and sixteen hundred. + +"Personally, I have had hotter fighting, but taking the day +altogether, it was the most terrible through which I have ever +passed. Throughout the day we were in total ignorance of what was +going on elsewhere, though we knew, by the firing in other parts +of the town, that the French there had not been overpowered, and, +each time the regiments left us, I was expecting every moment to +be attacked by an overwhelming force. Faith, it was enough to make +one's hair white! However, I have no reason to grumble. I obtained +great praise for the defence of the barrier, and was given my +majority; and, if it had not been for the wound I received, two +years ago, which incapacitated me from active service, I might now +be in command of the regiment." + +"Yes, indeed," another officer said. "It was truly a gallant +affair; and, although our men had fought equally as well in many +another engagement, it was their conduct at Cremona that attracted +the greatest attention, and showed the French the value of the +Brigade. I would we had always been employed in actions on which +we could look back, with the same pride and pleasure, as we can +upon Cremona and a long list of battles where we bore the brunt of +the fighting; and never failed to be specially mentioned with +praise by the general. + +"The most unpleasant work that I ever did was when under Marshal +de Catinat. Eight Irish battalions were sent up, in 1694, from +Pignerolle into the valley of La Perouse, to oppose the Vaudois, +who had always offered a vigorous resistance to the passage of our +troops through their passes. They were wild mountaineers, and +Huguenots to a man, who had, I believe, generations ago been +forced to fly from France and take refuge in the mountains, and +maintained themselves sturdily against various expeditions sent +against them. + +"I own the business was not at all to my taste, and many others of +our officers shared my opinions. It was too much like what we +remembered so bitterly at home, when William's troopers pursued +our fugitives to the hills, burning, destroying, and killing, and, +above all, hunting down the priests. This was the other way, but +was as cruel and barbarous. The poor people had given no offence, +save that they held to their own religion. An Irishman should be +the last to blame another for that, and, seeing they had +successfully opposed the efforts of the French to root them out, +it was much against my will that I marched with my regiment. I +hope that, when it comes to fighting against regular troops, of +whatever nationality, I am ready to do my work; but to carry fire +and sword among a quiet people, in little mountain villages, went +against the grain. + +"It seemed to us that it was to be a massacre rather than +fighting, but there we were mistaken. It was the hardest work that +I ever went through. It was impossible in such a country to move +in large bodies, and we were broken up into small parties, which +advanced into the hills, each under its own commander, without any +fixed plans save to destroy every habitation, to capture or kill +the flocks of goats, which afforded the inhabitants their chief +means of subsistence, and to give no quarter wherever they +resisted. + +"Even now, I shudder at the thought of the work we had to do; +climbing over pathless hills, wading waist deep through mountain +torrents, clambering along on the face of precipices where a false +step meant death, and always exposed to a dropping fire from +invisible foes, who, when we arrived at the spot from which they +had fired, had vanished and taken up a fresh position, so that the +whole work had to be done over again. Sometimes we were two or +even more days without food, for, as you may imagine, it was +impossible to transport provisions, and we had nothing save what +we carried in our haversacks at starting. We had to sleep on the +soaked ground, in pitiless storms. Many men were carried away and +drowned in crossing the swollen torrents. Our clothes were never +dry. And the worst of it was, after six weeks of such work, we +felt that we were no nearer to the object for which we had been +sent up than we were when we started. + +"It was true that we had destroyed many of their little villages, +but as these generally consisted of but a few houses, only rough +buildings that could be rebuilt in a few days, the gain was not a +substantial one. We had, of course, killed some of the Vaudois, +but our loss had been much heavier than theirs, for, active as our +men were, they were no match in speed for these mountaineers, who +were as nimble as their own goats, knew everything of the country, +and could appear or disappear, as it seemed to us, almost by +magic. It was a wretched business, and once or twice, when our +parties were caught in the narrow ravines, they were overwhelmed +by rocks thrown down from above; so that, on the whole, we lost +almost as many men as we should have done in a pitched battle, +gaining no credit, nor having the satisfaction that we were doing +good service to France. + +"I hope I may never be employed in a business like that again. It +was not only the Vaudois that we had to fight, for, seeing that at +first we were pushing forward steadily, the Duke of Savoy, under +whose protection they lived, sent six hundred regular troops to +assist them, and these, who were well commanded, adopted the same +tactics as the peasants, avoiding all our attempts to bring on an +engagement, and never fighting except when they had us to great +advantage. + +"As a rule, our men were always dissatisfied when they received +orders to fall back, but I think that there was not a man among us +but was heartily glad, when we were recalled to rejoin Catinat at +Pignerolle." + +The expedition, however, although altogether unsuccessful in +rooting out the Vaudois, created such terrible devastation in the +mountains and valleys that the Irish name and nation will long +remain odious to the Vaudois. Six generations have since passed +away, but neither time nor subsequent calamities have obliterated +the impression made by the waste and desolation of this military +incursion. + +"You were at Blenheim, were you not, Captain O'Donovan?" + +"Yes. A tough fight it was, and a mismanaged one. I was in the +Earl of Clare's regiment, which, with Lee and Dorrington's +battalions, was stationed with the force in Oberglau in the centre +of our position. It seemed to us, and to our generals, that our +position was almost impregnable. It lay along a ridge, at the foot +of which was a rivulet and deep swampy ground. On the right of the +position was the village of Blenheim, held by twenty-seven +battalions of good French infantry, twelve squadrons, and +twenty-four pieces of cannon. Strong entrenchments had been thrown +up round our position, but these were not altogether completed. +Blenheim, moreover, had been surrounded by very heavy and strong +palisades, altogether impassable by infantry, and, as the allies +could not hope to get cannon across the stream and swamps, it +seemed to defy any attack. From Oberglau the army of Marshal de +Marcin and the Elector stretched to the village of Lutzingen. We +had some five-and-twenty cannon at Oberglau. + +"The weak point, as it afterwards turned out to be, was the crest +between us and Blenheim. Considering that both the artillery and +musketry fire from both villages swept the slope, and as in +numbers we equalled the enemy, it was thought well-nigh impossible +for him to cross the swamps and advance to the attack; and almost +the whole of the French cavalry were massed on the crest, in order +to charge them, should they succeed in crossing and try to ascend +the slope. + +"At first the battle went altogether favourably. We had opposite +to us the English, Dutch, Hanoverians, and Danish troops under +Marlborough, while facing our left were Prussians, Imperialists, +and other German troops under Eugene. Marlborough's Danish and +Hanoverian cavalry first crossed, but were at once charged and +driven back. Then they tried again, supported by English infantry. +Then Marlborough led up a still stronger force, drove back our +light cavalry, and began to ascend the hill. We were attacked by +ten battalions--Hanoverians, Danes, and Prussians, while the +English bore against Blenheim. The fighting at both places was +desperate, and I must do the Germans the justice to say that +nothing could have exceeded the gallantry they showed, and that, +in spite of the heavy fire we maintained, they pressed up the +slope. + +"We remained in our entrenchments, till it could be seen that the +English were falling back from Blenheim, whose palisade, manned by +twenty-seven battalions of infantry, offered an obstacle that +would have defied the best troops in the world to penetrate. + +"Immediately this was seen, nine battalions, headed by our three +regiments, leapt from the trenches and poured down on the Germans. +The enemy could not withstand our onslaught. Two of their +regiments were utterly destroyed, the rest suffered terribly, and +were driven back. On the left, Marcin held his ground against all +the attacks of Eugene, and it seemed to us that the battle was +won. + +"However, it was not over yet. While the fierce fighting had been +going on in front of Oberglau and Blenheim, Marlborough had passed +the whole of his cavalry and the rest of his infantry across the +rivulet, and, in spite of artillery and musketry fire, these moved +up in grand order, the infantry inclining towards the two villages +as before, the cavalry bearing straight up the slope, and, when +they reached the crest, charging furiously upon our horse +stationed there. They were superior in numbers, but on this head +accounts differ. At any rate, they overthrew our cavalry, who fled +in the greatest disorder, pursued by the allied horse. + +"The infantry poured into the gap thus made, Blenheim was entirely +isolated, and we were exposed to assault both in front and rear. +Nevertheless, we repulsed all attacks, until Marcin sent orders +for us to retire; then we sallied out, after setting fire to the +village, flung ourselves upon the enemy, and succeeded in cutting +our way through, our regiment forming the rear guard. The whole of +Marcin's army were now in full retreat, harassed by the allied +cavalry; but whenever their squadrons approached us, we faced +about and gave them so warm a reception that they attacked less +formidable foes. As for the garrison in Blenheim, you know they +were at last surrounded by Marlborough's whole force, with +artillery; and with the Danube in their rear, and no prospect of +succour, they were forced to surrender. + +"It was a disastrous day, and I have not yet recovered from the +wound I received there. Had five thousand infantry been posted in +a redoubt, halfway between Blenheim and Oberglau, so as to give +support to our cavalry, the result of the battle would have been +very different. Still, I suppose that most battles are lost by +some unlooked-for accident--some mistake in posting the troops. We +can only say that, had the allied forces been all composed of such +troops as those Eugene commanded, they would have been beaten +decisively; and that had, on the contrary, Eugene commanded such +troops as those under Marlborough, Marcin would never have held +his ground." + +"How many British troops were there in the battle, Captain +O'Donovan?" + +"Somewhere about twelve thousand, while the Continental troops +were forty-seven or forty-eight thousand. There is no doubt that +they were the backbone of the force, just as we flatter ourselves +that our three regiments were the backbone of the defence of +Oberglau." + + + +Chapter 3: A Strange Adventure. + + +When the party broke up, O'Neil and O'Sullivan, as usual, came in +for a quiet chat to Desmond's room. + +"As we may be possibly ordered to Spain," Kennedy said, "I should +like to know a little about what we are going to fight about; for, +although I know a good deal about the war in Flanders, no news +about that in Spain ever reached Kilkargan." + +"Well, you know, of course," O'Neil said, "that Philip the Fifth +is a grandson of Louis; and is naturally supported by France +against the Archduke Charles of Austria, who is competitor for the +throne, and who is, of course, supported by England. Six thousand +English and Dutch troops were sent to aid the Archduke Charles in +his attempt to invade Spain and dethrone Philip. The King of +Portugal, who is a member of the allied confederacy, promised to +have everything ready to cooperate with them. They found, however, +on their arrival, that no preparations had been made, and they +were accordingly distributed, for a time, among the garrisons on +the frontier. + +"Philip, on his part, had not been so inactive, and two +armies--the one commanded by the Duke of Berwick, and the other by +General Villadarias--invaded Portugal. Berwick surprised and +captured two Dutch battalions, and then captured Portalagre, and +compelled the garrison, including an English regiment of infantry, +to surrender. + +"The allies, to make a diversion, sent General Das Minas into +Spain, with fifteen thousand men, who captured one or two towns +and defeated a body of French and Spanish troops. The hot weather +now set in, and put a stop to hostilities, and the troops on both +sides went into quarters. The general--I forget his name--who +commanded the English and Dutch contingent, was so disgusted with +the proceedings of the Portuguese that he resigned his command, +and the Earl of Galway was appointed in his place. The next year +he crossed the frontier, captured several towns, without much +fighting, and invested Badajos. Here, however, a stern resistance +was met with. Galway's hand was carried off by a shot, and the +French general (Tesse) coming up in force to the relief of the +town, and the Portuguese not arriving at all, the allies were +obliged to fall back upon Portugal. But Philip was threatened from +a fresh quarter. + +"In June, the Earl of Peterborough sailed from Portsmouth with +five thousand men, and at Lisbon took on board the Archduke +Charles. At Gibraltar some more troops were embarked, and +Peterborough set sail for the coast of Valencia. Peterborough +himself, one of the most daring of men, and possessed of +extraordinary military talent, was in favour of a march upon +Madrid; but, fortunately for us, he was overruled, and commenced +the siege of Barcelona--a strong town garrisoned by five thousand +good troops, while he himself had but a thousand more under his +command. Nevertheless, by a sudden and daring attack he captured +the strong castle of Montjuich, which commanded the town, which +was in consequence obliged to surrender four days later, and the +whole of Catalonia was then captured. Saint Matteo, ninety miles +from Barcelona, which had declared for Charles and was besieged by +a large force, was relieved; and so brilliant were the exploits +accomplished by Peterborough, with most inadequate means, that the +Spaniards came to the conclusion that he was possessed by an evil +spirit. + +"Large reinforcements were sent from France, and King Philip +advanced upon Barcelona, and invested it by land, while a French +fleet bombarded it by sea. Peterborough hurried, with a small +force from Valencia, to aid the besieged, the matter being all the +more important since Charles himself was in the city. Before his +arrival, however, an English fleet appeared, and our fleet +retired. + +"Philip at once raised the siege, and retired to Madrid. His +position was indeed serious. Lord Galway was advancing from the +frontier, and Peterborough had gathered a force to cooperate with +him. Upon the approach of Galway, Philip and the Duke of Berwick +retreated to the frontier. There they received great reinforcements, +and advanced against Madrid, which was evacuated by Galway, who +marched away to form a junction with Lord Peterborough. + +"Owing to the dilatory habits and hesitation of the Austrian +prince, the junction was not effected for some time, and then, in +spite of the entreaties of the two English generals, he could not +be persuaded to make a movement towards Madrid. Peterborough, +whose temper was extremely fiery, at last lost all patience, +abused Charles openly, and then, mounting his horse, rode down to +the coast, embarked upon an English ship of war, and sailed away +to assist the Duke of Savoy. After his departure, the ill feeling +between the English force, the Portuguese, and the leaders of the +Spanish adherents of Charles increased, and they spent their time +in quarrelling among themselves. They were without money, +magazines, and almost without provisions. Berwick was near them +with a superior force, and they took the only step open, of +retreating towards Valencia, which they reached, after suffering +great hardships, before Berwick could overtake them. + +"French troops were poured into Spain, while no reinforcements +were sent from England. Galway and the Portuguese advanced to meet +the Duke of Berwick, who was marching with a large army to occupy +Catalonia. + +"The two forces met, on the plain of Almanza, on the 24th of +April. We and the Spaniards were superior in number to the +English, Dutch, and Portuguese. The battle was maintained for six +hours. The Portuguese infantry did little, but the English and +Dutch repulsed charge after charge, even after the Portuguese and +Spanish allies on both wings were defeated. But, in the end, +victory remained with us. Galway and Das Minas, the Portuguese +general, were both wounded, and five thousand of their men killed, +and yet the Dutch and English infantry held together. + +"But on the following day, being absolutely without supplies, some +effected their escape and succeeded in reaching Portugal, while +the main body surrendered. Valencia, Saragossa, and other towns +opened their gates to us, and, for a time, the cause of the +Archduke Charles seemed lost. + +"Our success was, however, balanced by the loss, in the same year, +of the whole of the Spanish possessions in Italy. As yet, in spite +of the disasters that had befallen him, the cause of Charles was +not altogether lost, for he received fresh promises of support +from England, whose interest it was to continue the war in Spain, +and thus compel France to keep a considerable body of troops +there, instead of employing them against Marlborough in Flanders. + +"Galway and Das Minas were taken back to Portugal, in an English +fleet, after their disaster, and General Stanhope, who, they say, +is an officer of great military experience and talent, has been +sent out to take the command; and as a portion of Catalonia is +still held for Charles, there may yet be a good deal of hard +fighting, before the matter can be considered finally settled." + +"Thank you, O'Neil. I feel that I know something about it, now. +Are there any of our regiments there?" + +"Yes, three of them. There is also an Irish regiment in the +Spanish service, under Colonel Crofton;" and with this, the talk +ended for the night. + +After three months' work Desmond was dismissed from drill, and had +obtained such a proficiency with the rapier that he felt that he +could now relax his work, and see something of the city, which he +had been hitherto too busy to explore. He had seen the principal +streets, in the company of his comrades, had admired the mansions +of the nobles, the richness of the goods exposed to view in the +windows, and the gaiety and magnificence of the dresses of the +upper class. His friends had warned him that, if he intended to go +farther, he should never do so alone, but should take with him his +soldier servant, a trooper named Mike Callaghan. + +Mike was some twenty-eight years old, strong and bony; his hair +was red, and the natural colour of his face was obscured by a host +of freckles; his eyes were blue, and his nose had an upward turn; +his expression was merry and good humoured, but there was a +twinkle about his eyes that seemed to show that he was by no means +wanting in shrewdness. + +"Even in the daytime," O'Neil said, "it is not safe for a man, if +well dressed and likely to carry money in his pocket, to go into +some quarters of the town. Paris has always been a turbulent city, +and, while it is the abode of the richest and noblest of +Frenchmen, it is also the resort of the rascaldom of all France. +Some streets are such that even the city guard would not venture +to search for an ill doer, unless in considerable force and +prepared for battle. There are, of course, many streets, both on +this and the other side of the river, where life and property are +as safe as in the Rue Royal; which, by the way, is not saying +much, for it was only three days ago that a man was assassinated +there in broad daylight. He was a captain in the Picardy regiment, +and it was supposed that his murderer was a man who had been +dismissed from the regiment with ignominy. But, whoever it was, he +has got clear away, for your Parisian citizen takes good care not +to interfere in such matters, and no one thought of laying hands +on the villain, although it is said he walked quietly off. + +"It is in the streets that I am speaking of that adventures may +most easily be met with. Here there are too many hotels of the +nobles, with their numerous retainers, for it to be safe to commit +crime, and the city guard are generally on the alert, for, were +harm to come to one of the gentlemen attached to the great houses, +the matter would be represented to the king, and the city +authorities would come in for a sharp reproof for their failure to +keep order in the city; whereas, anything that happens among the +bourgeois would pass wholly without notice. However, if you keep +out of the wine shops, you are not likely to become involved in +trouble. Nine-tenths of the quarrels and tumults originate there. +There is a dispute, perhaps, between a soldier and a citizen, or +between soldiers of different regiments, and in a minute or two +twenty swords are drawn, and the disturbance grows, sometimes, +until it is necessary to call out troops from the nearest barracks +to suppress it. However, I know that you are not likely to get +into trouble that way, for you are a very model of moderation, to +the corps." + +"I have seen enough of the consequences of drink in Ireland," +Desmond said, "to cure me of any desire for liquor, even had I a +love for it. Faction fights, involving the people of the whole +barony, arising from some drunken brawl, are common enough; while +among the better class duels are common and, for the most part, +are the result of some foolish quarrel between two men heated by +wine. Besides, even putting that aside, I should have given up the +habit. When I joined the regiment, I was anxious to become a good +swordsman, but if one's head is overheated at night, one's hand +would be unsteady and one's nerves shaken in the morning. + +"Possibly," he added, with a smile, "it is this, quite as much as +the hotness of their temper, that prevents the best teachers from +caring to undertake the tuition of the officers of the Brigade." + +"Possibly," Phelim laughed, "though I never thought of it before. +There is no doubt that the French, who, whatever their faults be, +are far less given to exceeding a fair allowance of wine than are +our countrymen, would come to their morning lessons in the saloon +in a better condition to profit by the advice of the master than +many of our men." + +"I don't think," Patrick O'Neil said, "that we Irishmen drink from +any particular love of liquor, but from good fellowship and +joviality. One can hardly imagine a party of French nobles +inflaming themselves with wine, and singing, as our fellows do. +Frenchmen are gay in what I may call a feeble way--there is no go +in it. There is no spirit in their songs, there is no real +heartiness in their joviality, and the idea of one man playing a +practical joke upon another, the latter taking it in good part, +could never enter their heads, for they are ready to take offence +at the merest trifle. + +"As you know, there are certain cabarets told off for the use of +the soldiers of the Brigade. They are allowed to use no others, +and no French troops are allowed to enter these wine shops. +Similarly, there are certain establishments which are almost +exclusively patronized by officers of the Brigade. There is, of +course, no absolute rule here, and we can enter any cabaret we +choose; but it is understood that it is at our own risk, and that, +if we get into trouble there, we are sure to be handled over the +coals pretty sharply, as it is considered that we must deliberately +have gone there with the intention of picking a quarrel. The +cabarets used by the men are all close to the barracks, so that, +in case of a fracas, a guard is sent down to bring all concerned +in it back to the barracks. Fortunately, there is no need for the +places we frequent being so close to the barracks, for it is +understood that anyone who takes too much liquor, outside his own +quarters, brings discredit on the regiment; and it is after we +adjourn to the rooms of one or other of us that liquor begins to +flow freely, and we make a night of it." + +"Don't you ever have quarrels among yourselves?" + +"Angry words pass, sometimes, but all present interfere at once. +The honour of the regiment is the first point with us all. If men +want to quarrel, there are plenty of French officers who would be +quite ready to oblige them, but a quarrel among ourselves would be +regarded as discreditable to the corps. Consequently, a dispute is +always stopped before it reaches a dangerous point, and if it goes +further than usual, the parties are sent for by the colonel in the +morning, both get heavily wigged, and the colonel insists upon the +matter being dropped, altogether. As the blood has had time to +cool, both are always ready to obey his orders, especially as they +know that he would report them at once to the general, if the +matter were carried further." + +"Well, I shall certainly not be likely to get into a quarrel over +wine," Desmond said, "nor indeed, in any other way, unless I am +absolutely forced into it. As to adventures such as you speak of, +I am still less likely to be concerned in them. I hope that, when +we are ordered on service, I shall have a full share of adventures +such as may become a soldier." + +O'Neil smiled. "Time will show," he said. "Adventures come without +being sought, and you may find yourself in the thick of one, +before you have an idea of what you are doing. But mind, if you do +get into any adventure and need assistance, you are bound to let +us help you. That is the compact we made, two months ago. We +agreed to stand by each other, to be good comrades, to share our +last sous, and naturally to give mutual aid under all and every +circumstance." + +Desmond nodded. + +"At any rate, O'Neil, adventures cannot be so common as you +represent, since neither of you, so far, has called upon me for +aid or assistance." + +"Have you heard the last piece of court scandal, Kennedy?" +O'Sullivan asked, as the three friends sat down to breakfast +together, a few days later. + +"No; what is it?" + +"Well, it is said that a certain damsel--her name is, at present, +a secret--has disappeared." + +"There is nothing very strange about that," O'Neil laughed. +"Damsels do occasionally disappear. Sometimes they have taken +their fate into their own hands, and gone off with someone they +like better than the man their father has chosen for them; +sometimes, again, they are popped into a convent for contumacy. +Well, go on, O'Sullivan, that cannot be all." + +"Well, it is all that seems to be certain. You know that I went +with the colonel, last night, to a ball at the Hotel de Rohan, and +nothing else was talked about. Several there returned from +Versailles in the afternoon, and came back full of it. All sorts +of versions are current. That she is a rich heiress goes without +saying. If she had not been, her disappearance would have excited +no attention whatever. So we may take it that she is an heiress of +noble family. Some say that her father had chosen, as her husband, +a man she disliked exceedingly, and that she has probably taken +refuge in a convent. Some think that she has been carried off +bodily, by someone smitten both by her charms and her fortune. It +is certain that the king has interested himself much in the +matter, and expresses the greatest indignation. Though, as it +would not seem that she is a royal ward, it is not clear why he +should concern himself over it. Some whisper that the king's anger +is but feigned, and that the girl has been carried off by one of +his favourites." + +"Why should such a thing as that be supposed?" Desmond asked, +indignantly. + +"Well, there is something in support of the idea. If anyone else +were to steal away, with or without her consent, a young lady of +the court with influential friends, he would be likely to pass the +first two years of his married life in one of the royal prisons; +and therefore none but a desperate man, or one so secure of the +king's favour as to feel certain that no evil consequences would +befall him, would venture upon such a step. You must remember that +there are not a few nobles of the court who have ruined themselves, +to keep up the lavish expenditure incumbent upon those who bask in +the royal favour at Versailles. It would be possible that His +Majesty may have endeavoured to obtain the hand of this young lady +for one of his favourites, and that her father may be a noble of +sufficient consequence to hold his own, and to express to His +Majesty his regret that he was unable to adopt his recommendation, +as he had other views for the disposal of her hand. + +"The real singularity of the matter is, that no one can tell with +certainty who the missing lady is. Early in the day half a dozen +were named, but as I believe all of these put in an appearance at +the reception in the afternoon, it is evident that, so far as they +were concerned, there were no foundations for the rumour. It may +be taken for certain, however, that her friends are powerful +people, to have been able to impose silence upon those acquainted +with the facts." + +"Well, it is impossible to take very much interest in the story," +Desmond said carelessly, "when we are in ignorance of the very +name of the lady, and of the important point, whether she has +voluntarily gone away either with a lover or to a convent, or +whether she has been carried off against her will. If the latter, +you were talking of adventures, O'Neil, and this would be just the +sort of adventure that I should like; for us three to discover the +maiden, and rescue her from her abductor." + +The others both laughed loudly. + +"And this is the young officer who, the other day, declared that +he wished for no adventures save those that came in the course of +a campaign, and now he is declaring that he would like to become a +very knight errant, and go about rescuing damsels in distress!" + +"I have no idea of carrying it into execution," Desmond said. "It +was merely an expression of a wish. Of course, if the lady in +question went willingly and to avoid persecution, I would rather +help than hinder her; but if she has been carried off by some +ruined courtier, nothing would please me better than to rescue her +from him." + +Several days had passed, and at last it was confidently believed +that the missing lady was the daughter of Baron Pointdexter, a +magnate of Languedoc, who had but recently come up to court, on an +intimation from the king that it was a long time since he had been +seen there, and that His Majesty hoped that he would be +accompanied by his daughter, of whose beauty reports had reached +him. It was certain that neither she nor her father had attended +any of the receptions or fetes at Versailles, since the rumour +first spread, although the baron had had a private interview with +the king a few hours afterwards, and had left his chamber with a +frowning brow, that showed that the interview had not been a +pleasant one. He had not again appeared at court, whether in +consequence of the royal command, or not, no one knew. + +The baron was one of the richest proprietors in the south of +France. He was a specimen of the best type of the French nobles, +preferring to spend his time among his own wide estates to coming +up to the capital, where his visits had at all times been rare. + +During the daytime, Desmond went out but little. When the hours of +drill and exercise were over, he spent some time in visiting the +quarters of the men of his company, making their personal +acquaintance, and chatting freely with them. They were glad to +hear from him about their native country; and, as some of them +came from his own neighbourhood, they took a lively interest in +the news--the first that had reached them for years--of families +with whom they were acquainted. He spent two or three hours in the +afternoons in the salle d'armes of the regiment, or at the schools +of one or other of the maitres d'armes most in vogue, and then +paid visits, with one or other of the officers of the regiment, to +great houses of which they had the entree. + +Of an evening he went out, accompanied by Mike Callaghan, and +wandered about the less fashionable part of the town, which +pleased him better than the more crowded and busy quarters. + +One evening, he had gone farther than usual, had passed through +the gates, and had followed the road by the banks of the river. As +an officer in uniform, he was able to re-enter the town after the +gates were closed, the rules being by no means strict, as, during +the reign of Louis the 14th, France, though engaged in frequent +wars abroad, was free from domestic troubles. + +Presently, he passed a lonely house of some size, standing back +from the road and surrounded by a high wall. As he did so, he +heard a scream in a female voice, followed by angry exclamations +from two male voices, while loudly rose a woman's cries for help. + +"There is bad work of some sort going on in there," he said to +Mike. "We had better see what it is all about. Do you go round the +wall by the right, and I will go round by the left, and see if +there is any way by which we can climb over." + +They met at the back of the house. The wall was unbroken, save by +the gates in front. + +"The wall is too high for us to climb, Mike," Desmond said. "Even +if I stood on your head, I could not reach the top. Let us go +round to the front again." + +They returned, and closely scrutinized the gate. It was not so +high as the wall itself, but was fully twelve feet. + +"I have got a pistol with me, your honour," Mike said. "I have +seen doors blown in, by firing a gun through the keyhole." + +"That would do, if we were sure that there were no bars, Mike; but +the chances are that it is barred, as well as locked. Besides, I +am sure that we should not be justified in blowing in the door of +a private house. It may be that they were the cries of a mad +woman. I would rather get over as quietly as possible." + +"Well, sir, I will stand against it, and if you will get on to my +shoulders and put your foot on my head, you will reach the top. +Then, if you lower one end of your sash to me, I can pull myself +up beside you." + +"Yes, I think we can manage it that way, Mike. I am convinced that +there is something wrong going on here, and I don't mind taking +the risk of getting into a scrape by interfering. Now do you stoop +a bit, so that I can get on to your shoulder; then you can raise +yourself to your full height. Take off your hat, first. I shall +certainly have to put my foot on your head." + +"All right, your honour. Don't you be afraid of hurting me. My +skull is thick enough to stand the weight of two of you." + +In a minute, Desmond had his fingers on the top of the gates, drew +himself up, and, moving to the corner, where he could get his back +against the end of the wall, lowered his sash to Mike. + +"You are sure I shall not pull you down?" + +"I am not sure, but we will try, anyhow." + +This was said in a whisper, for there might, for anything he knew, +be two or three men in the garden. Mike took off his boots, so as +to avoid making a noise. Desmond was sitting astride of the gate, +and had his end of the sash over the top of it, and under his leg, +thereby greatly reducing the strain that would be thrown on it, +and then leaning with all his weight on it, where it crossed the +gate. Mike was an active as well as a strong man, and speedily was +by his side. + +"Now we will drop down," Desmond said, and, setting the example, +lowered himself till he hung by his hands, and then dropped. Mike +was soon beside him. + +"What shall we do next?" + +"We will go and knock boldly at the door; but before we do that, +we will unbar the gate and shoot the bolt of the lock. We have no +idea how many men there may be in the house. Maybe we shall have +to beat a retreat." + +The lock was shot without difficulty, but the bolts were still +fast, and were not drawn without noise. They pushed back the last +of these, and then opened the gates, which creaked noisily as they +did so. + +"They can hardly help hearing that," Desmond muttered; and indeed, +as he spoke, the door of the house opened suddenly, and five men +came out, two of them holding torches. A man, who seemed to be the +leader of the party, uttered an exclamation of fury as the light +fell upon the figures of the two men at the open gate. + +"Cut the villains down!" he shouted. + +"Stop!" Desmond cried, in a loud voice. "I am an officer of +O'Brien's regiment of foot. I heard a scream, and a woman's cry +for help, and, fearing that foul play was going on, I made my +entry here." + +The man, who had drawn his sword, paused. + +"You have done wrong, sir. The cries you heard were those of a mad +woman. You had better withdraw at once. I shall report you, +tomorrow, for having forcibly made an entrance into private +premises." + +"That you are perfectly at liberty to do," Desmond replied +quietly; "but certainly I shall not withdraw, until I see this +lady, and ascertain from herself whether your story is a true +one." + +"Then your blood be on your own head!" the man said. + +"At them, men! you know your orders--to kill anyone who attempted +to interfere with us, no matter what his rank." + +The five men rushed together upon the intruders. + +"Hold the gate, Mike," Desmond said, "and they cannot get behind +us." + +They stepped back a pace or two, and drew their swords. The +position was a favourable one, for the two halves of the gate +opened inwards, and so protected them from any but an attack in +front. The leader rushed at Desmond, but the latter guarded the +sweeping blow he dealt at him, and at the first pass ran him +through the body; but the other four men, enraged rather than +daunted by the fall of their leader, now rushed forward together, +and one of them, drawing a pistol, fired at Desmond when within +three paces. + +The latter threw his head on one side, as he saw the pistol +levelled. The action saved his life, for it was well aimed, and +the bullet would have struck him full between the eyes. As it was, +he felt a sharp sudden pain, as it grazed his cheek deeply. He +sprang forward, and before the man could drop the pistol and +change his sword from the left hand to the right, Desmond's weapon +pierced his throat. At the same moment, Mike cut down one of his +assailants with his sabre, receiving, however, a severe cut on the +left shoulder from the other. + +Paralysed at the loss of three of their number, the remaining two +of the assailants paused, for a moment. It was fatal to one of +them, for Mike snatched his pistol from his pocket, and shot the +man who had wounded him, dead. The other threw down his sword, and +fell upon his knees, crying for mercy. + +"Shall I kill him, your honour?" + +"No. Fasten his hands behind him, with his own belt; and bind his +ankles tightly together, with that of one of his comrades." + +He paused, while Mike adroitly carried out his instructions. + +"Now we will see what this is all about," Desmond said. "I don't +suppose that there are any more of them in the house. Still, we +may as well keep our swords in readiness." + +Picking up one of the torches that had fallen from their +assailants' hands, and holding it above his head with his left +hand, while his right held his sword ready for action, Desmond +entered the house. The sitting rooms on both sides of the hall +were empty, but, upon entering the kitchen, he found an old woman +crouching in a corner, in the extremity of fear. + +"Stand up. I am not going to hurt you," Desmond said. "Lead us, at +once, to the chamber of the lady we heard call out." + +The old woman rose slowly, took down a key hanging from a peg, +and, leading the way upstairs, opened a door. + +"Keep a watch upon the crone," Desmond said, as he entered. + +As he did so, his eye fell upon a girl of some seventeen years +old. She was standing at the window, with her hands clasped. She +turned round as he entered, and, as her eye fell upon his uniform, +she gave a cry of delight. + +"Ah, monsieur, you have rescued me! I heard the fight in the +garden, and knew that the good God had sent someone to my aid. But +you are wounded, sir. Your face is streaming with blood." + +"'Tis but the graze of a pistol ball," he said, "and needs but a +bowl of water, and a strip of plaster, to put it right. I had +well-nigh forgotten it. + +"I am glad, indeed, to have been able to render you this service, +mademoiselle. It was most providential that I happened to come +along the road, and heard your screams and cries for aid; and I +determined to see if any foul business was being carried on here. +What made you call out?" + +"I had let myself down from the window, by knotting the bedclothes +together. I was blindfolded, when they carried me in here, and did +not know that the walls were so high all round, but had hoped to +find some gate by which I might escape. There were only the great +gates, and these were locked; and I was trying to draw the bolts +when two of the men suddenly rushed out. I suppose the old woman +came up here, and found the room empty. It was then that I +screamed for help, but they dragged me in, in spite of my +struggles, and one said I might scream as much as I liked, for +there was not a house within hearing, and no one would be passing +anywhere near. + +"When he said that, I quite gave up hope. I had believed that I +was in some lonely house, in the suburbs of the city, and I little +thought that my cries could not be heard. + +"But where are the men who guarded me?" + +"Four of them are dead, mademoiselle, and the other securely +bound. Now, if you will tell me who you are, and where your +friends live, I and my soldier servant will escort you to them." + +"My name is Anne de Pointdexter." + +Desmond was scarcely surprised, for the care which had been taken +in choosing so lonely a spot for her concealment, and the fact +that an officer and four men should be placed there to guard her, +showed that she must have been regarded as a prisoner of +importance. + +"Then I am glad, indeed, to have been the means of rescuing you. +All Paris has been talking of your disappearance, for the past ten +days. The question is, what would you wish done? It is too far to +take you to Versailles tonight, and too late to obtain means of +conveyance." + +"There is a carriage in the stables behind the house, and there +are some horses. I cannot say how many, but at night I have heard +them stamping. I suppose the carriage was left here so that they +could remove me to some other place, in case suspicion should fall +upon this house. How many are there of you, monsieur?" + +"Only myself, and the trooper you see at the door." + +"And did you two fight with five men, and kill four of them!" she +exclaimed, in surprise. "How brave of you, monsieur, and how good +to run such risk, for a person of whom you knew nothing!" + +"I knew that it was a woman in distress," Desmond said, "and that +was quite enough to induce two Irishmen to step in, and answer to +her cry for aid. However, mademoiselle, if the carriage and horses +are there, this will get us out of our difficulty. The only +question is, will you start at once, or wait until daylight? We +may be stopped by the patrols, as we approach Versailles, but I +have no doubt that my uniform will suffice to pass us into the +town, where probably your father is still lodging." + +"I would much rather go at once," the girl said. "There are others +who come, sometimes at all hours of the night." + +"Very well, then, we will see about getting the carriage ready, at +once. If you will come downstairs, we will lock this old woman up +in your room." + +This was done at once, and the girl, who was so shaken by her +captivity that she feared to remain for a moment by herself, +accompanied her rescuers to the back of the house. Here, as she +had said, they found a carriage and four horses, two of which +stood ready saddled, while the others were evidently carriage +horses. These were speedily harnessed, and put into the carriage. + +"Now, Mike, you had better drive. I will mount one of these saddle +horses and ride alongside. I think, mademoiselle, as the drive +will be a long one, it would be as well that we should put the old +woman in the carriage with you. She will be a companion, though +one that you would not take from choice. Still, your father may +wish to question her, and, indeed, it would be better in many +respects that you should have a female with you." + +"Thank you, Monsieur Kennedy,"--for she had already learned his +name--she said gratefully, "it would certainly be much better." + +The old woman was therefore brought down, and made to enter the +carriage, and seat herself facing Mademoiselle Pointdexter. Mike +took his seat on the box, and Desmond mounted one of the saddle +horses, and led the other. They had already removed the bodies +that lay in front of the gates. + +They had to make a considerable detour round Paris, before they +came down upon the Versailles road. The roads were bad and the +carriage was heavy, and daylight was already breaking when they +entered the town. They had twice been stopped by patrols, but +Desmond's uniform had sufficed to pass them. + +Baron Pointdexter had taken up his abode in a large house, +standing in a walled garden in the lower part of the town. When +they reached it, Desmond dismounted and rung the bell. After he +had done this several times, a step was heard in the garden, and a +voice asked roughly, "Who is it that rings at this hour of the +morning?" + +Mademoiselle Pointdexter, who had alighted as soon as the carriage +stopped, called out, "It is I, Eustace." + +There was an exclamation of surprise and joy, bolts were at once +drawn, and the gate thrown open, and an old servitor threw himself +on his knees as the girl entered, and, taking the hand she held +out to him, put it to his lips. + +"Ah, mademoiselle," he said, while the tears streamed down his +cheeks, "what a joyful morning it is! We have all suffered, and +monsieur le baron most of all. He has spoken but a few words, +since you left, but walks up and down the garden as one +distraught, muttering to himself, and sometimes even drawing his +sword and thrusting it at an invisible enemy. He is up, +mademoiselle. He has never gone to his bed since you were +missing." + +As he spoke, the door of the house opened, and the baron hurried +out, with the question, "What is it, Eustace?" + +Then, as his eye fell on his daughter, he gave a hoarse cry, and +for a moment swayed, as if he would have fallen. His daughter ran +up to him, and threw her arms round his neck. + +"Do you return to me safe and well?" he asked, as, after a long +embrace, he stepped back and gazed into her face. + +"Quite safe and well, father." + +"The Lord be praised!" the baron exclaimed, and, dropping into a +garden seat by his side, he burst into a passion of sobbing. + +As soon as he had appeared, Desmond had handed over the old woman +to Eustace. + +"She is a prisoner--keep a watch over her," he said. "She can tell +much. We will take the carriage round to a stable, and must then +return at once to Paris, where I must be on duty at seven. Please +inform the baron that I shall do myself the honour of calling, +tomorrow, to enquire whether Mademoiselle Pointdexter has suffered +from the effects of the fatigue and excitement. Express my regret +that I am obliged to leave at once, but I am sure he will have so +much to hear, from his daughter, that it is best they should be +alone together, for a time." + +He at once remounted his horse, Mike climbed up on to his seat, +and they drove off, and, knocking up the people at some large +stables, left the carriage and horses there, telling the +proprietors to send to the Baron Pointdexter to know his wishes +regarding it. Then Mike mounted the spare horse, and they started +at full speed for Paris, and arrived at the barracks in time for +Desmond to take his place at the early parade. + + + +Chapter 4: At Versailles. + + +The regiment was on the point of falling in, on the parade ground, +when Desmond Kennedy rode up. Leaping from his horse, he threw the +reins to his servant. + +"Take them both round to the stables, and put them in spare +stalls, Mike. I will get leave off parade for both of us, and ask +the surgeon to dress your wounds properly." + +Then he went up to the colonel, who was just entering the barrack +yard. + +"Colonel O'Brien," he said, "I must ask your leave off parade, +for, as you see, I am scarcely in a condition to take my place +with my company." + +"So it would seem, Mr. Kennedy. You have been in trouble, I see. +Nothing serious, I hope?" + +"Nothing at all, sir, as far as I am concerned. It is merely a +graze from a pistol ball." + +"Well, I must hear about it, afterwards." + +"I must also ask leave off parade for Callaghan, my servant, sir. +He is hurt a good deal more than I am, though not, I hope, +seriously." + +The colonel nodded. "I will send the surgeon to your quarters, and +he will see to you both." + +As Desmond left the colonel, his two chums came up. + +"Why, Kennedy, what on earth have you been doing to yourself? This +is what comes of gallivanting about after dark. When we came +round, yesterday evening, to go out with you as usual, you were +not in. There was nothing very unusual in that, for these evening +walks of yours are often prolonged; but we called again, on our +return at eleven o'clock, and found you were still absent. This +looked serious. We came round again at six this morning, for we +were anxious about you, and learned you had not been in all night, +and, on enquiring, heard that Callaghan was also absent. + +"That was cheering. That you might get into some scrape or other, +we could reasonably believe; but, as you had your man with you, we +could hardly suppose that misfortune had fallen upon both of you." + +"The wound is a mere graze. I will tell you, after parade, what I +have been doing," Desmond said, "but you must nurse your curiosity +till you are dismissed." + +A few minutes after Desmond reached his quarters, the surgeon came +in. + +"I do not think that I have any need of your services, doctor. I +got a piece of plaster, and stuck it on two hours ago, and I have +no doubt that the wound will heal in a few days." + +"However, I will, with your permission, take it off, Mr. Kennedy. +It is much better that the wound should be properly washed, and +some dressing applied to it. It will heal all the quicker, and you +are less likely to have an ugly scar. + +"It is a pretty deep graze," he said, after he had carefully +removed the plaster. "An eighth of an inch farther, and it would +have made your teeth rattle. You had better keep quiet, today. +Tomorrow morning, if there is no sign of inflammation, I will take +off the dressing and bandage and put on a plaster--one a third of +the size that I took off will be sufficient; and as I will use a +pink plaster, it will not be very noticeable, if you go outside +the barracks. + +"Where is your man? The colonel told me there were two patients. + +"A nasty cut," he said, after examining Mike's wound. "It is lucky +that it was not a little higher. If it had been, you would have +bled to death in five minutes. As it is, it is not serious. You +will have to keep your arm in a sling for a fortnight. You are not +to attend parade, or mount a horse, until I give you leave." + +On the ride from Versailles, Desmond had warned Mike to say no +word as to the events of the night. + +"I do not know what course the young lady's father may take," he +said, "and until I do, the matter had better be kept a secret, +altogether." + +"I will keep a quiet tongue in my head, and no one shall hear +anything, from me, as to how I got this slice on my shoulder. I +will just say that it was a bit of a scrimmage I got into, with +two or three of the street rascals; and the thing is so common +that no one is likely to ask any further questions about it." + +After the parade was over, O'Neil and O'Sullivan came up to +Desmond's quarters. + +"Now, Master Kennedy, we have come to receive your confession. We +gave you credit for being a quiet, decent boy, and now it seems +that you and that man of yours have been engaged in some +disreputable riot, out all night, and coming in on two strange +horses, which, for aught we know, have been carried off by force +of arms." + +Desmond laughed. + +"As to the horses, you are not so far wrong as one might expect, +O'Neil. We rode them this morning from Versailles." + +"From Versailles!" O'Neil repeated. "And what, in the name of all +the saints, took you to Versailles! I am afraid, Desmond, that you +are falling into very evil courses. + +"Well, tell us all about it. I shall be glad to be able to believe +that there is some redeeming feature in this strange business." + +Desmond laughed, and then said, more seriously, "Well, I have had +an adventure. Other people were concerned in it, as well as +myself. I have made up my mind to tell you both, because I know +that I can depend upon your promises to keep it an absolute +secret." + +"This sounds mysterious indeed," O'Sullivan said. "However, you +have our promises. O'Neil and I will be as silent as the grave." + +"Well, then, you know how you were chaffing me, the other day, +about finding Mademoiselle Pointdexter?" + +"You don't mean to say that you have found her, Kennedy?" O'Neil +exclaimed incredulously. + +"That is what I mean to say, though found is hardly the word, +since I was not looking for her, or even thinking of her, at the +time. Still, in point of fact, I accidentally came across the +place where she was hidden away, and after a sharp skirmish, in +which Callaghan and I each had to kill two men, we carried her +off, and delivered her safely to her father this morning." + +The two young officers looked hard at Desmond, to discover if he +was speaking seriously, for his tone was so quiet, and matter of +fact, that they could scarce credit that he had passed through +such an exciting adventure; and the three were so accustomed to +hoax each other, that it struck them both as simply an invention +on the part of their comrade, so absolutely improbable did it seem +to them. + +"Sure you are trying to hoax us, Kennedy," O'Sullivan said. + +"You could not blame me, if I were," Desmond said, with a smile, +"considering the cock-and-bull stories that you are constantly +trying to palm off on me. However, you are wrong now. I will tell +you the affair, just as it happened." + +And he related, in detail, the story of the rescue of Mademoiselle +Pointdexter, and the manner in which he had conveyed her to +Versailles. + +"By Saint Bridget, Kennedy, we were not far wrong when we called +you a knight errant. Well, this is something like an adventure, +though whether it will end well or ill for you I cannot say. Did +you learn the name of the person who had the girl carried off?" + +"No. I asked no questions, and indeed had but little conversation +with her; for, as I have told you, I put her in a carriage, with +the old hag who was in charge of her, and rode myself by the side +of it, in case the old woman should try to escape." + +"A truly discreet proceeding, Kennedy," O'Neil laughed. "I think, +if I myself had been in your place, I should have taken a seat +inside also, where you, of course, could at once have watched the +old woman, and talked with the young one." + +"I don't think that you would have done anything of the sort, +O'Neil," Desmond said gravely, "but would have seen, as I did, +that it was better that she should travel alone, with the old +woman, till she reached her father's house. Scandal will be busy +enough with her name, in any case, and it is as well that it +should not be said that she arrived home, in a carriage, with a +young officer of O'Brien's Irish regiment." + +"By my faith, Kennedy, it seems to me that you are a Saint Anthony +and a Bayard rolled into one. But, seriously, you are undoubtedly +right. Well, it all depends upon who was the man who carried her +off, as to whether you were fortunate or unfortunate in thus +having thwarted his designs. If he is some adventurer, your action +will gain you heaps of credit. If, on the other hand, it was one +of the king's favourites, seeking to mend his fortunes by +marrying, it is probable that you will have made a dangerous +enemy--nay, more, have drawn upon yourself the king's displeasure. +I should think it likely that, before attempting so desperate an +action as the carrying off of the Baron Pointdexter's daughter, +such a man would have assured himself that the king would not view +the enterprise with displeasure. + +"We may assume that he would not inform His Majesty of any +particulars, but would put it, hypothetically, that as he was +getting into sore straits, he thought of mending his fortunes by +carrying off an heiress--not, of course, one of those of whose +hands the king had the disposal; and that he trusted that, if he +succeeded, His Majesty would not view the matter as a grave +offence. From what I know of Louis, he would reply gravely: 'I +should be obliged (duke or viscount, as the case might be) to +express very grave displeasure, and to order you to leave the +court for a time; but, as the harm would be done, and the young +lady married to you, it might be that, in time, I should pardon +the offence.' + +"If this is how things have gone, you may be sure that the king +will not view, with satisfaction, the man who has interfered with +his favourite's plan for mending his fortunes." + +Desmond shrugged his shoulders. + +"The king's dissatisfaction would matter very little to me," he +said, "especially as he could not openly manifest it, without +making it apparent that he had approved of the scheme." + +"It is not such a trifle as you think, Kennedy. Lettres de cachet +are not difficult to obtain, by powerful members of the court; +especially when the person named is a young regimental officer, +whose disappearance would excite no comment or curiosity, save +among the officers of his own regiment. The man who carried off +Mademoiselle Pointdexter must be a bold fellow, and is likely to +be a vindictive one. No doubt, his object was to keep the young +lady a prisoner, until she agreed to marry him, and the loss of a +pretty bride with a splendid fortune is no trifling one, and +likely to be bitterly resented. Whether that resentment will take +the form of obtaining an order for your confinement in the +Bastille, or other royal prison, or of getting you put out of the +way by a stab in the back, I am unable to say, but in any case, I +should advise you strongly to give up your fancy for wandering +about after dark; and when you do go out, keep in the frequented +portions of the town. + +"Jack Farquharson, who was at Versailles with the colonel last +week, was speaking of Mademoiselle Pointdexter, and said that she +was charming. Did you find her so?" + +"I thought nothing about it, one way or the other," Desmond said, +carelessly. "I only saw her face by torchlight, and she was, of +course, agitated by what had happened; and indeed, as I was busy +helping Mike to yoke the horses to the carriage, I had scarcely +time to look at her. When we reached Versailles it was barely +daylight. I handed her out of the carriage, and left her to enter +by herself, as I thought it was better that she should meet her +father alone. I do not think that I should recognize her, were I +to meet her in the street." + +"Most insensible youth!" O'Sullivan said, with a laugh; +"insensible and discreet to a point that, were it not assured, +none would believe that you had Irish blood in your veins. And so, +you say you are going over to Versailles tomorrow?" + +"Yes. I left a message with the servant who opened the door, to +that effect. Of course, I shall be glad to know if the baron +intends to take any steps against his daughter's abductor, or +whether he thinks it best not to add to the scandal by stirring up +matters, but to take her away at once to his estates." + +"He is in a difficult position," O'Neil said gravely. "The young +lady has been missing for a fortnight. No one knows whether she +went of her own free will, or against it. Were her father to carry +her off, quietly, it would excite the worst suspicions. Better by +far lodge his complaint before the king, proclaim his grievances +loudly everywhere, and tell the story in all its details. +Whichever course he takes, evil-minded people will think the +worse; but of the two evils, the latter seems to me to be the +lesser." + +"I suppose it would be," Desmond agreed, "though, for my part, I +should be heartily glad if I never heard another word about it." + +"You are too modest altogether, Kennedy. Whatever rumours may be +current, concerning the young lady, there can be no doubt that you +come out splendidly, in that you hear a cry of a woman in +distress; you scale walls to get in to her assistance; you and +your servant encounter five of her guards, kill four of them and +bind the other; rescue the maiden, and carry her off, with flying +colours, in the carriage of her abductor. My dear Kennedy, you +will become an object of admiration to all the ladies of the +court." + +"That will be absolutely disgusting," Desmond said, angrily. "It +is almost enough to make one wish that one had never interfered in +the affair." + +"Pooh, pooh, Kennedy! I am sure that either O'Sullivan or myself +would give, I was going to say a year's pay, though how one would +exist without it I don't know, to have been in your place. Why, +man, if you had captured a standard in battle, after feats of +superhuman bravery, you would not attract half the attention that +will fall to you as a consequence of this adventure. Life in the +court of His Most Christian Majesty is one of the most artificial +possible. The women hide their faces with powder and patches, lace +themselves until they are ready to faint, walk with a mincing air, +and live chiefly upon scandal; but they are women, after all, and +every woman has a spice of romance in her nature, and such an +adventure as yours is the very thing to excite their admiration." + +"I know nothing about women," Desmond growled, "and don't want to +know any of them, especially the ladies at the court of Louis." + +"Well, of course, Kennedy, if the baron proclaims his wrongs, and +publishes the circumstances of his daughter's abduction and +rescue, the seal of silence will be taken from our lips; +especially as you will, almost to a certainty, be summoned to +Versailles to confirm the lady's story." + +"I am afraid that that will be so," Desmond said, despondingly. +"However, it can't be helped, and I suppose one must make the best +of it." + +To most of the officers who dropped in, in the course of the day, +to see Desmond and to enquire how he got his wound, he abstained +from giving any particulars. It was merely said that he and +Callaghan were suddenly attacked, by five ruffians, whom they +managed to beat off. Much surprise was expressed that such attack +should be made upon an officer and a soldier, on whom little +plunder could be expected, and who would be sure to defend +themselves stoutly. Several, indeed, expressed some incredulity. + +"We do not doubt for a moment, Kennedy, that you were attacked by +five men, as you say, and that you routed them, but there must +have been some motive for the attack. These evening strolls of +yours are suspicious, and I will warrant that there must have been +a great deal at the bottom of it. Now, can you deny that?" + +"I neither admit nor deny anything," Desmond said, with a smile; +"enough that, at present, I have told you all that I feel +justified in telling. I acknowledge that there is more behind it, +but at present my mouth is sealed on the subject." + +The colonel was among those who came in to see him. To him, +Desmond said frankly that the affair was altogether out of the +common, that it was likely that the whole facts would be known +shortly, but that, as other persons were concerned, he could not +speak of it until he had obtained their permission. + +"Then I will ask no further," Colonel O'Brien said. "I have seen +enough of you to know that you would not be concerned in any +affair that could bring discredit upon the corps. I am curious to +know the whole story, but am quite content to wait until you feel +at liberty to tell me." + +The next morning, Desmond took part in the usual work of the +regiment, and then, mounting his horse, rode to Versailles. On his +ringing the bell at the house occupied by the Baron de Pointdexter, +the old servitor, whom he had before seen, opened the gate. + +"The baron is expecting you, monsieur," he said, bowing deeply; +and, at his call, another servant ran out and took Desmond's +horse, and led it away to the stable, while Desmond followed the +old man to the house. + +The door opened as they approached, and the baron, a tall man, +some fifty years of age, advanced hastily, holding out both hands. + +"Monsieur Kennedy," he said, "you have rendered to me the greatest +service that I have received during my life. No words can express +the gratitude that I feel, for one who has restored to me my only +child, just when I had come to believe that she was lost to me +forever. It was surely her guardian saint who sent you to the +spot, at that moment." + +"It might have happened to anyone, sir," Desmond said; "surely any +gentleman, on hearing an appeal for help from a woman in distress, +would have done just what I did." + +"Let us go in," the baron said. "My daughter has been eagerly +waiting your coming, especially as she tells me that she does not +think she said even a word of thanks to you, being overpowered by +what she had gone through, and by her joy at her sudden and +unexpected deliverance. Indeed, she says that she scarcely +exchanged two words with you." + +"There was no opportunity, Baron, for indeed, as soon as she told +me that there was a carriage and horses in the stable, I was too +much occupied in getting it ready for her to depart without delay, +to think of talking." + +They had now entered the house, and, as the baron led the way into +the sitting room, the girl rose from a fauteuil. + +"This, Monsieur Kennedy, is my daughter, Mademoiselle Anne de +Pointdexter. It is high time that you were formally presented to +each other. + +"This, Anne, is the officer who rendered you such invaluable +service." + +"We meet almost as strangers, mademoiselle," Desmond said, deeply +bowing, "for I own that I saw so little of your face, the other +night, that I should hardly have recognized you, had I met you +elsewhere." + +"I should certainly not have recognized you, Monsieur Kennedy. +What with my own fright, and, I may say, the condition of your +face, I had but a faint idea of what you were really like; but I +certainly did not think that you were so young. You had such a +masterful way with you, and seemed to know so perfectly what ought +to be done, that I took you to be much older than you now look." + +"I joined the regiment but little more than three months ago," +Desmond said, "and am its youngest ensign." + +"Monsieur, I owe to you more than my life, for, had it not been +for you, I should have been forced into marriage with one whom I +despise." + +"I cannot think that, mademoiselle. From what I saw of you, I +should say that you would have resisted all threats, and even +undergone hopeless imprisonment, rather than yield." + +"There is no saying, Monsieur Kennedy," the baron said. "Anne is +of good blood, and I know that it would have been hard to break +down her will, but confinement and hopelessness will tell on the +bravest spirit. However that may be, she and I are your debtors +for life." + +"Indeed, Monsieur Kennedy," the girl said, "I pray you to believe +that I am more grateful to you than words can express." + +"I pray you to say no more about it, mademoiselle. I deem it a +most fortunate circumstance, that I was able to come to your +assistance, and especially so, when I found that the lady I had +rescued was one whose disappearance had made so great a stir; but +I should have been glad to render such service to one in the +poorest condition." + +"My daughter said that you asked her no questions, Monsieur +Kennedy, and you therefore are, I suppose, in ignorance of the +name of her abductor?" + +"Altogether." + +"It was the Vicomte de Tulle, one who stands very high in the regard +of the king, and who is one of the most extravagant and dissipated, +even of the courtiers here. For some time, it has been reported that +he had nigh ruined himself by his lavish expenditure, and doubtless +he thought to reestablish his finances by this bold stroke. + +"His plans were well laid. He waited until I had gone to Paris on +business that would keep me there for a day or two. A messenger +arrived with a letter, purporting to be from me, saying that I +wished my daughter to join me at once, and had sent a carriage to +take her to me. Anne is young, and, suspecting no harm, at once +threw on a mantle and hood, and entered the carriage. It was broad +daylight, and there was nothing to disquiet her until, on +approaching the town, the carriage turned off the main road. This +struck her as strange, and she was just about to ask the question +where she was being taken, when the carriage stopped in a lonely +spot, the door was opened, and a man stepped in. + +"Before she had even time to recognize him, he threw a thick cloak +over her head. She struggled in vain to free herself, but he held +her fast. Again and again, she tried to cry out, but her mouth was +muffled by the wrapping. She had heard the blinds of the carriage +drawn, and finding that her struggles to free herself were vain, +and receiving no answer to her supplications to be released, she +remained quiet until the carriage stopped. Then she was lifted +out, and carried into the house where you found her. + +"The wrapping was removed, and the man who had taken it off, and, +who by his attire, was a gentleman in the service of some noble, +said, 'Do not be alarmed, mademoiselle. No harm is intended to +you. My master is grieved to be obliged to adopt such means, but +his passion for you is so great that he was driven to this step, +and it will entirely depend upon yourself when your captivity will +end.' + +"'Your master, whoever he may be,' Anne said, 'is a contemptible +villain.' + +"'Naturally, you have a poor opinion of him at present,' the +fellow said; 'but I am convinced that, in time, you will come to +excuse his fault. It is wholly due to the depth of the feeling +that he entertains towards you. There is a woman here who will +wait upon you. I and my men will not intrude. Our duty is solely +to see that you do not escape, which indeed would be an +impossibility for you, seeing that the wall that surrounds the +garden is well-nigh fifteen feet high, and the gate barred and +locked, and the key thereof in my pocket.' + +"He called, and the old woman whom you brought here with Anne +entered, and bid her ascend to the room that had been prepared for +her. + +"In that respect, she had nothing to complain of. Of course, you +did not notice it, as you had other things to think of, but it was +handsomely furnished. There was a bed in an alcove, some flowers +on the table, some books, and even a harpsichord--evidently it was +intended that her imprisonment should be made as light as might +be. + +"Looking from the window, Anne saw that the room was at the back +of the house, and had probably been chosen because some trees shut +the window off from view of anyone beyond the wall. The next day, +the old woman announced the Vicomte de Tulle. He bowed profoundly, +and began by excusing the step that he had taken, and crediting it +solely to the passion that he had conceived for her. You may +imagine the scorn and reproaches with which she answered him. He +was quite unmoved by her words. + +"'Mademoiselle,' he said calmly, when she paused, 'you may be sure +that I should not have undertaken this scheme, unless I had fully +weighed the consequences. My plans have been so laid that whatever +search may be made for you will be in vain. Here you are, and here +you will remain until you listen to my suit. Every want shall be +satisfied, and every wish complied with; but, whether it is one +year or five, you will not leave this house until you leave it as +my bride.' + +"'Then, sir,' she said passionately, 'I shall be a prisoner for +life.' + +"'So you may think, at present, mademoiselle,' he said. 'And I +expected nothing else. But, with time and reflection, you may come +to think otherwise. Union with me is not so terrible a matter. My +rank you know, and standing high, as I do, in the favour of His +Most Gracious Majesty, your position at court will be such as +might gratify the daughter of the noblest family in France. The +study of my life will be to make you happy. + +"'I shall now leave you to think over the matter. I shall not +pester you with my attentions, and for another month you will not +see me again. At the end of that time, I trust that you will have +seen the futility of condemning yourself to further captivity, and +will be disposed to make more allowance, than at present, for the +step to which my passion for yourself has driven me.' + +"It was just a month since she had been carried off, and, the very +day when you rescued her, the old woman had informed her that the +vicomte would do himself the pleasure of calling upon her the next +day. For the first fortnight she had held up bravely, in the hope +that I should discover the place where she had been hidden. Then +she began to feel the imprisonment and silence telling upon her, +for the old woman only entered to bring in her meals, and never +opened her lips, except on the first occasion, when she told her +that she was strictly forbidden to converse with her. After that +she began to despair, and the news that her abductor would visit +her, the next day, decided her to make an attempt to escape. She +had no difficulty in letting herself down from the window by the +aid of her bedclothes, but she found that what had been said +respecting the wall and gate was true, and that she was no nearer +escape than she had been, before she had left her room. She was +trying, in vain, to unbar the gate, which, indeed, would have been +useless could she have accomplished it, as it was also locked. But +she was striving, with the energy of desperation, when the door of +the house opened, and the men rushed out and seized her. As they +dragged her back to the house, she uttered the cries that brought +you to her assistance. The rest you know. + +"As soon as I heard her story, I went to the palace and asked for +a private interview with the king. The king received me graciously +enough, and asked, with an appearance of great interest, if I had +obtained any news of my daughter. + +"'I have more than obtained news, Your Majesty. I have my daughter +back again, and I have come to demand justice at your hands.' + +"'I congratulate you, indeed, Baron,' the king said, with an +appearance of warmth, but I saw his colour change, and was +convinced that he knew something, at least, of the matter. + +"'And where has the damsel been hiding herself?' he went on. + +"'She has not been hiding herself, at all, Sire,' I said. 'She has +been abducted, by one of Your Majesty's courtiers, with the +intention of forcing her into a marriage. His name, Sire, is the +Vicomte de Tulle, and I demand that justice shall be done me, and +that he shall receive the punishment due to so gross an outrage.' + +"The king was silent for a minute, and then said: + +"'He has, indeed, if you have been rightly informed, acted most +grossly. Still, it is evident that he repented the step that he +took, and so suffered her to return to you.' + +"'Not so, Your Majesty,' I said. 'I owe her return to no +repentance on his part, but to the gallantry of a young officer +who, passing the house where she was confined, heard her cries for +aid, and, with his soldier servant, climbed the gate of the +enclosure, and was there attacked by the man who had charge of +her, with four others. The young gentleman and his servant killed +four of them, and bound the other; and then, entering the house, +compelled the woman who had been appointed to act as her servant +to lead the way to her chamber. Fortunately, the carriage in which +she had been taken there was still in the stables, with its +horses. The gallant young gentleman at once got the carriage in +readiness, placed my daughter in it, with the woman who had been +attending on her. The servant drove, and he rode by the side of +the carriage, and in that way brought her home this morning.' + +"In spite of his efforts to appear indifferent, it was evident +that the king was greatly annoyed. However, he only said: + +"'You did quite right to come to me, Baron. It is outrageous, +indeed, that a young lady of my court should be thus carried off, +and I will see that justice is done. And who is this officer, who +has rendered your daughter such a service?' + +"'His name is Kennedy, Sire. He is an ensign in O'Brien's Irish +regiment.' + +"'I will myself send for him,' he said, 'and thank him for having +defeated this disgraceful plot of the Vicomte de Tulle. I suppose +you are quite sure of all the circumstances, as you have told them +to me?' + +"'It is impossible that there can be any mistake, Sire,' I said. +'In the first place, I have my daughter's account. This is +entirely corroborated by the old woman she had brought with her, +and whose only hope of escaping from punishment lay in telling the +truth. In every respect, she fully confirmed my daughter's +account.' + +"'But the vicomte has not been absent from Versailles, for the +past month. He has been at my morning levee, and on all other +occasions at my breakfasts and dinners. He has walked with me in +the gardens, and been always present at the evening receptions.' + +"'That is so, Sire,' I said. 'My daughter, happily, saw him but +once; namely, on the morning after she was captured. He then told +her, frankly, that she would remain a prisoner until she consented +to marry him, however long the time might be. He said he would +return in a month, and hoped by that time to find that, seeing the +hopelessness of her position, she would be more inclined to accept +his suit. + +"'It was on the eve of his coming again that my daughter, in her +desperation, made the attempt to escape. She was foiled in her +effort, but this, nevertheless, brought about her rescue, for her +cries, as her guards dragged her into the house, attracted the +attention of Monsieur Kennedy, who forthwith, as I have told you, +stormed the house, killed her guards, and brought her home to me.' + +"The king then sent for de Tulle, and spoke to him with great +sternness. The latter did not attempt to deny my accusation, but +endeavoured to excuse himself, on the ground of the passion that +he had conceived for my daughter. Certainly, from the king's tone, +I thought that he would at least have sent him to the Bastille; +but, to my great disappointment, he wound up his reproof by +saying: + +"'I can, of course, make some allowances for your passion for so +charming a young lady as Mademoiselle Pointdexter, but the outrage +you committed is far too serious to be pardoned. You will at once +repair to your estates, and will remain there during my pleasure.' + +"The vicomte bowed and withdrew, and, an hour later, left +Versailles. The king turned to me, as he left the room, and said, +'I trust, Monsieur le Baron, that you are content that justice has +been done.' + +"I was too angry to choose my words, and I said firmly, 'I cannot +say that I am content, Your Majesty. Such an outrage as that which +has been perpetrated upon my daughter deserves a far heavier +punishment than banishment from court; and methinks that an +imprisonment, as long as that which he intended to inflict upon +her unless she consented to be his wife, would have much more +nearly met the justice of the case.' + +"The king rose to his feet suddenly, and I thought that my +boldness would meet with the punishment that I desired for de +Tulle; but he bit his lips, and then said coldly: + +"'You are not often at court, Baron Pointdexter, and are doubtless +ignorant that I am not accustomed to be spoken to, in the tone +that you have used. However, I can make due allowance for the +great anxiety that you have suffered, at your daughter's +disappearance. I trust that I shall see you and your daughter at +my levee, this evening.' + +"As this was a command, of course we went, and I am bound to say +that the king did all in his power to show to his court that he +considered her to be wholly blameless. Of course, the story had +already got about, and it was known that the vicomte had been +ordered to his estates. The king was markedly civil to Anne, +talked to her for some time, expressed his deep regret that she +should have been subject to such an outrage, while staying at his +court, and said, in a tone loud enough to be heard by all standing +round: + +"'The only redeeming point in the matter is, that the Vicomte de +Tulle in no way troubled or molested you, and that you only saw +him, for a few minutes, on the first day of your confinement.' + +"I need not say that this royal utterance was most valuable to my +daughter, and that it at once silenced any malicious scandal that +might otherwise have got about. + +"The king stopped to speak to me, immediately afterwards, and I +said: + +"'I trust that you will pardon the words I spoke this morning. +Your Majesty has rendered me and my daughter an inestimable +service, by the speech that you have just made.' + +"Thus, although dissatisfied with the punishment inflicted on the +Vicomte de Tulle, and believing that the king had a shrewd idea +who her abductor was, I am grateful to him for shielding my +daughter from ill tongues, by his marked kindness to her, and by +declaring openly that de Tulle had not seen her, since the day of +her abduction. I intended to return home tomorrow, but the king +himself, when I went this morning to pay my respects, and state my +intention of taking Anne home, bade those standing round to fall +back, and was good enough to say in a low voice to me: + +"'I think, Baron, that you would do well to reconsider your +decision to leave tomorrow. Your sudden departure would give rise +to ill-natured talk. It would be wiser to stay here, for a short +time, till the gossip and wonder have passed away.' + +"I saw that His Majesty was right, and shall stay here for a short +time longer. It would certainly have a bad effect, were we to seem +to run away and hide ourselves in the provinces." + +Mademoiselle de Pointdexter had retired when her father began to +relate to Desmond what had happened. + +"I know little of life in Paris, Monsieur le Baron," Desmond said, +"but it certainly seems to me monstrous, that the man who +committed this foul outrage should escape with what is, doubtless, +but a short banishment from court." + +"I do not know that the matter is ended yet, Monsieur Kennedy. In +spite of the edicts against duelling, I myself should have +demanded satisfaction from him, for this attack upon the honour of +my family, but I am at present Anne's only protector. It is many +years since I have drawn a sword, while de Tulle is noted as a +fencer, and has had many affairs, of which he has escaped the +consequences owing to royal favour. Therefore, were I to challenge +him, the chances are that I should be killed, in which case my +daughter would become a ward of the crown, and her hand and estate +be bestowed on one of the king's creatures. But, as I said, the +matter is not likely to rest as it is. + +"Anne has, with my full consent and approval, given her love to a +young gentleman of our province. He is a large-landed proprietor, +and a connection of our family. They are not, as yet, formally +betrothed, for I have no wish to lose her so soon; and, in spite +of the present fashion of early marriages, I by no means approve +of them, and told Monsieur de la Vallee that they must wait for +another couple of years. + +"I need scarcely say that, after what has happened, I shall +reconsider my decision; for the sooner she is married, and beyond +the reach of a repetition of this outrage, the better. I imagine, +however, that the young gentleman will be no better satisfied than +I am, that the matter should have been passed over so lightly; and +will take it into his own hands, and send a challenge immediately +to the vicomte. He is high spirited, and has the reputation among +us of being a good fencer, but I doubt whether he can possess such +skill as that which de Tulle has acquired. It is not always the +injured person that comes off victorious in a duel; and, should +fortune go against Monsieur de la Vallee, it would be a terrible +blow to my daughter, and indeed to myself, for I am much attached +to him. She is worrying about it, already. + +"Of course, it is impossible that the affair can be hidden from +him. It is public property now; and therefore, I sent off one of +my grooms, an hour since, with a letter to him. + +"Hitherto, I had not written to him about my daughter's +disappearance. Knowing he would, on hearing of it, at once hasten +here, where he could do no good and would only add to my trouble, +I thought it best to let matters go on as they were. I had been +doing everything that was possible, and to have his troubles as +well as my own on my hands would have driven me to distraction. + +"The groom is to change horses at every post house, and to use the +greatest possible speed. You may be sure that Monsieur de la +Vallee will do the same, and that in six days he will be here. I +have given him the merest outline of the affair, and have not +mentioned the name of Anne's abductor. Had I done so, it is +probable that Philip would have gone straight to de Tulle, and +forced on an encounter at once. As it is, I trust that Anne and I, +between us, may persuade him to take no step in the matter. It is +the honour of my family, not of his, that has been attacked. Had +he been betrothed to my daughter, he would have been in a position +to take up her quarrel. As it is, he has no status, except distant +relationship. + +"And now, Monsieur Kennedy, I have the king's order to take you to +the palace. He asked me several questions about you this morning. +I said that I had not yet seen you, but that you were riding over +here today, and he said: + +"'Bring him to me when he comes, Baron. I should like to see this +young fire eater, who thrust himself so boldly into a matter in +which he had no concern, solely because he heard a woman's voice +calling for help.'" + +"I am sorry to hear it," Desmond said, bluntly. "From what you say +I imagine that, in spite of what he has done, the king is far from +gratified at the failure of his favourite's plan. However, I +cannot disobey his commands in the matter." + + + +Chapter 5: A New Friend. + + +The baron sent a servant to request his daughter to come down. + +"I am going now, with Monsieur Kennedy, to the palace, Anne," he +said, as she entered. "I do not suppose that we shall be absent +very long. I have been talking matters over with him, and I think +that he agrees with my view of them." + +"But I have hardly spoken to him, yet, father!" + +"You will have an opportunity of doing so, when we return. +Monsieur Kennedy will, of course, dine with us. After the service +that he has rendered to us, we have a right to consider him as +belonging to us." + +"Had I had an idea of this," Desmond said, as they walked up the +hill towards the palace gate, "I should have put on my full +uniform. This undress is scarcely the attire in which one would +appear before the King of France, who is, as I have heard, most +particular in matters of etiquette." + +"He is so," the baron said. "He will know that you could not be +prepared for an audience, and doubtless he will receive you in his +private closet." + +On ascending the grand staircase, the baron gave his name to one +of the court chamberlains. + +"I have orders," the latter said, "to take you at once, on your +presenting yourself, to His Majesty's closet, instead of entering +the audience chamber." + +They were conducted along a private passage, of considerable +length. On arriving at a door, the chamberlain asked them to wait, +while he went inside to ascertain whether His Majesty was +disengaged. + +"His Majesty will see you in a few minutes, Baron," he said, when +he came out. "The Duc d'Orleans is with him, but, hearing your +name announced for a private audience, he is taking his leave." + +In two or three minutes a handbell sounded in the room, and the +chamberlain, who at once entered, returned in a moment, and +conducted the baron and Desmond into the king's private apartment. + +"Allow me to present, to Your Majesty," the former said, "Monsieur +Desmond Kennedy, an officer in O'Brien's regiment, and an Irish +gentleman of good family." + +The king, who was now far advanced in life, looked at the young +man with some surprise. + +"I had expected to see an older man," he said. + +"Though you told me, Baron, he was but an ensign, I looked to see +a man of the same type as so many of my gallant Irish officers, +ready for any desperate service. + +"So, young sir, you have begun early, indeed, to play havoc among +my liege subjects, for I hear that you, and a soldier with you, +slew four of them." + +"Hardly your liege subjects, Your Majesty, if I may venture to say +so; for, assuredly, they were not engaged in lawful proceedings, +when I came upon them." + +A slight smile crossed the king's face. He was accustomed to +adulation, and the simple frankness with which this young soldier +ventured to discuss the propriety of the word he used surprised +and amused him. + +"You are right, sir. These fellows, who are ready to undertake any +service, however criminal, for which they are paid, certainly do +not deserve to be called liege subjects. Now, I would hear from, +your own lips, how it was that you thrust yourself into a matter +with which you had no concern; being wholly ignorant, I +understand, that the lady whose voice you heard was Mademoiselle +Pointdexter." + +"The matter was very simple, Sire. Having joined the regiment but +a few months, and being naturally anxious to perfect myself in +exercises in arms, I have but little time to stir out, during the +day, and of an evening I frequently go for long rambles, taking +with me my soldier servant. I had, that evening, gone farther than +usual, the night being fair and the weather balmy, and naturally, +when I heard the cry of a woman in distress, I determined to see +what had happened, as it might well be that murder was being +done." + +He then related all the circumstances of his obtaining an entrance +into the gardens, of the attack upon him by the guard, and how he +finally brought Mademoiselle Pointdexter to Versailles. The king +listened attentively. + +"It was an exploit I should have loved to perform, when I was your +age, Monsieur Kennedy. You behaved in the matter with singular +discretion and gallantry; but, if you intend always to interfere, +when you hear a woman cry out, it is like that your time will be +pretty well occupied; and that, before long, there will be a +vacancy in the ranks of your regiment. Truly, Monsieur le Baron +and his daughter have reason for gratitude that you happened to be +passing at the time; and I, as King of France, am glad that this +outrage on a lady of the court has failed. + +"I am, perhaps, not altogether without blame in the matter. A +short time ago, the Vicomte de Tulle told me that he hoped to +better his fortune by a rich marriage. He named no names, nor said +aught of the measures he intended to adopt. But I said it would be +well that he should do so, for rumours had reached me that his +finances were in disorder. Whether he took this as a permission to +use any means that he thought fit I cannot tell; and I certainly +did not suspect, when I heard of the disappearance of Mademoiselle +de Pointdexter, that he had any hand in it, and was shocked when +the baron came here and denounced him to me. I am glad, indeed, +that his enterprise was thwarted, for it was a most unworthy one. + +"You are too young, yet, for me to grant you military promotion, +but this will be a proof of my approbation of your conduct, and +that the King of France is determined to suppress all irregularities +at his court." + +And, taking a diamond ring from his finger, he handed it to +Desmond, who went on one knee to receive it. + +"You will please inform your colonel that, when he comes to +Versailles, I request he will always bring you with him." + +The audience was evidently finished, and the baron and Desmond, +bowing deeply, left the king's cabinet. The baron did not speak, +till they left the palace. + +"Louis has his faults," the baron then said, "but no one could +play the part of a great monarch more nobly than he does. I have +no doubt, whatever, that de Tulle relied implicitly upon obtaining +his forgiveness, had he succeeded in forcing Anne into marrying +him; though, doubtless, he would have feigned displeasure for a +time. He has extricated himself most gracefully. I can quite +believe that he did not imagine his favourite intended to adopt so +criminal a course, to accomplish the matter of which he spoke to +him, but he could not fail to have his suspicions, when he heard +of Anne's disappearance. However, we can consider the affair as +happily ended, except for the matter of Monsieur de la Vallee, of +whom I spoke to you. + +"And now, sir, that the king has expressed his gratitude to you, +for saving his court from a grave scandal, how can I fitly express +my own, at the inestimable service that you have rendered us?" + +"I should say, Baron, that it will be most welcomely expressed, if +you will abstain from saying more of the matter. It is a simple +one. I went to the assistance of a woman in distress; and +succeeded, at the expense of this trifling wound, in accomplishing +her rescue. The lady happened to be your daughter, but had she +been but the daughter of some little bourgeois of Paris, carried +off by a reckless noble, it would have been the same. Much more +has been made of the matter than there was any occasion for. It +has gained for me the approbation and thanks of the king, to say +nothing of this ring, which, although I am no judge of such +matters, must be a very valuable one, or he would not have worn +it; and I have had the pleasure of rendering a service to you, and +Mademoiselle de Pointdexter. Therefore, I feel far more than duly +rewarded, for a service somewhat recklessly undertaken on the spur +of the moment." + +"That may be very well, as far as it interests yourself, Monsieur +Kennedy; but not so far as I am concerned, and I fear I shall have +to remain your debtor till the end of my life. All I can say at +present is that I hope that, as soon as you can obtain leave, you +will come as a most honoured guest to my chateau. There you will +see me under happier circumstances. The life of a country seigneur +is but a poor preparation for existence in this court, where, +although there is no longer the open licentiousness that prevailed +in the king's younger days, there is yet, I believe, an equal +amount of profligacy, though it has been sternly discountenanced +since Madame Maintenon obtained an absolute, and I may say a +well-used, influence over His Majesty." + +"I shall be happy, indeed, to pay you a visit, Baron, if my +military duties will permit my absenting myself, for a time, from +Paris. All I know of France is its capital, and nothing would give +me greater pleasure than to have the opportunity of seeing its +country life, in so pleasant a manner." + +"Our pleasure would be no less than your own, Monsieur Kennedy. + +"There is one thing I must warn you about, and that is, you must +be careful for a time not to go out after dark. De Tulle has an +evil reputation, and is vindictive as well as unscrupulous. +Doubtless, he has agents here who will, by this time, have +discovered who it was that brought his daring scheme to naught; +and it is, to my mind, more than probable that he will endeavour +to be revenged." + +"I shall be on my guard," Desmond said quietly. + +"You must be careful, indeed," the baron said. "Against open +violence you can well defend yourself, but against a blow from +behind with a dagger, skill and courage are of little avail. When +you go out after dark, I pray you let your army servant follow +closely behind you, and see that his sword is loose in its +scabbard." + +Desmond nodded. + +"Believe me, I will take every precaution. It is not likely that +there will long be need for it, for none can doubt that military +operations will soon begin on a large scale, and we are not +likely, if that is the case, to be kept in garrison in Paris." + +When Desmond arrived that evening at the barracks, he found that +the story of the rescue of Mademoiselle de Pointdexter was already +known, and also that the Vicomte de Tulle had been the abductor, +and had, in consequence, been banished from court. The baron had +indeed related the circumstances to some of his intimate friends, +but the story had varied greatly as it spread, and it had come to +be reported that an officer had brought a strong body of soldiers, +who had assaulted the house where she was confined, and, after a +desperate conflict, had annihilated the guard that had been placed +over her. + +Desmond laughed, as this story was told to him, when he entered +the room where the officers were gathered. The narrator concluded: + +"As you have been to Versailles, Kennedy, doubtless you will have +heard all the latest particulars. Have you learnt who was the +officer, what regiment he belonged to, and how came he to have a +body of soldiers with him, outside the town? For they say that the +house where she was confined was a mile and a half beyond the +walls." + +There was no longer any reason for concealment. The matter had +become public. The baron would certainly mention his name, and +indeed his visit to the palace, and the private audience given to +him and the baron, would assuredly have been noted. + +"Your story is quite new to me," he said, "and is swollen, in the +telling, to undue proportions. The real facts of the case are by +no means so romantic. The truth of the story, by this time, is +generally known, as Mademoiselle Pointdexter and her father have +many friends at court. The affair happened to myself." + +"To you, Kennedy?" was exclaimed, in astonishment, by all those +present. + +"Exactly so," he said. "Nothing could have been more simple. The +evening before last I was, as usual, taking a walk and, the night +being fine, I passed beyond the gate. Presently, I heard a scream +and a woman's cry for help. None of you, gentlemen, could have +been insensible to such an appeal. Callaghan and I climbed over a +pretty high gate. Not knowing what force there might be in the +place, we occupied ourselves, at first, by unbarring and shooting +the lock of the gate. The bolts were stiff, and we made some noise +over it, which brought out five men. These we disposed of, after a +short fight, in which I got this graze on the cheek, and Callaghan +his sword wound in the shoulder." + +"How did you dispose of them, Kennedy?" the colonel asked. + +"I ran two of them through. Callaghan cut down one, and shot +another. The fifth man cried for mercy, and we simply tied him up. + +"We then found Mademoiselle Pointdexter, and, learning from her +that the carriage in which she had been brought there was, with +its horses, still in the stable, we got it out, harnessed the +horses, and put an old woman who was mademoiselle's attendant in +the carriage with her. Mike took the reins, I mounted a saddle +horse, and we drove her to her father's house at Versailles, saw +her fairly inside, and then, as you know, got back here just as +the regiment was forming up on parade." + +"A very pretty adventure, indeed," the colonel said warmly, and +loud expressions of approbation rose from the other listeners. + +"And why did you not tell us, when you came in?" the colonel went +on. + +"I had not seen Baron Pointdexter, and did not know what course he +would take--whether he would think it best to hush the matter up +altogether, or to lay a complaint before the king; and, until I +knew what he was going to do, it seemed to me best that I should +hold my tongue, altogether. + +"When I went to Versailles, today, I found that he had laid his +complaint before the king, and that the Vicomte de Tulle, who was +the author of the outrage, had been ordered to his estates. I may +say that I had the honour of a private interview with His Majesty, +who graciously approved of my conduct, and gave me this ring," and +he held out his hand, "as a token of his approval." + +"Well, gentlemen, you will agree with me," the colonel said, "that +our young ensign has made an admirable debut, and I am sure that +we are all proud of the manner in which he has behaved; and our +anticipations, that he would prove a credit to the regiment, have +been verified sooner than it seemed possible." + +"They have, indeed, Colonel," the major said. "It was, in every +way, a risky thing for him to have attempted. I do not mean +because of the odds that he might have to face, but because of the +trouble that he might have got into, by forcing his way into a +private house. The scream might have come from a mad woman, or +from a serving wench receiving a whipping for misconduct." + +"I never thought anything about it, Major. A woman screamed for +help, and it seemed to me that help should be given. I did not +think of the risk, either from armed men inside--for I had no +reason to believe that there were such--or of civil indictment for +breaking in. We heard the cry, made straight for the house, and, +as it turned out, all went well." + +"Well, indeed," the colonel said. "You have rescued a wealthy +heiress from a pitiable fate. You have fleshed your maiden sword +in the bodies of two villains. You have earned the gratitude of +the young lady and her father, and have received the approval of +His Majesty--a very good night's work, altogether. Now, tell us a +little more about it." + +Desmond was compelled to tell the story in much further detail +than before. The colonel ordered in a dozen of champagne, and it +was late before the party broke up. + +"You see, we were pretty nearly right in our guess," O'Neil said, +as he and O'Sullivan walked across with Desmond to their quarters. +"We said that we thought it likely she might have been carried off +by one of the court gallants, who felt tolerably confident that, +if successful, the king would overlook the offence. This fellow, +thanks to your interference, did not succeed; and the king has let +him off, lightly enough, by only banishing him from court. If it +had been anyone but one of his favourites, he would, by this time, +have been a tenant of the Bastille. + +"I do not think, myself, that his punishment was adequate; but +then, I am not a courtier, and should be rather glad than not, to +be sent away to any estates I might have." + +"But," Desmond remarked, "I suppose the punishment is a severe one +to these men, accustomed to a round of pleasure and dissipation, +and who consider it the highest of earthly honours to be in favour +with the king. However, no one could be kinder than His Majesty +has been, on the subject. At the reception last night, at which he +ordered the baron and his daughter to appear, he showed her the +most marked favour, and particularly put a stop to all scandals, +by saying loudly that de Tulle had never seen her, after the first +morning of her capture." + +Six days later, when Desmond was engaged in the fencing room, +Callaghan came in, and told him that a gentleman was at his +quarters, wishing particularly to see him. + +"What is his name?" + +"Sure, and I don't know, your honour. He did not mention it, and +it was not for the likes of me to ask him." + +"Ridiculous, Mike! In future, when anyone comes and wishes to see +me, you will say, 'What name shall I tell Mr. Kennedy?'" + +He put on his uniform coat reluctantly, for he was engaged in an +interesting bout with a professor, who was an old friend of the +maitre d'armes. As he entered his room, a young man, who had been +staring out of the window, and drumming impatiently with his +fingers, turned. He was a stranger to Desmond. + +"I am Desmond Kennedy, sir," the young officer said. "To what do I +owe the honour of this visit?" + +The other did not reply, but stood looking at him, in so strange +and earnest a way, that Desmond felt almost uneasy. + +"Sir," his visitor said at last, advancing to him and holding out +both hands, "when I tell you that my name is Philip de la Vallee, +you will understand what must strike you as my singular behaviour. +I arrived last night at Versailles, and heard all that had +happened. You can imagine, therefore, that my heart is almost too +full for words, with gratitude and thankfulness." + +Desmond was moved by the emotion of his visitor, and their hands +met in a hearty clasp. Monsieur de la Vallee was a young man, of +four or five and twenty, well proportioned, and active and sinewy +from his devotion to field sports. He was about the same height as +Desmond himself, but the latter, who had not yet finished growing, +was larger boned, and would broaden into a much bigger and more +powerful man. + +"Henceforth, Monsieur Kennedy," de la Vallee went on, "I hope that +we shall be as brothers, and more. Had it not been for you, my +life would have been a ruined one. What agony have I been saved! +It makes me mad, to think that I was idling at home, ignorant that +my beloved had been carried away. I do not blame the baron for not +informing me, and I acknowledge that the reasons he gave me were +good ones. I could have done nothing, and should but have added to +his troubles by my anxiety and anger. Still, he told me that, in +another day or two, he would have felt that I ought no longer to +be kept in the dark, and would have summoned me to Paris. I am +thankful now that he did not do so, for I believe that my +impotence to do anything would have driven me almost to +distraction." + +"I agree with you that the baron acted wisely," Kennedy said. "Had +not chance, or Providence, taken me past the house where she was +imprisoned, at the very moment when Mademoiselle Pointdexter cried +for help, she might, for aught I can say, have remained a captive +there for months, or even years." + +"It was Providence, indeed, Monsieur Kennedy. Providence, not only +that she should have cried at that moment, but that her cries +should have reached the ears of one so ready and able to save her. +And now, I pray you, call me Philip, and allow me to call you +Desmond, as a pledge of our close friendship." + +"With pleasure," Kennedy replied; and the compact was sealed with +another close grasp of the hand. + +"It is strange, Desmond, that while the king, who had but little +interest in the matter, could present you, as I am told he did, +with a diamond ring, the baron and I, who owe you so much, can do +nothing to show our gratitude." + +Desmond smiled. + +"I can assure you that I need no such tokens," he said. "The +thanks that I have received, from you both, are infinitely more +grateful to me than any amount of rings and jewels." + +"And now, my friend," Philip de la Vallee went on, "my own burning +desire is to go to de Tulle, as soon as I have accompanied the +baron and Anne to their home; first, to publicly chastise this +villain noble; and then, of course, to fight him. Naturally, I +have said nothing of this to the baron, but I feel, after what has +happened, that in you I shall find an adviser, and a sympathizer." + +"I sympathize with you, most heartily, Philip, and in your place +should feel the same impulse; and yet, it would not be wise to +give way to it. I say this on the ground that he is a notoriously +good swordsman, and that, instead of your taking vengeance upon +him, he might kill you. + +"I feel that that argument would not have any influence with you +personally, but, taking your position with regard to Mademoiselle +de Pointdexter, it should have great weight. You can judge, from +what you would have felt yourself, had you been aware of her +disappearance, what she would feel, did she hear of your death in +this quarrel. Were you her brother, I should say that you would be +right--nay, that it would be your duty to endeavour to punish the +outrage against the honour of your family. Were you openly +betrothed to her, you would again have the right to punish her +abductor; but, not being either her brother or her betrothed, +neither reason nor public opinion would justify your doing so. +Moreover, did you fight with him and kill him, you would incur the +gravest resentment of the king; for, in fact, you would be +impugning his justice, which has considered banishment from court +to be a sufficient punishment for his offence. Not only was he a +favourite of the king's, but he belongs, I understand, to a +powerful family; who would, you may be sure, use their influence +with the king to bring about your punishment, for the breach of +the decree against duelling, and you would be fortunate if you +escaped a long imprisonment." + +The other was silent. + +"I feel that you are right," he said, at last, "but, indeed, it is +hard that I should not be able to avenge this outrage upon the +lady who is to be my wife. I may tell you that, as soon as we +return home, our formal betrothal is to take place, and ere long +our marriage will be celebrated; but I shall feel lowered, in my +own esteem, if I sit down quietly under this injury." + +"I do not see that," Desmond said. "If you abstain from +challenging de Tulle, it is from no fear of the consequences, but +it is, as I have shown you, because, whatever the issue of the +contest, it would be bad both for you and her. If you were killed, +her life would be spoilt. If you killed him, you might languish +for years in one of the royal prisons. The king prides himself on +his justice, and, by all accounts, rightly so; and I am sure that +he would feel the deepest resentment, were you or anyone to show, +by your actions, that you considered he has favoured the +transgressor." + +"You are right, Desmond; and, at any rate for the present, I will +put my intention aside; but should he ever cross my path, +assuredly I will have a reckoning with him. + +"But how is it that you, who are at least eight years younger than +I am, should argue as an old counsellor rather than a young +ensign?" + +"I suppose, in the first place, it is from my bringing up. I lived +with and was educated by a good priest, one not wanting in +manliness and energy, but who often deplored the system of +duelling, which is as strong with us as it is here, and denounced +it as a relic of barbarism, and, at any rate, never to be put in +use on account of a heated quarrel over wine, but only if some +deadly injury had been inflicted, and even then better left alone. +Of course, as an officer in one of His Majesty's regiments, I +should be obliged to conform to the general usage; for, did I +decline, I should be regarded as having brought dishonour on the +corps. But my case differs altogether from yours. + +"In the next place, knowing you were coming to Versailles, I +thought over what course you would be likely to pursue, and +considered it was probable you would lose no time in challenging +de Tulle. I have thought the matter over, in every light, and made +up my mind to endeavour to dissuade you from doing so, if the +opportunity offered. + +"So you see," he added with a smile, "I had prepared my array of +arguments against it; and I cannot but think that the opinion of +one interested, but not vitally so, on a point, is rather to be +taken than that of a person smarting under an injury." + +"And now, to turn to other matters. In three days we start for the +south. The baron accompanied me here, and went to see your +colonel, while I came to your quarters. His object was to ask him +to grant you a month's leave of absence, with the provision, of +course, that you should return at once, if the regiment was +ordered on service." + +"It is kind, indeed, of him," Desmond said, "but I doubt whether +the colonel will assent. It is not a month since I was dismissed +from drill, and took my place with my company, and I doubt whether +he will consider that I am sufficiently versed in my duties, or +that, after being so short a time in the regiment, I have any +right to leave." + +"What you say is right enough, under ordinary circumstances, but +these are altogether extraordinary. Then, after what you have +done, he will feel it but natural that we should wish to have you +with us for a time. Moreover, I do not consider that our journey +will be altogether unattended by danger. From what I have heard of +de Tulle, he is a man who never forgives, and will pursue his +object with the pertinacity of a bloodhound. He has failed in his +first attempt, but there is no reason why he should not renew it, +confident, perhaps, that if successful the king, though he may +feel it necessary to feign much anger for a time, will finally +forgive him and take him into favour again, especially as his +family would bring all their influence to bear to bring this +about. Doubtless, he will be kept perfectly informed of what is +going on here. There are several forests to be traversed on the +way, and these are, for the most part, the haunts of robber bands; +and, should the carriage be found overturned, and the baron and +his daughter missing, it would be put down as their work. Having +the baron as well as his daughter in his power, de Tulle would +find it easier than before to compel Anne to purchase her father's +freedom, as well as her own, by consenting to his terms. + +"Therefore, you see, the aid of a sword like yours would be +valuable, and no doubt your servant, who is also a sturdy fighter, +will accompany us." + +"I can hardly think that de Tulle would venture upon so bold a +stroke as that, and yet he might do so. Men of that kind are not +accustomed to be thwarted, and it would be a satisfaction to his +resentment at his former failure, as well as the attainment of the +wide estates of which Anne is heiress." + +At this moment there was a knock at the door, and the baron +entered. + +"My dear Monsieur Kennedy," he said, "I have succeeded. Colonel +O'Brien has been pleased to say that you have been so assiduous, +in learning your duties, that he considers you as capable of +performing them as any of his subalterns; and that you have just +brought so much credit on the regiment, that he is pleased to be +able to grant the favour I asked. Here is your furlough, duly +signed. Now it only rests with yourself, to accept or refuse my +invitation." + +"I accept it most gladly, Baron. It will give me the greatest +pleasure to accompany you, and mademoiselle, and Monsieur de la +Vallee, whom I now regard as a dear friend, to your home." + +"That is settled, then," the baron said. "We start early on +Thursday morning. It would be well, therefore, if you were to ride +over on Wednesday evening, and occupy one of the many spare +chambers there are in the house." + +"I will do so willingly; and I shall ask the colonel to allow my +servant to accompany me." + +"That is already settled. I told Colonel O'Brien that I owed much +to him also, and he at once acceded to my request, saying that, +although the wound is healing, the surgeon said that it would be a +fortnight, yet, before he will be fit for service; and, moreover, +that it was a custom when an officer went on leave that he should, +if he wished it, take his soldier servant with him." + +"Thank you again, Baron. Mike is a faithful fellow, and a shrewd +one. I am so accustomed now to his services that I should miss +them, and his talk, very much." + +"Have you heard, Mike," Desmond asked, when his servant came up to +his room, after the baron and Philip de la Vallee had left, "that +you are to go with me, to stay for a month, at Pointdexter?" + +"I have, your honour. Sure, I was sent for to the colonel's +quarters, and there I found a tall gentleman, whom I had never +seen before, as far as I knew. + +"'This is Mike Callaghan, Mr. Kennedy's servant,' the colonel +said, and the baron stepped forward, and shook hands with me, for +all the world as if I had been a noble like himself; and he said: + +"'My brave fellow, I have to thank you for the aid you gave your +master in rescuing my daughter, in which service you received the +wound which still keeps your arm in a sling. Here is a token that +we are not ungrateful for the service. If you will take my advice, +you will hand it to an agent of mine here in Paris, who will keep +it for you, and you may find it useful when the time comes for you +to take your discharge.' + +"So saying, he put a heavy purse into my hand, and said: + +"'You will find my agent's name and address on a card inside the +purse. I shall go round to him, now, and tell him that you are +coming, and that he is to use the money to your advantage, and to +hand it over to you whenever you choose to ask for it. Your master +is coming down to stay for a month with me, and Colonel O'Brien +has granted leave for you to accompany him.' + +"I thanked him heartily, as you may believe, sir; though, as I +said, I wanted no reward for obeying your orders, and for the +share I took in that little skirmish. After I came out, I looked +into the purse, which was mighty heavy, expecting to find a +handful of crowns; and it fairly staggered me when I found that it +was full of gold pieces, and on counting them, found that there +were a hundred louis. Never did I dream that I should be so rich. +Why, your honour, when I lave the regiment, which will not be for +many a long year, I hope, I shall be able to settle down +comfortably, for the rest of my life, in a snug little shebeen, or +on a bit of land with a cottage and some pigs, and maybe a cow or +two; and it is all to your honour I owe it, for if you hadn't +given the word, it would never have entered my head to attack a +gentleman's house, merely because I heard a woman scream." + +"Well, I am heartily glad, Mike; and I hope that you will take it +straight to the agent's, and not break in upon it, by treating +half the regiment to drink." + +"I will, your honour. It was given me to stow away for the time +when I might want it, and though I don't say that my own +inclinations would not lead me to trate a few of the boys, I feel +that I ought to do what the gentleman told me." + +"Certainly you should, Mike. If you once began to spend it in that +way, it is not one louis, but five or more, that would disappear +in a few hours. I am heartily glad that the baron has so +handsomely rewarded you for the service, and if you like, I will +go round with you this afternoon to his agent, and see the money +safely deposited." + +"Thank you, your honour. I sha'n't feel easy, as long as I have +got it in my pouch. I should suspict everyone who came near me, +and should never dare take my hand off it, lest someone else might +put his in." + +"You are a lucky fellow, Kennedy," O'Neil said, when Desmond told +his two comrades of the arrangements that had been made. "And, if +you go on like this, the regiment will believe that any good +fortune that may fall to its lot is the result of your luck." + +"I really do not like having leave given to me, when I have been +such a short time in the regiment. It does not seem fair upon +others." + +"No one will grudge you that," O'Sullivan said. "It is not as if +we were at home. Then, of course, everyone would like his turn. +But here, although we are soldiers of France, we are as strangers +in the land. Here in Paris we have many acquaintances, and a +welcome at most of the receptions; but that is the end of it. It +is seldom, indeed, that we are invited into the country houses of +those we know. That sort of hospitality is not the fashion in +France. Here, nobles may throw open their houses to all gentlemen +by birth who happen to be presented to them, but at home they are +rigidly exclusive; and, moreover, I am inclined to think they +regard us Irishmen as detrimental and dangerous. Many Irishmen +make exceedingly good matches, and we are regarded as having a way +with us, with the girls, that is likely to interfere with the +arrangements their parents have made for their marriages. Now, it +seems to me that your baron must be a very confiding old +gentleman, or he would never take you to stay in the society of +the young lady who owes so much to you. Faith, it seems to me that +you have the ball at your feet, and that you have only to go in +and win. From what I hear, Mademoiselle Pointdexter is no older +than you are yourself, and it is a glorious chance for you." + +Desmond broke into a laugh. + +"My dear O'Sullivan," he said, "it seems to me that it is the +favourite dream of Irish soldiers of fortune, that they may +improve their circumstances by marriage." + +"Well, there is no easier or more pleasant way," his friend said, +stoutly. + +"Possibly I may come to think so, in another ten years," Desmond +went on, "but, at present, I have no more thought of marrying than +I have of becoming king of France. The idea is altogether absurd, +and it happens to be particularly so, in the present case, since +one of the objects of my going down to Pointdexter is that I may +be present at the formal betrothal of this young lady, to Monsieur +de la Vallee, a neighbour of theirs, whom I had the pleasure of +meeting this afternoon, and to whom she is tenderly attached." + +"By the powers, but that is unlucky, Kennedy!" O'Neil said; "and I +have been thinking that your fortune was made, and that the +regiment would soon lose you, as you would, of course, settle down +as a magnate in Languedoc; and now, it seems that what we thought +the proper sequence of your adventure, is not to come off, after +all. Well, lad, I congratulate you on putting a good face on it, +and hiding your disappointment." + +"What nonsense you talk!" Desmond said, laughing. "It is you who +have been building castles, not I, and it is your disappointment +that they have fallen to pieces." + + + +Chapter 6: An Ambuscade. + + +On the morning arranged, the cavalcade started from Versailles. +The baron had instructed the stable keeper, where the carriage and +horses had been placed, to notify the Vicomte de Tulle that he +held them at his disposal. The woman, who had been brought to +Versailles, had been dismissed, after having made before a +magistrate a deposition, stating how Mademoiselle de Pointdexter +had been held a close prisoner, and that, with the exception of +herself, no one whatever had entered her apartment, except that +the Vicomte de Tulle had paid her a visit, of some five minutes' +duration, on the morning after she was brought there. A copy of +this was left in the magistrate's hands for safekeeping, while the +original was kept by the baron, who regarded it as a most +important document, concerning, as it did, the honour of his +daughter. + +Anne had travelled to Paris in the family coach, and she again, +with her maid, took her place in it. The baron, Monsieur de la +Vallee, and Desmond rode on horseback behind it, two armed +retainers rode in front, and two others, with Mike, took their +places behind. The old servitor sat on the front seat, by the side +of the coachman. + +"I do not think, Desmond," Philip de la Vallee said, as the baron +fell back to talk for a while with his daughter, "that he has the +slightest thought of our being attacked by any of the agents of +the vicomte; but I have made a good many enquiries about the +fellow, in the past few days, and from what I have heard I am +still more convinced that, before long, he is likely to renew his +attempt to get possession of Anne. I hear that his circumstances +are well-nigh desperate. He has mortgaged the income of his +estates, which, of course, he is unable to sell, as they go with +the title to the heir. He is pressed by many creditors, who, now +that he has lost the favour of the king, will give him no further +grace. Indeed, I understand that the king, who is always liberal, +and who not infrequently makes considerable gifts to the gentlemen +of the court, to enable them to support the necessary expenses, +has already assisted him several times, and that it was only by +such aid that he has been able to hold on as long as he has done. + +"He is, in fact, a desperate man, and his only hope is in making a +wealthy alliance. Therefore, putting aside his pique and anger at +having failed, the temptation to again obtain possession of Anne +is great, indeed. Once married to her he could, even if the king +kept him in banishment, well maintain his position as a country +magnate." + +"But Mademoiselle de Pointdexter cannot come into the estates +until her father's death." + +"Not his estates, but those of her mother, who was also a wealthy +heiress, and of which she will enter into possession either on +coming of age or on marrying. So, you see, he can afford to +disregard the enmity of her father, as well as the displeasure of +the king, which probably would soon abate after the marriage took +place. If I had known, when I left home, what had happened, and +that if she was found we should be returning home, I would have +brought with me a dozen stout fellows from my own estate. As it +is, I sent off a messenger, yesterday, with an order to my +majordomo to pick out that number of active fellows, from among +the tenantry, and to start with the least possible delay by the +route that we shall follow, of which I have given him particulars. +He is to ride forward until he meets us, so that when he joins us, +we shall be too strong a party for any force that the vicomte is +likely to gather to intercept us." + +"A very wise precaution, Philip; but we shall be far upon our way, +before this reinforcement can come up." + +"We shall be some distance, I admit. My messenger will take fully +five days in going. He will take another day to gather and arm the +tenants, so that they will not start until two days afterwards. +Then, however, they will travel at least twice as fast as we +shall, hampered as we are by the carriage. I should have suggested +that Anne should ride on a pillion, behind me or her father, but I +did not do so, because it would have been necessary to explain to +him my reasons for suggesting the change; and, moreover, I felt +sure that he would not agree to it, had I done so. Baron +Pointdexter is one of the largest landowners in Languedoc, and +although one of the kindest and best of men, he has his full share +of family pride, and would consider that it was derogatory to his +position for his daughter to be riding about on a pillion, like +the wife or daughter of some small landed proprietor or tenant +farmer, instead of in a carriage, as becomes her station. +Therefore, I must accept the situation, carriage and all, and I +can only hope that this villain will not attempt to interfere with +us before my men join us. + +"Fortunately, even if a courier take the vicomte word that the +baron and his daughter have made their adieus to His Majesty, the +fellow cannot hear of it for two days, however fast the messenger +may travel. Of course, Tulle is nigh a hundred miles nearer Paris +than Pointdexter, which lies between Florac and Sainte Afrique, +both of which towns lie within the circle of the estate. I admit +that, foreseeing the baron is likely to return to his estates +without delay, the vicomte may have made his preparations, and be +ready to start as soon as he gets the news. Nevertheless, he will +have a ride of some eighty miles to strike the road on which we +shall be travelling. He may then move north, until he finds some +suitable place for a surprise; but, even allowing for his +exercising the greatest speed, we should be halfway from Paris +before we can possibly meet him, and my men should join us by that +time." + +"You have forgotten one contingency, which would entirely alter +the state of things." + +"What is that?" Monsieur de la Vallee asked sharply. + +"We give this villain noble credit for resource and enterprise. +What more likely than that he has left a couple of his retainers +at Versailles, with orders that, should any messenger be sent off +by a southern road from the baron, his journey is to be cut short, +and any paper or letter found upon him carried with all speed to +Tulle? In that case, the chances of our being met by a reinforcement +are very small." + +"Peste! You are right, Desmond. I never gave the matter a thought. +Now that you mention it, nothing is more probable. It was the +servant who accompanied me whom I sent off, but, as de Tulle would +have been notified of my arrival, and the man started from the +baron's house, it would be deemed certain that he was either going +to Pointdexter or my own estate, and that the message he carried +was a somewhat urgent one. Well, all we can do is to hope that the +fellow has not thought of our taking such a precaution, and that +my messenger will arrive unmolested. Still, I acknowledge that the +idea makes me anxious, and I fear that we shall not get through +without serious trouble. There are so many disbanded soldiers, and +other knaves, in the forests that de Tulle would have no +difficulty in hiring any number of them, and carrying his scheme +out without the assistance or knowledge of his own tenants. The +heavy taxation necessary to keep up the expenses of the court has +driven numbers of people to despair, and many hitherto law-abiding +folk are being forced to leave their holdings, and to take to +unlawful courses. + +"However, it is of no use our telling the baron our fears. He is +obstinate, when he has once made up his mind to a thing, and +nothing short of a royal command would induce him either to change +his route, or to stop at one of the towns that we shall pass +through, and wait until my band arrives. He would, indeed, +consider his honour greatly attainted by allowing himself to make +a change of plans, on the mere chance that our suspicions were +justified." + +Six days passed without anything occurring. Impatient as Philip de +la Vallee and Desmond were to get forward, they could not hurry +the slow pace at which they travelled. Mademoiselle Pointdexter +was now suffering from the reaction after her month of captivity +and anxiety. The baron therefore travelled with provoking +slowness. Obtaining, as he did, relays of horses at each post, +they could without difficulty have travelled at almost double the +rate at which they actually proceeded, but stoppages were made at +all towns at which comfortable accommodation could be obtained. +Indeed, in some places the roads were so bad that the carriage +could not proceed at a pace beyond a walk, without inflicting a +terrible jolting upon those within it. + +"There is one comfort," Philip said, when he had been bewailing +the slowness of their pace, "my men should reach us at Nevers, at +the latest, and you may take it as tolerably certain that any +attempt to interfere with us will take place considerably south of +that town. I should guess that it would be somewhere between +Moulins and Thiers. If our escort does not come before we reach +Moulins, I shall begin to think that your suggestion was correct, +and that my messenger has indeed been intercepted and slain." + +Desmond could not gainsay the truth of his friend's calculation, +but he said: + +"Possibly, Philip, instead of being attacked by the way, de +Tulle's agents might rob him of his letter at one of the inns at +which he put up. Did he know its contents?" + +"Yes. I told him that it contained an order for the majordomo to +ride, with a troop of twelve men, to meet us, and that he was to +give what aid he could in getting them together as quickly as +possible; so that, even if robbed of the letter, he might still be +able to fulfil his mission. Not, I own, that I thought of that at +the time, for the idea that he might be stopped never once entered +my mind." + +At Nevers, Desmond went round to all the inns in the town, to +enquire if any body of men had put up at that place, but without +success. When he related his failure to obtain any news to Philip, +the latter said: + +"Well, we must hope that we shall meet them before we arrive at +Moulins. If not, I shall no longer have any hope that my messenger +got through safely, and then we shall have to consider whether it +will not be necessary to inform the baron of our fears, and to get +him to change his route and make a detour, cross the Loire at +Bourbon, make for Maison, and then journey down on the other bank +of the Saone as far as Pont Saint Esprit, and thence over the +mountains to Florac." + +"That would certainly be the safest plan, always providing that we +have not been watched ever since we left Paris. The vicomte might +well take this precaution, in case we should deviate from the +regular route." + +"Sapriste! Desmond, you are always full of evil prognostications. +Still, as usual, I cannot but allow that there is reason in them." + +"You see, Philip, we have plenty of time, as we travel at a +snail's pace, and in the evening when we stop, to think over the +affair in every light. I always put myself in the position of the +Vicomte de Tulle, and consider what steps I should take to ensure +success in my next attempt to carry off Mademoiselle de +Pointdexter." + +"Then I am very glad that you are not in the position of de Tulle, +for, if you were, I should consider that all was lost, and that +there was not a chink or crevice by which we could escape. It is +monstrous that a nobleman cannot travel from Paris to his estate, +without being obliged to take as many precautions as the general +of an army would have to do, against the attack of an active and +formidable enemy." + +"And will you tell the baron, Philip?" + +"I hardly know what to do in that respect, for after all, we have +no solid foundation whatever for our uneasiness, beyond the fact +that the men I sent for have not met us. All our apprehensions are +due solely to the fact that this fellow is utterly unscrupulous, +and that his whole future depends on his carrying out his insolent +designs successfully. If we had any solid facts to work on, I +would urge the baron to change his route, but I fear that he would +not only scoff at our views that there may be danger, but might be +angry at my taking the step of sending for a party of my +retainers, without his being in any way consulted in the matter. +At any rate, I feel sure that he would refuse to change his route, +without some very much stronger reason than we can give him." + +"Then we must let matters go on as they are, Philip. It may be +that really we have been alarming ourselves without sufficient +cause. If the worst comes to the worst, we can make a good fight +for it." + +"It is certainly hard on you. You have performed one brave action +for us, at the risk of your life, and now you are thrust into +another danger, perhaps even greater than the first, and this in a +quarrel in which you have no concern whatever." + +Desmond laughed. + +"Do you not see, Philip, that the adventure is good training for a +soldier, and that, if I am on duty in command of a company, I +shall be all the more useful an officer for having served a sort +of apprenticeship in surprises, ambuscades, and alarms. The +journey has been vastly more interesting than it would have been +under other circumstances. We should have found it dull, without +such matter of interest as this affair has given us, and, even +should nothing whatever come of it, it will have served its +purpose by beguiling our journey, which, in truth, riding at so +slow a pace, would otherwise scarce have been amusing." + +"Well, then, it seems that the only thing that we can do is to see +that the servants all keep their pistols charged, and are prepared +to do their duty in case of sudden attack. Of course, at present +they have no idea that any special danger threatens us; but I +shall tell them, before I start in the morning, that we fear the +road is dangerous owing to a band of robbers reported to be in the +forest, and that they must hold themselves in readiness for +action, in case we fall in with any of them. Old Eustace and the +coachman have both got arquebuses. I shall tell them that, should +they be attacked, they are to fire at once, and then the coachman +is to whip up his horses and drive at full speed, while we +endeavour to keep off the assailants." + +"That would be of use, if the assailants should be for the most +part on foot, but I think it more likely that they will be +mounted, and however fast this lumbering carriage might go, they +could easily keep up with it. Fight as hard as we may, the +carriage must be overtaken if they are in sufficient force to +overpower us. I should think that it would be well that you should +warn Mademoiselle de Pointdexter that we hear the road is not very +safe, and that, if there is trouble, she is on no account to +attempt to leave the carriage. As long as she remains there she +will run but little risk, for you may be sure that de Tulle will +have issued the strictest orders that no pistol is to be fired in +its direction. I have also little doubt that he has ordered the +baron's life to be respected, because his death would greatly add +to the anger that would be excited by the attack, and would also +put a barrier between him and mademoiselle, who would naturally +regard him with even more hostility than before, as the author of +her father's death. Therefore, I trust that in any case his life +and hers will not be endangered, however numerous our assailants +might be." + +"Yes, I have no doubt that that is so, Desmond, though I am sure +that, were I wounded and on the point of death, I would rather +know that Anne had fallen by a chance shot, than that she was in +the power of this villain." + +The next morning, they started very early for Moulins, for the +journey would be a longer one than usual, and the road through the +forest would probably be so rough, that the pace must necessarily +be very slow. At two o'clock, the men riding ahead noticed that a +tree had fallen across the road, and one of them galloped back and +informed the baron of it. + +"That is strange," the latter said. "There have been no storms for +the past two days. It must have fallen quite recently, for +otherwise the news would have been taken to the nearest commune, +whose duty it would be to see at once to its removal." + +Philip de la Vallee had, as the servant was speaking, glanced at +Desmond. To both, it seemed that this obstacle could scarcely be +the result of an accident. + +"I will see how large the tree is," the baron said. "Whatever be +its size, it is hard if eight men and four horses cannot drag it +off the road." + +So saying, he cantered forward, followed by the retainer, whose +comrade also fell in as they passed him. + +"Look to your arquebuses," Philip said to the two men on the box, +and at the same time called up Mike and the two men, from behind. + +"A tree has fallen across the road," he said to them, "and it is +possible that this may be an ambush, and that we may be attacked, +so hold yourselves in readiness, look to your pistols, and see +that the priming is all right in the pans." + +Then they went to the door of the carriage. + +"It is just possible that we are going to have trouble, Anne," +Philip said. "Remember what I told you last night, and on no +account move from your seat, whatever may take place." + +As he spoke, there was a discharge of firearms in front, and at +the same moment a score of horsemen broke from the trees, and rode +down upon the carriage. Their leader was masked. + +As they came up, the coachman and Eustace discharged their +arquebuses, emptying two saddles. Then, drawing their swords, both +leapt to the ground. In the meantime Philip, Desmond, and the +three men dashed at their assailants. Philip made for their +leader, who, he doubted not, was the Vicomte de Tulle, but the +latter drew a pistol and fired, when he was within a horse's +length of him. The young man swayed in his saddle, and fell +heavily to the ground, while a piercing cry from the carriage rose +in the air. + +Desmond, after cutting down the first man he encountered, turned +his horse and attacked the masked figure, who met him with a fury +that showed he was animated by personal animosity. His skill in +fencing, however, gave him but slight advantage in such an +encounter, while Desmond's exercise with the sabre, in the +regimental salle d'armes, was now most useful to him. Enraged at +the fall of his friend, and seeing that there was but a moment to +spare, for already some of the other assailants were coming to the +assistance of their chief, he showered his blows with such +vehemence and fury that his opponent had enough to do to guard his +head, without striking a blow in return. + +Seeing in a moment that he would be surrounded, Desmond made a +last effort. The vicomte's weapon shivered at the stroke, but it +somewhat diverted the direction of the blow, and instead of +striking him full on the head, the sword shore down his cheek, +inflicting a ghastly wound, carrying away an ear as well as the +cheek from the eye to the chin. Then, wheeling his horse, he +dashed at two men who were riding at him. + +The attack was so sudden that one of their horses swerved, and +Desmond, touching his charger's flank with a spur, rode at him and +hurled horse and rider to the ground. A backhanded blow struck his +other opponent full in the throat, and then he dashed into the +wood, shouting to Mike to follow him. + +The two servitors had both fallen, and the greater part of the +assailants were gathered round the carriage. Mike was engaged in a +single combat with one of the horsemen, and had just run his +opponent through when Desmond shouted to him; so, turning, he +galloped after his master. + +They were not pursued. The fall of their leader had, for the +moment, paralysed the band, and while three or four of them +remained by the carriage--whose last defender had fallen--the +others, dismounting, ran to where the vicomte was lying. + +"That has been a tough business, your honour," Mike said, as he +joined his master. "It is right you were, sir, when you told me +that you were afraid that rascal would try and hinder us on our +way. Sure it has been a bad business, altogether. Monsieur Philip +is killed, and the baron, too, I suppose, and all the others, and +Miss Anne has fallen into the hands of that villain again." + +"I do not think that the baron has been hurt, Mike. I expect the +orders were only to take him prisoner." + +"Where are we going, your honour?" Mike asked, for they were still +galloping at full speed. + +"I am going to get into the road again, and try to find help, at +Moulins, to recover the young lady. There is one thing, she is not +likely to be molested by that fellow for some little time." + +"Then you did not kill him, your honour?" + +"No. I cut through his guard, but it turned my sword. But I laid +his face open, and it will be some time before he will be fit to +show himself to a lady. If, as I expect, I can get no help at +Moulins, I shall ride on to Monsieur de la Vallee's place, gather +some men there, and try to cut the party off before they get to +Tulle. If I am too late, I shall see what I can do to rescue them. +From la Vallee I shall go to Pointdexter. I have no doubt that we +can get together a force, there, large enough to besiege de +Tulle's castle." + +After an hour's ride, they arrived at Moulins, and Desmond rode at +once to the mairie. Being in uniform, he was received with every +respect by the mayor, who, however, on hearing his story, said +that he did not see how he could interfere in the matter. It +seemed to be a private quarrel between two nobles, and, even if he +were ready to interpose, he had no force available; "but at the +same time, he would send out four men, with a cart, to bring in +any they might find with life in them." + +"Very well, sir," Desmond said, indignantly. "You know your duty, +I suppose, and I know mine, and I shall certainly report to the +king your refusal to give any assistance to punish these ill +doers." + +So saying, he left the room, and at once rode to some stables. +Leaving his horse and Mike's there, he hired others, and then +continued his journey south at full speed, and before evening rode +into Roanne. He knew that it was useless, endeavouring to stir up +the authorities here, as they would naturally say that it was the +business of the mayors at Nevers and Moulins, since the attack had +taken place between those towns. Ordering fresh horses to be got +ready, he said to Mike: + +"Do you go to all the inns on the left of the main street--I will +go to all those on the right--and enquire if a troop of mounted +men have come in. I am afraid there is no chance of it, but it is +at least worth the trial." + +At the first four or five places he visited, the answer was that +no such party had arrived; then, seeing one of the civic guards, +he asked him if he had seen or heard of a troop of men passing +through the town. + +"Such a troop arrived an hour ago, Monsieur l'officier. They +stopped, as they passed me, and asked if Monsieur le Baron +Pointdexter, accompanied by a carriage and some servants, had +passed through the town. They put up at the Soleil, and I should +think that they are there now, for they had evidently made a long +journey, and their horses were too worn out to go farther." + +Delighted at the unexpected news, Desmond hurried to the inn. It +was a second-class establishment, and evidently frequented by +market people, as there were large stables attached to it. The +landlord was standing at the door. He bowed profoundly, for it was +seldom that guests of quality visited the inn. + +"What can I do for monsieur?" he enquired. + +"You have a party of travellers, who arrived an hour ago. I have +business with them." + +"You will find them in this room, monsieur," the landlord said, +opening a door. + +There were some twelve men inside. The remains of a repast were on +the table. Some of the men were still sitting there, others were +already asleep on benches. One, who was evidently their leader, +was walking up and down the room impatiently. He looked up in +surprise when Desmond entered. + +"You are the intendant of Monsieur de la Vallee, are you not?" + +"I am, sir," the man said, still more surprised. + +"I am a friend of your master. We have been expecting to meet you, +for the past four or five days. He was travelling south with the +Baron de Pointdexter and his daughter. We were attacked, this +afternoon, on the other side of Moulins. The baron and his +daughter were, I believe, carried off; the servants all killed. I +saw your master fall, but whether mortally wounded or not I cannot +say. + +"I and my servant cut our way through the assailants, who were led +by the Vicomte de Tulle, who had before carried off Mademoiselle +de Pointdexter. I was on my way south to la Vallee, with but faint +hope of meeting you on the road." + +"This is bad news indeed, sir," the intendant said. "I trust that +my master is not killed, for we all loved him. As to Mademoiselle +Pointdexter, it was an understood thing that she, one day, would +be our mistress. + +"It is not our fault that we are so late. Our master's messenger +was attacked, near Nevers, and was left for dead on the road. The +letter he bore, and his purse, were taken from him. The night air +caused his wounds to stop bleeding, and he managed to crawl to +Moulins. Having no money, he was unable to hire a horse, and +indeed could not have sat one. He went to an inn frequented by +market people, and there succeeded in convincing an honest +peasant, who had come in with a cart of faggots, that his story +was a true one, and promised him large pay on his arrival at la +Vallee. + +"The pace was, as you may imagine, a slow one, but two days ago he +arrived home, and told me the story. I had the alarm bell at the +castle rung at once, and in half an hour the tenants came in, and +I chose these twelve, and started an hour later. Fortunately, the +master had told the messenger what was the purport of his letter, +and we have ridden night and day since. I am at your service, +monsieur." + +"In the first place, let your men have a sleep. It is eight +o'clock now. I will give them seven hours. At three in the +morning, we will mount. There are not beds enough here, but if you +get some clean straw scattered down in one of the sheds, the men +can lie there. In the meantime, I will go round and hire fresh +horses, leaving your own in pledge for their safe return. + +"You had better pick out two of your men to ride on to Moulins. +The mayor there promised to send out a cart, to fetch in any +wounded who might be found at the scene of the conflict. If, on +their arrival, they find that Monsieur de la Vallee is not among +these, they must ride on till they get there--it is some three +leagues from the town--and bring in his body, together with those +of his servants. They must arrange to give them Christian burial +there, but your master's body they will, of course, take on to la +Vallee. + +"His last wish, of course, would be that Mademoiselle de +Pointdexter should be rescued from the power of the villain noble +who has carried her off. Starting in the morning so early, we +shall have no difficulty in cutting him off long before he arrives +at Tulle. He will probably cross the Alier at the ferry at Saint +Pierre le Moutier. I must look at a map, and see the road that he +is likely to follow, but it is probable that he will make by +country tracks till he strikes the main road from Moulins." + +"Well, I should think, sir, that he would cross it near Aubusson, +and then pass over the mountains by the road through Felletin, and +come down upon Meimac, when he will be only two leagues from his +castle near Correze. There is a good road from here to Aubusson, +and we might take post on the road between that town and Felletin. +At least, sir, we can avenge the murder of our dear master, though +we have arrived too late to save him; and can rescue Mademoiselle +de Pointdexter and her father." + +The men, who had roused themselves and listened to the +conversation with many ejaculations of fury and regret, now +exclaimed that they were ready to ride on at once. + +"There is no occasion for that, my friends," Desmond said. "The +coach with mademoiselle can travel but slowly, especially along +country roads." + +"Perhaps the vicomte may take her on the saddle behind him," the +intendant suggested. + +"That he will not do," Desmond said. "In the fight I wounded him +so sorely that he will, I think, have to be carried in a litter, +and he will be in no condition for fast or long travelling, so +that they certainly are not, at the present time, many leagues +from the spot where they attacked us, and cannot reach Aubusson +until the day after tomorrow. We might cut them off before they +arrive there, but we do not know what road they may follow, and +might miss them; whereas, from what you say, there can be no doubt +that they would pass through Felletin." + +"I think that he would be sure to come that way, sir, for if he +followed the road on to Limoges questions might be asked. At any +rate, sir, we might post a man at Aubusson, and another at Pont +Gibaut, as he might make from that town to Felletin through the +village of Croc. How many men has he with him?" + +"That I cannot tell you. Some twenty mounted men, under his own +leading, attacked the carriage. Two were shot by Eustace and the +coachman. I disposed of two more, and my soldier servant of +another. The two mounted men and the two servants probably killed +two or three more, at least, before they themselves fell, so that +the vicomte would only have some twelve mounted men with him. But +there was another party in ambush, and I cannot say how strong +they were; but probably, altogether, there would be twenty. + +"There are ten of your men, after sending two off to Moulins. Now +there is yourself, my servant, and I, so we shall be thirteen. +With the advantage of surprise, I think that we may calculate upon +an easy victory, especially as I imagine that the men employed in +the affair are not de Tulle's own retainers, but some robber band +that he hired for the purpose; and these, having no special +interest in the matter beyond earning the pay, are not likely to +make any very determined resistance." + +Desmond now went back to the hotel where he had put up his horse. +He found Mike awaiting him there, and the latter was delighted +when he heard the news of the arrival of the party from la Vallee. +Desmond's purse was but lightly furnished, and as he saw that the +expenses might be heavy, he went to a jeweller's. + +"I want to borrow fifty louis," he said, "on this ring. It is, I +imagine, worth a good deal more, since it was a present to me from +the king." + +The jeweller examined the ring carefully. + +"It is a valuable one, indeed, sir," he said, "and I would +willingly lend you double as much upon it." + +"Well, we will say seventy-five, then," Desmond said. "I think +that will be ample for my purpose." + +Having received the money, he returned to the inn, accompanied by +Mike; and went round to the various stables in the town, where he +hired fifteen horses. These were to be taken to the Soleil, at +three in the morning, and the men who brought them were to take +back the tired horses as security. + +At that hour, the party started, and after a ride of some +thirty-five miles reached Clermont, where they stabled the horses +for six hours. Late that evening they arrived at Aubusson, having +accomplished a journey of some seventy miles. One of the men had +been left at Pont Gibaut, with orders to take a fresh horse and +ride on to Aubusson, if the party they were in search of passed +through the town. + +At Aubusson, Desmond took a fresh horse and rode back to Pont +Gibaut, enquiring at all the villages along the road whether a +party of twenty men had been seen to cross the road, at any point. +Then he took four hours' sleep, and at daybreak started back +again, making fresh enquiries till he arrived at Aubusson. He was +convinced that the band had not, at that time, crossed the road on +its way south. + +At ten o'clock he started out with his party, followed the road by +the side of the Crorrere river--here a mere streamlet--and halted +in a wood about five miles from Felletin. + +At six o'clock in the afternoon, a horseman was seen coming along, +and was recognized as the man who had been left at Pont Gibaut. +Desmond went out to meet him. He reported that, at twelve o'clock, +a party of horsemen had come down on to the road a mile to the +west of the town. He had followed at a distance, and they had +turned off by the track leading to Croc. They had with them a +carriage and a horse litter, and were travelling slowly. + +Desmond and his men at once shifted their position, and took up a +post on the track between Croc and Felletin. An hour later, the +party of horsemen were seen approaching the wood in which they +were hidden. Desmond drew up the men, all of whom were armed with +pistols, as well as swords, in line among the trees. He waited +until the carriage was abreast of them, and then gave a shout, and +the men at once dashed upon the escort. + +Taken completely by surprise, these made but a poor fight of it. +Several were shot down at once. The vicomte, whose head was +enveloped in bandages, leapt into the saddle of a horse whose +rider had been shot, and, drawing his sword, rode at Desmond, who +was making for the door of the carriage. Expecting no such attack, +he would have been taken by surprise had not Mike, who saw his +danger, shouted a warning, and at the same moment discharged his +pistol. The ball struck de Tulle in the forehead, and he fell back +dead. + +His fall at once put an end to the conflict. The robbers, who had +lost some eight of their number, at once turned their horses' +heads and rode off at full gallop. + +As Desmond drew bridle by the carriage, the door opened, and the +baron leapt out. + +"By what miracle have you effected our rescue, my dear Monsieur +Kennedy?" he exclaimed. "My daughter told me that she saw you and +your servant break your way through these brigands, and ride off. +She has been suffering an agony of grief for Philip, whom she saw +shot. Have you any news of him?" + +"None, sir. I, too, saw him fall, but whether he was killed, or +only wounded, I am unable to say. I have sent two men to bring him +into Moulins, and I trust they will find that he is only wounded." + +"My daughter saw you cut down that villain with a terrible blow. +We have not seen him since, but we know that he was carried on a +horse litter behind the carriage." + +"At any rate, he will trouble you no more, Baron. My man shot him +through the head, just as he was riding to attack me from behind." + +"Thank God! We are saved from further persecutions! And now, tell +me how you came to be here." + +"It was simple enough, Baron. I found twelve men, with Monsieur de +la Vallee's intendant, at Roanne. Philip, who feared that the +vicomte would endeavour to make a further effort to repair his +fortune, by carrying your daughter off on the road, sent a +messenger to his intendant to ride at once, with twelve men, to +meet us; and, had all gone well, they would have joined us fully +two days' journey north of Nevers. The messenger was attacked on +the way, robbed of his letter and purse, and left for dead. He +managed to crawl to Nevers, and there, being too weak and ill to +sit a horse, he hired a peasant's cart and made the journey, +slowly and painfully, to la Vallee. As he knew the purport of the +letter, two hours after his arrival there the intendant started, +and rode, without drawing bridle, to Roanne. There, by great good +fortune, I found them, though men and horses were alike done up. +Knowing, however, that the vicomte, in his wounded state, and +embarrassed with the coach, could proceed but slowly, I let them +have seven hours' sleep, and in the meantime hired fresh horses +for them; and we rode that day to Aubusson, and this morning moved +down to within five miles of Felletin. I left a man on the road to +Pont Gibaut, and he brought us word that you had left the main +road, and were travelling through Croc, so we moved at once to +intercept you; and you know the rest." + + + +Chapter 7: In Paris Again. + + +"You have indeed done well, Monsieur Kennedy," the baron said, +when Desmond finished his story. + +"Now, let us see to my daughter. Her maid is attending on her. She +fainted when the fight began. She is not of a fainting sort, but +the trials of the last few weeks, and her belief that de la Vallee +was killed, have very much upset her." + +"No wonder," Desmond said. "It must have been terrible, indeed, to +lose her lover, and to know that she was again in the power of +that villain. + +"And you, Baron; how did you escape the fate that befell the rest +of your convoy?" + +"We had ridden close up to the tree, when suddenly there was a +discharge of firearms. The two men with me fell at once. I was +unhurt, but as I turned my horse he fell dead, three bullets +having pierced his chest. Before I could recover my feet, the +rascals were upon me. They evidently intended to take me alive, +for they were provided with ropes, and, binding my arms, hurried +me back to the carriage. + +"By the time we got there, all was over. My faithful Eustace and +the coachman lay dead by the side of the carriage. They had fought +stoutly, for three of the brigands lay beside them. Six others +were scattered near, and the brigands were gathered round a fallen +man, who I guessed was their leader. + +"I found Anne in a state of the wildest grief. She told me that +she had seen Philip shot by the vicomte, just as he was attacking +him, and that you in turn had cut down the villain. + +"For half an hour, nothing was done, and then one, who was +evidently in authority over the others, left the troop and came up +to the carriage. + +"'Monsieur le Baron,' he said, 'the orders of my chief are that +you are to be placed in the carriage, with your daughter and her +maid. If you will give your word of honour that you will not +attempt to escape, or to give the alarm as you go along, or to +address a word to anyone whom we may encounter, your arms will be +freed, and you will be treated with all respect. If, on the +contrary, you decline to give this promise, my instructions are +that your feet as well as your hands are to be tied, and that you +are to be gagged and placed in the bottom of the carriage. You are +also to answer for your daughter and her maid; that they, too, +neither by word nor gesture, shall attempt to attract the +attention of anyone in the villages that we may pass through." + +"It was a hard condition, but I had no choice. The idea that I +should suffer the indignity of being bound and gagged, like a +common malefactor, made my blood boil. I should, in that case, no +more be able to give the alarm than if I had been free; therefore +I gave the promise, for at least it would be a comfort, to Anne, +that I should be with her and able to talk to her. + +"We stopped two nights on the road, being lodged at solitary +houses on the way. A guard was placed at my chamber door, and +another at my window, and even had I not given my word I could not +have escaped. + +"And now, Monsieur Kennedy, what do you propose?" + +"I think, sir, that it would be best that you should start at +once, in the carriage, for Pointdexter. Monsieur Philip's +intendant and his men will ride as your escort, but I do not think +that there is the slightest probability of your being interfered +with; for now that the vicomte is dead, these men--who were not, I +think, his retainers, but a band of robbers whom he had hired for +the occasion--will have no further motive for attacking you. + +"I myself shall return to Aubusson, send back the horse on which I +rode there, hire another, and make straight for Moulins, where I +still hope that I may find Monsieur de la Vallee alive. + +"Did you see the vicomte, after you were attacked?" + +"No. I heard one of the men tell the fellows who were guarding us +that your stroke had cut off one of his ears, and laid his cheek +bare from the eye to the chin. I fancy that he was too badly hurt +to come to us, but in any case he would not have cared to show +himself, in so terrible a plight." + +"We must admit that, with all his faults, he was brave," Desmond +said; "for, in spite of his pain and weakness, and of the fact +that his head was enveloped in bandages, he sprang from his +litter, leapt into one of the saddles we had emptied, and, single +handed, made for me, until my man cut his career short with a +bullet. + +"As you go through Croc, it might be well that you should send one +of the villagers off to his castle, to tell them that their master +is lying dead here, when doubtless they will send out a party to +fetch in his body." + +By this time, Mademoiselle de Pointdexter had recovered from her +faint. She held out her hand to Desmond, as he stood bareheaded +beside the door. + +"You have rescued me again, Monsieur Kennedy," she said; "for, +though life seems worthless to me now, you have saved me from far +worse than death. That you have so saved me, for my father's sake +as well as my own, I thank you with all my heart." + +"I would have you still hope, mademoiselle. We know that Monsieur +de la Vallee fell, but many men fall from their horses when +wounded, even when the wound is not vital. I am riding at once to +Moulins, and trust to find him still alive. Therefore, I pray you +do not give up all hope." + +"I dare not let myself hope," she said. "It would be but to suffer +another blow. Still, I feel that I have so much to be thankful for +that, grievous as my sorrow is, I shall try to bear it, with the +help of the Holy Virgin." + +The party now separated. The baron mounted one of the horses left +behind by the brigands, and with the men from la Vallee started +for Pointdexter; while Desmond, with Mike Callaghan, rode back to +Aubusson. + +There they slept for a few hours, and then obtained fresh horses +and started for Moulins, where they arrived late in the evening. +They alighted at the Soleil, where Desmond had ordered the two +men, who had gone on from Roanne, to bring the body of Monsieur de +la Vallee. + +"The gentleman is not here, sir," the landlord said, as he came to +the door. "He was brought into the town by the men sent out by the +mayor. As, by his dress, he was evidently a gentleman of quality, +they took him straight to the Couronne." + +"Was he alive?" + +"Yes, sir; but, as I hear, the surgeons are unable to decide yet +whether he will live. The men you sent here arrived the day after +he was brought in. They told me that you would return, and put +their horses here, but they are now in attendance on the wounded +gentleman, who, it seems, is their lord." + +"Thank God, he is alive!" Desmond exclaimed. "I have news for him +that will do more than the surgeons can to restore him to +himself." + +Leaving Mike to see the horses stabled, he hurried away to the +other hotel. He sent up his name, and one of the surgeons came +down. + +"Monsieur de la Vallee is very ill," he said, "although his wound +is not necessarily mortal. This morning we succeeded in extracting +the ball, but he is in a terribly weak state. He is unable to +speak above a whisper, and does not seem to care to make any +effort. It would appear that he even does not wish to live." + +"I have news that will put fresh life into him." + +"Then by all means go in and see him, sir. We have thought that he +is fast sinking; but if the news you bring can rouse him into +making an effort to live, he may yet recover. I will go in and +give him a strong restorative, and tell him that you are here." + +In three or four minutes, he came to the door of the chamber, and +beckoned to Desmond to enter. + +"The sound of your name has roused him from the lethargy, into +which he seemed sinking," he whispered. "When I told him that I +could not allow you to enter, until he had taken the draught that +I gave him, he swallowed it eagerly." + +Desmond went up to the bedside, and took the hand which lay on the +coverlet. The pressure was slightly returned, and Philip's lips +moved, but he spoke so faintly that Desmond had to lean over him, +to hear the words. + +"I am glad, indeed, that you are safe and sound. I have been +reproaching myself, bitterly, that I should have brought you into +this fatal business. As to the rest of it, I dare not even think +of it; but I shall die all the easier for knowing that you have +escaped." + +"I escaped for a good purpose, Philip. I have good news for you. +Monsieur le Baron and mademoiselle are on their way to Pointdexter, +under the guard of your men." + +"Is it possible, Desmond, or are you only saying it to rouse me?" + +"Not at all, Philip. You do not suppose that, even for that +purpose, I would hold out false hopes to you; or tell an untruth +on a matter so vital to your happiness." + +Philip's eyes closed, but his lips moved, and Desmond knew that he +was returning thanks to God for this unlooked-for news. + +"How did it happen?" Philip said, after a silence of some minutes. + +His voice was much stronger than before, and there was a faint +touch of colour in his cheeks. The surgeon nodded approvingly to +Desmond, and murmured, "I think that he will live." + +"It is too long a story to tell you in full, now," Desmond said. +"Seeing that all was lost, that you were down, and that further +resistance was absolutely fruitless, Mike and I cut our way out; +the more easily since I had struck down their leader, de Tulle, +and most of his band had crowded round him. At Roanne I found your +men, who had just arrived there. It matters not now why they had +been detained. I got fresh horses for them and rode for Correze, +placed an ambush, and turned the tables upon them. Mike shot the +vicomte, and we easily defeated his followers, and rescued the +baron and his daughter. I sent them to Pointdexter under charge of +your intendant and followers, and rode hither, hoping against hope +that I might find you still alive. Your two men, who came on here, +could have told you that I had escaped." + +"I did not allow them to speak to monsieur," the surgeon said, "or +even to see him. They are below, greatly grieved at being refused +entry; but I told them that any agitation might be fatal to their +master, and that they could do nothing for him if they came up; +for indeed, up to the time when we extracted the ball, he was +unconscious. + +"And now, monsieur, I think that it were best you should retire. I +shall give Monsieur de la Vallee a soothing draught. A night's +rest will be of vital importance to him. And now that you have +relieved his mind of the load that has evidently weighed upon him, +I think there is little doubt that he will soon fall asleep." + +"I will go and have supper," Desmond said, "for I have ridden +fifty miles since I last ate, and then it was but a piece of bread +with a draught of wine. After that I will, with your permission, +return here, and if you tell me that he sleeps, will take my place +by his bedside till morning." + +"To that I have no objection," the surgeon said. "I and a +colleague have, one or other, been with him since he was brought +in; and I shall be glad of a rest, myself." + +Desmond returned to the Soleil, where he had left Mike. The +latter, who had just finished his supper, was delighted to hear +that de la Vallee was likely to recover. After satisfying his own +hunger, Desmond returned to the Couronne. He went upstairs, and, +taking off his riding boots, stole to the door of his friend's +chamber. It stood a little ajar, and, pushing it open noiselessly, +he entered. + +The surgeon, who was sitting at the bedside, rose at once. + +"He is asleep already," he whispered, "and is breathing quietly. I +think it likely that he will not stir until tomorrow morning. I +shall be here at six. If he wakes, and there is any change, send +for me at once." + +After he had left the room, Desmond took his place on the fauteuil +by the bedside. For a time, he thought over the singular chain of +adventures that he had gone through. Gradually, in spite of his +efforts, his eyelids drooped. De la Vallee had not moved, and, +being dead tired by the exertions of the past four days, he fell +into a deep sleep, from which he did not awake until daylight +streamed into the room. + +Shocked at having thus given way, he looked anxiously at de la +Vallee, and was relieved to find that he was lying exactly in the +same position, and had evidently slept without once waking. Half +an hour later, Philip opened his eyes, looked wonderingly at him, +and then said: + +"So, it was not all a good dream, Desmond! You are really here, +and your news is true?" + +"Certainly, it is true, Philip. By this time Mademoiselle de +Pointdexter and her father are far on the way home. They were to +have travelled on to Argentan, and then through Aurillac, striking +the Lozere at Entraigues and proceeding along its banks to Mende, +and thence by a road over the hills to Villefort, where they would +be twenty miles from Pointdexter. The carriage was to be left +behind at their first halting place. Mademoiselle was then to +ride, and her maid to be carried behind one of your men, by which +means they would travel more than twice as fast as they would do, +if encumbered by the carriage. The baron said that he would spare +no pains to get home as quickly as possible, and would send a man +on, some hours ahead of him, to see that fresh horses were in +readiness for the whole party at each town they came to." + +"Now tell me all about it, Desmond. I feel another man. Your good +news, and a long night's sleep, have done wonders for me. Now, +please tell me all about the affair." + +Seeing that Philip was so much stronger that he could hear, +without being overexcited, the story of the rescue, Desmond +related all the details to him. + +"You have indeed done wonders," Philip said. "You do not seem to +know what fatigue is. How strange that you, whose name I had never +heard until ten days back, should have rendered to Baron +Pointdexter and myself two such inestimable services. + +"And so, after all your exertions and fatigue, you have been +keeping watch at my bedside all night?" + +"I am ashamed to say that I have not been keeping watch, Philip," +Desmond replied with a smile. "I had intended to, but you were +sleeping so quietly, and everything was so still, that I went off +and slept, as soundly as you have done, until within half an hour +of the time when you opened your eyes; but I am sure that I should +have awoke at once, had you moved." + +"Then I am glad that I did not move, Desmond, for you must sorely +need a long sleep, after having passed three days and almost three +nights in the saddle." + +The surgeons now arrived, and were delighted at the change that +had taken place in their patient. + +"And when shall I be fit to travel, doctor?" + +"Ah, well, we will talk of that in another fortnight's time. You +need absolute quiet, for were you to move, before your wound is +fairly healed, inflammation might set in, and that would throw you +back for a very long time. You have had a very narrow escape, and +you are fortunate, indeed, to have got off with only a trifling +detention." + +"But I might be carried in a horse litter?" + +"Certainly not, at present," the surgeon said decidedly. +"Possibly, in ten days, you might without danger be so carried, +providing they take you in short stages and with easy-paced +horses; but I should say that it would be still better, were you +to be carried on men's shoulders. There is never any difficulty in +hiring men, and you could get relays every eight or ten miles, +while it would be difficult to get horses accustomed to such +work." + +"You don't think that I should be able to ride, doctor?" + +"Certainly not in less than a month, probably not in six weeks." + +"Then I must be carried," Philip said. "I should work myself into +the fever you talk of, if I were to be kept here. + +"What are your plans, Desmond?" + +"I have not thought of them, yet. At any rate, I shall stay with +you till you are well enough to start." + +"I could not think of that, Desmond." + +"You have no say in the matter, Philip. In the first place, you +will get on all the faster for my being with you. In the next +place, ten days of my leave are already expired, and were we to go +on straight to Pointdexter, I should only have a few days there +before starting back for Paris, and I must therefore postpone my +visit to some future time. I can stay here ten days, accompany you +some four days on your journey, and then turn back again." + +"A nice way of spending a month's holiday!" Philip grumbled. + +"It will be a holiday that I shall long look back to," Desmond +said quietly, "and with pleasure. I do not say that I should not +have enjoyed myself at the baron's chateau, for that I should have +done; but the adventures that I have gone through will remain in +my mind, all my life, as having gained the friendship of yourself, +the baron, and his daughter." + +"Friendship seems to me too mild a word for it, Desmond. You have +earned a gratitude so deep that it will be a pain to us, if we +cannot show it in deeds." + +"And now, Philip," Desmond said, changing the subject abruptly, "I +suppose that you will be, at once, sending off one of your men +with the news that you are in a fair way towards recovery. +Mademoiselle de Pointdexter is suffering at the thought that you +were probably killed. I did my best to give her hope, but without +much success. Your two retainers have been fretting greatly that +they were not allowed to see you, but I think that now they can be +brought up, and you can choose one of them to act as your +messenger. He will, of course, ride post, and can arrive at +Pointdexter very soon after the baron, if indeed he does not get +there first. If he starts at once, and changes horses at each +place, he may be there by tomorrow at noon, if not earlier; for it +is not more, I believe, than a hundred and twenty miles to +Pointdexter. If you will dictate a letter for him to take, I will +write it for you." + +"It must be a short one," the surgeon said, "just a few words. +Monsieur de la Vallee has talked more than is good for him." + +Half an hour later the messenger started, carrying a note with a +few words from Philip to Anne, and a longer letter from Desmond to +the baron. Four days later answers were received. The messenger +had arrived at Pointdexter two hours before the travellers reached +home, and Anne's joy at the news that, not only was Philip alive, +but might in a short time be with her, was deep indeed. The baron +wrote to Desmond, as well as to Philip, again expressing the deep +gratitude of himself and his daughter, greatly regretting that he +should not have the opportunity, at present, of thanking him +personally. With the letter the messenger brought a bag of money, +concerning which he wrote: + +"You have, I know, dear Monsieur Kennedy, expended a considerable +sum of money in hiring relays of horses, for yourself and Monsieur +de la Vallee's men; and this, of course, is a debt you cannot +object to my repaying. Without knowing the exact sum, I have +roughly calculated the probable amount, and forward it to you by +the messenger who will bring you this letter." + +Desmond had no hesitation in accepting the money. The baron had +evidently taken considerable pains to calculate the sums that he +must have laid out, in order not to hurt his feelings by sending a +larger sum than he had spent, for the amount contained in the bag +was but a few louis over his disbursements. He at once rode over +to Roanne and redeemed his ring, which had proved of more value to +him than he had ever anticipated. + +At the end of the ten days, Philip was strong enough to walk +across the room, and the surgeon gave permission for him to start, +if, instead of being carried all the way, he would be taken to +Lyons, which was but twenty miles distant, and there take boat +down the Rhone to Viviers. Desmond went with him to Lyons, and saw +him comfortably bestowed on board a craft going down the river, +and there left him in charge of his own retainers. Then, +accompanied by Mike, whose wound was now well healed, he rode back +to Paris by comparatively easy stages, arriving there on the day +before his leave was up. He reported himself to the colonel. + +"So you have not been to Pointdexter after all! I received a long +letter a week ago from the baron, sent by special messenger, +giving me a full account of your doings, which reads like a +chapter of romance. He mentioned that he had also written to the +king, denouncing the conduct of the Vicomte de Tulle; and stating +that, in the fight between his own rescuers and the vicomte's +band, the latter was killed, and doing full justice to the part +you played in the affair. I had a message from His Majesty +yesterday, ordering that you should, as soon as you returned, go +at once to Versailles, in order that he might question you further +on the affair. + +"I have another piece of news for you. We have received orders to +march in three days' time, which is a fortunate circumstance for +you, for there can be no doubt that, however gallantly and well +you have behaved in this affair, and in whatever light His Majesty +may view it, you have incurred the enmity of de Tulle's family and +connections, and the air of Paris would not be healthy for you, +for a time. I need not say that I have read the baron's letter to +your comrades, and that they fully shared with me the admiration I +feel at your conduct." + +"Had I better start at once for Versailles, sir?" + +"I think so. The king is not pleased at being kept waiting. He is +sure to ask you when you arrived. You had better take one of my +horses. I will order it to be brought round, and shall be at your +quarters by the time you have put on your full uniform." + +The king had just returned from hunting when Desmond arrived at +the palace, and gave his name to one of the ushers. Five minutes +later, he was conducted to the king's dressing room. + +"This is a serious business, young sir, in which you have been +engaged," the king said shortly to Desmond, as he entered. + +"I am aware of that, Sire, and yet I am well assured that every +officer in Your Majesty's service would have acted as I did, under +similar circumstances." + +"The Baron de Pointdexter has written to us fully on the matter," +the king said, "but we wish to hear the account from your own +lips. When did you return to Paris?" + +"But two hours since, Sire." + +"Then you have lost no time in presenting yourself here. Now, tell +us the whole matter, omitting no detail." + +Desmond told the story fully. He was interrupted once by the king. + +"How was it that Monsieur de la Vallee's people were at Roanne?" + +Desmond then related the fears that he and Philip had entertained, +lest the vicomte should make another attempt to carry off +Mademoiselle Pointdexter, and how, without the baron's knowledge, +Philip had sent off a messenger to his intendant for a body of his +men to meet them on the way; how the messenger had been +intercepted and desperately wounded, and how, in consequence, +instead of their being met by the party at Nevers, or north of +that town, they had only reached Roanne after the attack had been +made on the travellers, near Moulins. + +The king asked no more questions, until Desmond finished his +story. + +"You did well, sir," he then said; "and the conduct of the Vicomte +de Tulle was outrageous, and we should have visited him with our +heaviest displeasure, had he not already received his deserts. It +is intolerable that a noble gentleman, with his daughter, cannot +travel along the highroads of our kingdom without being thus +assaulted. It was the more scandalous when the vicomte was +banished from our court for a similar attempt. The fact that he +had enjoyed our favour would in no degree have mitigated--indeed +it would have increased--our anger at his conduct, since it would +have seemed as if he had relied upon it for immunity for his +action. Surely, such a belief would have been an erroneous one. +The law must be observed, and the higher placed a man is, the more +is he bound to set an example of obedience to it. + +"We thank you, sir, for having thwarted so daring and villainous a +scheme. We have not yet sent an answer to the Baron de Pointdexter, +because we wished your report of the matter before doing so. We +shall now cause him to be informed of our indignation at the plot +against his person and that of his daughter, and our satisfaction +that they have escaped from it. + +"You have begun your career well, indeed, young sir. Your regiment +is about to start for the frontier. We shall direct your colonel +to report to us, from time to time, as to your conduct, and shall +see that your promotion is in accordance with your actions, and +shall request him to offer you any opportunity that may occur for +distinguishing yourself." + +Desmond rode back to Paris well satisfied with the result of the +interview. He had not been slow in noticing that, although the +king's approval of his actions had been warmly expressed in words, +there was a certain coldness in the tone in which they were +spoken, which showed that, although the king's sense of justice +constrained him to praise, he was at heart sore at the death of +one who had been a favoured companion in his sports and +amusements. + +On his return, he found his two friends waiting for him, at his +quarters. They gave him a hearty greeting. + +"You are a perfect paladin, Kennedy," O'Neil said; "and, though we +are all proud of you, we cannot help feeling a little envious that +such adventures have all fallen to the lot of our junior ensign. +It is evident that, if you were not born with a silver spoon in +your mouth, fortune determined to make up in other ways, by giving +you such chances as do not fall to the lot of anyone else." + +"Yes, I think I have every right to consider myself exceptionally +fortunate." + +"You may have been fortunate, Kennedy," O'Sullivan remarked. "The +thing is, that you took advantage of the opportunities. You threw +yourself into the first adventure that came your way, rescued a +lovely damsel in distress, and her gratitude and that of her +father attracted the king's notice, and gained that ring on your +finger. In the next place, after escaping from the ruffians who +attacked the coach--principally, as it seems, by cutting down +their leader, and so occupying the attention of his followers--you +instantly took the resolution to attempt to rescue him and his +daughter, and succeeded in doing so. Another man might have +stopped at Moulins, congratulating himself that he had escaped +from the trap, and lamenting that he could do nothing towards +again rescuing this damsel from her abductors. Of course, it was a +piece of good fortune, meeting de la Vallee's men at Roanne; but I +have no doubt that, if you had not done so, you would still have +got to Pointdexter, gathered a force, and intercepted the +vicomte's party." + +"It would have been a very near thing, O'Sullivan. Changing horse +at every post, I might have got to Pointdexter from Roanne in +twenty-four hours; but I doubt whether, even allowing that no time +was lost in getting the men together, I could have got to Tulle +before them. They had but one hundred and fifty miles to travel, I +should have had still farther; and, as they would have had three +days' start, they should have been there before me; for I heard +from the baron that, in addition to the four horses in the coach, +they had four others, ridden by troopers, fastened to it where the +road was bad." + +"What would you have done if they had got to the vicomte's +chateau--it is, I believe, a strong place--before you could +intercept them?" + +"I cannot say what I should have done. I thought the matter over +and over again as we rode. It seemed absurd to think of attacking +a chateau with only twelve men; and besides, it would have been a +very serious business to assault a noble in his own castle. There +would almost certainly be twenty or thirty men there, at the +least, and the ringing of the alarm bell would have brought all +his vassals within five miles round to his aid, at once. I have no +doubt that I should have attempted something, but in what way I +could form no idea, until I saw the place." + +The two young men laughed. + +"I believe that you would have succeeded somehow, Kennedy," O'Neil +said. "After what you have done, I have an almost unlimited faith +in you, and if you told me you could see no other plan than +carrying off His Gracious Majesty, and taking him down to Tulle +and forcing him to order this rascal vicomte to deliver up his +captives, you would accomplish it." + +Desmond laughed. + +"The plan might be as good as another, though I own that it had +not occurred to me; but it would certainly necessitate my having +him held prisoner until I had got safely out of France, otherwise +my fate would assuredly be to be broken on the wheel." + +"Yes; I don't think His Gracious Majesty would have forgiven such +an indignity, even if put upon him for a good purpose. It is +almost treason even to dream of such a thing." + +Desmond laughed. + +"It was a purely imaginary case; but you see, not having been +accustomed, as you are, to a country where the king is regarded +almost as a god, I am afraid I have not that awe of him that is +generally entertained here. I have, naturally, a great respect for +the king whom I serve, and whose pay is a matter of the greatest +importance to me; but after all, although in his service, he is +not my lawful king." + +"Then you would not even imagine such a thing as to take your +lawful king, James, prisoner, however much the fate of someone in +whom you were interested was concerned?" + +Desmond did not answer at once. + +"I don't know," he said at last, "what I should do, in such a +case. For King James, as lawful king of my country, I have the +deepest respect, and would freely venture my life in his service; +but for him as a man, irrespective of his crown, I own that my +admiration is not extreme, and that I should not hesitate to join +in any plan for putting pressure upon him, on behalf of anyone in +whom I was extremely interested, as I certainly am now in +Mademoiselle de Pointdexter and Monsieur de la Vallee." + +"You are a curious fellow, Kennedy," O'Neil said, with a smile, +"and I should be very much puzzled if I were called upon to +predict what your fate is likely to be. It seems to me that you +have an equal chance of becoming a French marshal, or being broken +on the wheel. Here you are, not yet seventeen. You have, as I +doubt not, somewhat interfered with the king's plans, and caused +him the loss of one of his personal friends. You have twice +rescued a noble lady from the hands of her abductors. You have +brought disgrace and death upon a member of one of the most +powerful families in France. You have earned the gratitude and +friendship of one of the leading nobles of Southern France, that +of the fiance of his daughter, and of the daughter herself. As +soon as this affair spreads abroad, you will be the object of +general remark and attention. You have rendered the regiment to +which you belong proud of you, its junior ensign, and made Paris +emphatically too hot to hold you. + +"If all this is done before you are seventeen, what may we expect +when another ten years have passed over your head?" + +"You had better wait for the ten years to pass, O'Neil," Desmond +laughed; "by which time, perhaps, you and O'Sullivan will both +have learned wisdom, and will see that, because a man happens to +have gone through a very exciting adventure without discredit, it +by no means proves him to be anything in the smallest degree out +of the way." + + + +Chapter 8: To Scotland. + + +Two days later the regiment was paraded, but no order had been +received for their start, and their destination was still +uncertain. The officers stood in a group, awaiting the arrival of +the colonel, who entered, accompanied by Colonel Wauchop and +several other Irish officers. As there had been no notice of an +official inspection, there was a general feeling of surprise at +the appearance of the visitors. The colonel rode up to the group +of officers. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "I must ask you all to accompany me to the +common room. I have news of importance to give you." + +He and those with him dismounted, and, followed by the wondering +officers of the regiment, went into the large room where they +gathered in the evening. + +"The news that I am about to give you is of an important and happy +nature. His Most Gracious Majesty has decided to send an +expedition to Scotland, where the whole country is ready to rise +in favour of our lawful king." + +A cheer broke from his hearers. + +"Many Scottish and Irish gentlemen," the colonel went on, "have +been selected to accompany it. Among them is my friend, Colonel +Wauchop, and the officers with him. The expedition will consist of +six thousand French troops. I regret to say that no Irish +regiments will accompany it." + +A groan of disappointment followed this announcement. + +"We must hope," the colonel said, "that Irish troops are not +employed, only because it is intended that another expedition will +sail to Ireland, in which case we may be sure that some of us will +have an opportunity of fighting, again, on our own side of the +water. Moreover, between France and Scotland there has long been a +close connection and friendship, and the employment of French +troops would, therefore, better suit the Scots than would be the +case with Irishmen. Another reason perhaps is, the King of France +does not like to spare his best troops, when he has sore need of +them in Flanders and Spain. + +"However, a number of Irish officers will accompany the +expedition, for the purpose of drilling and commanding the new +levies, for which work they will be far better suited, by their +knowledge of English, than French officers would be. Therefore, +the various Irish regiments are all to furnish a certain number of +lieutenants. Generals Hamilton, Sheldon, Dorrington, and Lords +Galmoy and Fitzgerald, and our friend Colonel Wauchop will be in +command of the newly-raised force, having with them many Scotch +officers now in the service of France. + +"The secret of the expedition has been well kept, but I have known +it for a fortnight, and have prepared a list of the fifteen +officers who are to go. I may say that, in order to avoid +partiality, I have, with one exception, selected them by lot. +Those who are to go will doubtless consider themselves fortunate. +Those who are to stay are still more lucky, if, as I hope, the +regiment will form part of a similar expedition sent to Ireland." + +He then read out the list of the officers chosen. O'Sullivan and +O'Neil were both among them, and the name of Desmond Kennedy was +the last read out. + +"You will, gentlemen, start in an hour's time, taking the northern +road through Montvidier and Arras. In each of these towns you will +be joined by officers from other regiments. Colonel Wauchop will +accompany you. I do not name the port from which you are to sail, +and no word must be said, by you, as to the route you are to +travel; but you can no doubt judge for yourselves, by the road +that you are taking, what port is your destination. The French +troops will be already there, and the fleet is all in readiness. + +"You all have horses. You can each take your soldier servant with +you, but those who do so must either hire or purchase a horse for +him. All further details you will learn from Colonel Wauchop, and +the paymaster will have orders to issue two months' pay to each of +you, in advance. The distance will be about a hundred and fifty +miles, and you will perform it in five days." + +Colonel Wauchop then addressed a few words to the officers, all of +whom were under the rank of captain. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "you have an honourable task before you. For +years we have been waiting for the day when our swords might aid +to place our king upon the throne. At last it has come. I need not +say that the struggle will be a severe one, and that your courage +will be taxed to the utmost, but you have proved that in a score +of desperate fights. + +"The task before you will need tact to no ordinary degree. The +Scotch are as peppery a race as the Irish are, and it will be +necessary in no way to hurt their feelings, or to excite among +them the smallest degree of discontent at being drilled and led by +men who are not of their own race. + +"And now, as we have much to do before starting, I will leave you +to make your arrangements. The rendezvous for us all is in your +barrack yard, and at nine o'clock we shall be here." + +The colonel now left the room, and the officers eagerly and +excitedly talked over the startling news that they had just heard. +The greater part of those who had been selected for the service +were delighted to go, while the others were equally pleased, at +the thought that they might shortly be fighting for King James on +the soil of Ireland. + +"Sure, your honour, I wish it had been in the ould country instead +of Scotland," Mike said, when he heard the news. + +"I cannot say that I agree with you, Mike. In Ireland, we should +find tens of thousands of brave hearts ready to join us, but they +are unarmed, undrilled, and undisciplined, and would be of +comparatively slight assistance to us against the English troops. +Defeat would bring down fresh persecutions, fresh confiscations, +and greater misery upon the land." + +"Sure we would beat them, your honour." + +"We might, Mike; but you must remember that we failed to do so, +even when the people were armed. No doubt we shall take a certain +amount of muskets and ammunition with us, but the power of England +is more assuredly fixed in Ireland now than it was then--the +influence of the old Irish families is broken, and even if we +armed all who joined us, it would be but an armed rabble and not +an army. + +"In Scotland it is altogether different. The Scottish clans would +join us under their chiefs, to whom they give absolute obedience, +and they would turn out armed and ready for action. Thus, then, I +think that, allowing that Ireland is as loyal as Scotland, the +choice has been a wise one." + +"Sure, you know best, your honour; but I will warrant that as soon +as Scotland rises, Ireland will be in a blaze from one end to the +other." + +"That may well be, Mike; but there will then be a chance of +success, since the English forces will be fully occupied by our +descent in the north, which will threaten London, while Ireland +can be left to itself until the main question is settled." + +"It is mighty lucky, your honour, that I should have stuck to the +horse we got when we rescued Miss Pointdexter." + +"I am very glad, too, Mike, for otherwise I should have had to buy +one, and it is likely enough that I may want all the money I have, +before this campaign that we are starting upon is over." + +O'Neil and O'Sullivan, at this moment, burst into the room. + +"It is glorious that we three should all be going, Kennedy!" the +latter exclaimed. "It is just your luck, for you are the only +ensign named, while the regiment will be left with only four +lieutenants. Of course, I should be still better pleased if we +were going to Ireland. Still, for anything we know that expedition +may not come off, and, so that we are fighting for the king, it's +all one whether it is in Scotland or at home." + +Having seen that all was ready for departure, Desmond went to the +colonel's quarters to say goodbye. Several of the officers who +were going were already there, and the colonel motioned to him to +stay until they had left. When they had done so, he said: + +"Perhaps you guessed, Kennedy, that you were the one exception I +mentioned to the rule I adopted, of fixing by lot upon those who +were to go." + +"No, indeed, sir," Desmond said, in surprise; "I thought it an +extraordinary piece of good fortune that I should be the only +ensign to go, when there were so many others all senior to me. +Indeed, I thought for a moment of saying that I would resign, in +favour of one who was older and more experienced than myself; but +then it struck me that if I did, some of the junior lieutenants +might feel themselves obliged to do the same, in favour of their +seniors." + +"I should not, in any case, have permitted a change to be made. I +had decided that, in order to avoid jealousy, chance should decide +the matter. Indeed, you are the only ensign going with the +expedition. I informed Colonel Wauchop and General Hamilton of the +reason for which I specially included you. + +"So long as it was supposed that the regiment was on the point of +marching to Spain, I considered that, if you took my advice and +did not leave the barracks after nightfall, no harm would befall +you. But the case is altered, now that it may remain here for some +time, for no doubt it will take part in any expedition sent to +Ireland. I have heard, within the past forty-eight hours, that the +friends of de Tulle have made very strong representations to the +king. They have urged that your proceedings, involving what they +call the murder of their kinsman, were of the nature of civil war; +and that, if his conduct had been reprehensible, it was for the +Baron de Pointdexter to lay the matter before His Majesty and ask +for redress. + +"I hear, however, the king received their remonstrances coldly, +told them that de Tulle had brought his fate upon himself, that it +was the duty of every gentleman to endeavour to rescue a lady, so +feloniously carried off, and that he approved of the readiness and +energy with which you had taken steps to do so. + +"On finding, then, that they have failed in their hope of having +you sent to one of the royal prisons, from which you would +probably never have come out alive, I have no doubt whatever that +these people will endeavour to take the matter into their own +hands, and that, with the means at their disposal, they will find +no difficulty in procuring persons who would undertake to +assassinate you. As I have said, if you had at once started for +the army, we might have looked after your safety until you crossed +the frontier, but here in Paris you would not be safe for an hour, +and could scarce venture between the barracks and your lodging, +unless under a strong guard. Under such circumstances, I consider +that I was justified in placing you on the list of the officers +who would accompany the expedition. + +"I explained to General Hamilton and Colonel Wauchop, who both +happened to be with me, my reasons for wishing to include so young +an officer in the ranks of those selected for the service. The +officers heartily agreed with me, having, of course, heard the +story, or, at any rate, the main facts of your rescues of +Mademoiselle de Pointdexter." + +"I am indeed greatly obliged to you, Colonel. I know that it is a +dangerous thing to incur the enmity of one of those powerful +families, and, though I should certainly have taken every +precaution in my power, I felt that I should be in constant danger +until we fairly embarked upon a campaign." + +At nine o'clock the party started. It numbered some fifty +officers, Scotch and Irish. The baggage had started half an hour +before. It was to join the carts, with the baggage of the other +officers, outside the northern gates; and was under an escort of +dragoons, whose officer had powers given him to requisition fresh +horses at each town through which he passed, and so to push on to +the port with but two halts. + +Once off, there was no longer any necessity for keeping their +destination a secret, and the officers were informed that, as they +had already guessed, Dunkirk was the harbour from which they were +to sail. + +The journey was a pleasant one. All were in the highest spirits. A +short distance behind them marched a body of infantry, composed +entirely of noncommissioned officers, of whom O'Brien's regiment +furnished thirty. All were picked men, and, marching each day as +far as the party of officers rode, arrived at Dunkirk on the fifth +day after starting, and were at once embarked on the ships of war. + +Colonel Wauchop and the officers of O'Brien's regiment were told +off to the Salisbury, which was a ship that had been taken from +the English, and was now loaded with military stores, arms, and +munitions for the use of those who were expected to join them on +landing. After seeing that the officers were all properly +accommodated, the colonel went ashore, and when he returned it was +at once seen, by the expression of his face, that something was +wrong. + +"I have very bad news," he said. "King James, who arrived here two +days ago, has been taken suddenly ill, and until he is partially +recovered we cannot sail, for it is absolutely necessary that he +should be with us. This may mean the delay of a week or ten days, +and may defeat all our arrangements. The English Government have +spies here, as well as elsewhere; and their fleet has, for the +last week, been hovering off the coast. They may not have known +the purpose of the assembly of troops here, for this has been kept +strictly secret; and few even of the French officers of the +expedition knew, until they arrived here, for what reason the +regiments had been ordered to Dunkirk. But the arrival of King +James, of course, showed what was the intention, and, as soon as +the news reaches London, you may be sure that the English fleet +will be sent to intercept us." + +It was, indeed, ten days before James was sufficiently recovered +to be embarked--a delay which probably cost him his kingdom, for +there can be no doubt that, on landing, he would have been joined +at once by all the great clans, and by no small proportion of the +able-bodied men of the country. + +The consequences were so evident, to all engaged in the +expedition, that despondency took the place of the enthusiasm with +which they had embarked. The fact that the expedition, after being +so carefully and secretly prepared, should at its outset meet with +so serious a misfortune, was considered an omen of evil. At last, +however, James embarked, under a salute by the guns of the ships +of war; and as the sails were hoisted and the anchors weighed, the +spirits of all again rose. + +They had sailed but a few miles when it became evident that the +Salisbury was the slowest ship in the fleet, for, although she had +every stitch of canvas set, she lagged behind the rest, and the +other vessels were obliged to lower some of their sails, in order +to allow her to keep up with them. + +"I begin to think, Kennedy," O'Neil said, "that the good fortune +that has hitherto attended you has spent itself. O'Sullivan and I +both regarded it as a good omen that you should be the one ensign +selected to go with us, but this miserable delay at Dunkirk, and +the fact that we are on board the slowest tub in the fleet, seems +to show that Dame Fortune is no longer going to exercise herself +in your favour." + +"It looks like it, indeed," Desmond agreed. "Still, I can't hold +myself responsible for either the king's illness, or for our being +allotted to this heavy-sailing craft; and, perhaps, even if +fortune should not favour me any longer, she will do something for +some of the others. + +"She has always been favourable to Colonel Wauchop. He has been +through innumerable engagements. Though many times wounded, he has +never been seriously so, though scores of other officers have +fallen in enterprises in which he has taken part. In his case, +fortune has not been fickle, and, as he is the chief officer on +board, we must hope that she has not deserted him on this +occasion. I think there is a certain amount of luck in the fact +that we carry a large amount of guns and ammunition. If that had +not been the case, it is likely that, rather than delay, the +squadron would sail on at full speed, and have left us to follow +as best we might." + +A constant watch was maintained at the masthead of the ship, but +no signs were seen of the English fleet, until, on the 23rd of +March, six days after sailing, they reached the mouth of the Firth +of Forth, and were congratulating themselves that they had brought +the voyage to a successful termination. + +At daybreak next morning, however, just as they were about to +enter the estuary, they beheld the masts of a great fleet coming +out to meet them. This was the squadron of Sir George Byng, which +had for some days been on the coast, having been despatched as +soon as the news reached London of the gathering of ships and +troops at Dunkirk, and of the arrival of the Pretender there. The +French admiral at once signalled to all the ships to put about, +and he lay off until the English fleet were near enough to discern +its composition, which was far superior in force to his own. +Seeing the impossibility of landing the troops and stores, and the +slight chances of success in giving battle, he hoisted the signal +for all to make their way back to Dunkirk, keeping as much as +possible together, in order to defend themselves if overtaken, or +if intercepted by another hostile fleet. + +In vain, James begged that a few boats might be given him, with +which to land with his chief followers. The French admiral replied +that his instructions would not justify him in doing so, and that +he had been ordered to specially protect the person of the young +king, whose safety was of the highest concern to his sovereign. + +It was with the deepest feeling of disappointment, and depression, +that the Scotch and Irish officers heard that it was determined to +sail for Dunkirk again. Had the troops on board the ships been of +their own nationality, they would have ordered them to disobey the +admiral's commands, and to insist upon the fleet, if it succeeded +in evading the pursuit of the enemy, making another effort to +effect a landing. As, however, all the soldiers were French, with +the exception of the two or three hundred noncommissioned Irish +officers, they were powerless, and were half mad with rage and +grief. + +"This looks bad for us," O'Sullivan said gravely to his two +friends. "I think that the French ships will outsail the English, +but there is little chance that this unwieldy craft will do so; in +which case, my friends, it is likely that we shall all see the +inside of an English prison, and that probably not a few of us +will be executed. The colonel should be safe, for he came over +with the Brigade after Limerick, and therefore by that treaty was +allowed to enter the service of France; but it is different with +the rest of us. We have all joined since those days, and are +therefore not covered by the treaty, and so are liable to be tried +as traitors." + +O'Neil shrugged his shoulders. + +"Well, we knew that when we joined," he said. "However, I hardly +think they are likely to proceed to such an extremity. Very many +of our Brigade have been taken prisoners, at Blenheim and other +places, and they have always had the same treatment as other +prisoners of war." + +"That may be," O'Sullivan replied; "but this is a different +matter. It is not a question of war on foreign soil. We were going +to attack the throne of Anne, to promote civil war, and to +overthrow the Government. The attempt once made can be made again, +and you may be sure that the news of our sailing has created a +tremendous scare throughout the country. However, we are in for +it, and there is no use grumbling against fate. Already, you see, +the rest of the fleet are leaving us--faster, I think, than the +English fleet are gaining on us--and I trust they will get safely +away into Dunkirk. + +"The fact that we so nearly succeeded will, perhaps, act as an +inducement to Louis to renew the expedition; and the loss of a +colonel, fifteen lieutenants, and thirty noncommissioned officers +will not seriously affect anyone except ourselves." + +"However," Desmond put in, "I think that, after all, things may +not be as bad as you think. In the first place, our execution +would have an extremely bad effect in Scotland and Ireland, and +would add to the general hostility to the present Government. In +the next place, Louis has many English prisoners in his hands, and +might threaten reprisals. Lastly, there is always a chance of +escape." + +"Your first two arguments are good, Kennedy," O'Neil said, "but I +cannot say as much for the last. The chances of escape from an +English prison must be small indeed." + +"Nevertheless there must always be chances," Desmond said. "If you +will take my advice you will at once go below, and conceal your +money." + +"Where are we going to conceal it?" O'Sullivan said. "You may be +sure that we shall be searched." + +"Well, you took my advice, in changing the silver in which you +were paid into gold, though you lost pretty heavily by the +transaction. We did it to prevent lugging about a heavy bag of +silver. Now, it has its advantages. You could not hope to conceal +silver, but we may, at least, hide a few pieces of gold. Mike is a +handy fellow, and I have no doubt will be able to help us. At any +rate, let us go below and see what can be done." + +Mike was summoned to the cabin. + +"Now, Mike," Desmond said, "I suppose, in a campaign, a good many +of you carry what money you may have about you, and I dare say +some of you hide it so that, if you are taken prisoners, you may +have means of adding to your prison fare." + +"We do, your honour; and, by the same token, I have a score of +crowns in between the soles of my boots. It does not always +succeed, for if your boots happen to be good, the chances are that +someone takes a fancy to them. Still, on the whole, that is the +best place there is, for they are sure to feel all the lining of +your clothes." + +"Well, we want to hide some gold, Mike. In another hour we shall +have the English within shot of us, and, of course, fighting is +out of the question. Do you think that you will have time to hide +a dozen gold pieces in each of our boots?" + +Mike looked doubtful. + +"To do the thing properly, your honour, one should take off the +lower sole, take some leather out of the upper one, put some money +in, and then sew it up again; but it would take more than an hour +to do one pair." + +He thought for a moment. + +"The quickest way would be to get out the inside lining of the +sole, then to cut out enough leather for the money to lie in, then +to put in the lining again. It would not be soft walking on a +twenty-mile march, but I think, if I get the lining in tight, with +a few little nails to keep it from dropping out, if anyone takes +the trouble to turn the boots upside down, I might manage it." + +"Well, let us commence at once, then, Mike. We have all got riding +boots, and can put them on before we are taken prisoners. Do you +take the linings out, as you say, and then we will help to cut out +some of the leather of the upper sole." + +They were quickly at work. Mike cut out enough of the thin lining +to admit of a hole being made, large enough to hold ten louis in +each boot, and he and the two officers then set to work, to cut +out a sufficient depth of leather for the coins to lie side by +side. Half an hour sufficed for this. + +The coins were put in. Mike had, in the meantime, obtained a +handful of pitch and melted it at the galley fire. This he ran in +over the gold, and then replaced the pieces of lining with hot +pitch. + +"There, your honours," he said, when he had finished. "I call that +a neat job, and it would be hard, indeed, if the spalpeens find +that there is anything amiss. And, with these heavy boots, the +extra weight won't betray that there is anything hidden. + +"Don't put them on till the last moment. Give them time to cool, +for if any of it oozes out, you will stick your stockings so tight +to it that you won't get your foot out without laving them +behind." + +Leaving their high boots in the cabin, the three young men went on +deck. The leading vessel of the British fleet was not more than a +mile astern, while the French fleet was three miles ahead, having +gained more than a mile since the chase began. Mike had been given +four louis, which he said he could hide in his mouth. + +Five minutes later, there was a puff of smoke from their pursuer's +bow. The ball struck the water close to them. + +"Shall I hold on, Colonel?" the captain of the ship asked Colonel +Wauchop. + +"There is no use in your doing so. That ship will be alongside in +an hour, and it might only cause a useless loss of life were we to +keep on. If she were alone I should say, let her come alongside, +and with your crew and our officers and men we might, if we had +luck, take her by boarding; but, with the whole fleet close behind +us, it would be madness to think of such a thing, as we have but +twelve guns, and those of small weight." + +Accordingly, the topsails were run down, and the courses brailed +up, and the ship lay motionless till the English frigate came up. +Signals had been exchanged between the English vessels, and as +they came along six of them dropped boats, each with some twenty +men in it. While these rowed towards the prize, the fleet pressed +on, under all canvas, in pursuit of the French squadron. + +The English officer in command of the boats received the swords of +the French officers, and the noncommissioned officers were all +sent below into the hold. All sail was at once got on to the +vessel again, and she followed in the wake of the fleet. The +English lieutenant then took the names of the prisoners. + +"You are all Irish," he said, seriously. "I am sorry, gentlemen, +that this should be so, for I fear that it will go harder with you +than if you were French, when, of course, you would be merely +prisoners of war." + +"We should be prisoners of war, now," Colonel Wauchop said. "We +are in the service of the King of France, and were but obeying his +orders, along with our French comrades." + +"I hope they may see it in that light, in London," the officer +said courteously; "but I doubt whether, at the present moment, +they will take a calm view of the subject. However, I hope they +will do so, especially as no shot has been fired by you, and they +cannot charge you with resisting capture. At any rate, gentlemen, +I will do my best to make you comfortable while you are under my +charge. I must ask a few of you to shift your quarters, so as to +make room for me and the three officers with me; beyond that you +will continue, as before, to use the ship as passengers." + +When darkness set in, the pursuit was discontinued. The French +fleet was fully ten miles ahead, and it was evident that there was +no chance, whatever, of overtaking it; while there was a risk of +its doubling back during the night, and again making its way +north. The greater part of the sails of the men-of-war were +therefore furled, while the frigates and corvettes made off, on +either hand, to establish themselves as sentries during the night, +and to give warning should the French fleet be seen returning. An +hour and a half after the pursuit had ceased, the Salisbury joined +the fleet, and the officer in command went on board the admiral's +ship, to report the number of prisoners taken and the nature of +her cargo. + +The officers had, at his invitation, dined with him and his +officers in the cabin. All political topics had been avoided, and +no one who had looked in would have supposed that the majority of +those present were the prisoners of the others. The Irish +temperament quickly shakes off a feeling of depression, and the +meal was as lively as it had been during the voyage north. + +The lieutenant, however, omitted no precaution. A dozen men kept +guard over the prisoners below, and as many more, with loaded +muskets, were always stationed on deck. The Irish officers saw +that, among many of the sailors, there was a strong feeling of +sympathy with them. The fleet had been largely recruited by +impressment; and by the handing over, to the naval authorities, of +numbers of men imprisoned for comparatively slight offences; and, +as was natural, these had but small feeling of kindness towards +the government who had so seized them; while many shared in the +feeling of loyalty towards the house of Stuart, which was still so +prevalent among the population. + +At daybreak, the cruisers all returned. None had seen any signs of +the French squadron, and Sir George Byng, leaving the majority of +the fleet to maintain watch, sailed with his prize for Harwich. +Here the prisoners were handed over to the military authorities; +while the admiral started for London, in a post chaise, to carry +the news of the failure of the French to effect a landing, and of +their return to Dunkirk,--news that was received with exuberant +delight by the supporters of Government, and the commercial +portion of the population, who had been threatened by ruin. The +run upon the banks had been unprecedented, and although the House +of Commons had relaxed the regulations of the Bank of England, the +panic was so great that it could not have kept its doors open +another twelve hours. + +The treatment of the prisoners was now very different from what it +had been on board ship. Not only were they confined to prison, +but, to their indignation, irons were placed on their legs, as if +they had been common malefactors. The only mitigation allowed to +them was that their servants were permitted to attend upon them. +Their clothes had been rigorously searched, and their boots taken +off, but no suspicions had been entertained that coin had been +hidden in those of Desmond and his friends. + +Two days later an order was received from Government, and the +officers were marched up to town, ironed as they were, under a +strong guard, and were imprisoned at Newgate. Callaghan and the +other servants remained in prison at Harwich. + +"Things are looking bad, Kennedy," O'Neil said dolefully, for the +three officers had, at their own request, been allotted a cell +together. + +"They don't look very bright, but we must make allowance for the +awful fright that, as we hear, has been caused by the expedition. +Possibly, when they have got over the shock, things may be +better." + +"I will never forgive them for putting irons on us," O'Sullivan +said passionately. "If they had shot us at once, it was, I +suppose, what we had a right to expect; but to be treated like +murderers, or ruffians of the worst kind, is too bad." + +"Well, we were rid of the irons as soon as we got here. No doubt +these were only put on to prevent the possibility of any of us +escaping. I am sure, by their looks, that some of our escort would +willingly have aided us, only that it was impossible to do so; +and, knowing how large a number of persons would sympathize with +us, I cannot blame them so very much for taking steps to prevent +our escape." + +"I never saw such a fellow as you for finding excuses for people," +O'Sullivan said, almost angrily. "You look at things as calmly as +if they concerned other people, and not ourselves." + +Kennedy smiled. + +"If an opinion is to be worth anything, O'Sullivan, it must be an +impartial one; and it is best to look at the matter calmly, and to +form our plans, whatever they may be, as if they were intended to +be carried out by other people." + +O'Sullivan laughed. + +"My dear fellow, if you had not gone through those adventures, I +should have said that you had mistaken your vocation, and were cut +out for a philosopher rather than a soldier. However, although +your luck did not suffice to save the Salisbury from capture, we +must still hope that it has not altogether deserted you; and +anyhow, I am convinced that, if it be possible for anyone to +effect an escape from this dismal place, you are the man." + +Newgate, in those days, stood across the street, and constituted +one of the entrances to the city. Its predecessor had been burnt, +in the great fire of 1666, and the new one was at this time less +than forty years old, and, though close and badly ventilated, had +not yet arrived at the stage of dirt and foulness which afterwards +brought about the death of numbers of prisoners confined there, +and in 1750 occasioned an outbreak of jail fever, which not only +swept away a large proportion of the prisoners, but infected the +court of the Old Bailey close to it, causing the death of the lord +mayor, several aldermen, a judge, many of the counsel and jurymen, +and of the public present at the trials. + +The outward appearance of the building was handsome, but the cells +were, for the most part, small and ill ventilated. + +"This place is disgraceful," O'Neil said. "There is barely room +for our three pallets. The air is close and unwholesome, now, but +in the heat of summer it must be awful. If their food is as vile +as their lodging, the lookout is bad, indeed." + +"I fancy the cells in the French jails are no better," O'Sullivan +said. "No doubt, in the state prisons, high-born prisoners are +made fairly comfortable; but the ordinary prisoners and +malefactors, I have been told, suffer horribly. Thank goodness I +have never entered one; but even the barrack cells can scarcely be +called inviting." + +"You are learning philosophy from Kennedy," O'Neil said, with a +laugh. + +"I don't know that I shall feel philosophic, if we are served with +nothing but bread and water. However, the turnkey told us that, +until we have been tried and condemned, we are at liberty to get +our food from outside--certainly a mockery, in most cases, +considering that we all were relieved of any money found upon us, +when we arrived in Harwich. It is a comfort that we are, as he +said, to take our meals together, and the money we have in our +boots will alleviate our lot for some time. Probably, it will last +a good deal longer than we are likely to be here." + +When they joined their companions, in the room in which they were +to dine, all were astonished at seeing an excellent dinner on the +table, with eight bottles of wine. + +"Is this the way they treat prisoners here?" Colonel Wauchop asked +one of the jailers, of whom six remained present. + +The man smiled. + +"No, indeed. It has been sent in from a tavern outside, and with a +message that a like meal will be provided, as long as you are +here. One of us was sent across, to enquire as to the person who +had given the order. The landlord said that he was a stranger to +him, but that he had paid him a fortnight in advance, and would +call in and renew the order, at the end of that time." + +"Well, gentlemen," the colonel said, "before we begin to eat, we +will drink the health of our unknown benefactor. Not only is the +gift a generous and expensive one, but it cannot be without danger +to the donor, for none but a strong adherent of King James would +have thought of thus relieving our necessities." + +It was plain that the authorities suspected that some message +might have been sent in to the prisoners, concealed in the viands. +The bread had been cut up into small squares, the crust had been +lifted from two pasties, the meat had evidently been carefully +searched; and the turnkeys placed themselves round the table so +that they could narrowly watch every one of the prisoners, as they +ate, and notice any movement that would seem to indicate that they +had come across some pellet of paper or other substance. + +Every day, the servants at the tavern brought in similar fare, and +this continued as long as the prisoners were in the jail; and it +was a matter of deep regret, to all, that they were never able to +discover the name of the person to whom they were so much +indebted. + + + +Chapter 9: An Escape From Newgate. + + +After being allowed to remain an hour at the table, the prisoners +were again marched off to their cells. + +"I wish we had Mike with us," Desmond said, as he and his comrades +discussed the possibility of escape. "He is a shrewd fellow, and +would probably be allowed greater freedom in moving about the +prison than we are; but I was sure that we should see no more of +him after we left Harwich. + +"Of course, the first question is, are we to try bribery, or to +work our way out of this cell?" + +"I think that it would be dangerous to try bribery," O'Sullivan +remarked. "Our turnkey is a sour-faced rascal. I am convinced +that, if we were to try to bribe him, he would denounce us at +once. Not from any principle, you know, but because he would think +that it would pay him better to do so, and so obtain promotion and +reward, rather than to accept our money and run the risk of being +detected and hanged." + +"I don't blame him," O'Neil said. "He is, as you say, a +sour-looking rascal, but I don't think that he is a fool, and none +but a fool would run that risk for the sake of the money that we +could give him; for, in any case, we should have to retain a +portion of our store, in order to obtain disguises and maintain +ourselves till we could find means of crossing the channel." + +"Then let us put that idea altogether aside, O'Neil, and give our +whole attention to the manner in which we are to escape." + +"The manner in which we are to try to make our escape!" O'Neil +repeated, with a laugh. + +"Well, put it that way if you like. Now, in the first place, there +is the window, in the second the door, and lastly the walls and +floor." + +"The door would withstand a battering ram," O'Sullivan said. "I +noticed, as I went out, that it was solid oak some four inches +thick, with two bolts as well as the lock, and, moreover, if we +could get through it we should be no nearer escaping than we are +at present. What with the corridors and passages, and the turnkeys +and the outer gate, that course seems to me impossible. + +"Let us come to the second point, the window." + +They looked up at it. The sill was fully six feet from the ground. +The window was a little over a foot wide, with a heavy bar running +down the centre, and cross bars. + +"The first point is to see where it looks out on," Desmond said. +"I will stand against the wall, and as you are the lighter of the +two, O'Neil, you can stand on my shoulder and have a good look +out, and tell us what you see. + +"Give him your hand, O'Sullivan. + +"Put your foot on that, O'Neil, and then step on my shoulder." + +O'Neil was soon in his place. + +"You need not hold me," he said. "The wall is very thick, the bars +are placed in the middle, and there is just room for me to take a +seat on the edge, then I can see things at my ease." + +He sat looking out, for a minute or two, before he spoke. + +"Well, what can you see?" O'Sullivan asked, impatiently. + +"This room is on the outer side of the prison," he said. "I +noticed, as we came in, that it was built along on both sides of +the gate; and, no doubt, this side stands on the city wall." + +"Then what do you see?" + +"I see the ground, sloping steeply down to a stream that runs +along the bottom of it. There are a good many small houses, +scattered about on the slope and along by the stream. Over to the +left, there is a stone bridge across it. Near this is a large +building, that looks like another prison, and a marketplace with +stalls in it. Houses stand thickly on either side of the road, and +beyond the bridge the opposite side of the slope is covered with +them. Among these are some large buildings. + +"If we were once out, there would not be much chance of our being +detected, if we had something to put over our uniforms; but, of +course, they would betray us to the first man we met." + +"Yes, of course," O'Sullivan said; "but we might possibly obtain +plain clothes at one of those small houses you speak of, though +that would be risky." + +"We might leave our coatees behind us, and go only in our shirts +and breeches; and give out that we had been attacked, and robbed +of our money and coats by footpads," Desmond said. + +"That is a good idea," O'Neil agreed. "Yes, that might do, +especially as, after dark, they would not be likely to notice that +our breeches were of a French cut." + +"But it seems to me that we are beginning at the wrong end of the +business. It is of no use discussing what we are to do, when we +escape, till we have settled upon the manner in which we are to +get out. Let us talk over that first. + +"Are the bars firmly in, O'Neil?" + +O'Neil tried, with all his strength, to shake them. + +"They are as firm as the walls," he said. "There is no getting +them out, unless we have tools to cut away all the stonework round +them." + +"I suppose there is no chance of cutting through them?" O'Sullivan +asked. + +"There is not," O'Neil said. "We have not got such a thing as a +knife about us. If we had, we could never saw through these thick +bars; it would take a year of Sundays." + +"You are rather a Job's comforter. Now, do you get down, and let +Kennedy and myself have a chance of a breath of fresh air, to say +nothing of the view." + +A few minutes satisfied O'Sullivan, but Desmond, when he took his +place, sat there considerably longer; while the other two, +throwing themselves on their pallets, chatted gaily about Paris +and their friends there. + +"Well, what conclusions do you arrive at?" they asked, when he +leapt down from his seat. + +"They are not very cheering," he replied, "and I recognize fully +that we cannot possibly make our escape, without aid from +without." + +"That is the same as to say that we cannot make our escape at +all." + +"Not exactly. We have found one unknown friend, who supplied us +with our dinners. There is no absolute reason why we should not +find one who would supply us with means of escape. There must be a +great number of people who sympathize with us, and whose hearts +are with King James. I have seen several men come from the market, +stand and look up at this prison, and then walk off, slowly, as if +they were filled with pity for us. Now, I propose that one of us +shall always be at the window." + +"Oh, that is too much!" O'Sullivan said. "That ledge is so narrow +that I could hardly sit there, even holding on by the bars; and as +to stopping there half an hour, I would almost as soon be on the +rack." + +"There will be no occasion for that," Desmond said. "We can easily +move one of the pallets under it, pile the other straw beds upon +it, and, standing on these, we could look out comfortably, for our +shoulders would be well above the ledge." + +"I don't see that we should be nearer to it, then, Kennedy." + +"We should have gained this much: that directly we saw any person +looking up, with a sympathizing air, especially if of a class who +could afford to do what is necessary for us, we could wave our +hands and attract his attention. If disposed to help us, he might +give some sign. If not, no harm would be done. We might, too, tie +a handkerchief to the bars, which in itself might be taken for an +indication that there are followers of the Stuarts here." + +"But supposing all this turned out as you suggest it might, how +could even the best disposed friend do anything to help us?" + +"That is for after consideration. Let us first find a friend, and +we shall find a way to open communication with him. We have no +paper, but we could write the message on a piece of linen and drop +it down. As far as we can see, from here, there is nothing to +prevent anyone coming up to the foot of the wall below us." + +For the next four days, nothing whatever happened. They could see +that the white handkerchief at the bars attracted some attention, +for people stopped and looked up at it, but continued their way +without making any gesture that would seem to show that they +interested themselves, in any way, in the matter. + +On the fourth day, Desmond, who was at the window, said in a tone +of excitement: + +"There is a man down there who, after looking fixedly in this +direction, is making his way towards us. He does not come +straight, but moves about among the houses; but he continues to +approach. I can't make out his face yet, but there is something +about him that reminds me of Mike; though how he could be here, +when we left him in the prison at Harwich, is more than I can +say." + +O'Neil and O'Sullivan in turn looked through the window. Not being +so much accustomed as he was to Mike's figure and walk, they could +not recognize in the man, in the dress of a country peasant, the +well-set-up soldier who attended on Desmond. Both admitted, +however, that in point of figure it might well be the man. + +"If it is," Desmond said, "all our difficulties are at an end, and +I will wager that we shall be free in three or four days. Now, how +are we to communicate with him?" + +"I have a piece of paper in my pocket. It is only an old bill, and +they threw it down, contemptuously, when they searched me," O'Neil +said. "I picked it up again. I hardly know why, except perhaps +that the idea occurred to me that, some day, I might get a chance +of paying it. But as we have no ink, nor pen, nor charcoal, I +don't see how it can benefit us." + +He drew the bill from the pocket of his coatee. Desmond took it, +and stood looking at it in silence for a minute. Then an idea +occurred to him. + +"I have it!" he exclaimed, presently. "O'Neil, see if you can get +a piece of this gold wire off my facings. I want it five or six +inches long, so that when it is doubled up and twisted together, +so as to be an inch long, it will be stiff enough for our +purpose." + +Somewhat puzzled, O'Neil did as he was requested. Desmond +straightened out the fine wire wrapped round the centre thread, +doubled, and again doubled it, and finally twisting it together, +reduced it to a length of about an inch, and the thickness of a +pin. The others looked on, wondering what was his intention. + +He held the paper out before him, and began pricking small holes +through it, close together. He continued to work for some time, +and then held it up to the light. The others understood the nature +of his work, and they could now read: + +Come ten tonight under window. Bring long thin string. Whistle. We +will lower thread. Tie end of string to it. Will give further +instructions. + +He tore off the portion of the bill on which the message was +written, twisted off two of the buttons of his coatee, folded them +in the paper, and took his place at the window again. The man who +had been watching was standing some sixty feet from the foot of +the wall. His back was towards them. Presently he turned, +carelessly looked up at the window, and then, as if undecided what +to do, took off his cap and scratched his head. + +"It is Mike, sure enough," Desmond exclaimed, and, thrusting his +hand through the bars, waved it for a moment. + +Then, taking the little packet, he dropped it. Mike put on his hat +again, turned round, then looked cautiously to see that no one was +noticing him, and strolled, in an aimless and leisurely way, +towards the wall. Desmond could no longer see him, but felt sure +that he would find the missive. + +Presently he came in sight again, walking quietly away. He did not +look round; but when nearly at the bottom of the hill turned, +lifted one hand, and disappeared behind some houses. + +"He can't read," Desmond said, "but I have no doubt he will get +someone to do it for him." + +A vigilant watch was kept up, but nothing was seen of Mike, till +late in the afternoon, when he emerged into one of the open +spaces. They had now taken the handkerchief down from the window, +and, directly they saw him, Desmond waved it, showing that they +were watching him. He threw up his arm, turned, and disappeared +again. + +"He has made out my message," Desmond said. "We may expect him +here at ten o'clock." + +While he had been watching, his two comrades had, under his +instructions, been unravelling a portion of one of their blankets. +When enough thread had been obtained, the strands were tied +together and doubled, and Desmond had little doubt that it was +sufficiently strong to draw up the string Mike would bring with +him. He now took another portion of the bill, and pricked upon it +the words: + +At nine tomorrow night, bring, if possible, fine steel saw, two +files, and small bottle of oil. Fasten these to string we will +lower with further instructions. + +He then opened his coatee, took out some of the white wool with +which it was padded, formed this into a loose ball, in the centre +of which the note was fastened, and all being in readiness, waited +patiently, until, just as the city clock struck ten, they heard a +low whistle. The ball had already been attached to the end of the +thread, and Desmond at once lowered it down. + +Presently, they heard another whistle and, hauling at it again, +they found that the ball had gone, and attached to the end of the +thread was a very light silken cord, which they drew in. There was +another low whistle, and all was silent. + +"So far, so good," Desmond said. "We are fairly on our way to +liberty. How long do you suppose it will take us to cut through +these bars?" + +"It would take us a long while to file through them all," O'Neil +said, "but with a fine steel saw, I should think that a couple of +nights' work should do it. But of course that is mere guesswork, +for I have not the least idea how fast even the best saw could cut +through iron." + +"Well, there is no particular hurry, for we know that no day has +been fixed yet for our trial. So, whether it is one night or six, +it does not matter much." + +On the following evening at nine o'clock the whistle was heard, +and another ball lowered down at the end of the string. The +instructions this time were: + +When we are ready, we will show a handkerchief at window. Bring +with you, at nine that evening, rope strong enough to bear us, and +have disguises for three ready for us at foot of wall. Herewith +are ten louis to purchase three disguises. + +The cord brought up a small packet, which contained two very fine +small steel saws, two files, and the oil. They did not lose a +moment in setting to work, and, oiling the saws, one began to cut +through the central bar, just above the point where the lowest +cross bars went through it, as they determined to leave these to +fasten the rope to. There was not room for two of them to work +together, and they agreed to take it by turns, changing every +quarter of an hour. + +To their great satisfaction, they found that the saw did its work +much more quickly than they had expected, and by the time each had +had a turn the bar was cut through; and by morning the side bars +had also all been cut. They did not attempt to cut the main bar +higher up, as, had they done so, it would have been difficult to +keep the portion cut out in its place. + +When it was light, they filled up all the cuts with bread, which +they had managed to secrete in the palms of their hands at dinner. +This they kneaded into a sort of putty, rolled it in the dust of +the floor until black, and then squeezed it into the interstices. + +"There is no fear of their noticing it," O'Neil said, when they +had finished. "I cannot see the cuts myself from the floor, though +I know where they are; and unless they were to climb up there, and +examine the place very closely, they would not see anything +wrong." + +"Shall we hang out the flag today, Kennedy?" + +"I think we had better wait till tomorrow. He will be hardly +expecting to see it, today, and may not be ready with the rope and +disguises." + +The next morning the signal was hung out. They saw nothing of +Mike, but as he would be able to make out the handkerchief from a +considerable distance, they had no doubt whatever that he had +observed it, but thought it prudent not to show himself near the +prison again. As soon as it was dark they recommenced work, and +had cut through the main bar, and cautiously lowered the grating +to the ground, before the clock struck nine. Then, on hearing +Mike's signal, they lowered the cord, and soon brought up a rope +which, although small, was more than strong enough to support +them. + +"We had better tie some knots in it," Desmond said. "They will +help us to avoid sliding down too rapidly. If it was a thick rope, +I think we could manage without them; but, not being sailors, I do +not think that we could grasp this tightly enough." + +"How close shall we put them, Kennedy?" + +"About two feet apart. Then we can come down hand over hand, +helping our arms by twisting our legs round it. + +"Now," he went on, when they had finished the knots, "who will go +down first?" + +"You had better do so," O'Sullivan said. "You are the lightest of +us, and, I fancy, the strongest, too." + +"Very well. I don't think that it will make any difference, for +the rope is strong enough to hold the three of us together. +However, here goes. We may as well leave our coatees behind us. +They might get us into difficulties, if we took them." + +So saying, he took off his coat, fastened the end of the rope +securely to the bars that had been left for the purpose, and, +holding it firmly, made his way through the opening and swung +himself over. With his muscles strengthened by military exercises +and sword practice, he found it easier work than he had expected. +The depth was some sixty feet, and in a couple of minutes his feet +touched the ground. + +Mike had been hanging on by the rope to steady it, and as Desmond +descended, he seized him by the hand and shook it enthusiastically, +murmuring brokenly, "My dear master, thank God that you are free!" + +"Thanks to you also, my dear fellow. Now, hold on again. My +friends O'Neil and O'Sullivan shared my cell with me, and are +following me." + +He added his weight to that of Mike, and it was not long before +O'Neil came down; but not so quietly as Desmond had done, for his +strength had failed him, and the rope had slipped rapidly through +his fingers, and Mike and Desmond narrowly escaped being knocked +down by the suddenness with which the descent was made. He stood +for a minute, wringing his hand, and swearing in an undertone in +English, Irish, and French. + +"By the powers," he said, "it has taken the skin off the inside of +my hands, entirely! A red-hot poker could not have done it more +nately! + +"Mike, you rascal, what are you laughing at? I have a mind to +break your bones before thanking you." + +O'Sullivan succeeded better, but was completely exhausted when he +joined his friends. + +"Now, Mike, where are the disguises?" + +"Here they are, your honour. They are just like my own. Loose +coats, rough breeches, white stockings and buckled shoes, and soft +hats with wide brims. I thought that you would pass better, like +that, than in any other way; for if you were dressed up as +citizens, your tongues might betray you, for somehow they don't +speak English as we do; and whenever I open my mouth, they +discover that I am an Irishman." + +Desmond laughed. + +"There would be no difficulty about that. Now, let us put on our +disguises at once, and be off. Sometimes the turnkeys take it into +their heads to look in during the night, and we had to keep one on +watch while we were at work, and take to our beds when we heard a +footstep approaching. + +"I see you have brought shoes. I forgot to mention them. Our jack +boots would have attracted attention, so we have left them behind +us, after getting our stores of money from their hiding places." + +They were soon dressed. + +"What are we supposed to be, Mike?" + +"You are sedan chair men, sir. Most of the chairs are carried by +Irishmen, who seem to be stronger in the leg than these London +folk. You will have to cut your hair short, and then you will pass +without observation." + +"Where are you taking us to?" Desmond asked, as they descended the +hill. + +"I have got a lodging in a house out in the fields. I said that I +was an Irishman who had come to London in search of employment, +and that I expected three friends to join me, and that we intended +to hire chairs and carry the gentry about, for here they seem too +lazy to walk, and everyone is carried; though it is small blame to +them, for dirtier streets I never saw. They are just full of +holes, where you go in up to the knee in mud and filth of all +kinds. Faith, there are parts of Paris which we can't say much +for, but the worst of them are better than any here, except just +the street they call Cheapside, which goes on past Saint Paul's, +and along the Strand to Westminster." + +"What have you brought these sticks for, Mike?" + +For he had handed, to each, a heavy bludgeon. + +"Sure, your honour, 'tis not safe to be in the streets after +nightfall. It is like that part of Paris where no dacent man could +walk, without being assaulted by thieves and cutthroats. Dressed +as we are, it is not likely anyone would interfere with us in the +hope of finding money on us, but they are not particular at all, +at all, and a party of these rascals might try to roll us in the +mire, just for fun. So it is as well to be prepared." + +However, they met with no interruption, passed out through Holborn +Bars, and soon arrived at the house where Mike had taken a +lodging. They were not sorry, however, that they were armed, for, +several times, they heard outbursts of drunken shouting and the +sound of frays. + +Mike had hired two rooms. In one of these were three straw beds, +for the officers. He himself slept on a blanket on the floor of +the other room, which served as kitchen and sitting room. + +Now, for the first time, they were able to talk freely. + +"Mike, we have not said much to you, yet," Desmond began, "but I +and these gentlemen are fully conscious that you have saved us +from death, for we hear that Government is determined to push +matters to the extremity, and to have all the officers captured +condemned to be hanged." + +"Bad cess to them!" Mike exclaimed, indignantly. "If I had two or +three of them, it's mighty little they would talk of execution, +after I and me stick had had a few minutes' converse with them. + +"As to the getting you out, I assure you, your honour, there is +little I have done, except to carry out your orders. When I first +saw the prison, and the little white flag flying from the window, +I said to myself that, barring wings, there was no way of getting +to you; and it was only when I got your first letter that I saw it +might be managed. Faith, that letter bothered me, entirely. I took +it to the woman downstairs, and asked her to read it for me, +saying that I had picked it up in the street, and wondered what it +was about. She was no great scholar, but she made out that it was +writ in a foreign language, and seemed to her to be a bit of an +old bill. When I took it up to my room, I looked at it every way. +I knew, of course, that it was a message, somehow, but devil a bit +could I see where it came in. + +"I fingered it for an hour, looking at it in every way, and then I +saw that there were some small holes pricked. Well, I could not +ask the woman what they meant, as I had told her I picked it up; +so I went across to an Irishman, whose acquaintance I had made the +day before, and who had recommended me, if I wanted work, to hire +one of these chairs and get a comrade to help me carry it. I could +see that he was a man who had seen better days. I expect he had +come over in the time of the troubles, and had been forced to earn +his living as he could; so I went to him. + +"'I have got a message,' I said, 'pricked on a piece of paper. I +picked it up, and am curious-like to know what it is about.' + +"So he held it up to the light, and read out your message. + +"'I think,' says he, 'it is some colleen who has made an +appointment with her lover. Maybe she has been shut up by her +father, and thought it the best way to send him a message.' + +"'That is it, no doubt,' says I; 'and it is plain that it never +came to his hand.' + +"The next day, I went to him again with the second letter. + +"'It's lying you have been to me,' he said. 'It is some plot you +are concerned in.' + +"'Well,' says I, 'you are not far wrong. I have some friends who +have suffered for the Stuarts, and who have been laid by the leg, +and it's myself who is trying to get them out of the hands of +their persecutors.' + +"'In that case, I am with you,' he said, 'for I have suffered for +the cause myself; and if you want assistance, you can depend upon +me.' + +"'Thank you kindly,' says I. 'Just at present it is a one man job, +but maybe, if I get them out, you will be able to give us some +advice as to how we had best manage.' + +"So that is how it stands, your honour." + +"And now, tell us how you got away, Mike. You may guess how +surprised we were, when we first made you out, believing that you +were safe under lock and key at Harwich." + +"The matter was easy enough," Mike said. "It took me two or three +days to get to understand the position of the place, with water +all round it except on one side; and it was plain that, if I were +to start running, it is little chance I should have if I did not +hit upon the right road. Luckily, they were mounting some cannon +the day after you were taken away. We were ordered to go out and +lend a hand, so it was not long before I learnt enough to know +which road I ought to take. I was always a good runner, your +honour, and many a prize have I carried off, at fairs in the old +country, before troubles began. So it seemed to me that, if I +could have anything of a start, I ought to be able to get off. + +"There was nearly half a mile betwixt the town and the place where +the narrow ground, at whose end it stood, widened out into the +country. If I could only hold my own, as far as that, I could take +to the woods and lanes and save myself. + +"A guard of soldiers, with muskets and bayonets, went out with us, +and at the end of the second day I managed to slip off, and hide +behind a pile of cannonballs. The rest assembled at a spot about +fifty yards away, to be counted before they marched to prison +again. As soon as the others had got there, and the guards had +gathered round, I went off as hard as I could tear. And a good +start I should have got, if it hadn't been that a sentry on a fort +close by fired his piece at me. Still, I had a good hundred yards' +start. + +"The guards set to, to run after me, and when they got in sight of +me fired their guns; but they were flurried, and the bullets flew +past without one of them touching me. Then I felt pretty safe. If +they stopped to load their muskets, I should get clean away. If, +as I expected, they would not stop for that, they would not have a +chance with me, carrying their muskets and cartridge boxes and +belts. I had taken off my coatee and boots, while I was waiting +for the start, and went up the hill like a deer. + +"I did not look round, till I got to the top. Then I found that I +had gained a hundred yards of them. I doubled down a lane, at +once, and then struck through some orchards; and ran, without +stopping, maybe a couple of miles. + +"I never heard any more of the soldiers, and knew that, for the +present, I was safe, though maybe they would send some dragoons to +scour the country when the news came in. I went on at a jog trot +till it was quite dark; then I sat down to think what I should do +next. + +"I had got my four louis with me, for they hadn't found them when +they searched me. The first thing was to get some duds, and I +walked along till I saw a light in a cottage, which I entered. +There were two women there. I told them at once that I wanted +clothes, and was ready to pay for them; but that, if they would +not give them to me for money, I should take them without paying. +Though I could see that they doubted the payment, and regarded me +as a robber, they brought out the clothes, which belonged, one of +the women said, to her husband. I took what I wanted. + +"'Now,' I said, 'how much shall I pay you for these?' + +"They were still terribly frightened, and said that I was welcome. +However, I put one of my louis down on the table. This was +certainly more than the clothes ever cost, so I said: + +"'Here is a gold piece, but I want a shilling in change, to buy +food with.' + +"At first, they evidently hardly thought that I was in earnest. +Then at last, when they found that I really intended to give the +money, they brightened up, and not only gave me a shilling in +change, but offered me some bread and cheese, which I was glad +enough to take. + +"Then I put the clothes on over my own, not wishing to lave +anything behind that would show searchers that it was I who had +been there. I told the woman that the coin was a French one, but +that it was worth about the same as an English guinea. I advised +them to put it away, for the present, and not to try and change it +for a few weeks, as enquiries might be made as to how they had +obtained it. + +"I had no difficulty on my way up to London. I avoided the main +road till I got to Colchester, and after that walked boldly on, +having money to pay for victuals. When I got to town, I changed +another of my louis at a money changer's. He asked me where I had +got it, and when I said that it was no business of his, but that +it had been paid me by a French Huguenot gentleman, who had lately +arrived, and for whom I had been doing some work; and as there are +many of these Huguenots in London, he was satisfied, and changed +it for me. + +"I then fell across the Irish porter I told you of. He told me +whereabouts I could get lodgings, and advised me to apply to one +of the men who let out a number of sedan chairs, to hire one out +to me by the week. + +"Well, your honour, once I had taken the lodging, I thought no +more of the chair, but went about the business for which I had +come to London. I had not been an hour in the town before I made +the acquaintance of half a dozen, at least, of my countrymen, and +found out which was the prison in which you were kept. At first, I +thought of going there and giving myself up, on condition that I +might be employed as your servant. Then I thought, perhaps they +would not keep their word to me, but would send me back to +Harwich; and then the thought struck me that I might, some way or +other, get your honours out of prison. + +"When I first saw the place, it seemed to me that it was +impossible. The place was mighty strong, the windows all barred, +and I had no means of finding out where you were lodged. I spent a +whole day in prowling round and round the jail, but sorra an idea +came into my thick head, though I bate it wid my fists till it was +sore; for, says I to myself, there is no lock so strong but it can +be picked, if you do but know the right way. It was the second +day, when I espied a little bit of white stuff at one of the +windows. It might be a signal, or it might not, and even if it +was, there was no reason why it should be yours, except that, I +said to myself: + +"'Mr. Kennedy is not the boy to sit quiet in prison, if he can see +any possible way of slipping out of it. His head is crammed full +of ideas. So I will walk near and investigate the matter.' + +"As I came close, I could make out that there was someone behind +the bars, but I could not see who it was. Of course, I did not +come straight to the spot, but went about promiscuously. + +"For anything I could tell, there might be someone in the towers +watching me. Then I saw a hand drop a little white parcel, and I +found it without much trouble and went off with it. It was as much +as I could do, to keep myself from running like a madman, for I +felt somehow sure that it was you who had dropped it, but of +course, it was not until I got it read for me that I was certain. + +"After that, your honour, it was all easy enough. You told me what +to do, and I did it. There was a little difficulty about the saw, +but I got it through one of the chair men, who told me, when I +asked him, that he had the acquaintance of some cracksmen--more +shame to him--and that he could get such a thing as I wanted +through them. I was not surprised, for I had already heard that +many of the chair men worked in connection with the bad +characters, letting them know which way they were coming with +people from an entertainment, and carrying them down lanes where +there was little chance of the watch interfering. + +"It went against the grain to have dealings with such a man, for I +was born of honest people, but if the ould gentleman himself had +offered me a couple of saws, and I knew that I would have to give +him a thousand years extra of purgatory, I would have closed with +the bargain. Those two saws cost me another louis, and cheap +enough, too. + +"After that, it was all plain sailing, and the money you lowered +to me was much more than sufficient for all the other things. And +now, what is your honour going to do next?" + +"That is more than I can tell you, Mike. We must talk it over." + +This was a matter that they had already discussed, in their cell, +after they had once made their preparations for flight. Closely +watched as they were, when with the other officers, it would have +been impossible to communicate their plans to them; but, even if +they could have done so, they could see no possible way in which +the others could share in their escape. Doubtless the doors of +their cells were also strong and heavy, and, could all these +difficulties have been overcome, there would have been passages, +corridors, and staircases to traverse, with the certainty of +meeting with some of the night watchmen who patrolled them, and +they would finally have had to force the door into their cell. + +They were, therefore, reluctantly obliged to abandon the hope of +liberating their friends, and decided that, once away, they must +endeavour to cross to France without delay. The king would +doubtless have been, before now, informed by his agents in London +of the determination of the English Government to bring all the +prisoners to execution, but nevertheless, it would be their duty +to obtain an audience, and implore him to take steps to save them. +They would therefore, on their arrival in Paris, at once see +General Hamilton, and other officers of rank, and beg them to +accompany them to Versailles to act as spokesmen, and to influence +the king in their favour. + + + +Chapter 10: Kidnapping A Minister. + + +In spite of the war between the two countries, communications were +frequent. Smuggling boats brought over, with their cargoes of wine +and brandy, Huguenot fugitives; and, by the same means, secret +agents carried back news of events in Paris to the Government. +Having decided upon making for the coast without delay, Desmond +and his friends next discussed the port to which they had best +travel, and which seemed to offer the fairest opportunities. They +agreed that Weymouth seemed to be most advantageous, as it was +from there that the communications with Brittany were chiefly +maintained. + +At the same time, it was evident that considerable difficulty +would be experienced in discovering the men engaged in such +traffic, and in making an arrangement with them, and it was +all-important that no time should be lost, for there was no saying +when the trial might come on. + +"If we could but get hold of Godolphin," Desmond said, next +morning, "we might get an order, from him, to embark in one of the +boats that carry his agents." + +The others laughed. + +"Yes; and if you could get hold of Anne, you might persuade her to +sign an order for the release of our comrades." + +Desmond did not answer, but sat thinking for a few minutes. + +"It is not so impossible as you seem to imagine," he said, at +last. "Doubtless, like everyone else, he goes in a sedan chair to +the meeting of the council, and returns in the same manner. There +are two ways in which we could manage the matter. Of course, he +has his own chair, with his chair men in livery. We might either +make these men drunk and assume their dress, or attack them +suddenly on the way; then we should, of course, gag and bind them, +and carry him here, or to some other place that we might decide +upon, and force him to give us an order for the boatmen to take us +across the channel, at once. Of course, we should have horses in +readiness, and ride for the coast. We should have a twelve hours' +start, for it would be that time before our landlady came in as +usual, with our breakfast, when Godolphin would, of course, be +released." + +The two officers looked at each other, astounded at the audacity +of the scheme that Desmond had quietly propounded. O'Sullivan was +the first to speak. + +"Are you really in earnest, Kennedy?" + +"Quite in earnest. I do not see why it should not be done." + +"Well, you are certainly the coolest hand I ever came across," +O'Neil said. "You are proposing to seize the first minister in +England, as if it were merely an affair of carrying off a pretty +girl quite willing to be captured. The idea seems monstrous, and +yet, as you put it, I do not see why it might not succeed." + +"I hardly think that it could fail," Desmond said quietly. "De +Tulle managed to carry off the Baron de Pointdexter's daughter +from the court of Versailles, and did so without any hitch or +difficulty. Surely three Irishmen could arrange an affair of this +sort as well as a French vicomte." + +"If it is to be done," O'Sullivan said, "I think the second plan +is best. You might fail in making the chair men drunk, or at any +rate sufficiently drunk to allow them to be despoiled of their +clothes; whereas you could have no difficulty in silencing a +couple of chair men by a sudden attack--a sharp rap on the head +with these bludgeons ought to settle that affair." + +"Quite so," Desmond agreed; "and while Mike and one of us were so +employed, the other two might throw open the doors of the chair, +and gag Godolphin before he was conscious of what was happening." + +"It all seems simple enough, Kennedy, and, if it were a citizen, +one would think nothing of the undertaking. But it is nothing +short of high treason for us thus to make free with the person of +the chief minister of England." + +"That is a matter that does not concern me at all, O'Neil. If we +were captured now, we should be executed for high treason with the +others; and if we carried off Anne herself, they could not do much +more to us. + +"Now, it seems to me that if you are both agreed that we should +carry out the plan, the first thing to be done is to arrange for +horses; or, better still, for a light cart to carry the four of +us. I should think that Mike would, among his acquaintances, be +able to hear of a man with a couple of fast horses and such a cart +as we require, who would agree to drive us to the coast, arranging +a change of horses on the way. He could offer ten louis, which +would be a sum that a man of that kind would be well satisfied +with." + +"I will see to that, your honour. I have no doubt that I can find +such a man without difficulty. When would you want him?" + +"Tonight, certainly, with the arrangement that, if we do not come +to the appointed spot, we shall be there tomorrow night. Recollect +ten louis is all we can afford, but if he wants any more, he must +have it. + +"Well, we will leave that to you." + +Then he went on to the others: + +"We had better go down to Saint James's. Mike can go out and buy +us three shock wigs, with which we can cover our hair and look our +parts better. We had better separate when we get there, and watch +the entrances to the palace, gazing about like rustics; then we +can get into a conversation with any servant that we see, and try +and find out from which door members of the council usually issue, +and at about what hour. We could succeed without that, because we +should notice the chairs waiting for them. Still, it is as well +that we should get all the information we can. There will be, +doubtless, personages leaving who have been with the Princess +Anne. They might go out by another entrance, and therefore we +should miss our man." + +"You will have more than the two chair men to deal with, your +honour, for there are sure to be two link men with the chair." + +"Well, it will be as easy to dispose of four men as of two, Mike." + +"Every bit, your honour, and the more of them the more divarsion." + +An hour later they set out, now so well disguised that no one +would have dreamt that the three Irishmen were officers in a +French regiment; and before noon Desmond succeeded in obtaining, +from a scullion employed in the palace, the particulars that he +required. On saying that he had but just come to London, and +wanted to get a sight of the great people, the present of a +shilling sufficed to extract the information from the boy; and +Desmond then rejoined his companions, and they at once returned to +their lodgings, where they found Mike awaiting them. + +"I have managed it, your honour, but it will cost twelve louis. I +went to the man from whom I got the saws, and he said at once that +the affair could be managed easily, and, sure enough, he took me +to the shop of a man who, he said, sometimes acted with cracksmen. +The fellow was sharp enough to see, at once, that it was something +special that we wanted the horses for, but after some bargaining +he agreed to do it for twelve gold pieces, and, if necessary, to +get a change of horses twice on the road. He will be ready with +his cart at twelve o'clock, a hundred yards or so outside the last +houses on the south side of the Old Kent Road. I could not tell +him which port you would go to, but he said from there he could go +to Dover, or turn off so as to make for Southampton or Weymouth. +It is to be twelve pounds if it is to Dover or Southampton; +fifteen pounds if it is to Weymouth." + +"That is satisfactory," Desmond said. "Now we have nothing else to +do till ten o'clock tonight, when, as the boy said, the council +generally ends; though we will be there an hour earlier, in case +they should leave before. Now I think we had better find out where +Godolphin's house is, and fix upon the best spot for the attack, +and how we shall each station ourselves." + +This part of the business offered no difficulties. They found that +the minister would probably be carried through Saint James's Park, +and they fixed upon the spot where they would await his coming. + +Mike was to attack the first porter. O'Sullivan was to follow +close behind him and, at the same moment, fell the rearmost man. +O'Neil and Desmond, who were to conceal themselves among trees on +opposite sides of the path, were to spring out and strike down the +link bearers, and then enter the chair and bind and gag the +minister. + +Mike was sent out to buy a pot of black paint, with which to +efface the gildings of the chair, and to reduce its appearance to +that ordinarily used by the citizens. He was ordered to get a +supply of rope, and some wood, to make gags for the men they were +to stun. + +The others were to post themselves at the spot agreed on, while +Desmond was to remain at the entrance to the palace by which +ministers would issue, to note Lord Godolphin's chair, and, when +he was fairly on his way, to follow it for a short distance to +make sure that it was being taken through the park, and then to +run on and warn the others to be in readiness. + +On their return to their lodging, they ate the dinner that Mike +had got in for them, and, as they drank their wine, laughed and +joked over their enterprise; for, now that they were fairly +embarked upon the scheme, the two officers were as eager as +Desmond in the matter, and were much more excited over the +prospect than he was. + +Before nine o'clock, they and Mike were posted in the park, and +Desmond was at the entrance to the palace. Here seven or eight +chairs, with their bearers and link men, were assembled. As most +of the porters were hired men, Desmond readily entered into +conversation with them, and expressed his desire to see the great +persons and learn which were their chairs, so that he should know +them as they entered them. + +In half an hour there was a stir, and a servant, coming out, +shouted: + +"His Grace the Duke of Somerset's chair." + +This was at once brought up to the door. Next came a call for the +chair of Mr. Henry Boyle, who was followed by Harcourt, the +attorney general, then the chair of My Lord Godolphin was +summoned. + +Desmond and three or four others, who had gathered to see the +members of the council come out, had been ordered off by the +sentries as soon as the first chair was called, but remained near +enough to hear the names. To his satisfaction, Godolphin's chair +was carried off in the direction they had anticipated, and he at +once ran on and joined his companions. + +Presently, the lights carried by the two link men were seen +approaching, and, as the chair came abreast of him, he shouted: + +"Now!" + +Almost simultaneously, the four heavy cudgels alighted on the +heads of the four men, levelling them senseless to the ground; and +O'Neil and Desmond sprang to the chair, and wrenched the door +open, while O'Sullivan and Mike bound the four men, and thrust the +gags into their mouths. Lord Godolphin had been thrown from his +seat by the sudden fall of his bearers, and was seized and bound +before he was conscious of what had happened. Then his captors +assisted the others in carrying the fallen men to some distance +from the path. + +A couple of minutes sufficed to cover the gilding and armorial +bearings upon the chair. The torches were still burning on the +ground. One of these was stamped out. Desmond took the other. Mike +and O'Sullivan went between the poles, and adjusted the leathern +straps over their shoulders, and started. + +Emerging from the park at Charing Cross, past the old church of +Saint. Martin's in the Fields, and keeping round the walls to +Holborn Bars, they made their way to their lodging, and Godolphin +was carried into their room, which was on the ground floor. Mike +and O'Neil then took the chair away, and left it in a narrow +alley, where it was not likely to attract attention until the +morning. + +Not until they returned was anything said to their prisoner. It +had been agreed that O'Neil, as the senior, was to be spokesman of +the party. + +"Lord Godolphin," he said, "I regret that circumstances have +obliged us to use force towards you, but our necessities compel us +to leave the country at once, and it has appeared to us that in no +way could we get away so expeditiously as with the aid of your +lordship. We will now set you free. I must tell you, beforehand, +that if you attempt to raise your voice and give the alarm, we +shall be constrained to blow out your brains." + +Mike now released him from the bonds, and removed the gag from his +mouth, but for a time the minister was incapable of speech, being +choked by anger at the treatment he had met with. + +"You will repent this outrage," he burst out, at last. + +"I think not, sir," O'Neil said, quietly. "At any rate, we are +quite ready to take our chance of that. In order that you may feel +at ease with us, I have no hesitation in telling you who we are. +We are the three French officers who, as no doubt you have heard, +yesterday escaped from Newgate, and we are anxious to get out of +the country as soon as possible. It will be also a guarantee to +you that we have no designs on either your pockets or your +person." + +Angry as he still was, it was evident, by the expression of the +treasurer's face, that the information was a relief to him, for +indeed he had supposed that he had been carried off by political +enemies, and was very uncertain as to what would befall him. + +"What is it that you require, then?" he asked, after a pause. + +"Merely this, sir. That you will give us an order, upon an agent +through whom you communicate with France, to take us across the +channel immediately." + +"Well, gentlemen," Godolphin said, more calmly, "I must say your +coolness surprises me. Your escape yesterday was, of course, +reported to us; and the manner in which you obtained that rope, by +which you descended, is a mystery that the jail authorities are +wholly unable to solve. + +"If you obtain the order you desire, will you give me your word of +honour that it shall be used in a manner in no way hostile to the +interests of this country, but solely, as you say, for the purpose +of conveying you across the channel?" + +"That promise we give willingly. We must ask you to pledge your +honour, as a gentleman, that the order you give us will be a +genuine one--a matter that we cannot ascertain until we arrive at +the address given. We are willing to play fairly with you, sir, +but if you do not do the same, we shall certainly return to +London, though in some different guise, and, if so, I warn you +that no guards will save you from our vengeance." + +"You need not threaten, sir," Lord Godolphin said calmly. "I will +give you the order, to the person to whom such communications are +addressed, and it shall be couched in the same words as usual." + +Desmond placed a sheet of paper, pen, and ink before him. He, +dating it from the Treasury, wrote: + +To John Dawkins, Mariner, High Street, Rye. Urgent. + +On the receipt of this, you will at once convey the bearer, and +three persons with him, and land them in some convenient spot in +France. + +He then added his signature. + +"Now, gentlemen, what next?" he said, looking up. + +O'Neil looked at his companions, and then they spoke for a moment +together. + +"We are about to start at once, my lord," he said, "and it was our +intention to have left you bound and gagged, until the morning, +when the woman of the house would have assuredly found you and +released you. But, as you have acceded to our request at once, we +will, if you give us your word of honour that you will raise no +alarm, and say no word of this business until eight o'clock +tomorrow morning, let you depart at once." + +"Thank you for your courtesy, gentlemen, and for your confidence +in my honour. I am, indeed, anxious to return home at once. If I +do not do so, there will be a hue and cry for me, and by the time +I return in the morning all London will know that I am missing. I +naturally should not wish this adventure to become a matter of +common talk: in the first place, because the position in which you +have placed me can scarcely be called a pleasant one; and +secondly, because the success of your enterprise might lead others +to make similar attempts on my person, or that of my colleagues. +Even now, I fear that my servants, when sufficiently recovered, +will go to my house and give the alarm." + +"I do not think that that is likely to be the case, my lord," +O'Neil said, "as we took the precaution of gagging and binding +them, and laid them down some distance from the roadside. If, on +your return home, you find they have not arrived, you have but to +send a couple of your servants out to release them. You can give +them strict orders that no word is to be said of the affair, and +make them to understand you were attacked in error, and that the +ruffians who took part in the outrage at once released you, upon +discovering your identity." + +"Very good, sir," Godolphin said, with a grim smile. "I must +really compliment you all on your fertility of resource and +invention. And now, is there anything else that I can do for you?" + +"There is one small favour," Desmond said. "Your lordship has +doubtless twenty guineas in your possession. You would greatly +oblige us if you would give us them, for so many louis. These you +will have no difficulty in exchanging, whereas the exhibition of +French money, on our part, might excite suspicion." + +Lord Godolphin placed his hand in his pocket, drew out a heavy +purse, and, opening it, counted out twenty guineas. O'Neil took +these up, and handed to him twenty louis pieces. + +"One more question, gentlemen. What has become of my sedan chair?" + +"It is in an alley, hard by," O'Neil said, "and as we are +ourselves going in your direction we will carry it to your door." + +"You are obliging, indeed, sir. If it had been found, the +escutcheon on the panels would have shown that it was mine." + +"I fear, my lord, that you will have to have it repainted; for, +before starting with you, we took the precaution to put black +paint over the gilding and panels. Still, the lining and fittings +would show that it belonged to some person of wealth and +importance. As you have been so obliging to us, we will gladly +escort you, with it, to your door." + +"I shall be glad, indeed, of that, gentlemen, for I certainly +should not care about travelling alone through these lanes and +alleys, which have by no means a good reputation." + +"We are ready to start at once, my lord," O'Neil said. "We have a +long journey to perform, and, although there is now no need for +extraordinary speed, we shall be glad to be off." + +They were ready at once, having settled with their landlady before +starting out in the evening, telling her that they had heard of a +job and should start early in the morning. Mike and Desmond +fetched the empty chair, and they then started, Godolphin walking +with the other officers in front. + +"This is the most surprising adventure that ever happened to me," +Lord Godolphin said; "and it is a pity that officers who possess +the wit to plan an escape from Newgate, and to ensure a speedy +flight from the country by carrying me off, are not in the service +of Her Majesty." + +"We may yet be in the British service some day, my lord," +O'Sullivan laughed; "but I may tell you that my friend, and +myself, disclaim any credit in contriving the matter of which you +spoke, that being solely the work of our young comrade, who is at +present the youngest ensign in our regiment." + +"Then he must be a shrewd fellow, indeed," Godolphin said, "likely +to do service in any position to which he may attain." + +They walked sharply. Several times rough men came and peered at +them, but Godolphin was wrapped in a cloak, and the appearance of +those with him showed that hard knocks, rather than booty, would +be the result of interfering with them. On reaching Lord +Godolphin's house they placed the sedan chair on the steps. + +"Goodnight to you, gentlemen, and good fortune!" Lord Godolphin +said. "The lesson has not been lost, and I shall take good care, +in future, to have a strong escort." + +They then crossed Westminster Bridge, and made rapidly for the +spot where the cart was waiting for them. + +"You are an hour after your time," the man said. "I had begun to +think that something had gone wrong with you." + +"That is not the case," O'Neil said; "but we have certainly been +detained longer than we anticipated." + +"Where are we going to?" + +"To Rye." + +"That will suit me very well," the man said. "I have friends along +that road, and shall have no trouble about horses." + +They started at once, at a rattling pace, the animals, though but +sorry-looking creatures, being speedy and accustomed to long +journeys. It was evident, from the man's manner, that he believed +his passengers were cracksmen who had just successfully carried +out an enterprise of importance. He expressed surprise that they +had brought no luggage with them. + +They did not care to undeceive him. Mike had brought with him a +bottle of good brandy, and a drink of this soon removed the +vexation the man had felt at being kept waiting for them. + +Twice during the journey they changed horses, each time at small +wayside inns, where some password, given by the driver, at once +roused the landlord into activity. But a few minutes were spent in +the changes, and the fifty miles to Rye were accomplished in seven +hours--a very unusual rate of speed along the badly kept roads of +the period. When the car drew up in the High Street of Rye, the +four occupants were scarce able to stand, so bruised and shaken +were they by their rapid passage over the rough road. + +They handed the twelve pounds agreed upon to the driver, adding +another as a token of their satisfaction at the speed at which he +had driven them, and then enquired for the house of William +Dawkins. It was close by, and upon knocking at the door, it was +opened by the man himself. + +"I have a message to deliver to you, in private," O'Neil said. + +The man nodded, and led the way indoors, where the letter was +handed to him. + +"That is all right," he said. "My craft is always ready to set +sail, at an hour's notice, and if the wind holds fair I will land +you on the French coast before nightfall. I see that your business +is urgent, or you would not have put on disguises before leaving +London. I suppose you have brought other clothes to land in?" + +"We have not," O'Neil said. "We came away in such a hurry that we +did not think of it until on the road, and then we thought that we +might procure them here." + +"There will be no difficulty about that," the sailor said. "I will +go out, and warn my men that we shall sail in half an hour, and +then I can get any garments that you desire; for, doubtless, you +do not wish to attract comment by the purchase of clothes that +would seem unfitted to your present position." + +"That is so," O'Sullivan said, "and we shall gladly embrace your +offer. We should like three suits, such as are worn by persons of +fair position in France, and one proper for a serving man." + +"I cannot get you quite French fashion, sir, but they do not +differ much from our own; and with a cloak each, I have no doubt +that you would pass without attracting attention--that is, of +course, if you speak French well." + +"As well as English," O'Neil said. "Here are seven pounds in gold, +which will, I should think, be sufficient. If not, we are provided +with French gold, for use after landing there." + +"I have no doubt it will suffice, sir. If not, I will pay what is +the excess, and you can settle with me afterwards." + +In three-quarters of an hour after their arrival at Rye, they were +dressed in their new disguises and on board the little lugger, +which at once started down the river, which was at that time much +more free from shoals and difficulties than it is at present. + +"Your boat seems fast," Desmond remarked, as, having cleared the +mouth of the river, she put out to sea. + +"She is fast, sir; the fastest thing that sails out of Rye. She +needs be, for the gentlemen who come to me are always in a hurry." + +"I suppose you have no fear of English cruisers?" + +"Not at all. I have the order you brought with you, and have only +to show it to any English ship of war that overhauls us, for them +to let us go on at once. I am careful when I get near the French +coast, for although their big craft never venture out far, there +are numbers of chasse-maree patrolling the coast. However, even if +caught by them, it would be but a temporary detention, for I am +well known at Etaples, which is always my port, unless specially +directed to land my passengers elsewhere." + +The wind was fresh and favourable, and at six o'clock in the +afternoon they entered the little port. Some gendarmes came down +to the wharf. + +"We need have no fear of them," William Dawkins said. "Their +lieutenant is paid handsomely for keeping his eyes shut, and +asking no questions." + +"So you are back again," the officer said. "Why, it is not a week +since you were here!" + +"No, it is but six days since I sailed." + +"And you have four passengers?" + +"That's the number, sir. The Irish gentlemen are desirous of +entering the service of France." + +The officer nodded. + +"Well, gentlemen, you will find plenty of your countrymen in +Paris; and, as everyone knows, there are no better or braver +soldiers in His Majesty's service." + +The friends had already enquired, from William Dawkins, whether +there was any passage money to pay, saying that they had forgotten +to ask before starting. + +"Not at all. I am well paid by Government. My boat is always +retained at a price that suits me well, and I get so much extra +for every voyage I make. No, sir, thank you; I will take nothing +for myself, but if you like to give half a guinea to the crew, to +drink success to you, I will not say no." + +The party made no stay at Etaples, but at once ordered a chaise +and post horses. Then, changing at every post house, and suffering +vastly less discomfort than they experienced in the journey to +Rye--the roads being better kept in France than they were on the +English side of the channel--they arrived in Paris at eleven +o'clock next day. + + + +Chapter 11: On the Frontier. + + +On entering the barrack yard, they found that the regiment had +marched, ten days before, for the frontier, and that Lord Galmoy's +regiment had taken their place. They went at once to his quarters +and told him that, having effected their escape, they had +travelled with all speed to inform the king of the determination +of the English Government to bring the Irish officers to +execution, and to implore him to intervene in their favour. + +"I will go with you to Versailles, at once," Lord Galmoy said; +"but, as you have no uniforms, and the king is very strict on +matters of etiquette, three of my officers will lend you their +suits and swords. While they are being fetched, sit down and share +my meal, for doubtless you have not waited to eat on the road." + +He then gave the necessary instructions, and half an hour later +the three officers, now in uniform, started with him on horseback +for Versailles. The king had just returned from hunting, and it +was an hour before Lord Galmoy could obtain an audience with him. +He had, on the road, told the others he felt sure that the king, +who was well served by his agents in London, had already heard of +the intention of the English Government, but as to whether he had +sent off a remonstrance he was of course ignorant. + +"I shall press the matter strongly upon him, and point out the +deep feeling that will be excited, throughout his Irish and Scotch +troops, if nothing is done to save the prisoners. + +"Louis is a politic monarch," he said, "and, knowing our worth and +that of his Scotch soldiers, I think that he will, on my +representations, bestir himself. Wauchop has many times performed +brilliant services, and deserves well of France. However, we shall +see." + +When they were admitted to the audience, Lord Galmoy introduced +the three soldiers of O'Brien's regiment as coming that morning to +Paris, having effected their escape from Newgate. As he repeated +their names, the king looked sharply at Desmond. + +"Ah, ah!" he said, "so our young ensign is in the thick of +adventures again. These we will hear presently. + +"Well, my lord, why have they come here so hurriedly after their +arrival?" + +"They came to inform Your Majesty that the English Government have +determined to execute Colonel Francis Wauchop, and the twelve +officers of their regiment who were on board the Salisbury, +captured on the coast of Scotland." + +Desmond, who was watching the king's face closely, saw that this +was no news to him, and that he was annoyed by its being now +brought to his notice; for doubtless the fate of a colonel, and a +dozen young officers, was a matter that affected him little; and +that, had the matter not been forced upon him, he would not have +troubled about it, but, when it was too late, would have professed +entire ignorance of the intentions of the English Government. + +He only said, however, "It is incredible that there can be an +intention to execute officers in our service, captured upon a +warlike expedition." + +"It is but too true, sir. Against Colonel Wauchop they have no +ground for severity. By the convention of Limerick, he and all +other officers were formally permitted to enter Your Majesty's +service; but the young lieutenants have, of course, joined long +since that time, and therefore cannot benefit by the terms of the +convention; and could, with a show of justice, be executed as +English subjects, traitors serving against their country." + +"We are afraid that our remonstrance would have but little effect +with the English Government." + +Lord Galmoy smiled slightly, for it was notorious that +negotiations had gone on between King James and his councillors, +and several of the members of the English Ministry, Marlborough +himself being more than suspected of having a secret understanding +with the little court at Saint Germain. + +He only said, however, "Your Majesty has in your hands the power +of compelling the English Government to alter their determination +in this matter." + +"How so, my lord?" the king asked, in much surprise. + +"You have, sire, many prisoners, Frenchmen of the reformed +religion, who had entered the service of the Protestant +princes--your enemies--and who were taken in Dutch and Flemish +towns we have captured. These stand in the same relation towards +Your Majesty as the Irish officers towards England. You have, +then, but to inform the government there that, if they in any way +harm the Irish officers and noncommissioned officers in their +hands, you will at once execute a similar number of these French +Protestant officers, whom you have hitherto treated as prisoners +of war. Then, possibly, an exchange might be effected. + +"Your Majesty will, I think, pardon me for saying that, unless +steps are taken to save these officers' lives, the matter is +likely to have a very bad effect on the Irish and Scotch +regiments, whose ardour will not be improved by the knowledge that +in case of a reverse they will, if not killed in the field, be +executed as traitors; for nearly half of the men who are now +serving have joined since the formation of the Brigade, and are +not protected by the terms of the Limerick treaty. They are +devoted to Your Majesty's service, and are ready to lay down their +lives freely for the cause of France; but it would not be fair +that they should also run the risk of execution, if they are by +misfortune made prisoners." + +"There is much in what you say, Lord Galmoy, and you certainly +point out a way by which these officers can be saved. A messenger +shall start, in an hour's time, with a letter to the English +Government. It shall be delivered at their headquarters in +Flanders by noon tomorrow, with a request that it shall be +forwarded by special messenger to the British minister; and we +will have a proclamation posted in Paris, and in the various camps +of the army, saying that we have warned the English Government +that, unless the officers and men captured off the coast of +Scotland are treated as prisoners of war, we shall retaliate by +treating all French officers taken in foreign service in the same +way; and that we have furthermore offered to exchange an equal +number of such officers and men, in our hands, for those held by +the British Government." + +"I thank Your Majesty, most respectfully and heartily, in the name +of all the foreign officers in your service. Even should, +unfortunately, the English Government refuse to pardon or exchange +their prisoners, it will be seen that Your Majesty has done all in +your power to save them, and there will be a general feeling of +reprobation, throughout Europe, at the conduct of the English +Ministry." + +"We beg these officers to wait in the anteroom, while we dictate +our despatch and proclamation to our secretary. We would fain +question them as to how they effected their escape from their +prison, and how they have made so speedy a journey here." + +Lord Galmoy bowed, and retired with the others. + +"We have done well," he said, "better indeed than I had hoped. +Now, having succeeded in saving our countrymen's lives, which I +doubt not would have been otherwise sacrificed, I shall return at +once to Paris, for there is an inspection of my regiment this +afternoon." + +"We have been fortunate, indeed," O'Neil said, when Lord Galmoy +had left. "I have no doubt the king had heard that the English +Government had resolved to execute the prisoners, but I question +whether he would have stirred in the matter, had it not been for +Galmoy's representation." + +"I am sure, by his manner, that he had received the news before," +Desmond said, "and, as you say, had not intended to interfere. It +was the suggestion that he might threaten retaliation, and that +the effect of his not moving in the matter would be very bad among +his Irish troops, that decided him to interfere. He may have felt +that any mere protest made by him would have had little effect, +and it is not his nature to expose himself to a rebuff; but, +directly he saw that he had an effective weapon in his hands, he +took the matter up as warmly as we could wish." + +In point of fact, the king's threat had the desired effect, and +two months later the imprisoned officers and men were exchanged +for an equal number of Huguenots. + +In a quarter of an hour, the three officers were again summoned to +the king's presence. With him was a tall dark officer, of +distinguished mien, whom O'Neil and O'Sullivan both recognized as +the Duke of Berwick, one of the most famous generals of the time. +He had been in command of the French forces in Spain, from which +he had been recalled suddenly, two days before, in order that the +king, who had a great confidence in him, might consult him as to +the general plan of operations, in that country and in the north, +before despatching him to join the army in Flanders. This was +commanded by the Duke of Burgundy and the Duke of Vendome jointly; +and as both were headstrong and obstinate, and by no means agreed +as to the operations to be undertaken, the king had determined to +send Berwick there, in order that he might, by his military genius +and influence, bring matters to a better state between the two +dukes, and arrange with them some definite plan by which the tide +of fortune, which had hitherto gone against the French, might be +arrested. + +The king appeared now to be in a good humour. + +"And now, young sirs," he said, "I have an hour at leisure, and +would fain hear a true account of your adventures, omitting +nothing. + +"I have no doubt, Monsieur Kennedy, that your ready wit had no +small share in the matter." + +"With your permission, Sire, I will tell the story," O'Neil said, +"for Mr. Kennedy is not likely to place his own share of the work +in its due prominence." + +The king nodded, and O'Neil gave a detailed account of the manner +in which they had made their escape, and succeeded in getting +themselves conveyed across the channel in a vessel in the +Government service, explaining that both affairs were due entirely +to Desmond's initiative and ingenuity. The king listened with +great interest, and even laughed at the story of the capture of +Lord Godolphin. + +"You have all three behaved extremely well," he said. + +"You, Monsieur Kennedy, have again shown that you possess unusual +shrewdness, as well as daring. + +"What think you, Duke, of this young subaltern, who is, we may +tell you, the hero of whom you have doubtless heard, who twice +rescued Mademoiselle de Pointdexter from the hands of her +abductor?" + +"I was told the story yesterday, Sire, and was filled with +admiration at the boldness and resource of her rescuer, who was, I +heard, an ensign in O'Brien's regiment; but certainly I did not +expect to find him so young a man. He has, indeed, a fertility of +invention that fills me with surprise. The other officers deserve +praise, for having so willingly followed the leadership of their +junior, and their generosity in assigning to him the whole merit +of their undertaking is highly commendable. It is no easy thing, +Sire, to find in young officers--especially, if I may say so, +among the cadets of good family, who form for the most part the +staff of your generals--men ready to exercise their own discretion +when in difficulties, and to carry out with due diligence the +orders committed to them." + +"O'Brien's regiment has marched to the northern frontier. The +vacancies in the ranks of its officers have been filled up from +those of other regiments. I should, with Your Majesty's +permission, be glad to take these three officers on my own staff, +as, leaving Spain privately in accordance with Your Majesty's +orders, I have brought with me only Captain Fromart, my secretary, +and one young aide-de-camp. I should be glad if you would promote +Mr. Kennedy to the rank of lieutenant." + +"We quite approve of both requests," the king said graciously; +"and indeed," he added with a smile, "shall not be altogether +sorry to see Lieutenant Kennedy employed outside our kingdom, for, +after making war on his own account with one of our nobles, and +kidnapping the first minister of England, there is no saying what +enterprise he might next undertake. And should he join any of +those who trouble the country with their plots, we should feel +compelled to double our guards, in order to hold ourself secure +from his designs. + +"Well, gentlemen, since the Duke of Berwick has appointed you his +aides-de-camp, the least we can do is to see that you are properly +fitted out for the expedition. You have, of course, lost your +uniforms, horses, and money in our service, and it is but just +that we should see to your being refitted. If you will wait in the +anteroom, you shall each receive an order on our treasury for a +hundred louis d'ors." + +The three officers bowed deeply in acknowledgment to the king, +and, bowing also to the Duke of Berwick, returned to the anteroom, +where presently one of the royal attendants brought to them the +three orders on the treasury, and also begged them, in the name of +the Duke of Berwick, to wait until his audience with the king +should be over. + +They were all highly delighted with the change in their position. +The posts of staff officers were, as the duke had said, considered +to belong almost of right to members of noble families, and it was +seldom that officers of the line could aspire to them. + +"Did I not tell you, Kennedy, that your luck would bring good +fortune to us all! And, by the powers, it has done so! Faith, if +anyone had said a month ago that I should by now be on the Duke of +Berwick's staff, I should have laughed in his face, if indeed I +had not quarrelled with him for mocking at me. And now here we +are, with money to buy horses and outfit, and with no more +drilling recruits and attending parades." + +"But not an end to work, O'Sullivan," Desmond Kennedy said. "You +won't find much idle time, when you are serving with the duke." + +"No. He has the name of being a strict commander, sparing neither +himself nor his soldiers; and I have heard that his staff have a +very hard time of it. However, I am not afraid of hard work, when +it is done on horseback, and there are many more chances of +promotion on the staff than there are in marching regiments. Well, +I don't mind being taken prisoner a dozen times if this is what +comes of it, providing always that you are taken with me, Kennedy, +and are there to help me out of the scrape." + +"We should have to have Mike prisoner, too," Desmond laughed, "for +without his help we should be in Newgate at present." + +"I don't believe it. I am sure that, even if he hadn't turned up, +you would have managed somehow." + +In a short time, the duke came out. + +"I am likely to be detained here another week, before I start for +Flanders. That will give you time to procure your outfit of horses +and equipments and arms. You will require two horses each, and +these should be good ones. I doubt whether, if you get proper +outfits, the sum that His Majesty has given you will suffice to +buy two horses. I have, however, in my stables here, plenty of +good animals that have been taken from the enemy, and one will be +given to each of you. Therefore, it will be only necessary for you +to purchase one. + +"I am staying here, and should be obliged, when you have taken a +lodging, if you would send me your address. I shall then let you +know where and when you are to join me. Is there anything else +that you would ask me?" + +"I would ask, sir, that I might take my servant with me," Desmond +said. + +"Certainly; and you can do so without further question. One man, +more or less, will make no difference to O'Brien's regiment, and +it would be a pity that you should not have him with you, for it +is evident that he is at once faithful, and possesses a large +amount of shrewdness." + +After thanking the duke for the present of the horses, the three +officers, having drawn their money, left the palace and rode back +to Paris. They went first to the barracks, and returned the horses +and uniforms, with many thanks, to the officers who had lent them; +had an interview with Lord Galmoy, and informed him of their new +appointments. + +"You have well won them," he said, "and I wish you every good +fortune. Assuredly, you are more likely to rise under the Duke of +Berwick than as subaltern in the Irish Brigade, though promotion +is not slow there, owing to the vacancies that battle always makes +in their ranks." + +They went out and took a lodging together, and then went to a +military tailor, who promised them their undress and full dress +suits in four days. Then they ordered military saddles, bridles, +and equipments. + +On the next day, after visiting half the stables in Paris, they +purchased three horses for themselves, and Desmond bought, in +addition, a serviceable animal for Mike, with a cavalry saddle and +accoutrements, and ordered a uniform for him. Each provided +himself with a sword and a brace of pistols. + +Mike was greatly pleased when Desmond communicated his promotion +and appointment to him. + +"You will look grand, your honour, as a general's aide-de-camp, +with your handsome uniform and your horses and all that, and 'tis +glad I am that we are going to Flanders, for, from all I have +heard from men who have fought in Spain, little pleasure is to be +had in campaigning there. The food is vile, the roads are bad. You +are choked with dust and smothered with heat. + +"As to their making you lieutenant, if you had your dues, it would +be a colonel they should have made you, or at any rate a major." + +"There is plenty of time, Mike," Desmond laughed. "A nice colonel +I should look, too, leading a thousand men into battle. If I +obtain a majority in another fifteen years, I shall consider +myself lucky." + +Desmond did not share Mike's gratification that they were to +campaign with the army of the north, instead of with that in +Spain. However, as he would be fighting against English troops in +either country, he concluded it would not make much difference, +especially as, being an aide-de-camp, he would not himself have to +enter into actual conflict with them. + +His friends were heartily glad that their destination was not +Spain, for all had, like Mike, heard much of the hardships +suffered by the troops in that country. + +"I know from what you have said, Kennedy, that if you had had your +choice you would have taken Spain, but, putting aside the heat +there, it is but poor work, by all accounts. You are well-nigh +starved, you can't get at your enemy, who knows all the mountains +and the paths over them, is as difficult to catch as one of their +fleas, harasses you while you are on the march, and shirks +fighting as the old one shirks holy water. There has only been one +fight which could be called a battle since the war began; and as +for the sieges, it means that you lose a lot of men, and have +little credit when you take a place, especially as the moment you +go out one way the enemy enter on the other side, and there is all +the work to be done over again." + +"I admit that we shall see a great deal more of war in the north," +Kennedy said, "and Marlborough and Eugene on the other side, and +the Dukes of Berwick and Vendome on ours, are such skilful +commanders that there will be far greater interest in the +operations, than in carrying on what is little more than a +partisan war in Spain." + +"Not only that," O'Neil put in, "but there will be a possibility +of getting decent food. While in Spain there are few great towns, +and these a long distance from each other; in Flanders there are +towns every few miles, and you are sure of decent quarters and +good cooking." + +"Why, O'Neil, I did not know that you were particular as to your +food," Desmond laughed. + +"I can starve as well as another, Kennedy, but when I get good +food and good wine and good lodgings, I own that I prefer it +vastly to the fare that our troops have to put up with, in Spain. +I can see no reason why, because you are going to risk your life +in battle, you should put up with all sorts of miseries and +inconveniences beforehand, if they can be avoided. + +"As to fighting against the English, there are English both in +Spain and Flanders, and in both armies they form but a small +proportion of the force, though I grant willingly that they are +the backbone of both armies. If you look at the thing sensibly, +you will see that we have gained no slight advantage by Berwick's +going to Flanders, instead of returning to Spain." + +Three days after their preparations were completed, an orderly +brought a note from the Duke of Berwick. It was brief and to the +point. + +The rendezvous is at six o'clock tomorrow morning, in front of La +Louvre. + +(Signed) Berwick. + +All were glad that the summons had come. They had discussed the +future from every point of view, and were already growing +impatient, short as their stay had been in Paris. + +Five minutes before the hour, they were at the rendezvous. As the +clock struck, the duke rode up with two officers and an escort of +six troopers. He looked at their accoutrements and horses, and +nodded his head approvingly. + +"You will do very well," he said. "I can tell you that the gloss +of your uniforms will not last long, in Flanders." + +The other officers were Captain Fromart, who acted as the duke's +secretary, and Lieutenant d'Eyncourt. Mike fell in with the +escort, behind which also rode the body servant of the duke, and +the two cavalry men who were the servants of his officers. + +Once beyond the limits of the town, the party broke into a trot. +The duke rode on ahead, evidently in deep thought, and the five +officers followed in a group. + +"I see, messieurs," d'Eyncourt said, "that only one of you has +brought a servant with him." + +"We only arrived in Paris a week ago," O'Neil said. "Our own +regiment had left, and we did not care to ask for two soldiers +from another regiment, as these might have turned out badly. We +thought it better, therefore, to delay until we joined the army, +and wait till we could obtain a couple of good men from one of the +cavalry regiments there. As it is, Monsieur Kennedy's servant can +look after the three of us, and, I have no doubt, two of the +soldiers of the escort will not object to earn a few livres by +looking after our horses on the way." + +"I think you are right," the other said. "If one gets a good man, +a soldier servant is invaluable. If, as is often the case, he is a +bad one, well, one is far better without him. It is curious how +men who have been smart soldiers, when in the ranks, are apt to go +to the bad when they become servants. They have more time on their +hands, are free from most of the parades, have no sentry duty to +perform, and the consequence is that they become slovenly and +careless, and in nine cases out of ten give way to drink at every +opportunity. If Mr. Kennedy's servant is really a good one, you +will be better off, with a third of his services, than you would +be with the whole of that of an ordinary soldier servant. + +"You have just returned from England, have you not? The duke told +Captain Fromart that you were among those who were captured in the +Salisbury, but that you had made your escape. He gave no +particulars, for indeed, the duke is not given to much speech. As +a general he is splendid, but it would be more pleasant for his +staff if he were to unbend a little." + +"Yes, we managed to give them the slip," O'Neil said, "thanks to +Monsieur Kennedy and his servant. Did you return from Spain with +the general, Captain Fromart?" + +"Yes. There was nothing doing at the moment, and he gave us the +option of accompanying him or staying behind. We vastly preferred +the trip, as we considered it, for of course we had no idea that +the duke was about to be sent to Flanders. You hear a good deal of +the climate of Spain. It is said to be lovely. I vow that it is +detestable. The heat, when it is hot, is terrible, and when it is +not hot, there is a bitter wind that chills you to the bone. A +great portion of the country is but half populated, and you can go +a day's march without coming to a village. The roads are +villainous. There is nothing to buy, and it is as much as the +transport can do to get, I will not say enough bread, but a bare +sufficiency to maintain the troops. Moreover, the duke has been +constantly thwarted in his plans by the Spaniards, who are ready +enough to make promises, but never take a single step towards +their fulfilment. The duke's temper is of the shortest, and he has +quarrelled openly with most of the leading Spaniards, and has +threatened, four or five times, to throw up his command and return +to France. He did do so a year ago, but affairs went so badly, +without him, that the cause of France was seriously imperilled by +his absence, and it was at the urgent request of Philip that he +returned; for at that time the English general, Peterborough, was +striking dismay all over the country, and if the duke's advice had +not been taken, all our officers acknowledge that we should +speedily have crossed the Pyrenees." + +"And do the population incline towards Philip or the Austrian?" + +"As a rule, they incline towards the party which seems likely to +win. They would shout in Madrid as loudly for the Archduke Charles +as for Philip. Catalonia and Valencia are the exceptions. There +the balance of feeling is certainly in favour of the Austrian, but +this is principally because they are afraid of Peterborough, whom +they regard as almost supernatural, and fear he would take +vengeance upon those who deserted his cause. But there is no +accounting for them; cities have held out as stoutly for one +candidate as for the other, without any apparent reason, so far as +we can observe. + +"We fight for Philip because he is Louis's grandson, and it is +important in the interest of France to stand closely allied with +his party. But as for the Spaniards with us, I can tell you that +we have but little trust in them." + +"But some of them are good, are they not?" + +"We do not consider any of them of much account. But then the +Spaniards on the other side are no better. They seem to have lost +all their military virtues, ever since their best troops were +demolished at Rocroi by Conde. That and the destruction of their +fleet by the English, and the drain of their resources both in men +and money, entailed by the long war in Holland, altogether +deprived the people of their martial spirit. The war is to some +extent between the English and us, because, of the allies England, +Holland, and Austria, neither the Austrians nor the Dutch take any +great share in the struggle. The Dutch are wholly engrossed with +the defence of their fens, the Austrians are fully occupied in +Italy and on the Rhine frontier, and it is only the English, who, +fortunately, are not very numerous, who are against us, for the +Portuguese can scarcely be counted in the business, being, if +anything, slower and more stupid than the Spaniards themselves. + +"However, at present the prospect is good. Peterborough has gone. +Galway's army has been almost destroyed; though, to do them +justice, the English regiments fought magnificently, and if they +had been seconded by the Portuguese the result might have been +altogether different." + +"Then you found Spain much less rich than France?" + +"There is no comparison," Captain Fromart said. "It ought to be +fully as rich, but the plains lie almost uncultivated. The people +seem wholly without energy, and the ruling class are always +intriguing, and seem to pay little attention to their estates. You +see but few castles and chateaux, such as are dotted over France. +I do not say that, at the present moment, France can be considered +a prosperous country in material matters. The expenses of the wars +have been enormous, to say nothing of the Court. The people are +ground down by taxation, and the misery in some parts of the +country is extreme; but left to themselves the people will work, +and work hard. Our soil will grow anything, and after twenty years +of peace, France would altogether recover herself." + +"And yet the alliance of Spain is considered as of vital +importance to France!" + +"Of great importance, certainly. Spain has still soldiers who can +fight well, as they have proved in Italy; and were the levies at +home equally well drilled and disciplined, they would no doubt +turn out good soldiers. But these are, at present, almost +undrilled. They desert in numbers and return to their homes, after +the slightest reverse, and prefer to act as partisans under +leaders of their own choosing. But with Philip once firmly seated +on the throne, with French advisers and officers to assist him, +and a few regiments to serve as a nucleus to his army, Spain could +turn out a force which would be a very valuable addition to the +strength of any European power. With Spain as our ally we can, in +addition to the force that she can put in the field, neglect +altogether our southern frontier, and employ our whole army +elsewhere. With her as an ally of Austria or of England, we should +have to keep an army in the south to guard our borders." + +Two days after leaving Paris, the party arrived at Peronne, where +a considerable body of troops were collected, of which, although +an aide-de-camp, Desmond now learned for the first time the duke +was to take the command. No movements of importance had taken +place in the field, and as the force at Peronne still wanted +several regiments, to bring it up to the intended strength, some +weeks passed before it was set in motion. + +The four aides-de-camp, however, had a busy time of it. The main +army was stationed in the neighbourhood of Lille, and frequent +communications passed between Berwick and Vendome. + +The allies were inactive. Eugene had, early in April, met +Marlborough at the Hague, and had concerted with him the plan for +the campaign. He had then gone to Vienna to bring up reinforcements, +and until these arrived Marlborough hardly felt in a position to take +the offensive, as the French armies were considerably stronger than +his own, and he had not yet been joined by the troops from Hanover. + +Except to receive orders, the aides-de-camp saw little of their +commander. He was absorbed in the difficult problems of the war, +and was occasionally absent for two or three days at the camp of +Vendome. He always spoke kindly to them when on duty, but at other +times dispensed altogether with their attendance, and as a rule +took his meals alone. + +"You see him at his worst," d'Eyncourt said one day to his new +comrades, "He is a different man when he is in the field. Then he +is full of life and activity, looking into every detail himself, +endeavouring to infuse some of his own energy into others, full of +care for the comfort of his troops, though ready to endure any +hardship himself. Then you see the real man; a noble character, +idolized by the soldiers and loved by us all. You must not judge +him, in the slightest degree, by what he now is. He has a great +deal on his mind, and has, so it is whispered, no small trouble in +keeping the peace between Vendome and Burgundy. The failure, too, +of the expedition to Scotland must have greatly disappointed him, +and I have no doubt he expected to be put at the head of any +French army sent over to place James upon the throne. However, he +may congratulate himself now that he was not with it, for no +honour and no gain has been earned by any concerned in it." + +"That certainly is so," Desmond agreed. "It was a mismanaged +affair altogether. To begin with, twenty thousand men should have +been sent instead of six thousand; and in the next place, the +fleet should have assembled at Brest or Bordeaux, for in that +case, although the news of its assembling would assuredly have +reached England, it would not have been known whether it was +intended that the landing should be made in Ireland, Scotland, or +on the English coast, while by gathering at Dunkirk no doubt was +left as to the destination. This was proved by the fact that, when +the English fleet watching the port was driven off by a gale, and +an opportunity was thus given for a start, instead of coming back +again, as we had hoped, only to find that we had left, it sailed +straight for the north, making absolutely certain that we were +bound for Edinburgh." + +"Well, we must hope," O'Sullivan said, "that next time the force +will, as you say, be fully twenty thousand men, will include the +Irish Brigade, will be led by Berwick, and will land in Ireland." + +At this moment an orderly entered. + +"The duke requires your attendance, Lieutenant Kennedy." + +Desmond at once went to the duke's apartments. + +"You will start at once for Lille, Mr. Kennedy, and will report +yourself to Marshal Vendome. I have arranged with him that one of +my aides-de-camp shall accompany the force that is about to +advance, and shall keep me informed of what is being done. I have +selected you because I know you to be active and shrewd. The +marshal is too much occupied to send me such full reports as I +should wish, and I look to you not only to give me facts, but to +convey to me your impressions of what you see passing around you. +Do not fear to speak plainly. Your communications will be strictly +private, and your views will be thus of far more use to me than +the official expressions of the marshal and his staff. + +"You will, of course, take your servant with you, and I have told +off three troopers to accompany you, for the purpose of bringing +your reports to me. There is no probability of a general +engagement at present, and until we obtain some idea of +Marlborough's plans, no extensive operations will be undertaken." + +From the manner in which he spoke, Desmond had no doubt that +Berwick himself was in favour of taking the initiative without +delay, but that he had been overruled. It was indeed of importance +to the French that, before advancing, they should secure +possession of the towns of west Flanders, so that the great roads +would all be open to them. + +Half an hour after leaving the duke, Desmond was in the saddle, +and, followed by the four soldiers, rode for Vendome's camp. +According to instructions he halted for the night at Arras, and +reached Lille at ten the next morning. He at once presented +himself to the marshal, and handed to him the letter from Berwick, +of which he was the bearer. + +The duke glanced through it. + +"I have been expecting you, Lieutenant Kennedy, and have arranged +that you shall mess and ride with the junior officers of my staff. +I will order a tent to be erected for you, at once. Should any +portion of my force move without me, I have arranged that you +shall accompany it. You will find many of your compatriots in +camp, for we have five battalions of the Irish Brigade with us, +among them that of O'Brien, to which the Duke of Berwick informed +me you belonged before you were appointed to his staff, having +distinguished yourself markedly on several occasions." + +The marechal-de-camp coming in, Vendome placed Desmond in his +charge, requesting him to introduce him to the various officers of +his staff, with whom he would have to mess, and to see that he was +well cared for. He was well received by the young French officers, +all of whom, with scarce an exception, belonged to good families, +and Desmond was not long in discovering that they regarded their +occupation rather as a pleasant and exciting diversion, than as a +matter of duty, and that the greater portion of their time was +devoted to pleasure. They rode, practised with the pistol and +rapier, made excursions into the country, dined, and spent their +evenings as if the army were nonexistent. A few only, and these +were men who had served as officers, took their profession +seriously, and divided among themselves what work had to be done, +the young nobles gladly relinquishing it to them. + + + +Chapter 12: Oudenarde. + + +Desmond did not remain long at the marshal's camp, but accompanied +expeditions that were sent to Bruges, Ghent, and Ypres. The +inhabitants of these towns had, for some time, been in communication +with the marshal. They were hostile to the English, and had a standing +feud, of many years' duration, with the Dutch. + +As soon, therefore, as the French columns approached, they opened +their gates. The weak garrisons that had been placed there, +finding themselves unable to at once control the population and +defend the walls, evacuated the town before the French arrived. + +Beyond writing confidential reports to Berwick, Desmond had had +little to do, and spent most of his time with his own regiment, by +whom he was heartily welcomed, and with the other Irish battalions +encamped near them. He and the other officers captured in the +Salisbury had been given up as lost by their comrades; and the +appearance of Desmond, in his staff uniform, was the first +intimation they had received of his escape, of which he had more +than once to give a detailed account. + +In doing this, he made no mention of the seizure of Lord +Godolphin. He knew that the minister was anxious that this should +not get abroad, and, as he had behaved fairly to them, Desmond +considered that he ought to remain silent on the subject; and +merely said that, on their arrival at Rye, they had made an +arrangement with a man who was in the habit of conveying persons +secretly, to or from France, to take them across the channel. + +"You amaze me more and more, Kennedy," the colonel said. "Six +months ago, when you joined, you seemed to me little more than a +boy, and yet you have been through adventures that demanded the +brain and courage of a veteran. We missed you all much; but I hope +we shall soon get the others back again, for I had news the other +day, from Paris, that arrangements for their exchange were going +on, and no doubt they will rejoin as soon as they land. + +"There is little chance of you, O'Neil and O'Sullivan coming back +to the regiment; but, at any rate, as Berwick's force is sure to +join ours, as soon as operations begin in earnest, we shall often +see you." + +It was the end of June before the main army advanced. Desmond had +returned to Peronne after the capture of the three Flemish towns, +and was warmly praised by Berwick for the manner in which he had +carried out the work entrusted to him. On the 6th of July, he +received orders to accompany the duke. + +"There is bad news," Captain Fromart said, entering the room where +the four aides-de-camp were together. "You know the marshal had +commenced the siege of Oudenarde. We have news now that the enemy +has suddenly advanced towards him, and he has been obliged to +raise the siege, and fall back across the Scheldt. The troops are +to go forward at once. The duke will ride on, with all speed, in +accordance with Vendome's urgent request. All four of you are to +go on with him. I shall accompany the force here. + +"There is no time to be lost. The duke's horse is to be at the +door in a quarter of an hour, and it will not please him to be +kept waiting. You had better leave your spare horses, for the +present. I have already warned the escort." + +It was a short notice, but by the time named the four +aides-de-camp were in their saddles, as were their soldier +servants, for by this time Desmond's two friends had obtained +servants from a dragoon regiment. They were but just in time, for +they had scarcely mounted when the duke came out, sprang into his +saddle, and went off at a canter. + +The distance was some fifty miles. They stopped once for two +hours, to refresh themselves and their horses, and rode into +Vendome's camp soon after nightfall. A large tent had been already +erected for Berwick's use, close to that of the marshal; and +another, close by, for the use of the officers who might come with +him. + +A quarter of an hour later, a soldier entered the aides-de-camp's +tent, with a large tray. + +"The Duke of Berwick bids me say, gentlemen, that he is supping +with the marshal, who has sent these dishes to you from his own +table." + +"Please to give our thanks to the Duke of Vendome, for his +kindness," Desmond said; but when the soldier had left the tent, +he went on, "I have no doubt that this is the result of a +suggestion on the part of Berwick, and greatly obliged to him we +must feel. We had just been saying that we supposed we should get +nothing to eat till tomorrow morning, while here is a supper +worthy of the marshal, and four flasks of wine, which I doubt not +are good." + +It was ten o'clock before the duke returned to his tent, when he +at once sent for his aides-de-camp. + +"There will be nothing more for you to do, tonight, gentlemen. +Sleep soundly, for we shall have a hard day's work tomorrow. We +are to cross the Scheldt again at daybreak. The enemy are on the +other side of the Dender, and the next day a pitched battle will +probably be fought. You may be surprised that we do not wait until +my forces arrive, but we have heard that Eugene's reinforcements +are within two days' march of Marlborough, and, as they are more +numerous than those I command, it has been decided to accept +battle at once. Good night." + +"The general is in a good temper," d'Eyncourt said, as they +reentered their tent. "I expect that his views have been adopted, +and that there was a warm discussion over them." + +This was indeed the case. The Duke of Burgundy, an obstinate man +without any knowledge of war, had been in favour of pushing +forward, crossing the Lys as well as the Scheldt, and attacking +the allies as soon as they met them. Vendome, on the other hand, +was of opinion that the army which was now collected near Ghent +had better advance against Oudenarde, which might be carried by a +coup de main before Marlborough could come to its assistance, +which he might be some days in doing, seeing that he was in +command of a mixed force, composed of Dutch, Danes, Hanoverians, +Prussians, and British. Burgundy then maintained that they should +retire, and fight near Ypres, where they would be close to the +frontier, and could retire upon Lille in case matters went against +them. Berwick, however, at last managed to persuade him to agree +to Vendome's plan, as the capture of Oudenarde was a matter of the +utmost importance, and it would be as easy to fall back thence to +Lille as it would be from Ypres. + +This Burgundy had sullenly assented to, and the next morning the +army marched to the position fixed upon. This was on steeply +rising ground, with the river Norken running at its foot. Beyond +this were two other eminences, on each of which stood a windmill. +That on the west was called the windmill of Oycke, and that on the +adjoining hill the windmill of Royegham, the latter flanking the +main position. Oudenarde being found to be strongly garrisoned, it +was decided, in spite of the opposition of Burgundy, to cross the +Scheldt at Gavre, and then to give battle to the allies between +that river and the Dender. + +Marlborough had, however, been joined by Prince Eugene, who had, +like Berwick, hurried on in advance of his army, and the two great +generals decided, instead of attacking the French by the road from +Brussels, to sweep round across the Scheldt at Oudenarde, and by +other bridges across the river, and so to place themselves between +Vendome and France. + +A portion of the French army was already in movement, when the +news came that the allies were fast coming up. Early the next +morning their advance guard, composed of twelve battalions of +infantry and the whole of the cavalry, reached the Scheldt; and, +having thrown bridges over the river, crossed, and soon came in +contact with the French advance guard, under Biron. There was some +severe fighting, in which neither party gained any great +advantage, the French maintaining possession of the village of +Eynes. + +While this conflict was going on, Marlborough and Eugene, with the +main body, had reached the river, and were engaged in crossing it; +and Vendome determined to attack them while carrying out the +operation. He was, as usual, opposed by Burgundy, who wished to +continue the march to Ghent. Marshal Vendome pointed out that, in +a country so broken and interspersed with hedges, an army +possessing the greatest strength--for the French numbered +eighty-five thousand, while Marlborough had but eighty thousand +under him--would lose the advantage of that superiority; and, upon +Berwick strongly siding with the marshal, Burgundy was forced to +give way. + +The discussion lasted some time, enabling the allies to pass +bodies of troops across the river, where they were formed up at a +village a few hundred yards north of Oudenarde; and immediately +Marlborough felt strong enough to risk an attack, orders were sent +to Cadogan, who commanded the advance guard, to drive the enemy +out of Eynes. + +Four English battalions attacked the seven French battalions in +the village, while the cavalry crossed higher up, and came down on +the back of the village. Three of the French battalions were +surrounded and made prisoners, while the other four were +dispersed. + +It was now evident, even to Burgundy, that an action could not be +avoided, but again an angry dispute took place. Vendome would have +stood on the defensive, with the river Norken to be crossed before +he could be attacked. He was, however, overruled by Burgundy, who +had nominally chief command. Marlborough took advantage of the +delay, and posted his troops in front of the castle of Bevere, and +sent the twelve battalions at Eynes to reinforce his left, against +which he saw the main attack of the French would be directed. He +then lined all the hedges with infantry, and stationed twenty +British battalions, under Argyle, in reserve. + +Crossing the Norken, the French fell upon the Dutch and +Hanoverians, who constituted the left wing, and who, though +fighting obstinately, were driven back. Marlborough moved from the +centre with twenty battalions to reinforce them, and despatched +Eugene to command on the right. + +A desperate fight now took place. On both flanks, the ground was +broken by enclosures with deep wet ditches, bridges, woods, and +small villages; and the cavalry were unable to act on such ground. +The infantry on both sides fought with extreme resolution; every +hedge, ditch, bridge, and house being defended to the last. +Seldom, indeed, in modern warfare, has so obstinate and terrible a +fight taken place. Frequently the combatants were mingled +together, and fought with bayonets and the butt ends of their +muskets. + +Gradually, however, the Dutch and the Hanoverian battalions won +their way forward, and drove the French back to the village of +Diepenbeck, where the latter successfully maintained themselves. +Marlborough then ordered General Overkirk to move round and seize +the hill at Oycke, which, although it flanked the enemy's +position, was not held by them. + +This he did, with twenty Dutch and Danish battalions, who had only +just crossed the river. He then pressed on and seized the mill of +Royegham, thus cutting the communication between the French at +Diepenbeck and the troops that still remained on the plateau +beyond the Norken. Eugene then swung round his right, and, +pressing forward, surrounded the French on that side, so +completely enveloping them that his men and those of Overkirk each +believed the other to be French--for darkness had now fallen--and +fought for some time before the mistake was discovered. + +As, in such a country, it was impossible to move troops in regular +formation in the darkness, Marlborough gave orders for the troops +to halt in the positions they held. Had the light lasted two hours +longer, the whole of the French army would have been slain or +captured; but, under cover of darkness, the greater portion made +their way through the intervals of the allied troops. Many fled to +Ghent, while thousands made for the French frontier. Vendome lost +in killed and wounded six thousand men, and nine thousand +prisoners, and his total loss exceeded twenty thousand; while the +allies lost five thousand, of whom the great majority were Dutch, +Danes, and Germans. + +The French troops on the plateau withdrew, under the direction of +Vendome, in good order; and before morning a large number of +fugitives had rallied. Marlborough sent forty squadrons of horse +in pursuit of them, but the French showed so firm an attitude that +the cavalry were unable to seriously interfere with their retreat. +Berwick had remained, during the day, near the marshal; and had +placed his aides-de-camp at his disposal, for the difficulty of +the ground, and the distance from the plateau of the various +points at which the troops were engaged, rendered communication +much slower than it otherwise would have been, and Desmond and his +companions were frequently sent off with orders. + +It was the first time Desmond had been under fire, and the effect +of the roar of musketry, the whizzing of bullets, and the shouts +of the combatants, gave him a much stronger feeling of discomfort +than he had expected. The roar of cannon was not added to the +other sounds, for the guns of the day were clumsy and difficult to +move; and, owing to the rapid marches and countermarches of both +armies, the greater portion of the artillery had been left behind, +and only a few guns were on the field, and these, in so close and +confined a country, were of little use. + +Desmond felt now that he would far rather be fighting in the thick +of it, with O'Brien's regiment, than making his way alone along +the lanes, impeded constantly by columns advancing to the front, +while he was met by a stream of wounded men making their way to +the rear. + +At first, all was exultation among the troops, for as the +Hanoverians and Dutch were forced to give way before the assault +of the main body of the French, shouts of victory rose; and it was +confidently believed that they would, this day, avenge the two +great victories Marlborough and Eugene had gained over them. + +Having delivered his orders to the officer in command, Desmond +rode back. Vendome and Berwick had both dismounted, and were +standing together, with a few of their staff, at the edge of the +plateau, examining the field with their telescopes. + +"I have delivered your message, sir," he said, riding up and +saluting. "The general bade me tell you all was going well. The +enemy were falling back, and will soon be in full flight." + +"Very well, Mr. Kennedy. By this time, he will have found out that +he was a little too sanguine." + +The fire had, indeed, for the past few minutes broken out with +augmented fury. Marlborough had arrived at the threatened point, +and had placed himself at the head of the Dutch and Hanoverians, +and, animated by his presence, these had not only ceased to fall +back, but were in turn advancing. + +"The battle is not won yet, Kennedy," O'Sullivan, who had returned +a few minutes before from the front, said, as he joined him. "On +our left we are being driven back, for a large force has +reinforced the enemy there, and unless our main column defeats the +allied left, and pushes them into Oudenarde, we shall have night +coming on before we have finished; and, as our cavalry cannot act +in these cramped fields, Marlborough will be able to draw off +without any great loss." + +For an hour, there was no change. Then Berwick, looking round, +beckoned to Desmond. + +"Mr. Kennedy," he said, "a strong force of the enemy moved, half +an hour ago, towards their left. I have lost sight of them, owing +to the high hedges and trees, but it does not seem to me that they +can have joined in the battle. Our troops are strongly posted at +Diepenbeck, and should be able to maintain themselves there +against the whole allied army; but the enemy cannot see our +dispositions, and would surely have pushed forward and made a +desperate assault on the village, had they been joined by the +strong force I saw moving in that direction. + +"It may be that this force has been held in reserve, in case our +line should be reinforced, and again advance. Marlborough may be +content to hold his own on his left, while Prince Eugene, who, we +have heard, commands on their right, turns our flank on that side. + +"I wish you to ascertain, if possible, what this force is doing, +and where it is posted. If you ride across to the mill, on the +eminence behind Diepenbeck, you may be able to get sight of them; +or, if the smoke renders it impossible to discover matters from +that point, ride on to the farther hill, and, descending there on +the enemy's left, you will be able to make your way close enough +to ascertain what is going on. You are well mounted, and need not +greatly fear capture, for they would hardly care to divert a party +of cavalry in pursuit of a single officer. Still, it is as well +not to push your horse too hard on your way out, for you may +possibly need all his strength." + +A minute later, Desmond was cantering his horse down the declivity +to the Norken. Crossing by the bridge near Mullen, he turned to +the right and rode up the hill of Royegham. Here a strong brigade, +composed of cavalry and infantry, under General Grimaldi, was +stationed. Desmond rode up to him. + +"The Duke of Berwick has sent me to ascertain, sir, the position +of a strong body of the enemy's troops, whom he observed marching +from the river towards our right. May I ask if you have noticed +them?" + +"We saw them move away, after crossing the river, but have not +seen them since. I should fancy they are engaged in front of +Diepenbeck; but the ground is so undulating, and the view so +obscured by smoke, that we have not caught sight of them since +they issued from Oudenarde--indeed, the hill behind Diepenbeck +prevents our seeing down into the low land beyond." + +"I will ride on there, sir," Desmond said. "Certainly a better +view can be obtained than from this side." + +A canter of a mile took him to the summit of the hill at whose +foot Diepenbeck stood. He could see the masses of French troops, +gathered in and in front of the village; but beyond that a veil of +smoke covered the country, and entirely obscured the contending +parties, whose position could only be guessed by the incessant +rattle of their musketry fire. + +Turning again, he rode down the dip that separated the hill from +that of Oycke. He had just gained the crest, when he saw a large +force marching rapidly towards the mill. Seeing at once the +serious nature of the movement, he turned and galloped, at full +speed, to the point where the generals were still watching the +progress of the fight. + +"I could learn nothing of the force you spoke of from General +Grimaldi at Royegham, nor on the heights above Diepenbeck; but, +riding towards Oycke, I saw them advancing at full speed towards +the windmill, at which they had already almost arrived." + +An exclamation of anger broke from the duke. + +"This is what comes," he muttered, "of placing a fool in command +of the army." + +Turning away, he at once communicated the news to Vendome, who +stamped his foot furiously on the ground. + +"Just when victory was in our grasp," he said, and turned his +glass towards Oycke, which was some four miles distant. + +"I can make them out now," he said. "There is a black mass issuing +from the village of Oycke, and ascending the hill in the direction +of Royegham. It is too late to reinforce Grimaldi there. They will +be upon him before we can cross the Norken. But, at any rate, we +must send a brigade down to Henhelm, where, with Grimaldi's men, +they can try to keep open the road from Diepenbeck." + +Ten minutes later they could hear, by a sudden outburst of fire, +that Grimaldi was engaged. The sun had already set, but Berwick +was able to make out, with his glass, that the left was giving way +before the attack of Eugene, and that the twenty battalions under +Argyle, which had hitherto remained inactive, were advancing by +the main road leading, through Mullen, to the plateau on which +they stood. + +"The day is lost," Berwick said bitterly. "The troops at +Diepenbeck are completely cut off. Darkness alone can save them +from annihilation. And to think that, if it had not been for +Burgundy, we could have maintained ourselves here against double +the force of the allies! So long as the system of giving the +command of armies to royal incapables continues, we cannot hope +for success." + +Vendome lost no time in issuing orders. The troops still on the +plateau were brought forward, whence their fire would command its +approaches. Aides-de-camp were sent in all directions, to order +the generals of divisions to draw off at once, and to make their +way up to the plateau; and Berwick's four aides-de-camp were told +to make their way, if possible, by different routes to Diepenbeck, +and to give orders for the troops there to maintain themselves, at +all costs, until darkness had completely fallen; and then to make +their way as best they could to the plateau; if that was +impossible, to march for either Ghent or Lille. + +"The service is a desperate one, gentlemen," Berwick said, as he +turned to give the orders to his officers, "but it is necessary, +for if the force remain there until morning, they are all +irretrievably lost. It is getting dark already, and you may, +therefore, hope to pass unnoticed between the intervals of the +enemy. If you get there safely, do not try to return at once, but, +like the rest, endeavour to make off during the night." + +Without waiting for orders, Mike followed his master. Going down, +they met the remnants of Biron's division flying in disorder. They +separated at the bridge of Mullen, and, with a word of adieu to +his comrades, Desmond turned to the right, and rode for +Groenvelde. + +Suddenly, a volley of musketry was fired from the hill to the +right. Desmond staggered for a moment in the saddle, and the +bridle fell from his left hand. Mike was by his side in a moment. + +"Where are you hurt, master?" + +"In the left wrist, I fancy. By the way the hand hangs down, it +must have smashed both bones. However, there is no time to wait, +now. It is a matter of life and death to get to Diepenbeck." + +"One moment, your honour. Let me put your hand into the breast of +your coatee; then, if you keep your elbow tight against your body, +it will keep it steady." + +Although Mike carried out his suggestion as gently as he could, +Desmond almost fainted with pain. + +"Take a drop of brandy from your flask, master. It won't take half +a minute, and then we will be off." + +They continued their journey. The rattle of musketry, ahead of +them, showed that the combat had already commenced close by; +between either the advancing troops of Argyle, or those who had +crossed the hill of Royegham; and Grimaldi's brigade, which was +probably endeavouring to hold them in check, until the troops at +Diepenbeck came back. + +It was already too dark to distinguish the uniforms, except at a +distance of a few yards. Dashing on, he saw a dark mass +ahead--three officers rode out. + +"Who are you, sir?" they shouted. + +"I am carrying a report from the general," he replied, in English, +and without drawing rein dashed on, passing within twenty yards of +the column, and reached Diepenbeck without further interruption. + +In the centre of the village, the French general was sitting on +his horse, surrounded by his staff. The combat beyond raged as +furiously as before. Desmond rode up, and saluted. + +"I am the bearer of orders from Marshal Vendome, sir," he said. +"He bid me tell you that a large force of the enemy has crossed +the hills of Oycke and Royegham, and is already in your rear, the +enemy's right overlapping your left; while the whole British +reserve is pressing forward, and will ere long effect a junction +with both these forces. Your retreat, therefore, is entirely cut +off. The orders are that you shall maintain yourself here as long +as possible, as in the darkness and confusion, it is unlikely that +the allies can attack you from the rear before morning. + +"The marshal himself holds the plateau, and will continue to do +so. You are to make your way tonight, if possible, in battalions +and in good order, through the intervals between the various +divisions of the enemy; or, if that is not possible, singly. All +are to endeavour to join him on the plateau. Those who cannot do +this are to make for Ghent or Lille." + +"Your order scarcely comes as a surprise, sir," the general said +bitterly. "We have heard firing in our rear for some time, and we +were afraid that things had gone badly with us, after all." + +He at once gave orders that the troops behind the village were to +take up a position to resist any attack made in that direction. +Desmond dismounted, as did Mike, and the latter took the two +horses, fastened them to a tree, and then, with Desmond's scarf, +bound his arm firmly against his side. + +"We have made a mess of it entirely, your honour," he said, "and +have got a terrible bating. Sure we were lucky in getting here. +Faith, I thought we were caught when you were hailed." + +"It was a narrow escape, Mike; and if they had waited till I had +got a little nearer, and had seen my uniform, I must have +surrendered." + +"It seems to me that we are like rats in a trap, Mr. Kennedy." + +"Something like it, Mike; but it is hard if we can't get through +them, in the dark." + +"That we will do, sure enough," Mike said confidently; "but which +way should we go?" + +"That I can't tell you. You see, they are in strength in front, +Marlborough and Eugene are on the left and partly behind us, and +the troops you saw come across the hills are somewhere in the +rear. If it were daylight, not a man of us would escape; but as it +is, it will be hard if we cannot make our way through. + +"What I am thinking about chiefly, at present, is the safety of +O'Sullivan, O'Neil, and d'Eyncourt. They ought to have been here +as soon as we were. They may either have lost their way in the +darkness, or fallen into the hands of the enemy. However, I shall +not give them up for another half hour." + +The firing was now abating, and presently died away completely; +except for a few scattered shots, showing that the allies had been +halted where they stood, and were no longer pressing forward. +Another hour passed, and Desmond's comrades were still absent. + +In the meantime, the general had called together the colonels of +the several regiments, had explained the situation to them, and +repeated Vendome's orders. The news came like a thunderbolt upon +them, for the din of firing round the village had completely +deadened all distant sound, and they were wholly unaware of what +was passing in other parts of the field. + +"I must leave the matter to your individual discretion," the +general said. "Those of you who think your men can be relied on, +can try to escape and join the marshal in a body. Those who have +not that confidence in their regiments--and indeed some of these +have been almost annihilated--had best tell them to scatter. Those +who remain here will assuredly be made prisoners in the morning. + +"It is possible that that may be the better plan, for it is better +to surrender than to be cut to pieces. I therefore leave the +matter entirely in your hands. I myself shall remain here. We have +done all that men can do in the way of fighting, and, as I was +told to hold this place till the last, I shall remain at my post." + +Desmond was present when this conversation took place. + +"We will wait another hour, Mike," he said, as he rejoined his +follower. "We may be sure that the greater part of the enemy's +troops will be asleep by that time. They must have made a +tremendous march, for the news last night was that they were +twenty miles away; and they have been fighting twelve hours. After +such work as that, the men will drop down to sleep as soon as they +have halted." + +"Shall we go on horse or on foot, your honour?" + +"I think the best plan will be to lead our horses, Mike, across +this country. It would seem natural to do so, and once through +them, we could then gallop round and join the troops on the +plateau." + +"I should say, sir, that if I were to steal out to where they have +been fighting for the last six hours, I might get a couple of +uniforms to put over our own. They will be lying thick enough +there, poor chaps. If we had them on, we might pass through any +troops we might meet, as we both speak English." + +"That is a good idea, Mike, if you can carry it out." + +"Sure I can do that, and without difficulty, your honour. I expect +the enemy have drawn back a little, so as to be in some sort of +order if we were to fall upon them in the night; and I know that +all our men have been recalled. I will fasten the horses to this +tree, and perhaps your honour will keep an eye on them." + +"I will stay with them, Mike." + +The soldier at once made off. The village was now crowded with +troops. All order was at an end, and the regiments were +considerably mixed up. The officers went among them, saying that +an attempt was going to be made to pass through the enemy, and +join the force on the plateau. They pointed out that there was at +least as much hope in being able to do so as in making off singly. + +Many of the soldiers, not having themselves suffered defeat, +responded to the call; and several bodies, four or five hundred +strong, marched out into the darkness. The majority, however, +decided to shift for themselves, and stole away in threes and +fours. Of those that remained, some broke into the village wine +and beer shops and drank to stupefaction; while others, exhausted +by the efforts of the day, threw themselves down and slept. + +Mike was away half an hour. + +"I have got an officer's cloak for you, and a helmet with +feathers. I think he must have been a staff officer, who was +killed while delivering his orders. I have got a soldier's +overcoat and shako for myself." + +"Capital, Mike! Now I think that we can venture, and we will go +the shortest way. We might very well lose ourselves among these +hills, if we were to try to make a circuit." + +Having put the Dutch uniforms over their own, they set out, taking +the way to the left until they came to the main road by which the +British reserve had advanced. Then they mounted their horses. + +"It is no use trying to make our way through the broken ground, +Mike. There is another road that goes through Huerne. We will +strike that, and must so get round on the right of the enemy. Even +if we come upon them, we are not likely to excite suspicion, as we +shall be on a road leading from Oudenarde. + +"I was noticing that road from the height. It runs into this +again, near Mullen, and the enemy are not likely to have posted +themselves so near to the river." + +They rode on through Huerne. The village was full of wounded. No +one paid them any attention, and they again went on, until +suddenly they were challenged with the usual "Who comes there?" + +"A staff officer, with despatches," Desmond replied. + +He heard the butt of the soldier's musket drop upon the ground, +and rode forward. + +"Can you tell me, my man," he said as he reached the sentinel, +"where the Duke of Marlborough is to be found?" + +"I don't know, sir," the man replied. "Only our regiment is here. +I know there are a number of cavalry away there on the left, and I +heard someone say that the duke himself was there. There is a +crossroad, a hundred yards farther on, which will lead you to +them." + +Thanking the man, Desmond rode on. A few bivouac fires had been +lighted, and these were already beginning to burn low, the troops +having dropped asleep almost as soon as they halted. + +"I hope we shall meet no more of them, Mike," Desmond said, as +they went on at a brisk trot. "I sha'n't feel quite safe till we +get to Mullen." + +They met, however, with no further interruption. As they crossed +the bridge, they halted, took off the borrowed uniforms, threw +away the headgear and put on their own hats, which they carried +under their cloaks, and then rode on up the hill, after having +first satisfied the officer commanding a strong guard placed at +the bridge that they were friends. + +Another ten minutes, and they were upon the plateau. Desmond had +no difficulty in finding out where the headquarters were +established at Hayse, and, riding there, he at once went into the +house occupied by Berwick, and reported his return. + +"I am glad to see you back again, Kennedy," the duke said, +heartily. "It is something to have recovered one friend from the +wreck. Now, what is your news?" + +Desmond related what had happened to him from the time he left, +and said that a large proportion of the troops at Diepenbeck had +already left, and, as he heard no outburst of firing, he hoped +most of them had got safely away. + +"I see you are wounded." + +"I have had my wrist smashed with a musket ball, fired by a party +on a hill to the right, belonging, I suppose, to the force that +came up from Oycke." + +"You had a narrow escape of your life," Berwick said. "If you had +been hit a little farther back, the ball would have gone through +your body. Sit down at once. I will send for my surgeon." + +And he instantly gave orders for the surgeon of the staff to come +to his tent, and then made Desmond, who was suffering terribly +from the agony of the wound, drink a tumbler of wine. + +"I know you are all busy, doctor," the duke said, as the surgeon +entered, "but you must do something for Mr. Kennedy, who is badly +wounded in the arm." + +The surgeon examined the wound, and shook his head. + +"Both bones are fractured," he said, "and I am afraid that there +is nothing for it but amputation." + +"Then leave it till tomorrow, doctor," Desmond said faintly. +"There must be a number of poor fellows who want your attention +much more than I do." + +"That would do, if I could make you a cradle, but we are badly off +for all surgical appliances." + +"Could you cut one out of one of my jack boots?" + +"A capital idea, Mr. Kennedy. Nothing could be better. And I will +put it in operation, at once, with some of my other patients." + +"Mr. Kennedy is full of expedients, doctor, and it seems to me +that this may be really a valuable one. All the cavalry men have +jack boots, and I will give you an order to requisition as many as +may be required. The men can get new ones from the stores at +Ghent." + +The surgeon at once cut off the foot of one of Desmond's boots, +and then divided the leg longways. "There," he said, taking up one +of the halves; "you could not wish for a better cradle." + +He took out some lint that he had brought with him, together with +some flat splints, bound the hand in its proper position, and then +laid the arm from the elbow to the fingers in the cradle, round +which he tightly put a few bandages to keep it in position. + +"Now for your scarf," he said, and with this made a sling to +support the arm. + +The whole operation did not take five minutes. + +"Now, Mr. Kennedy, you had best lie down and get what sleep you +can. I will take the other half of your boot, and the other boot +also. It will be no use without its fellow. It will make three +wounded men comparatively comfortable, and I will send for some +more from the troopers." + +"Yes, lie down at once, Kennedy," Berwick said. "We are going to +march off at daybreak, and the marshal and I have arranged +everything between ourselves. You had better try and eat +something, if it is only a wing of that chicken and a few +mouthfuls of meat. Your faintness must be due as much to hunger as +to your wound, for you have been at work since early morning, and +cannot have had time to eat anything." + +This was indeed the case, and Desmond managed to swallow a few +mouthfuls, and then lay down upon the sofa, where, in spite of the +pain of his wound, he presently dozed off, being utterly worn out +with the work and excitement of the day. + +Before morning, some five thousand of the troops from Diepenbeck +had marched into the camp, in good order and with their arms, and +as soon as it was daylight the whole force started for Ghent. With +deep regret, Desmond had learned from the marshal, before lying +down, that none of his comrades had returned; and as they had not +reached Diepenbeck, he felt sure that they were either killed or +prisoners. + +"D'Eyncourt will, of course, be treated as a prisoner of war; but +if the identity of O'Sullivan or O'Neil is proved with the +officers of that name who escaped from Newgate, it is likely to go +hard with him." + +After repulsing the cavalry sent in pursuit, the army marched away +unmolested, being joined as they went by large numbers of +fugitives, who had made their way through the allied lines in +small parties. Marlborough's army remained on the ground they had +won, collecting and caring for the wounded of both armies. + +Two days later, Berwick's corps joined Vendome, and that of Eugene +marched into Marlborough's camp. In spite of the loss that he had +suffered at Oudenarde, this reinforcement raised Vendome's army to +over one hundred and ten thousand men, which was about the same +force as Marlborough had under his command. + +After Eugene had joined him, standing as he did between Vendome's +army and Paris, Marlborough proposed that the enemy's fortresses +should be neglected, and that the army should march directly on +Paris. The movement might have been attended with success, but was +of so daring a description that even Eugene opposed it, while the +commanders of the Dutch, Danes, and Prussians were unanimously +against it; and he consequently decided to lay siege to Lille--a +tremendous undertaking, for Lille was considered the strongest +fortress in France, and Vendome, with over a hundred thousand men, +was within a couple of days' march of it. + +His dispositions were made with extreme care, and a tremendous +convoy of heavy artillery, ammunition, and provisions was brought +up from Ostend, without the French being able to interfere with +its progress. Marlborough, with his British contingent and the +Hanoverians, was to cover the operations of the siege, which was +to be undertaken by Prince Eugene with the rest of the allied +army. + +Vendome marched at once with his army, and, making a circuit, +placed himself between Lille and Paris, deserting his recent +conquests in Ypres, Ghent, and Bruges, all of which fell into the +hands of the allies. + + + +Chapter 13: Convalescent. + + +Desmond was not present with the French army, for many hours after +their arrival at Ghent. He suffered intense pain on the ride +thither, and was then taken to a hospital that had been hastily +formed for the reception of wounded officers. Here the surgeons +had agreed that there was nothing for it, but to amputate the arm +halfway between the wrist and the elbow. The limb was already +greatly swollen. + +"Under ordinary circumstances," the surgeon said, "we should wait +until we had reduced the inflammation, but this might be a matter +of a week or ten days, and there is no time to spare, as the army +will probably march away in a few days, and travel would increase +the inflammation to such an extent that your life might be +sacrificed." + +"I would rather have it taken off at once, doctor," Desmond said. +"The operation cannot hurt very much more than the arm is hurting +already, and the sooner it is over, the better." + +Surgery was in its infancy at that time. Anesthetics were undreamt +of; but the surgeons of the French army had large experience, and +the operation was very skilfully performed, for the time. The +stump was then seared with a hot iron. + +"You have stood it well," the surgeon said, for, except when the +iron was applied to the wound, no groan had issued from Desmond's +lips. "Now, your servant must keep these dressings continually +soaked with water, and, in a few days, we may hope that you will +be able to travel in a waggon without danger." + +When the army marched away a week later, Desmond was placed in a +waggon, half filled with hay, with several other wounded officers. +At Arras, where there was a large military hospital, he was kept +for a few days, and then sent on to Amiens, only the most severe +cases being retained at Arras, as another engagement might take +place at any moment, and the resources of the town would be taxed +to the utmost. He gained strength very slowly, and it was six +weeks before the surgeons pronounced him to be sufficiently +convalescent to be moved. + +"It would," they said, "be probably some months before he would be +fit to return to active service." + +He was sitting, looking listlessly out of the window of the +chamber that he and three other officers occupied, when Mike came +in, followed, to Desmond's intense surprise, by Monsieur de la +Vallee. + +"My dear Desmond," the latter exclaimed, hurrying forward and +grasping his hand, "you must have thought that we had all +forgotten you." + +"Indeed, I never thought anything of the kind, Philip. I did not +suppose that you had ever heard of me, since we parted at +Moulins." + +"News travels but slowly, but we did hear that fifteen subalterns +of O'Brien's regiment were captured in the Salisbury. I wrote to a +friend in Paris, and he told me that you were among the number, +but that, on making enquiries, he found you had, in some manner or +other, effected your escape, and that you and two other officers +had had an audience with the king, and had then gone to the +northern frontier on the staff of the Duke of Berwick. I wrote +begging him to get, if possible, a sight of the despatches, and if +your name appeared, to let us know. Ten days ago, I received a +letter from him, to say that you had been wounded at Oudenarde. +The Duke of Berwick had, in his private despatch to the king, +mentioned your name with very high praise, saying that it was due +to you, alone, that so many of the troops hemmed in at some +village or other--I forget its name--managed to make their escape +during the night, for, although he sent off four aides-de-camp +with orders, you alone managed to get through the enemy, though +wounded by a bullet which had caused you the loss of your hand. He +said he had written to the chief surgeon on Berwick's staff, who +was a personal friend of his, to ascertain, if possible, where you +were. Of course, I set out as soon as I received his letter." + +"What! Have you ridden all the way from the south of France to +come to me, Philip?" + +"Of course I have, and should have ridden all across Europe, if it +had been necessary. I went round by Pointdexter. The baron is laid +up with an attack of gout, or he would have accompanied me. He +sent all sorts of messages, and so did Anne, and the latter +informed me that I need not show my face at the chateau again, +until I came accompanied by you. When I reached Paris my friend +had learned from the surgeon that you were at Amiens, and so, here +I am. + +"I met your faithful Mike at the gate of the hospital. I was glad, +indeed, to see that he had come out unharmed from that terrible +fight. When I told him I had come to take you away, he almost +cried with joy." + +"It will be the saving of him," he said. "He has been going down +the hill for the last fortnight, and it is change and good nursing +he wants." + +"He will get good nursing, I warrant," I said, "and the soft air +of the south will soon set him up." + +"It is wonderfully kind of you, Philip; but I am sure I am not +strong enough to ride." + +"No one is thinking of your riding, at present, Desmond. I have +brought down a horse litter with me, and four of my men, with the +quietest horses on the estate, and all you have to do is to lie +down in it, and talk with me whenever you are disposed. You have a +whole batch of adventures to tell me." + +"I feel better already, Philip. I own that I have been downhearted +of late, for it seemed to me that I should be an invalid for +months, and be living in Paris without a friend except Mike, for +all the regiments of the Brigade are either with Vendome or in +Spain. The sight of your face, and the thought of your kindness, +so cheers me that I feel capable of anything." + +"Well, we will start tomorrow morning, Desmond. I shall go at once +and see the director of the hospital, and get an order for your +discharge." + +The next morning they set out. Desmond had to be assisted +downstairs. There he was laid on a litter, packed with soft rugs. +This was raised and placed between two horses, ridden by two of de +la Vallee's men. De la Vallee himself took his place by the side +of the litter, Mike rode on ahead leading Desmond's charger, and +the other two servants fell to the rear, in readiness to change +with those bearing the litter, when half the day's journey was +done. + +Seeing that the exertion of being moved had exhausted his friend, +de la Vallee rode for some time in silence. Then, when Desmond +opened his eyes and smiled at him, he said: + +"I hope you are feeling comfortable?" + +"Perfectly. I hardly feel any motion." + +Every care had been taken to prevent jolting. The poles of the +litter were unusually long, thus adding to their elasticity. The +ends passed through leathern loops suspended from the saddle; and +were, at this point, covered with a thick wrapping of flannel +bandages, which aided in minimizing the effect of any jar. The +first day's journey was performed at a walking pace, and they +reached Beauvais, twenty-five miles being accomplished. + +The fresh air and the slight easy motion were beneficial, and in +the afternoon, Desmond was able to talk cheerfully with his +friend. There was, however, no continued conversation, Philip +saying he would ask no questions about Desmond's doings until he +was stronger. His story had better be told while sitting quietly +in a room, where it would not be necessary, as it was on the road, +for the voice to be raised. + +In the evening, however, after partaking of supper, Desmond, +without being asked, related the incidents, so far as he knew +them, of the battle of Oudenarde, and of the manner in which he +received his wound. + +"The whole disaster was due entirely to the Duke of Burgundy, or +rather to the king, who placed him in command over two generals of +the highest skill and reputation. If he had wanted to accompany +the army, Burgundy should have done so just as our King James did, +merely as a volunteer. + +"I am told that the king showed great courage in the battle. For +my part, I think his presence was altogether a mistake. He claims +that the English are his subjects, and yet he takes part with a +foreign army in battle against them. His being present will +certainly not add to his popularity in England." + +"I agree with you," de la Vallee said. "It would have been much +wiser for him to have abstained, altogether, from interference in +the matter. It was, of course, a different thing when he attempted +to land in Scotland. Then he would have been leading the loyal +portion of his subjects, against those whom he considers rebels +against his authority. That was quite a different thing from +acting, without cause or reason, as a volunteer in the French +army, against those whom he regards as his countrymen and +subjects. + +"I am afraid, Desmond, that, though it may shock you to think so, +these Stuart princes of yours are not wise men. Legitimate +monarchs of England though they may be, they do not possess the +qualities that endear kings to their people. From what I have +heard, James was a heavy pedant, a rank coward, essentially not a +man to be popular among a spirited people. Charles had a noble +presence and many fine qualities. But, although his ideas of +kingly power would have suited us well enough in France, his +arbitrary measures alienated a large proportion of his people, and +brought ruin upon him. + +"Your second Charles, in spite of his numerous indiscretions, was +not unpopular, because the people were wearied of the stern +repression of Puritan rule, and were therefore disposed to look +leniently upon his frailties, while they appreciated his good +temper and wit. His fatal mistake was allying himself so closely +with us--a grievous mistake, indeed, when we remember that for +centuries the two nations had been bitterly opposed to each other. +As for his brother, he forfeited his throne by his leanings +towards the Catholic Church, in whose communion he died. +Decidedly, the Stuart kings were not a success. + +"As to James the Third, as you call him, I know nothing beyond the +fact that he is a protege of the king of France, and has now +fought against his own people--a blunder, as it seems to me, of +the worst kind, and one which is certain to alienate many of his +supporters on the other side of the water. Were he to mount the +throne, it would be partly due to the aid of French troops and +French money--men and money, mind you, of a power at war with +England! He would therefore, necessarily, like Charles the Second, +be regarded as a protege of France. He would be bound in gratitude +to Louis, and the position of England would be altogether changed. +She would become the ally of Spain and France, her ancient +enemies; and opponent of her present allies, Holland, Austria, +Protestant Germany, and Denmark." + +Desmond was silent. He could not but agree with what his friend +said, and had himself considered that it was a most unwise step +for James to appear in the field, fighting against his countrymen. + +"I don't think I am strong enough to argue, Philip," he said with +a smile, after a long pause, "and I don't mean to give you a +victory, when I am fighting under disadvantages. The Stuarts +certainly never did any special benefit to Ireland, and assuredly +brought ruin and misery upon us; and at the present moment, I +don't seem able to explain why we should be so devoted to the +cause of these Scottish Stuarts, rather than to that of Anne, who +is, after all, of the same family and race. However, we will fight +it out when my brain is not so dull as it is at present." + +They slept the next night at Pontoise, having made a somewhat +short journey, though Desmond protested that he felt quite equal +to going on to Paris. + +"You are a good deal better today, Desmond, but there is no hurry, +and we will take matters quietly. If you continue to make +improvement we shall be able, in another day or two, to travel +faster; and I hope that, before we get to the end of our journey, +you will be strong enough to sit your horse for a few miles each +day." + +They made no stay in Paris, but proceeded on their way, the +morning after their arrival. Melun and Montargis were their next +halting places. Desmond was gaining strength rapidly. His good +spirits were returning, and at their evening halt, he had been +able to recite the history of his escape from England. His wound +had a less angry appearance, and on the day of their leaving +Montargis the horses, at his request, occasionally broke into a +trot for a mile or two. + +"You are looking paler. I think the motion is too much for you," +Philip said after one of these occasions, when they again settled +down to a walking pace. + +"I feel a bit tired, Philip, but one must make a beginning, and I +shall never get strong unless I begin to use my muscles. At +present, I acknowledge I feel as if I had been beaten all over +with sticks, but I have no doubt that I shall shake this off, +after a bit." + +This was indeed the case, and on the last three days of their +journey to Pointdexter, he sat his horse for two or three hours. +Philip had, on the last day, sent on one of his men to inform the +baron that he would arrive that evening with Desmond, and as they +were seen approaching, the baron and his daughter came out from +the chateau, and welcomed them as they alighted. + +"Do not upset the young fellow by appearing shocked at his +appearance," the former had said to Anne. "It was certainly a +blow, this morning, to hear that he had lost his left hand, and +that the greater portion of the journey had had to be performed in +a litter, so you must expect to find him greatly pulled down. But +see, they are breaking into a trot, so he has evidently gained +strength on the way." + +In spite of the warning, the girl's eyes filled with tears as she +saw Desmond's thin face and wasted figure, and his left arm in a +sling. + +"Welcome to Pointdexter, Monsieur Kennedy! Many have entered here, +since the old chateau was built, but none who have rendered such +vital service to our race. Do not try to speak. I see that you are +shaken with your journey. We will soon put that all right." + +"It has been a rather longer journey than we have previously +made," Desmond said, after dismounting and shaking hands with the +baron and his daughter, "and we rode somewhat faster than usual, +as we were both of us anxious to be here. It was good, indeed, of +Philip to make such a journey to find and bring me to you." + +"If he had not done so, assuredly we should. My foot was so bad, +with this villainous gout, that I could not put it in a stirrup, +but we should have had out the family coach. I had half a mind to +do so as it was, and Anne was most anxious to try her powers of +nursing, but Philip overruled us, and said that he would be with +you a week earlier than we could reach you in the coach, and that, +moreover, he was sure the journey in an open horse litter would be +far better for you than being jolted in a close carriage. So, as +usual, he had his own way; though I must say that, for once, Anne +rebelled strongly against his authority." + +"You are all very good, Baron," Desmond said; "but, indeed, I +think that Philip was right. I can assure you that the journey has +done me an immense deal of good, and he will tell you that I am +very different, now, from what I was when he found me at Amiens, +for I had begun to think that I should never get away alive." + +"Do not let us stay talking here," the baron said. "Anne has had +some soup prepared for you, under her own eyes; and that, and a +glass or two of good Burgundy, will do wonders for you." + +Desmond, indeed, was greatly revived, and was able to join in a +cheerful conversation with his hosts. + +"We are both dying to hear your adventures," the baron said, "and +how you managed to escape from that jail in England, as you did, +and also how it was that we met with that dreadful disaster at +Oudenarde. It really seems that those terrible fellows, +Marlborough and Prince Eugene, are invincible." + +"They are good generals, Baron. Beyond troubles with the +commanders of the forces of their allies, they are able to carry +out their own plans. The Dukes of Vendome and Berwick are also +able commanders, but they were hampered by the presence of the +Duke of Burgundy, who, on several occasions, overruled their +opinions and ruined their plans. It is to him, alone, that the +defeat at Oudenarde is due. The French soldiers fought as well as +ever, and it was the position in which they were placed, and not +the superior fighting powers of the enemy, that caused their +defeat." + +"But how is it," the baron asked, "that with, as I hear, one +hundred and ten thousand men, Vendome does not raise the siege of +Lille? It seems incredible that, with so great a force, he should +remain inactive while the enemy are carrying out their works for +the siege." + +"That I cannot tell you, sir. We heard all sorts of rumours at +Amiens, but it seems that Marlborough had taken up a strong +position, and entrenched himself there with seventy thousand men, +while Eugene is conducting the siege operations." + +"I don't understand it," the baron said, irritably. "There must be +more ways of marching to Lille than one. If one road is barred, +why not advance by another? The Duke of Burgundy is not with the +army now, so the blame cannot be put on him." + +"No, sir; but Berwick's army is still, as I hear, under his +independent command, and the duke, excellent soldier as he is, is +not one to be easily led. If his opinion differs from that of +Vendome, he would assuredly maintain it; and as his manner is not +conciliatory, and his opinions are very strongly expressed, it may +well be that there are, as was rumoured at Amiens, constant +dissensions between him and Vendome." + +"Well, it seems to me very strange, Monsieur Kennedy, after having +during the last reign defeated the best infantry of Spain, humbled +Austria, subdued Bavaria, crushed the enemy in Italy, and shown +ourselves to be the best soldiers in Europe; that we should now +suffer defeat after defeat, by an army containing men of half a +score of nationalities, though led by the greatest general that +England has ever produced." + +"And, Baron, with English troops under him who have, for hundreds +of years, shown themselves invincible!" + +"Yes, yes," the baron said, hastily. "We know all about Crecy, +Poitiers, and Agincourt; and how well they fought in Holland; but +I thought, Kennedy, that you were the enemy of the English, and +were here with your brave countrymen to fight against them." + +"Not in my case, assuredly, Baron. I came over here because there +is no opening for Irish gentlemen at home, and because only by the +aid of France could our lawful king be placed on the throne. It is +true that a section of the English people, under Oliver Cromwell, +not only conquered us, but divided a great portion of our land +among themselves; and, although we were again defeated by a +usurping Dutch king, with the Dutch troops under his command, that +is no reason why I should feel any animosity to the people at +large, whose qualities I admire, and the majority of whom are, in +their hearts, attached to the cause of the Stuarts, and hate those +who are keeping the king from his throne. I own that I would +rather that it had fallen to my lot to fight for France against +Spaniards, Germans, and Italians, than against the English." + +"Did you lose many friends at Oudenarde, Monsieur Kennedy?" Anne +asked. + +"I lost my two greatest friends," Desmond said. "At least, I fear +that both are dead. They were the two who escaped with me from the +English prison. They, with Monsieur d'Eyncourt, another of +Berwick's aides-de-camp, started with me to carry orders to the +troops, who were all but surrounded by the enemy. We went by +different roads, to increase the chances of one of us getting +there. + +"I succeeded with but this comparatively trifling wound," and he +pointed to his empty sleeve, "but none of the other three got +through, nor did their names appear when the lists were exchanged +of the prisoners captured. Therefore, I have no doubt that all +fell in the performance of their duty. We had been great friends, +ever since I came out, and their loss has greatly affected me." + +"You are young, and will find fresh friends," the baron said, +briskly. "Do not let us dwell on the past. You have now to apply +all your energy to getting strong, and if you show as much vigour +in that, as in other matters, I hope that in a month's time you +will be well on the road towards complete recovery." + +"I mean to try hard, Baron," Desmond said, with a smile. "If I +continue to gain strength as quickly as I have done during the +journey, I shall certainly insist, before long, on being +considered convalescent." + +Day by day, indeed, his strength increased. At first he wandered +about in the park, accompanied by Philip and Anne, for the baron, +although somewhat recovered from his attack of gout, still walked +with difficulty. In a week, he again took to horse exercise, and +was ere long able to join in hunting and hawking parties. + +The house was gay, for the baron, as soon as Desmond was able to take +his share in conversation, invited many of the neighbouring gentry to +the chateau, and introduced him to them as the man who had done so +much for his daughter and himself. Several entertainments were given, +at which the chateau was thrown open to all comers, in honour partly +of Desmond and partly of the approaching marriage of the baron's +daughter to Monsieur de la Vallee. + +This had been arranged to take place in September. Before that +time arrived, Desmond had completely recovered his strength, and +being now fit for service, was anxious to join. But his friends +would not hear of his departure until after the marriage; and as +news came that Lille had been captured by the allies, and it was +certain that both armies would soon go into winter quarters, and +would fight no more that year, he allowed himself to be persuaded +to stay. + +The siege had been one of the most terrible in history. The place +was nobly defended, and its conquest cost the allies dearly, +twelve thousand being killed and wounded, and over seven thousand +succumbing to diseases; while of the garrison, nearly seventeen +thousand strong, but four thousand five hundred remained alive at +the time it capitulated. Its fall caused general consternation +throughout France, for it opened the road to Paris, and during the +winter Louis made strenuous efforts to obtain peace; but the terms +demanded by the allies were so onerous that the negotiations were +broken off. + +In spite of the general distress throughout the country, the +wedding was a gay one. + +Desmond had written to the Duke of Berwick, who was now in Paris, +saying that he was fit for duty, and would report himself at the +end of the month; and, on the day before he was about to leave +Pointdexter, he received a reply from him. + +It ran as follows: + +Dear Monsieur Kennedy: + +I am heartily glad to hear of your restoration to health. I +mentioned you to His Majesty today, who was pleased to speak very +highly of you. + +The campaign is virtually at an end, for the present year. His +Majesty has informed me that various changes will be made in the +spring. Marshal de Villars is to replace the Duke of Vendome in +the command of the northern army. The latter has been unfortunate, +and misfortune on the part of a soldier is regarded as next door +to a crime. Certainly the defeat at Oudenarde was not his fault, +but had he taken my advice, Lille might have been saved. Doubtless +he was as much dissatisfied with me as I was with him, and perhaps +with reason; for, as you know, I am not accustomed to mince my +phrases. However, as His Majesty was pleased to say, it is evident +that having two generals acting together, each with an independent +command, is a mistake, and one that should not be again committed. +Therefore, next spring I am to take the command of an army in +Dauphiny, and to check the Austrians and Italians. + +He said, "If you can spare him, Duke, I should be glad if you +would let me have this young Irishman for a time. I shall promote +him to the rank of captain, for the great service he rendered in +carrying, as you say, at grievous risk and with the loss of his +hand, the order to the troops at Diepenbeck to scatter during the +night, thus saving me at least ten thousand of my soldiers. I +shall also settle upon him a pension of fifty louis a year, for +the loss of his hand. I will send him to Spain, having had several +complaints from the Duke of Orleans" (who, as you know, is now in +command there) "of the incompetence of many of his staff". + +I said that, although I had found you a most zealous and useful +officer, and had a warm regard for you, I would of course accede +to His Majesty's wishes in the matter. Enclosed in this letter is +the order for you to join the Duke of Orleans, and a private +letter from myself to the duke, giving a sketch of your services +and exploits, which will doubtless give you, at once, a place in +his favour. + +I do not think that this war will last very much longer. France is +well-nigh ruined by the sacrifices she has made, and the drain +upon the allies must be almost as great. Therefore, I trust that +another campaign will bring it to an end. If not, you may be +assured that when the duke no longer requires your services--and +it is probable that, after a year's campaigning, he will be +heartily tired with the difficulties that he, as I did, will meet +with from the procrastination and general stupidity of the +Spanish--you will be free to return to me, and I shall be glad to +number you again among the members of my staff. + +Desmond was sorry to leave the service of the duke, but consoled +himself with the hope that it would be only temporary; and the +prospect of a year's campaigning, in a new country, was by no +means displeasing to him. Therefore, after writing a suitable +letter to the duke, he took leave of the Baron Pointdexter, with +many thanks for his kindness, and, attended by Mike, started for +Spain. + +"It's glad I am to be on the move again, Captain Kennedy," the +soldier said, as they rode away. "Sure, your honour, idleness is +not good for a man, especially when he has lashings of the best of +food and drink. When I came to buckle on my sword belt, this +morning, I found it would not meet within three inches, and the +coatee is so tight that I feel as if I was suffocated." + +"You will soon work it down again, Mike. From what I hear of +Spain, there is no fear of your getting too much food there. Rough +work and small rations are, I hear, the rule." + +"I am ready for a good spell then, your honour. I hardly know +myself now, for I am flabby and short of wind. Still, I am sorry +to leave the chateau, for I have had the best time I ever had, in +my life. Everyone was mighty kind, and seemed to think that I had +done great things in helping to rescue Miss Anne, whereas I did +nothing at all, except to follow you." + + + +Chapter 14: A Mission. + + +On arriving at Madrid in the first week in December, 1708, +Desmond, after putting up at an hotel, and changing the uniform in +which he travelled for his dress suit, proceeded to the +headquarters of the Duke of Orleans, and sent in his name, +together with Berwick's letter of introduction. In a few minutes +he was shown into his room. The duke looked at him in some +surprise. + +"Are you Captain Kennedy?" + +"I am, Your Royal Highness." + +"The Duke of Berwick has very strongly recommended you to me, +saying that you had performed excellent service under him, and +that he parted with you, with regret, at the express wish of His +Majesty. He speaks of you as a young officer, but I was hardly +prepared to see one so youthful. He says that you are devoted to +your work, active and intelligent as well as brave; and as such +your arrival is very welcome to me, for although excellent in +battle, I own that my officers are less devoted to the hard work +and detail that are as necessary as bravery on a general's staff. + +"By the way, I seem to have heard your name before. Let me see, it +was in connection, was it not, with that affair of the Marquis de +Tulle and Baron de Pointdexter's daughter?" + +"I certainly had the good fortune to take part in that affair, +sir." + +"The king himself was pleased to tell me the details of that +adventure, and to speak very highly of your courage and energy in +carrying it out. And so, you are really the hero of that affair? +He said that you were a young ensign in O'Brien's Irish regiment. +You have risen rapidly, sir, for it is but eighteen months since +it took place." + +"His Majesty graciously promoted me to the rank of lieutenant when +I was appointed by the Duke of Berwick to his staff. I obtained my +next step after the battle of Oudenarde, for carrying a despatch +to the force cut off in the village of Diepenbeck, in which +service I received a wound which resulted in the loss of my left +hand. I was several weeks in hospital, and then obtained sick +leave and went down for two months to Baron de Pointdexter, which +visit resulted in my complete restoration to health. At the end of +that time the Duke of Berwick, who had also returned from the +army, was good enough to recommend me to His Majesty, and he +thereupon promoted me and appointed me to join your staff." + +"If Marshal Berwick spoke approvingly of your conduct, Captain +Kennedy, it is in itself a sufficient recommendation, for the duke +is not easily satisfied. I am sure that I shall find you a +valuable acquisition to my staff." + +The duke invited Desmond to dine with him that evening, and +presented him to several of his staff who were among the company. +These were, for the most part, personal friends and associates of +the duke; gallant gentlemen, but wholly ignorant of war, and +adverse to hard work, and it was not long before Desmond found +that his services were called into requisition whenever it was +necessary that a despatch should be carried to a distance. He was +by no means sorry that this should be the case, for he soon tired +of the stiffness and ceremony of the Spanish Court, and of the +conversation (chiefly relating to ladies in Paris, whose very +names were unknown to him) among the French officers, and it was a +relief to him, indeed, when he could get away from attendance at +headquarters, and enjoy an evening's talk with the officers of one +or other of the four Irish regiments there. + +Many of these expeditions were attended by considerable danger, +for the wars that had for some years devastated the country had +resulted in general disorder. Armed bands, under the pretence of +acting in the interest of one claimant or other to the throne, +traversed the country, pillaging the villages, driving off flocks +and herds to the mountains, and ruthlessly slaying any who +ventured to offer the smallest opposition. Catalonia and Valencia +had been the scene of the greater portion of the conflicts between +the rival claimants. Throughout the rest of the country the +population looked on apathetically at the struggle for mastery, +caring but little which of the two foreign princes reigned over +them; but, in the out-of-the-way districts, the wilder spirits +left their homes in numbers, enticed by the prospects of plunder, +under the leading of one or other of the partisan chiefs. + +Desmond had, from the moment of his arrival, spent the greater +portion of his spare time in the study of Spanish, and, aided much +by his knowledge of French, had made rapid progress, and in three +months was able to converse fairly in it. It was, indeed, +essential for his work, as without it he could not have made his +way about, and safely delivered the orders of which he was the +bearer. + +In the beginning of March, the duke sent for him. + +"I have been greatly pleased, Captain Kennedy, with the activity +that you have displayed, and am going to make a further call upon +you. This mission is of greater importance than any on which you +have hitherto been engaged, and is one which, ordinarily, would be +entrusted to an officer of higher rank; but I feel that I cannot +do better than place it in your hands. From what we learn, I +believe that it is the intention of the enemy to commence the +campaign by crossing the frontier, near Badajos. By so doing, they +can either follow the valley of the Guadiana to the sources of the +river, and then come down into Valencia; or they could cross the +sierras, come down into the valley of the Tagus, and march on +Madrid. + +"In the first place, I wish a report as to the state of the +fortifications of Badajos, and the efficiency of its garrison. I +am, of course, acquainted with the official reports, sent by the +Spanish commander of the town to his Government, but I have come +to place no faith whatever in Spanish reports, which, for the most +part, are a tissue of falsehoods. Your first duty, then, will be +to give me as complete a report as possible of the state of things +there; of your impressions of the capacity of the governor, as +shown by his preparations; also of the morale of the troops. In +the next place, I shall be glad of any information you can gather +of the country beyond the frontier, and the state of the roads in +all that neighbourhood. Here, again, the native reports are +absolutely untrustworthy. The line of the enemy's advance would be +either direct from Lisbon through Vicosa, or up the Tagus, which +offers them great facilities for carriage, and down through +Portalegre and Alvas. + +"During the past four years, there has been a good deal of +fighting near the frontier, but the reports of the officers +commanding the Spanish forces there are devoid of any practical +information as to the roads on our side of the boundary. As it has +been resolved to give the enemy battle, as soon as he crosses the +frontier, it is most important that I should know the best lines +by which troops can move, the state of the bridges, and the +positions in which a battle on a large scale can best be fought. + +"You see, the mission is an important one, and I selected you for +it as a proof of the confidence I feel in your ability. While +carrying out this duty you shall have the temporary rank of major, +as it will less ruffle the susceptibility of the Spaniards, if an +officer of that rank be employed, than if a captain be sent to +institute such enquiries. + +"You will, of course, be provided with a letter to the Governor of +Badajos, couched in such terms that he will not consider your +mission has any reference to himself, its object being to discover +whether the magazines at Badajos are sufficiently well supplied to +admit of their being, if necessary, drawn upon for the subsistence +of the army; also, whether the garrison needs strengthening, in +case the enemy should lay siege to the town before our army is at +hand to give battle. Thus you will ostensibly confine your +enquiries to the amount of provisions and ammunition, and consult +the governor as to whether he considers the force at his disposal +sufficient for the defence of the fortress against a vigorous +attack. Fortunately, the Spanish methods are so slow that, before +you get these particulars, you will have ample time to ascertain +the points as to which I am chiefly concerned. + +"You will be furnished with a native guide, well acquainted with +the passes of the sierras between the Tagus and the Guadiana. This +part of your journey will not be unattended with danger, for the +mountains swarm with bands of partisans; that is to say, bandits. +I shall, however, give you an order, to the officer in command of +the garrison at Toledo, to furnish you with an escort of ten +troopers under an officer, to conduct you across the mountains. +Four of these will accompany you to Badajos, and remain with you +until you return to Toledo. Once in the valley of the Guadiana, +you should have little chance of falling in with any bands of +guerrillas, but an escort will add to your weight and importance +in the eyes of the Spaniards." + +"I feel greatly honoured, Your Royal Highness, by your selecting +me for the mission, and will carry it out to the best of my +ability." + +"In an hour the papers will be ready for you, and you can start at +daybreak tomorrow." + +"We are going on a long trip this time, Mike." + +"Back to France, your honour?" + +"No; we are going to the western frontier, by Badajos." + +"It makes no difference to me, sir, where we are going; but, in +truth, I shall be glad to go anywhere, for I am mightily sick of +this town, where the people have no great love for the French, and +the best part of them seem to look down upon us soldiers, as if we +were dirt under their feet. It is unsafe to go through the streets +alone at night. A score of men have, since we came here, been +found lying dead with a knife between their ribs." + +"Yes; the population here is very much divided, Mike, and even those +who are favourable to Philip have no love for the foreign soldiers +whose bayonets keep him on the throne. The duke has, many times, +made formal complaints to the king and the city authorities. Philip +has given strict orders for the arrest of bad characters, but the +city civil authorities protest that they cannot lay hands upon them, +and I believe have never taken the slightest trouble to do so." + +"How long shall we be away, your honour?" + +"I should say, a month. I am to have temporary rank as major, +while engaged on this business. Anyone under that grade would +receive but little courtesy from the Spaniards." + +"They are a mighty haughty lot," Mike grumbled. "I believe they +think that, when the flood came, the Spanish grandees had an ark +all to themselves, as they could not be expected to put up with a +conveyance full of animals." + +Desmond laughed. + +"They haven't yet taken in the fact that Spain is no longer the +great power she was when she was mistress of half of Europe. They +were fine fighters then, Mike. For my part, I own that I cannot +understand how it is they have fallen off in that respect; for +certainly, without our troops, they would make but a poor stand +against the Portuguese, backed up by the English and Dutch." + +"I have not seen them fighting yet, sir, but to my mind people so +fond of using their knives are not likely to be of much account, +when it comes to manly, straightforward fighting. + +"Well, your honour, if you are to go as a major, you will need +some slight alterations in your uniform--more gold lace, and such +like. So I had best see about it, at once." + +"I did not think of that, Mike; but you are right. I don't know +whether, as I only hold temporary rank, I have a right to wear the +uniform of a field officer; but, as the duke wishes me to be able +to speak with some authority, there can be no harm in making the +change, and the additions can easily be taken off, upon my +return." + +"The duke ought to have given you the full rank, instead of the +temporary one, sir. You have done more work, since you came here, +than all the colonels and majors on his staff." + +"As far as work goes that may be so, Mike; but as the work +consisted in carrying despatches about on horseback, it certainly +affords no claim for promotion. And, indeed, I have no wish +whatever for it. I am already the youngest captain in the service, +except the young nobles who got their commissions as colonels, +without even serving a day in inferior rank. I feel uncomfortable +now when I go to our regiments, to see men who have been years in +the service, and gone through many a desperate action, still +lieutenants; while I, after two years' service, and still under +nineteen, am a captain." + +"Yes, sir; but you know that you saved eight or ten thousand men +to France at Oudenarde, and you lost a hand in the service of the +country. That would count for a great deal." + +"It counts for something, no doubt, Mike, but many of these +officers have risked their lives a score of times, and been +wounded frequently, though they may not have lost a limb." + +"Ah well, sir!" Mike said, philosophically, "Luck is everything. +And who would go soldiering, if it was not so? When going into +battle, everyone knows that a lot of his comrades will be killed, +but he trusts to his luck to get through safely. One man gets +promoted and another doesn't, and he hopes that luck will come his +way next time. I don't say that your honour's promotion has been +luck, but you have had luck in being on the staff of the Duke of +Berwick, and everyone knows that it is the staff officers who get +the credit and promotion, while the men who do most of the +fighting get passed over. There would be nothing to say against +that if, as in your honour's case, a man was chosen for the staff +because he had done something that showed that he was fit for it. +But it isn't so here. If a man belongs to a good family, and has +interest, he gets a good appointment; and it is mighty seldom that +a man is taken from his regiment, and put on to the staff, because +he has done something which showed he was a good soldier." + +"That is so, Mike. There is no denying it. And I believe it is one +reason why so many disasters have befallen the French army. The +generals are, as a rule, good, and the soldiers are excellent, but +the staff are generally altogether incompetent, and seem to +consider that the fact that they are nobles renders it unnecessary +for them to give attention to details, or to be more than +ornamental figures in the general's train. And when we see the +authority of Vendome overruled by a young prince, who is grandson +of the king, and nothing else, one must not be surprised that it +is the same all through the army." + +That evening, Desmond received a packet containing his appointment +as major while on special service, details of instructions as to +the points to be attended to, and letters from the duke to the +commandant of the garrison at Toledo, and from Philip to the +Governor at Badajos. + +The next morning he started at daybreak, accompanied by Mike, and +arrived that evening at Toledo. Here he presented his letter to +the commandant. + +"Very well, sir," the officer said, when he had read it. "At what +hour do you wish the escort and guide to be ready in the morning?" + +"I should like to start as early as possible, Colonel. I myself, +being well mounted, might cross the sierra in a day; but the +troopers' horses could not do that." + +"You would not gain anything if they could, Major Kennedy, for +even if your horse could carry you over sixty or seventy miles of +mountain roads in a day, you would certainly need a couple of +days' rest before proceeding farther. If you get as far as +Enmedio, which is in the heart of the sierra, you will have done +well. You will then have another long day's ride down to Ciudad +Real, from which place the officer with six of the troopers will +return. The general says nothing about a noncommissioned officer, +but I shall take it upon myself to send one to accompany you, with +the four men. It will take a good deal of trouble off your hands." + +"I am much obliged to you, Colonel." + +"Now that we have finished business," the officer said, "we can +talk of other things. You will, of course, put up here. I have two +or three spare rooms, and the accommodation at the inns is +wretched. I am always very glad when an officer rides through, +because we hear little enough about what is passing, and as there +is no sort of sociability among the Spaniards, life is very dull +here, and one is very glad of the change." + +"Thank you, Colonel. I will gladly accept your invitation." + +The colonel rang a bell, and ordered a servitor, who answered, to +show Major Kennedy's servant where to put up his master's horses +and his own, to bring up the officer's valises, and to make the +soldier comfortable below. + +"We shall sup in half an hour," he said to Desmond, when the man +had left. "Two of my majors are going to share the meal." + +As soon as the valises were brought up, Desmond changed his +uniform, got rid of the dust of the road, and was just ready when +a servant knocked at the door and said that the supper was served. +The meal was a pleasant one. The three French officers were +anxious to hear the last news that had reached Madrid from France. +The conversation did not flag for a moment during the meal. + +After this was over, and cigars were lighted--for the officers had +all adopted the custom of the country--the colonel said +courteously, "Would you mind telling us, Major Kennedy, how it is +that you, who by your name are Irish, although you speak excellent +French, have made your way so rapidly as to be already a major?" + +"Not at all, Colonel. I am, myself, as much surprised at it as you +may be. But, really, my present rank is only temporary. I am going +down to Badajos, on a special mission for the Duke of Orleans, and +as he thought that I should be received better were I a field +officer, instead of captain, he has given me the temporary rank of +major while so employed. + +"I will briefly tell you how I obtained the other steps. The first +was given me, by the king, on my appointment as aide-de-camp to +the Duke of Berwick; His Majesty being good enough to take an +interest in me, owing to a little adventure in which I had become +involved. It concerned, I may say, the almost accidental rescue of +a lady, who had been carried off by a nobleman of the court." + +"I remember now," the colonel said. "The lady was Mademoiselle de +Pointdexter, and her abductor Vicomte de Tulle. It happened a +month or so before our regiment left Paris for Spain, and was the +chief topic of talk. I recall your name, now, in connection with +the affair, and how warmly everyone spoke of your gallantry. Well, +Major, how did you gain your next step?" + +"I had the good fortune to be the only one who survived, of four +aides-de-camp who were sent off by the Duke of Berwick, at +Oudenarde, to make their way through the allied lines with orders, +to the division cut off from the rest of the army in the village +of Diepenbeck, to disperse and make off across the country, as +best they could. My comrades were all killed, but I was lucky +enough to succeed in reaching the village uninjured, with the +exception of a ball in the wrist, which caused the loss of my +hand, and, I may say, almost of my life. It was because of the +favourable report, which the duke was pleased to make of this +service, that I received my rank as captain." + +"It was well earned, too, sir," the colonel said warmly. "I +confess, I thought when you arrived that, although Irish by name, +you must have had some very powerful influence at your back to +have risen so early. Unhappily, promotion often bears no relation +whatever to merit; and one sees young nobles, with no other +recommendation than that of their birth, placed over the heads of +officers of five-and-twenty years service. No one is jealous of a +man who owes his rise to brilliant deeds of courage, or signal +ability; but it is galling to see these young popinjays thrust +forward, simply by family influence." + +In passing over the hills the next day, a large party of armed men +made their appearance, suddenly, on a height above; but, seeing +that an attack was likely to meet with a stout resistance, and as +little booty would be obtainable, they did not interfere with +their passage. Desmond congratulated himself on having an escort, +for it would have gone hard with him, had he been accompanied only +by Mike. + +On the fifth day after leaving Madrid he arrived at Badajos, with the +sergeant, the four troopers, and Mike. After some formalities--for +the town, being close to the frontier, was liable at any moment to be +suddenly attacked--Desmond was conducted to the governor, a pompous +Spanish officer. + +"Are you yourself Major Kennedy?" he asked, looking with some +surprise at his young visitor. + +"My name is Kennedy, sir, and I have the honour of being major, +and to serve on the staff of his grace, the Duke of Orleans. I am +the bearer of a letter to you from His Majesty, King Philip." + +The Spaniard took the letter and read it, and Desmond could see, +by the expression of his countenance, that he was by no means +pleased. + +"I do not understand," he said coldly, "why an officer should have +been specially despatched to obtain information which I have +already duly furnished." + +"I understood from the Duke of Orleans, sir, that as news has been +received that the enemy's plans were to cross the frontier near +this town, it became a matter of special importance to see that it +was sufficiently supplied with provisions, and munitions of war to +stand a siege. It has been found more than once that, owing to the +culpable neglect of subordinates, fortresses when besieged were by +no means so well supplied with provisions, powder and shot, as had +been supposed. Naturally, the governor of a fortress like this, +with a considerable garrison, is too much occupied to personally +superintend all these matters, and must leave them in the hands of +his subordinates, who on their part commit them to those of +sergeants and storekeepers; so that, while everything is reported +to be ready, there are really deficiencies. A waste often takes +place in the distribution of stores, and the matter was so +important that the king requested the duke to send one of his +staff to give you every assistance, and to receive your +suggestions, which will be complied with to their full extent. As +your last report was sent in some three months back, necessarily +considerable changes have taken place, in that time." + +"Well, sir, I will obey His Majesty's orders, and give you every +facility. My officers shall be instructed to open such magazines +as you may select, and you will be then able personally to judge +as to the quantity and condition of the stores. It will, of +course, be impossible, unless with an immense expenditure of +labour, to go through the whole of the magazines and to reckon up +their contents; but as many as you wish shall be opened, and a +party of soldiers told off to count the bales and cases." + +"A very few will suffice, sir. Of course, in the event of a battle +being fought and a reverse occurring, the enemy might sit down +before your town. You would be exposed to a long siege, for it +might be some time before the army was again in a position to +advance and fight another battle, or raise the siege. I have +little doubt that everything will be found in excellent order, but +should there be any deficiencies, the duke assured me that they +would be at once made good." + +"If you will call tomorrow morning, sir," the governor said, "I +will have some of the officials, in whose charge these matters +are, placed at your disposal; but I am convinced that you will +find that my reports on the stores and ammunition in hand are +fully borne out." + +"The governor is, as I expected, a good deal put out, Mike," +Desmond said as he rejoined his follower, who was waiting outside +with the horses. "Now, let us find out the best hotel." + +"Didn't he ask you to stay with him, your honour?" Mike asked in +surprise. + +"No. He is much too grand a man for that, and besides, he may have +his wife and children with him; and however much a Spaniard may +place his house and all within it at your service, it is very +seldom that he invites a stranger to enter it. Moreover, glad as +they may be to have French help in fighting their battles, they +look with suspicion and dislike upon an individual Frenchman. + +"Besides, I fancy I shall find that these stores and magazines by +no means tally with the report sent in by the governor. I heard +the Duke of Berwick one day speaking about it, and he said there +was corruption and dishonesty among their officials, from the +highest to the lowest. It is probable that both the king and the +Duke of Orleans have the same opinion, and that it was for this +reason that they sent me here, in order to assure them that the +fortress is as well supplied as has been stated. With the other +papers, I have received a copy of the governor's report, although +I did not think it necessary to tell him so." + +The next morning, on going to the governor's, Desmond found a +number of officials assembled there. + +"These are the officers in charge of the stores and magazines," +the governor said. "Colonel Mendez will accompany you, and will +see that everything is done to facilitate your examination." + +The governor bowed formally. Desmond returned his salute, and then +went down with the Spanish colonel, the other officials following. +He saw that there was an expression of malicious pleasure in the +colonel's face, and guessed that he was, by no means, sorry at the +investigation that was to take place. + +"I think, sir," Desmond said, "that it will not be necessary for +us to have all these officials going round with us. It will be +impossible, in one day, to do more than examine one department. As +ammunition is the most important of all stores, I would suggest +that we take only those in charge of the war material." + +"Very good;" and, turning to those behind, he said: "For today, +all those save the officers in charge of the magazines can be +relieved from this duty. Their turn will come tomorrow, or next +day." + +With the exception of five or six, all moved away. + +"We have three magazines in the town," the colonel went on, "so as +to lessen the chance of our resources being destroyed by a single +blow. There is the Central magazine, another that is known as the +San Juan magazine, and the Western magazine." + +"We may as well visit the Central one first, as, no doubt, that is +the most important one." + +As they went on, a party of twenty soldiers, who had been drawn up +there, fell in behind, while Mike and two troopers of his escort +also, at his orders, accompanied them. The magazine was formed in +what had formerly been an old castle, but which was now used for +another purpose, that of a store, its thick walls affording +protection against any but very heavy missiles. On entering what +had been the courtyard, Desmond saw that the greater portion of it +was occupied by storehouses, massively built, and covered by some +five or six feet of earth. + +"The first of these on the right contains musketry ammunition," +Colonel Mendez said, "the next two contain cannonballs; powder is +stored in the three houses at the farther end, and the three on +the left side contain hand grenades, fuses for mines, signal +rockets, and other miscellanies, such as brimstone." + +"We will examine number one first," Desmond said. "Which is the +officer in charge?" + +One of the officials stepped forward, with a key. Desmond saw that +his face was pale, and that he had a sullen look. + +"I will ask you, before we enter," he said, "how often do you take +stock of your stores? I suppose when the governor sends in his +half-yearly report?" + +"We do not do it that way at all," the man said. "I have a book. +It was given to me by the officer I succeeded. Here it is. You +will see that he handed over so many barrels of cartridges. On one +side of the page I put down the number of barrels issued, and on +the other the number I receive, and thus, at any time, without +disturbing the contents of the store, I can state the number of +barrels it contains." + +"Then how long have you held this position, sir?" + +"I have been in charge of this store, and of those used for powder +in the cellars underneath the castle, for ten years." + +"The man whom you succeeded--how long had he been here?" + +"I believe he had been here for twenty years, or more." + +"And his system of keeping account was the same as yours?" + +"Precisely. He handed his books to me, and I have kept mine in the +same way." + +"Then it is a fact, if I understand you rightly, that there has +been no taking of stock for the past thirty years?" + +"It was not necessary," the officer said, in a surly tone. "There +can be no mistake possible, considering the way in which we made +our entries." + +They now entered the store. It was some sixty feet long and forty +feet wide, with pillars of masonry along the centre to support the +weight of the roof. It was lighted only by small loopholes in the +thick walls. Four of the soldiers carried lanterns, and they were +about to enter, when Desmond said: + +"There is no loose powder lying about, I suppose?" + +"None," the officer replied. "The barrels were all carefully +examined before being taken into the store. They are, as you can +see, strongly made. A leakage is out of the question, unless by +any accident one should fall off the pile and burst; but such a +thing has never happened, as far as I know." + +"I see, by your book, that there should be three thousand four +hundred and eighty-two barrels, each containing five hundred +cartridges. Certainly an ample supply, even for a prolonged +siege." + +The barrels were piled in four tiers, one above another, forming a +wall on each side of a central path, seven feet wide. + +"Give me your hand, Mike," Desmond said to his follower, and, +standing upon it, he was able to scramble on to the top. + +"Twelve barrels deep," he said, as he descended. "Now, let us +count the number in each line." + +The wall of barrels extended only some two-thirds of the length of +the stores, and there were thirty barrels in each line. He made a +rapid calculation. + +"That is three thousand two hundred, but I see that, in addition, +there is a small pile on each side, beyond the others, which would +about make up the correct total. Your record is strictly +accurate." + +The official took up the lantern, as if the matter was now +finished, but Desmond said: + +"No, sir. I have but begun; and my instructions were to see how +much musket ammunition there was here, at present. I only know how +many barrels there are. + +"And now, Colonel, I will ask you to call your men in, and set +them to work. I wish two passages made through each of these piles +of barrels. Three feet wide will be sufficient." + +"It would be very dangerous to move them," the official said +hastily. + +"Not if it is carefully done. You tell me the barrels are strong, +and that there is no leakage. Even if this should not be the case, +there is little fear of the powder coming in contact with the +candles in these lanterns; and besides, as the powder is in +cartridges, it would not leak out even if one of the barrels were +to burst." + +The soldiers had set to work at four points, chosen at hazard by +Desmond. The barrels, as they were taken down, were ranged along +on each side of the central path. When three lines had been +cleared out, one of the soldiers gave an exclamation. + +"This is lighter than the one I carried out last!" he said. + +"Carry it out into the courtyard," Desmond said. "I should like to +look at the contents." + +It was taken out to the courtyard, and one end carefully taken +out. + +"You see, Colonel," Desmond said, as he looked at its contents, +"you would have been reduced to great straits, long before you +expected it." + +The colonel, who belonged to the artillery, looked into the +barrel, which was full of earth. + +"Empty it out!" Desmond ordered. + +They did so. There was not a single cartridge in it. + +"This is scandalous!" the colonel exclaimed. "I did not expect +that everything would be found right, but I had no idea of such +villainy as this!" + +He turned to the men. + +"Arrest the commissary, at once," he said. + +But that official was nowhere to be found. He had slipped away, as +soon as the men began to take down the barrels. Some soldiers were +at once sent off in search of him. + +"We will continue the work," Desmond said, "and see how +extensively this fraud has been carried on." + +The same result was met with in each of the openings. The first +three lines consisted of barrels filled with cartridges; the seven +lines behind contained nothing but earth. + +"You see, Colonel, instead of having over three thousand two +hundred barrels of cartridges, you have less than a thousand. It +is almost beyond belief! It is clear that this fellow, and +probably the man who was in charge before him, have been in +collusion with the contractors for these cartridges, and allowed +them to send in seven barrels of earth for every three of +cartridges. No doubt, they calculated that there was little chance +of the fraud being detected--never, indeed, until there was a +prolonged siege--for they would naturally serve out the barrels +from the front row, as they were required, filling their places +with fresh ones as supplies came in." + +The other storehouses were now examined. The number of cannonball +alone tallied with the account. There were large deficiencies in +the store of powder, and, indeed, among almost all the other +munitions. + +"It is infinitely worse than I thought," the colonel said, "and I +fear that the storekeepers are not the only people concerned in +these frauds." + +"Now, Colonel, if you do not mind, I should like to go to one of +the provision stores at once. Possibly, after what we have +discovered, some pretext to stop further examination may be +invented, if we wait till tomorrow." + +Great as had been the fraud in the magazines, that in the supplies +of provisions was even greater. There was a deficiency of many +hundreds of sacks of flour and beans. The meat stores were +entirely empty, although they should have contained a large number +of tierces of salted beef. This was a matter of minor importance, +for in case of the approach of an enemy, the people of the country +round would drive their cattle into the town, and, indeed, the +allowance of meat to a Spanish soldier was so small that he could +do well without it, existing entirely upon bread and fried beans. +Of wine there was scarce half the amount indicated. A great number +of the barrels had been filled only with water. + +It was late in the afternoon when the work ceased. + +"I should require a fortnight," Desmond said, "to get accurate +figures. This, however, is comparatively unimportant. It is quite +sufficient to know that in no case is there half the amount, +either of ammunition or of provisions, given in the governor's +last report, and that fraud on a large scale has been carried on; +and I cannot but think that some men, at least, of higher rank +than these storekeepers must have been privy to the affair." + +"There has certainly been something wrong in the supply of +clothes, Major Kennedy. My men have had no new ones served out to +them for the past year and a half, although I have made repeated +applications during the past two months." + +"Yes; I noticed when I walked about in the town, yesterday, that +many of the troops were almost in rags, and I have no doubt there +has been fraud in the clothing department, as well as in all the +others." + +"Well, sir, as a Spaniard I lament this terrible exposure. Blame, +however, must not be laid entirely upon the military. The supply +of provisions of all kinds, of cloth for clothing, and, indeed, of +everything but guns and ammunition, is in the hands of the junta +of the province, and of the civil authority here. Many of the +members must be concerned in the matter, and I have no doubt that +the officials here are heavily bribed to shut their eyes, and to +arrange matters so that the frauds may escape attention. + +"I know that once, when I proposed to the governor to examine some +of the barrels of cartridges as they came in, he answered me very +sharply, and told me that my business was to work the guns, and +not to meddle with the duties of the storekeeper." + +"Then do you think, Colonel?--" + +"I think nothing," the officer replied. "The governor is the +governor, and it is not for me to discuss his conduct in any way, +nor even to admit the possibility of his knowing of this affair." + +Only two or three of the storekeepers had been arrested. The rest +had slunk away, as soon as they saw how matters were going. + + + +Chapter 15: Treachery. + + +At this moment an officer came down, and said that the governor +wished to see Colonel Mendez and Major Kennedy, at once. As they +entered the room, they saw the governor walking up and down in a +state of great agitation. + +"I hear, Colonel Mendez," he said, stopping before that officer, +"that you have, on your own authority, placed several of the +commissariat storekeepers under arrest. What does this mean, sir?" + +"It means, sir, that Major Kennedy has discovered enormous +deficiencies in the stores, and there can be little doubt that a +number of persons must have been concerned in the matter, besides +those in charge of the storehouses. Wholesale bribery must have +been practised, by those who supplied the goods to those whose +duty it was to receive them." + +"I shall order a commission of enquiry to sit at once, and beg +that you, Colonel Mendez, will send me in a detailed report of the +matter, which is, I need hardly say, one of extreme gravity." + +"I was right," Colonel Mendez said, as they left the governor's +house. "I suspected that something was wrong, ever since he +refused to allow me access to the magazines. I have no doubt that +he has been acting in collusion with the contractors, though he +may not have been aware of the extent of their rascality, for his +subordinates may not only have accepted bribes from the +contractors to carry out the frauds to which the governor may have +consented, but may also have taken money from these to allow of +still greater ones to be perpetrated." + +"What will he do, do you think, Colonel?" + +"He will endeavour, by every means in his power, to prevent any +word of your discovery from leaking out. And, if I may advise you, +I should say it would be well that you should take every +precaution for your own safety. His position is a desperate one, +for one cannot doubt that your report will be followed by his +removal from his post, his dismissal from the army, and the +confiscation of everything of which he is possessed. Therefore, it +is almost a matter of life and death to him to prevent your report +from being sent to headquarters, and to have you removed +altogether. This done, the facts might not leak out. It would be +supposed, at Madrid, that you had been stabbed by some street +ruffian. And, although another officer might be sent down to +report, it is by no means likely that he would go so rigorously +into matters as you did, but would be contented merely to count +barrels and bales, without troubling to investigate their +contents." + +"But your evidence would be as strong against him as mine." + +"Yes; but that evidence is not yet given. He can, in the first +place, and I have no doubt will, suppress my report to him. In the +second place, he would consider it unlikely that I should venture +to make the matter public, for he has powerful friends at court. +He is connected with many of the leading families in the province, +and might rely upon being able to hush the matter up, so long as +it was known only to the heads of our army, who are not unaware +that, although the pay of a commander of a fortress is not more +than sufficient to maintain his position, they, like most other of +our officials, generally retire with considerable fortunes. +Therefore, any interference on my part would be more disastrous to +my prospects than to his. + +"It is humiliating to say so, Major Kennedy, but both our civil +and military systems are rotten to the core. There are, of course, +honest men in both services, but as a rule corruption is almost +universal. Still, although he cannot fear me as he must fear you, +it is possible he may endeavour to make himself safe by removing +me also from his path; and for a time I shall take good care to +remain in my own barracks, as much as possible." + +"I will be careful also," Desmond said, "and I thank you much for +the warning, which was needed, for it would never have struck me +that he would even attempt to suppress the information that I have +gained; but I see that it will be necessary to be very careful, +especially in the manner of sending off my reports." + +"If I were in your place, I should mount my horse at once, and +with the troopers of the escort ride straight for Madrid." + +"I cannot do that, Colonel, for the examination into the state of +the stores here was only a part of my instructions, and I must, if +possible, carry these out to the letter before leaving for Madrid. +I might, however, send off my despatch by two of the troopers with +me." + +"I think you may take my word for it, Major, that they would never +reach their destination. Even while we are speaking, a messenger +may be sent off either to one of these bands in the mountains, or +to two or three of the contractors--who are, of course, as deeply +involved as the governor, for there is no doubt of their guilt, +while no proof can be given to his being a party to it--telling +them that it is a matter of life and death to them to prevent you +or your messengers from reaching Madrid." + +"The lookout is certainly far from comfortable," Desmond admitted, +"and I must, tonight, think it over in every way, and decide upon +what course I had best pursue." + +When he reached the hotel, he told Mike what Colonel Mendez had +said. + +"By the powers, your honour, it is a nasty scrape that we seem to +be in, almost as bad as when you were shut up in that prison in +London." + +"Worse, Mike; for then we knew that we should be tried, but hoped +that Louis would interfere in our favour, and by threatening +reprisals obtain our liberty; whereas here we have only ourselves +to depend upon, and the blow may come at any moment." + +"Well, at any rate, your honour, we will see that none get at you +unbeknown. I will lie down in your room against the door, and if +the sergeant places a man on guard outside, it is hard if anyone +gets at you." + +"I hardly think the precaution necessary; but there is no saying +what this man might not do in so desperate a situation, so I will +tell the sergeant to place a sentry at the door, and to relieve +him every two hours. I shall think the matter over, and by +tomorrow morning shall decide whether I had best remain here and +complete my work, or ride at once to Madrid." + +At about two o'clock in the morning Desmond, who had but just +dropped off to sleep, was aroused by hearing the sentry outside +his door challenge. There was no answer. All remained quiet. Mike +leapt to his feet and opened the door. + +"What is it?" he asked the sentry. + +"I saw two or three men at the end of the corridor. It was too +dark to make them out clearly. They were coming this way. I +levelled my carbine and cried, 'Who comes there?' and at once they +stole away. They could have been after no good, for their steps +were noiseless, and they must have come up without boots." + +"Keep a sharp lookout, sentry," Desmond said, "and see that they +don't steal up to you, for if they do, you may be stabbed before +you have time to turn round. + +"It is lucky that I carried out your suggestion, Mike, and posted +a sentry at the door. Of course, these men the sentry saw may not +have been coming here, but at any rate their conduct was +suspicious." + +In a few minutes Desmond was again asleep. He had had a long day's +work, and believing that the affair was over, at least for the +night, he did not even try to keep awake. + +As soon as Mike heard, by his breathing, that he was asleep, he +got up noiselessly and seated himself near the open window, with a +loaded pistol. An hour passed, and then he heard a slight stir in +the street. He did not look out, but grasped his pistol tightly. + +Their room was on the first floor. Presently, he heard a grating +sound against the window. It was very dark, and he knelt down so +that he would be able to make out any figure that showed above the +windowsill. He thought first of rousing his master, but as he had +another pistol in his belt, and his sword leaned against the wall, +ready to his hand, he thought it better to let matters take their +course. + +He had heard no further sound, but presently a round object +appeared in sight. Stretching out his arm, he fired without a +moment's hesitation. There was a sound of a heavy fall below, +followed by some muttered exclamations. In a moment, Desmond was +on his feet, a pistol which he had laid by his pillow in his +grasp. + +"What is it, Mike?" + +"It is only a gentleman who had a fancy for looking in at the +window, your honour, and I have no doubt would have come in, +without saying by your leave, if I had not cut the matter short by +putting a bullet into his forehead. He had some friends down +below. He came up on a ladder." + +He looked out of the window. + +"They are taking it down now, your honour. Shall I give them +another shot?" + +"No, Mike; let them go. The lesson has been good enough." + +The sentry had also run into the room, on hearing the shot. + +"It is all over," Desmond said. "Seeing that you prevented them +from getting in at the door, they tried the window. Mike has shot +one of them." + +There was a sound of feet and loud talking in the passage, and as +Desmond went out, the landlord, two of the serving men, and +several of those staying at the hotel ran up. + +"What is it, senor? We heard a shot." + +"Yes; a fellow tried to enter my window, by means of a ladder; but +fortunately my man heard him, and shot him before he came in. No +doubt it was some prowling marauder, who, seeing my window open, +thought that there was a chance of plunder." + +"Carrambo!" the landlord exclaimed, "then we shall have enquiries, +and all sorts of trouble." + +"I don't think you will," Desmond said quietly. "I fancy he had +some friends down below, and they will probably carry his body and +the ladder away, and, if you hold your tongues, nothing more will +be heard of it. + +"Mike, do you and the sentry take a lantern and go down and see." + +The landlord looked out of the window. + +"As far as I can see, everything is quiet there," he said. "Are +you sure that your servant was not dreaming?" + +"That you will soon ascertain, if you go down with him," Desmond +said. "I fancy that you will find some traces of the affair +there." + +The landlord, followed by his two servants, went down with the +soldiers, and then, lighting a lantern and handing it to them, +went out, keeping carefully behind them. + +"There," Mike said, when he stopped under Desmond's window; "does +that look like a dream?" and he pointed to a patch of blood on the +pavement. + +"It is true enough," the landlord said. + +"Pedro and Lopez, fetch pails of water and brooms, and get rid of +this blood, otherwise we shall be having enquiries made in the +morning." + +Mike returned to his master, at whose door the sergeant and the +other troopers were standing. + +"There is no occasion, sergeant," Desmond had just said, "to keep +a sentry at the door any longer. We can be quite sure that we +shall not be disturbed again before morning, and indeed, I am not +likely to sleep after this." + +"Very well, sir; but if you don't mind, I will keep a sentry on +watch." + +"Just as you like, sergeant, but I feel sure there is no occasion +for it. Still, after what has happened, it may perhaps be wise to +do so." + +"Well, Mike," Desmond said, when they were again alone, "the +campaign has opened with spirit. This is something like that +journey with the Baron de Pointdexter, when we expected to be +attacked every minute." + +"Well, we got through that all right, your honour, and it is hard +if we don't get through this." + +At six o'clock, a volley of musketry was fired. + +"They are practising early, sir," Mike said. + +"It can't be that, Mike. It is too close. They would go beyond the +outer works to practise, and, by the sound, it is certainly much +nearer than that, though possibly just outside the walls." + +"I will go out and enquire, your honour. When one is at war, it is +as well to know exactly what the enemy are doing." + +"Take one of the troopers with you, Mike. Pierre speaks Spanish +well." + +Mike returned in an hour. + +"They have shot all the prisoners we took yesterday," he said. "I +hear they held a sort of court martial in the evening, at the +governor's. It did not sit more than ten minutes. They were all +found guilty of fraud and treachery, and were shot this morning." + +"Worse and worse, Mike! Evidently, the governor is determined to +get rid of all whose evidence might throw any light on this +matter. After what has happened here, and these summary +executions, I feel very uncomfortable as to Colonel Mendez. Will +you go to the artillery barracks with a message from me that, as I +have my first report to write out, I shall not continue the +investigations today? Take Pierre with you again." + +When Mike returned, Desmond saw that his news was bad. + +"The colonel had not been seen when I got there, and his servant +went up to his room and found him lying dead, stabbed to the +heart." + +"Another witness gone," Desmond said. "An honourable gentleman, +and a pleasant one. Well, Mike, the matter becomes more and more +serious. After this there is but one thing open to me, and that is +to return to Madrid at once. When I relate the circumstances to +the duke, he will see that, had I endeavoured to carry out the +rest of his instructions, the chance of my report ever coming to +hand would have been slight indeed, and it is all important that +he should get it. + +"The question is, shall we mount and ride at once, or shall I go +and take leave of the governor?" + +"Of course, your honour, you can do as you like, but I should say +that the sooner we are out of this, the better. The longer we stay +here, the more time he will have to take care we don't get back +alive. + +"There was another thing I did not tell you, sir. As we went to +the barracks, we passed some cavalry men talking. They were +arguing that the enemy must be marching this way, for at two +o'clock last night ten troopers were suddenly called up and sent +off, the gates being opened for them by order of the governor." + +"Just what I expected, Mike. He has written to warn the various +contractors that the frauds have been discovered, and, no doubt, +telling them that all messengers from here must be stopped and +searched, and all reports and documents taken from them; that if I +come myself, I am to be put out of the way; and that if this can +be done the matter can be hushed up, as he has taken measures to +silence all those who know anything about the affair. + +"Well, I think you are right. We need not mind saying goodbye to +this scoundrel, as it would only give him time to perfect his +arrangements. I have no doubt that he would pretend to be ill, or +to be engaged in some business that would detain him, and manage +to keep me waiting some hours before he saw me. Order the sergeant +to saddle up at once. Let the men eat a meal as quickly as +possible, and let each put a bottle of wine and a loaf of bread +into his valise, so that we shall be able to ride without stopping +anywhere. Say that we shall mount in twenty minutes, and they must +not wait to polish up their accoutrements. Tell them to put plenty +of forage before the horses, and not to put the bridles in their +mouths until the last thing. Let each pour four or five feeds of +corn into his forage bag. + +"When you have given the orders, have your own breakfast. I will +go downstairs and get something there. I packed my valises while +you were away." + +Exactly twenty minutes later the little troop started. The men +had, at Desmond's orders, loaded their pistols and short guns. +Avoiding the principal streets, they rode by narrow lanes until +they emerged close to the eastern gate. Through this he and his +followers rode, without question, at a quiet pace until beyond the +exterior fortifications, across the bridge over the Guadiana, and +then broke into a canter. + +The sergeant and men were not a little surprised at the sudden +departure, for they had supposed that they would remain for some +time at Badajos. Desmond called the sergeant up to his side. + +"I dare say you are surprised at this sudden move, but you know +that two attempts were made upon my life last night, and I have no +doubt that these would be repeated, and perhaps with greater +success, had I stayed there. You were present yesterday, with two +of your men, when we discovered that large portions of the stores +were mere dummies filled with earth. Whether or not the governor +was a party to the fraud I cannot say, but this morning he had all +the storekeepers who were arrested shot, and Colonel Mendez, who +was present at the investigation, was murdered during the night. +It is evident, therefore, that many people are interested in +preventing the discovery we made from getting known. Of course, +the soldiers who assisted would be aware of it, but they would not +venture to speak, and it is only I and your men and my servant who +have still to be silenced. + +"I tell you this, in order that you may impress upon the men the +necessity for the greatest vigilance, such as they would use if +travelling through an enemy's country. Messengers were, I hear, +sent off yesterday evening in various directions, and I have no +doubt that these were to the various contractors concerned in the +plot, urging upon them the necessity of preventing the news from +reaching Madrid; and perhaps to some of the robber bands in the +sierra. Therefore, instead of keeping the main road up the valley, +we will ride by country tracks and avoid all large towns. We will +not put up anywhere, but will bivouac in the open. In this way I +hope that we shall yet avoid any parties of men who may be lying +in wait for us. + +"The most dangerous part of the journey will, of course, be the +passage of the mountains. We must there travel by one or other of +the roads through the defiles, and it is possible all these may be +watched. If we are attacked, we must endeavour to ride through +them. If this is impossible, we will sell our lives as dearly as +we can." + +"You may trust us for that, Major," the sergeant said. "I have no +love for these Spaniards, and we are all discontented at being +kept down here to fight the King of Spain's battles, instead of +being up in the north, where every man is wanted to prevent the +enemy marching to Paris." + +They struck off from the road when nearing Merida, and followed a +country track until they came upon the road between that town and +Torre Mocha. Avoiding the latter place, they took the road to +Truxillo, and, late in the afternoon, approached that town and +halted in a wood two miles distant from it. + +Here Desmond consulted his map. There were two roads from +Truxillo. Crossing the sierra, the main and shorter road came down +upon the Tagus at Almarez. The other passed through Deleytoza, and +came down upon the bridge at Condo. Beyond Deleytoza it appeared +to be a mere mule track. + +"If there are any parties watching," he said to Mike, "they will +expect that my messenger, or I myself, will travel by the main +road to Almarez, for not only is it better, but it is shorter. But +again, they might think that, if I suspected we might be attacked, +I should take the road through Deleytoza, and would, at any rate, +make matters safe by watching both roads. It is a difficult +question which to choose." + +"Well, your honour, if you have got to fight, it would be best to +do so on a good road. Our horses would be of no use to us, if we +were going single file along a bad road; while on a good road we +could charge the spalpeens, and cut our way through." + +"You are quite right, Mike, and we will take the main road. They +will not be mounted, and I don't think they would stand before a +charge of seven men; but they may shoot some of us as we come down +upon them. + +"See here, Mike, this is my report that I wrote out yesterday +evening;" and he took a packet from the inside of his coat. "When +we start tomorrow morning I shall put it in my left holster. If I +am shot, you will not wait for a moment, but will snatch it out +and ride on to Madrid, and deliver it to the duke there. I have, +this morning, added a few lines relating the murder of Colonel +Mendez, the hurried trial and execution of the storekeepers, and +the attempts upon my life, and said I have not the least doubt +that the governor is at the bottom of it all." + +"If your honour is killed, I will carry out your orders, but if it +is only wounded you are, I will try to take you off with me." + +"You must do as I order you." + +"I obey your honour's orders when they are reasonable," Mike said +doggedly; "but leave you behind, to have your throat cut by those +villains! I would not do such a thing, so there is an end of it." + +Desmond smiled at the earnestness of his faithful follower. + +"Well, Mike, you must be guided by circumstances; but remember, it +is of extreme importance that this report should reach the Duke of +Orleans. Unless he has it we may lose Badajos, and the cause +suffer irreparable injury." + +"To the devil wid the cause," Mike said. "The cause doesn't +trouble me one way or the other. I don't care a brass farthing +whether Philip or Charles reigns over the Spaniards. It is not a +nice job they will be taking on, any way, and not worth a drop of +Irish blood. Well, if your honour should have the bad fortune to +be hit, I shall either carry you off, though there's not a breath +in your body, or else go down with you." + +As there was no doubt that Mike meant what he said, Desmond did +not press the matter further. + +The next day they set out at daybreak, and, in two hours, were +mounting the slope of the sierra. There were no signs of any men +being about, until they reached a point where the road ran between +steep hills. + +"There they are," Desmond exclaimed, reining in his horse. "There +are some thirty or forty of them on the road. + +"Now, my men, we will ride forward to those boulders you see, a +hundred yards this side of them, and then we will dismount and +give them a volley. If you keep that up, it will soon be too hot +for them to remain on the road; while we, sheltered behind the +rocks, will be safe from their shot. It is certain that your guns +will carry farther and shoot straighter than theirs, as the +Spanish powder is so much inferior to the French." + +Accordingly, they rode forward at a canter to the heap of +boulders, then suddenly left the road, dismounted, and took cover +among the rocks. + +"Take steady aim, men," Desmond said, "then you can hardly miss +hitting some of them, standing close together as they do." + +The bandits had waited, undecided, at the sudden disappearance of +those whom they had regarded as a certain prey; and before they +could form any plans, five muskets flashed out, and four of their +number fell. A cry of rage burst from them, and there was a +general discharge of their guns, the balls pattering thickly +against the stones. + +The soldiers now fired as quickly as they could load, doing +considerable execution. Their foes left the road, and imitated +them by taking shelter behind stones. For ten minutes the combat +continued, and then a party of men were seen, mounting the hill on +either side. + +"That is just what I hoped for," Desmond said. "Fire at them, so +as to force them to climb a little higher up the hill. As soon as +they are pretty well out of gunshot, we will mount and charge down +the road. There cannot be many men left there." + +His orders were followed. Some of the men on the hillside dropped, +and the others continued to mount the slopes. When, as they +believed, out of fire, they moved forward so as to take the +defenders of the rocks in flank. + +"Now, fire a volley among the men in front of us," Desmond said. +"We are not likely to hit any of them, but it is sure to draw +their fire, and there will not be many unemptied guns as we pass +them." + +As he expected, the volley was answered by a general fire from +their hidden foes. Then the party leapt into their saddles, and, +pistol in hand, galloped up the road. Several hurried shots were +fired from the front, and then, at a shout from their leader, some +twenty men leapt from their hiding places and ran down into the +road. + +Desmond was supported on one side by Mike, and on the other by the +sergeant. He dropped his reins--the horse had learned to obey the +motions of his knees--and, drawing his sword, rode straight at the +bandits. Only a few muskets were discharged, and these so +hurriedly that the balls missed their aim, and, with a shout, the +party fell upon the brigands. The pistols of the troopers and Mike +cracked out, but they had no need to draw their swords, for the +rush of the horses struck such a panic into the Spaniards that +they sprang from the road, leaving the path clear, and the party +thundered past them without a check. + +"Is anyone wounded?" Desmond asked, when they had passed beyond +gunshot of their assailants. + +"I have a ball in my shoulder, Major," one of the troopers said. +The rest were silent. + +"Well, we have been fortunate," Desmond said. "I will see to your +wound, my man, when we get a little farther. If those fellows had +not been so scared with our sudden charge that they fired almost +at random, we might have lost half our number." + +They stopped half a mile farther, and Desmond examined the +trooper's arm. + +"The ball has gone through the flesh," he said, "without touching +the bone, so you will soon have the use of it again." + +He bound the wound tightly up with the soldier's sash; and then +made, with his own, a sling. + +"You may as well put the other arm in your jacket," he said, "and +I will tie it round your neck. The air is cold upon the hills." + +"We did that well, sir," the sergeant said, as they rode on again. +"If you had not thought of taking shelter, and shaking them up, we +should all have been shot down before we reached them. + +"Is there any chance of another attack, sir?" + +"None at all. I should think a messenger was sent to them, +yesterday, telling them our strength; and no doubt they thought +that, with sixty men, they would be certain to overpower us. That +is probably the whole of the band, and in any case, as they would +not imagine that we could pass them, they are not likely to have +set another ambush." + +They slept that night at Almarez, made a short journey to Oropesa, +and a long one on the following day to Toledo, where Desmond +dismissed his escort, with a handsome reward for their services, +and upon the next afternoon rode with Mike into Madrid. The Duke +of Orleans looked astonished when he entered the room. + +"What! Back already, Major Kennedy? Surely you cannot have carried +out all the work that I entrusted to you?" + +"By no means, Your Royal Highness; but what I did carry out was so +important that I deemed it my duty to ride back at once, to +acquaint you with what I have discovered. There is the report, +sir." + +The duke took it. + +"It is a bulky one," he said. "Tell me its purport in as few words +as possible." + +"I have discovered, sir, that the report sent by the governor of +the supply of provisions and stores in Badajos is altogether +inaccurate, that frauds to an enormous extent have been +perpetrated, that the supply of powder and cartridges is less by +two-thirds than was represented, and that similar deficiencies +exist in every department." + +"This is indeed serious," the duke said. "The possession of +Badajos is essential to us. It blocks the way to an enemy's +advance, and indeed, they can scarce move forward until it is +captured. Now, tell me more about it; or no, I will read your +report, and then question you concerning it." + +A heavy frown settled on the duke's brow, as he perused the +document. + +"Infamous!" he exclaimed, when he had finished. "And you say that +two attempts were made to murder you that night, and that the +Spanish colonel who gave you so much assistance was assassinated, +and the commissaries shot the next morning? It shows how anxious +the governor was to remove from his path all those who could +inculpate him. + +"And how did you manage to get out of the toils? For it was +clearly of no use killing the minor witnesses, and allowing you to +ride here to report the facts." + +"I saw that, sir; and as I learned that eight or ten troopers had +been sent off, late the night before, I concluded that the road +would be sure to be beset, for doubtless some of the contractors +would feel it as essential as the governor did, that my mouth +should be silenced and my report suppressed. I therefore started +early. Keeping by byroads, we were not molested until we had +nearly reached the summit of the sierra, when we found a party of +some sixty men barring the road. We had a fight with them, and +succeeded in getting through with no further damage than a ball +through the arm of one of my escort, and that, fortunately, was +only a flesh wound." + +"But tell me how it was that so small a party escaped so easily?" + +Desmond then recounted the incidents of the fight. + +"Admirably contrived, sir!" the duke said warmly. "Excellent +generalship! You first attack their centre and drive them off the +road, then you compel them to weaken themselves by throwing out +flanking parties. You keep these out of musket shot, and then +charge on their weakened centre after drawing their fire. I am not +surprised that, with such generalship, you got off almost +scatheless. + +"And now, sir, I must ask you to come with me to the king. The +matter is too serious for a moment's delay. I must lay the whole +case before His Majesty." + +Leaving Desmond in the antechamber, he went in to the king, read +the full report to him, and added the details he had heard from +Desmond. + +"I have met with many bad cases of Spanish corruption and +peculation," the king said, when he had finished, "but this is by +far the worst. Steps must be taken instantly to secure the +governor, arrest the contractors, and fill up the magazines. What +do you propose?" + +"I think, sir, that if we send forward, at once, a regiment of +French soldiers from Toledo, accompanied by Colonel Crofton's +regiment of dragoons, there is no likelihood that any resistance +will be offered--indeed, I should imagine that the governor will +have taken to flight, as soon as he learns that his plans for the +assassination of Major Kennedy have failed." + +"So I should think," the king said; "and certainly he will have +warned his accomplices, the contractors; and probably, by this +time, they are all on their way either into Andalusia or to the +north. Any that are found shall certainly be hanged. + +"This young officer of yours must be a wonderfully shrewd fellow. +I should like to question him as to how he discovered these +frauds." + +Desmond was called in. + +"This is Major Kennedy, Your Majesty," the duke said. "That is his +temporary rank, which I bestowed upon him in order to add weight +to his mission." + +"I have noticed him before, cousin," Philip said, "when I had gone +to your quarters, and wondered to see so young a man in the +uniform of a captain. + +"Now, sir, will you give me an account of how you discovered these +frauds?" + +Desmond then related how he had caused the piles of barrels to be +opened out, so that he could examine those next to the wall as +well as those in front; and how he had similarly examined the +other stores. + +"Very good, indeed, sir," the king said. "Most officers would have +contented themselves with, at most, counting the number of barrels +and sacks; and that you should have so thoroughly investigated the +matter shows both zeal and shrewdness." + +"He has shown that on various occasions," the duke said, "as you +may judge from the promotion that he has received. As you see, by +the loss of his hand, he has suffered as well as fought on behalf +of France. When Your Majesty is at leisure I will, some evening, +relate to you a story which I heard from the king himself, of the +manner in which he, twice, rescued a fair damsel from an +evil-minded noble who carried her off." + +"I shall hear it with pleasure, cousin. You say he holds only +temporary rank. I think that, after the signal service he has +rendered, it should be made substantial." + +"I certainly intend to make it so," the duke said. + +"Pardon, sir," Desmond said, "but, while thanking you for your +kindness, I would beg to be allowed to remain a captain. Already I +have obtained more promotion than others have done, after many +years of good service, and I should regret very much passing over +the heads of so many of my old companions." + +"It is the first time that I have had promotion declined," the +duke said, smiling. "However, for the present, at least, I will +let the matter remain so." + +With an expression of warm thanks, Desmond retired. + +"We must lose no time over this matter," the king said. "For aught +we know, this scoundrel may be in communication with the enemy, +and may be prepared to open the gates of the fortress at the first +summons." + +"I will act at once," the duke replied. "I will, this evening, +send orders to Toledo for a regiment to march at nine o'clock +tomorrow morning, and, if you will send a similar order to Colonel +Crofton, he will overtake the infantry before they get to +Almarez." + +"I will do so, and will also send with them three field officers, +with full power to arrest, try, and execute all those who have +taken part in this treacherous fraud." + +On the duke leaving the king, Desmond joined him in the +antechamber, and as they walked towards the French headquarters, +said: + +"I hope, sir, that you will permit me to start tomorrow with any +force you may be sending, as I wish to carry out the rest of the +mission with which you entrusted me." + +"By all means, do so if you wish it," the duke said. "Colonel +Crofton's regiment will start at nine o'clock tomorrow morning, +and you may accompany it. On the road it will overtake one of our +regiments from Toledo." + + + +Chapter 16: Captured. + + +"I have a job for you, Mike." + +"What is it, your honour?" + +"I want you to take off all the marks of a field officer from my +clothes. I am going to be a captain again." + +Mike looked with surprise at his master. + +"Well, your honour, it is ungrateful bastes they must be. Sure I +thought that the least they could do was to make you a full major, +though if they had made you a colonel, it would be no more than +you deserve." + +"I was offered the majority, Mike, but I declined it. It would be +absurd, at my age, to have such a rank, and I should be ashamed to +look officers of our brigade, who have done nigh twenty years of +good service and are still only captains, in the face. I would +much rather remain as I am." + +"Well, it may be you are right, sir, but it is disappointed I am, +entirely." + +"You will get over it, Mike," Desmond laughed. + +"That may be," Mike said doubtfully, "but I should have felt +mighty proud of being a colonel's servant." + +"I don't suppose you will ever be that, Mike. You know that, after +the last war was over, several of the Irish regiments were +disbanded, and no doubt it will be the same when this war is +finished, so you could not count upon seeing me a colonel, at any +rate not for another twenty years." + +"Ah, your honour, I hope we shall be back in old Ireland years +before that!" + +"I hope so, too, Mike. I have only been out here for two years, +and yet I am beginning to feel that I should like a quieter life. +No doubt the loss of my hand has something to do with that, but I +would give up, willingly, all chance of ever becoming a colonel, +if I could but settle down in the old country, though I fear there +is very little chance of that." + +"But sure there may be fighting there, too, your honour," Mike +said; "and if King James goes across the water, there is sure to +be divarsion that way." + +"I hope not, Mike. It is not that I do not feel as loyal as ever +to the cause of the Stuarts, but if they cannot come to their own +without Ireland being again deluged with blood, I would rather +they would stay away. Twice Ireland has suffered for the Stuarts: +first, when Cromwell came over, carrying fire and sword through +the land, and divided half the country among his followers; next, +when Dutch William did the same. I am loyal to the Stuarts, as I +said, but I am still more loyal to Ireland, and would rather that +King James remained all his life at Saint Germain, than that those +scenes should ever come again." + +"That's true for you, sir; and when I come to think of it, I +should be just as easy and comfortable in a snug little cot in +Killarney, which is my county, whether King James or Queen Anne +was ruling it in England." + +"Quite so, Mike; and if I had, as you say, a snug little cot to go +to, and an income to live comfortably in it, and no fear of being +hauled off to prison and hanged for joining the brigade, I should +not be sorry to settle down. + +"We start back for Badajos tomorrow morning." + +"Faith, your honour, it has been so hard getting away from there, +that I should not have thought you wished to put your foot inside +the place again. You might not be so lucky in getting off, next +time." + +"We are going in a different way, Mike. Colonel Crofton's regiment +of Irish dragoons is going with us, and a French infantry regiment +from Toledo." + +"Then I am well content to go back, your honour, and I hope we +shall see that murthering governor hung." + +"I think you have a good chance of seeing that, Mike, if he has +not taken himself off before we arrive there; which I think he is +pretty sure to do, directly he hears we have got through safely; +for he will know that, as soon as my report is handed in, he is a +lost man." + +"Bad cess to him! At any rate, I hope I shall light upon him some +day, sir, and pay him out for sending those fellows to kill you at +night, and to hinder us in the hills. As to his cheating the +Spaniards, that is their business, and they can reckon with him +for it; but I should like to pay our debt myself." + +"I don't suppose there is much chance of your having an +opportunity of doing that." + +"Then why are we going back, your honour?" + +"To carry out my original orders, Mike--survey the roads, and +passes, and bridges. The duke cannot rely upon Spanish testimony +in these matters, and it is most important that we should +ascertain, accurately, how good are the roads by which he would +advance with the army into Portugal, or where best to oppose the +enemy if they cross the Guadiana." + +"I am glad to hear you say so, sir, for I was afraid that we were +going to have a long stay here again, and I would rather be on +horseback, riding all over the country, than walking up and down +these streets till my feet fairly ache." + +"That is my opinion, too, Mike. We have had a good many rides with +despatches, but between times it is stupid work, hanging about the +general's quarters waiting for orders." + +The next morning, Desmond joined Colonel Crofton's regiment as it +was on the point of starting from the barracks. It was in the +service of Spain, and had taken a brilliant part in several +engagements. Desmond was acquainted with the colonel and his +officers. + +"Good morning, Kennedy!" Crofton said, as he rode up and saluted +him. "I had a note from the Duke of Orleans, last night, saying +you were going on special service, and would travel with us as far +as Badajos. King Philip sent for me, later on, and himself gave me +instructions, besides handing me the written orders. It seems you +have discovered that the governor is mixed up, with a lot of +contractors, in swindling the state by supplying earth instead of +powder and flour." + +"So far as the governor goes, Colonel, there is no absolute proof. +I have not the smallest doubt that he was the prime mover in the +matter, and that the commissaries only received a small portion of +the bribes paid to him. It is hardly possible that every one of +them should have betrayed his trust, unless sure of the governor's +protection. I cannot prove that he had all these men shot in order +to silence them, employed men to assassinate Colonel Mendez, or +set men to murder me in my hotel and afterwards to intercept us in +crossing the sierra. Still, I have no shadow of doubt in my mind +that it was so. + +"However, I do not think you will find him at Badajos. No doubt, +as soon as he heard I had got safely down into the valley of the +Tagus, he made off. There is just a possibility that the +contractors, knowing that their lives will be forfeited by the +discovery of the frauds, might at once have sent in supplies of +powder, flour, and other things, to take the place of the casks +and sacks of earth; in which case he would probably deny the truth +of my statement altogether, and declare that I had simply invented +it in order to do credit to myself. But I hardly think that +possible. In the first place, there are the soldiers both of my +escort and of Colonel Mendez, who assisted in the work of +examination; besides which more than half the commissaries escaped +while this was taking place, and, on an offer of pardon, would no +doubt gladly come forward and give evidence, especially as the +execution of their comrades will have shown them that the governor +is determined to throw them over." + +"Yes; I don't suppose we shall find the arch-scoundrel there, +unless, indeed, he can rely upon the support of his garrison; in +which case he may have ridden to Portugal, offering to surrender +the place at once to them, and will close his gates against us." + +"I don't think there is any chance of that, Colonel. In the short +time during which I was there, I was able to see that the troops +were deeply discontented. They were almost in rags, and the +landlord of the inn told me that they were kept on the scantiest +rations, and those of a very inferior kind. So I do not think, for +a moment, he could trust them to act against a royal force." + +Desmond's anticipation proved to be correct. As they descended +into the valley of the Guadiana, they met an officer of the +garrison, who was bearing a despatch from the senior military +officer, saying that the governor and his family had suddenly left +without issuing any orders, and, as he had taken all his portable +property with him, it was supposed that he did not intend to +return. Under these circumstances he wrote to ask for orders. + +Colonel Crofton sent him back with instructions, to the colonel +commanding the troops, that he was coming with a regiment of +dragoons and one of infantry, and had full authority from the king +to take all measures that seemed to him desirable. Accordingly, +when they arrived at Badajos they were met, at the gate, by the +colonel commanding the troops, and a party of his officers. + +"I have the king's authority," Colonel Crofton said to him, "to +act as temporary governor until another may be appointed. I do not +know whether you are aware of the circumstances that led to the +flight of Don Juan de Munos?" + +"No, sir, we have heard nothing. Rumours were current, among the +men, that some strange discoveries were made when the stores were +examined, but beyond that I know nothing. In fact, at the time, +the assassination of Colonel Mendez of the artillery created such +an excitement that nothing else was spoken of." + +"Well, Colonel, if you will accompany me to the governor's house, +I will enter into the matter fully with you. You may well believe +that it is serious, as I have been despatched here with my +regiment, and with one of French infantry, for both of whom +quarters must be found at once." + +"There is plenty of room, sir. The barracks will contain ten +thousand men, and at present we have but four thousand here." + +"Then I beg, Colonel, that instead of coming at once to my +quarters, you will tell off officers to conduct the troops to the +most convenient of the buildings now empty. After that, I shall be +glad to see you and the commanding officers of the other +regiments. + +"You will, of course, take up your quarters at the governor's +house, Captain Kennedy," he went on, as he rode forward. "As you +are going to be employed in surveying duties, you will naturally +be a good deal away. But your presence here will be absolutely +necessary, as a witness against any of these rascally contractors +we can lay our hands on." + +When the four colonels arrived, after seeing that the troops were +housed, Colonel Crofton obtained from them the names and addresses +of the various contractors; and, half an hour later, parties of +the cavalry regiment in garrison were despatched, under officers, +with orders to arrest and bring them into Badajos. During the +meal, Colonel Crofton explained to the four colonels the discovery +of the frauds, which naturally excited the greatest indignation +among them. He then requested them and Desmond to accompany him to +the stores. This they did, after sending to the barracks for a +party of fifty men for fatigue duty. + +The gaps made during Desmond's explorations had been carefully +filled up again, but upon fresh openings being made, his reports +were fully borne out. Some hours were spent at the central +magazine, and orders given that the other magazines should be +opened and examined on the following day. + +Desmond did not join in this search, but started early, with Mike, +to carry out his own mission. He had been furnished with reports, +sent in by the provincial and local juntas, as to the state of the +roads, but, as he had expected, he soon found these to be grossly +inaccurate. The roads marked as excellent, and fit for the passage +of artillery and trains, were found to be mere bridle roads. +Others, marked as highroads, were almost impassable lanes. The +bridges across the streams were, for the most part, in such a bad +condition as to be unsafe for a country cart and, until repaired, +impossible for the passage of artillery. + +He carefully noted all the points at which work was required to +render them in any degree practicable for the passage of troops, +and reported fully to Colonel Crofton. The latter, who was +provided with full authority, despatched the greater portion of +his troops, with a large number of peasants, with materials to +fill up the deep ruts, repair the bridges, and make the roads, as +far as possible, fit for the passage of an army. + +In ten days, Desmond had surveyed all the roads down both the +valley of the Guadiana and that of the Tagus, and had sent off his +report to Madrid, together with his observations as to the points +at which a defensive position could, in his opinion, be best taken +up. Having done this, he prepared to undertake the second part of +his mission, and to investigate the roads on the Portuguese side +of the frontier. + +"Now we shall have to keep our eyes open, Mike," he said. "So far +as we have heard, there are no bodies of the enemy's troops +anywhere in this neighbourhood, but there is a bitter enmity +between the Spanish and Portuguese, and we shall be liable to be +attacked by the peasants." + +"Are we to ride in our uniforms, your honour?" + +"Certainly we are, Mike. If we are captured in uniform, we should +be dealt with as prisoners of war and have a right to fair +treatment. If we are taken in disguise, we shall be shot as +spies." + +"Faith, your honour, the alternative is not a pleasant one. If we +go as civilians, we may be shot as spies; if we go in uniform, we +may be murdered by the peasants." + +"That is so, Mike. But, you see, we are not likely to fall into +the hands of the peasants. We are both well mounted, and the +peasants will be on foot, and a great proportion of them unarmed; +so that, beyond the chance of being hit by a ball, the risk is not +great." + +Accordingly, on the following day they rode out, and for nearly a +week examined the lines of route across the frontier. They +followed the roads between the foot of the mountains and the +frontier, as far as Portalegre, but avoided the towns of Campo +Mayor and Arronches; crossed the hills, and struck upwards by the +bank of the Zarina to Frontiera, and thence west as far as Lavre. +They met with no interference by such peasants as they saw working +in the fields, or by those in the small villages through which +they passed, these supposing the uniforms to be those of English +or Dutch officers. + +They found that the roads were fully as bad as those of Spain, and +would present great difficulty to any army with artillery and a +long train of waggons. In one of the places they heard from a +peasant, with whom they conversed, that there was another pass +over the mountains from Elvas. Of course, the man spoke in +Portuguese, but the language sufficiently resembled Spanish for +Desmond to understand its meaning. + +"We must investigate that road, Mike, for, if it is practicable, +it would be the most direct for an army coming from Lisbon. Of +course, we shall have to make a wide circle round Elvas, as there +is sure to be a strong garrison there, and any soldiers riding +about the country would be certain to know that our uniform was +French. When we have done that road, we shall have finished our +work." + +Accordingly, they passed round the fortress at a distance, and +presently came upon the road. It showed signs of having lately +been repaired, in some parts, but these were so badly done that +they increased rather than diminished the difficulties it +presented to the passage of troops. They had ridden some ten +miles, and were already among the mountains, when they dismounted +to rest their horses and to eat the food they carried with them. + +Suddenly, looking down the road behind them, they saw a squadron +of cavalry coming along. + +"This is awkward, Mike. There is nothing for it, now, but to ride +on, and when we have reached the foot of the mountains on the +other side, strike across country until we come upon the road +running direct to Badajos. They are a good two miles behind us, so +we need not blow our horses." + +Mounting, they proceeded at a trot up the road. As far as they +could see, the cavalry behind them did not quicken their pace, +which showed that they were on some ordinary duty and not, as +Desmond at first supposed, in pursuit of them, some peasant +having, perhaps, taken word that an officer and soldier in strange +uniform had been seen riding round the town. They therefore took +matters quietly, and indeed, sometimes the road was so steep that +it would have been impossible for the horses to go beyond a quick +walk. + +Suddenly, on reaching the crest of the rise, they saw, at a +distance of a hundred yards ahead of them, a party of officers, +followed by an escort of dragoons. + +"We are caught this time, Mike!" Desmond exclaimed. "Escape is +impossible. I will ride straight up and surrender. Fortunately +they are English uniforms, so we are certain to get fair +treatment, which we could not be sure of, had they been +Portuguese." + +So saying, he rode forward at a trot. The party had drawn rein at +his approach, and he rode up to one who was evidently a general +officer. + +"Sir, I surrender as a prisoner of war. My name is Kennedy, and I +am a captain on the staff of the Duke of Orleans." + +"And what are you doing here, sir?" + +"I am surveying the road, General, by which the allied army is +likely to advance. Our information on that score is very +defective, and I believe the duke wishes to ascertain, from my +report, the state of the roads by which the advance would most +probably be made." + +The general's question had been in French, and he replied in the +same language. + +"You do not bear a French name, sir," the general said. + +"No, sir, I am an Irishman," Kennedy replied, in English. "I +belonged, before I received a staff appointment, to one of the +regiments of the Irish Brigade." + +"You are a daring fellow, thus to venture so far across the +frontier." + +"I simply obeyed my orders, sir; and, had I been ordered to +reconnoitre Lisbon, I should have attempted to do so." + +"Well, sir, I shall have an opportunity of talking to you, later +on. I, as you see, am engaged in precisely the same work as you +are; namely, in ascertaining, for myself, the state of the roads +across these mountains." + +"Then, General," Desmond said, with a smile, "I should say that +your investigations are hardly satisfactory." + +The general also smiled. + +"Not so much so as I could wish," he said. "And now, may I ask +why, seeing that you are well mounted, you did not turn and ride +for it, when you first perceived us?" + +"The reason is simple, General. A squadron of cavalry were coming +up behind me, and there was evidently no possibility of escape." + +"No doubt they were sent out to meet me. Well, sir, if you will +give me your word not to attempt to escape, you can retain your +sword, and ride with us." + +"I give my parole, sir, with many thanks for your courtesy." + +"And now, Captain Kennedy," the other went on, "it is probable +that you have, about you, the result of your investigations along +these roads, which I must request you to hand to me; as it may be +as useful, to me, as it would have been to the Duke of Orleans, +and may save me a good deal of trouble." + +Desmond took out the notebook in which he had, each day, jotted +down the result of his observations, with suggestions as to the +points where repairs were most needed. He had each night, on his +return to Badajos, written up his reports from these, intending, +when he had completed the work, to take it himself to Madrid. + +The general glanced through the notebook. + +"You have done your work very thoroughly, Captain Kennedy, and +have rendered me considerable service. Now, we will move forward +again. Please follow with my aides-de-camp." + +These were two pleasant young men, who were glad of a talk with an +officer from the other side. + +"How long have you been riding about here, if it is fair to put +the question?" one said. + +As the notebook contained all the particulars of his journeys on +that side of the frontier, Desmond replied at once: + +"Eight days, I think. I have been up the road to Portalegre, and +by that to Lavre; and if I had not, unfortunately, accidentally +heard of this road over the mountains, I should now be on my way +to Madrid; but luck has been against me." + +"Promotion must be very rapid in your army," the other +aide-de-camp said, "or you would hardly be a captain already." + +"I was fortunate enough to attract the notice of the King of +France, and the Duke of Berwick, on various occasions, and when +one has such a piece of good fortune as that, promotion is rapid." + +"It is lucky for you that you fell into the hands of the Earl of +Galway, instead of into those of the Portuguese generals, who +would probably, in spite of your uniform, have made short work of +you." + +"I did not know that the general was the Earl of Galway," Desmond +said. "Certainly, it was lucky that I fell into his hands. Indeed, +if I had not seen the English uniforms, I should have turned and +charged the squadron behind us; preferring very much to be killed +fighting, than to be hanged or shot like a dog." + +In a few minutes they met the squadron of cavalry, who had, as the +general supposed, been sent out by the Governor of Elvas to meet +him. Half of these now took their place in front, and the +remainder, drawing aside to let the party pass, fell in behind. +Mike had, without orders, fallen in with the earl's escort; and +more than once Desmond heard his laugh, as he chatted with the +troopers. On arriving at Elvas, the general directed his +aides-de-camp to obtain a room, for Desmond, in the house in which +they were quartered; and as no one attended to him, Mike undertook +his usual duties as his servant. + +The next morning, one of the aides-de-camp came in, and said: + +"The general wishes to speak to you, Captain Kennedy." + +On entering the general's apartment, the earl asked him to take a +seat. + +"I could not see you yesterday evening," he began, "as I was learning +from the Governor the state of the stores here. I should like to have +a talk with you. May I ask you, in the first place, how you have so +early attained the rank of captain? My aide-de-camp tells me that you +said you had attracted the notice of the King of France. It must have +been by some singular action, and as I have an hour to spare, before +I ride out, I shall be glad if you can tell me some particulars about +yourself; unless, indeed, they are of a private nature." + +"Not at all, sir. The story is generally known to members of the +court at Versailles, and indeed to all Paris;" and he then related +to the earl the story of his release of Anne de Pointdexter from +her imprisonment, the journey to the south, the attack on the +party by the Vicomte de Tulle, and her second rescue from him. + +"Thank you, sir," the general said, when he had concluded. "I am +not surprised that, after so romantic an adventure, the King of +France took notice of an officer who had shown such courage and +intelligence. You see, sir, that you and I are, to a certain +extent, in a similar position. From motives of religion, +principally, you Irish have left your country, and are fighting +for a foreign monarch. I, as you are doubtless aware, belong to a +French Huguenot family, and, being forced to leave France by the +severe edicts, entered the service of Holland, and followed the +fortunes of King William, and am now fighting against the troops +of the country of my birth. In other respects, there is a +similarity. We have both lost a hand in the service of our adopted +countries; I at the siege of Badajos, and you at--?" + +"Oudenarde, sir." + +"I have been thinking it over," the general went on. "I might, of +course, send you to Lisbon as a prisoner, but one extra prisoner +would not largely benefit my government. You have not been taken +in action. Your papers have saved me an immense deal of trouble, +for we are no more able to rely upon the information given by the +Portuguese than, I should think, the Duke of Orleans can upon that +of the Spaniards. + +"Therefore, sir, I think that, in the present case, I can make an +exception to the rule. In an hour I shall mount and ride down the +road to Badajos, and I shall there restore your liberty to you, +and permit you to recross the frontier. It would be a thousand +pities that so young and gallant an officer should waste, perhaps, +some years of his life in an English prison, for the number of +prisoners taken in Flanders is so great that it is impossible for +the French to find officers to exchange for them. You will +understand that, dealing with allies so jealous and susceptible as +the Portuguese, I can hardly take the step of releasing you, as it +would be at once rumoured that I had been in communication with a +French officer, doubtless from some sinister motive. + +"I think, Captain Kennedy, that it would be as well," he said with +a smile, "that you should withdraw your parole, and do so before +we start, in the presence of the officers of my staff. Of course, +you must be placed under a very strict guard, and although so near +the frontier, you will find it very difficult to escape. Still, +such things are managed." + +"I thank you most deeply, sir," Desmond said, understanding the +tone in which the earl spoke, "and I shall ever retain a deep +feeling of gratitude for your generosity." + +When the party assembled, in readiness to mount, Desmond walked up +to the earl, and said in a tone that could be heard by the +officers round: + +"Sir, I have changed my mind, and beg to be allowed to withdraw my +parole." + +"You are at liberty to do so, Captain Kennedy; but nevertheless I +shall take you with us today. I shall not, of course, ask you to +give any information as to matters on the other side of the +frontier, but there are points on which you could inform me, +without detriment to your friends." + +"That I shall be happy to do, sir." + +The earl called up four troopers. + +"You will place this officer and his servant between you," he +said, "and keep a vigilant lookout upon their movements." + +Desmond had not even told Mike of the conversation with the earl, +thinking it better that he should remain in ignorance that this +escape was connived at by an English general, and his follower was +therefore greatly astonished when he heard that his master had +withdrawn his parole, and that they were henceforth to be strictly +guarded. The party rode until they reached a rise from which they +could obtain a view of Badajos, and of the country extending far +up the valley of the Guadiana. The ground in front of them sloped +gradually. + +The earl took his place with two or three officers of his staff, +fifty yards in front of the rest, and, dismounting, examined +Badajos with his telescope. Then he asked one of his aides-de-camp +to bring Captain Kennedy to him. + +"You may as well bring his servant, too," he added. "No doubt he +knows the country as well as his master does, and may not be so +unwilling to answer questions." + +The order was carried out, and Desmond and Mike rode up with the +aide-de-camp, followed closely by the four troopers. The earl at +once began to question Desmond as to the names of the villages +visible up the valley. He had remounted now, but his staff, who +had dismounted when he did, remained on their feet, as it was +evident that he had no intention of moving forward for some time. + +While they were speaking, the earl, accompanied by Desmond, rode +forward some twenty yards, as if to obtain a better view. Mike had +followed him, but the four troopers remained behind the group of +officers, having no orders to follow the general so closely. + +"This is good ground for galloping, Captain Kennedy," the earl +said quietly. "You are within two miles of Badajos." + +"Thank you deeply, sir. + +"Now, Mike, ride for it!" and, spurring his horse, he dashed off +at a headlong gallop. + +There was a shout of surprise, the officers of the staff ran to +their horses, which were being held by the orderlies, and the four +troopers at once galloped forward, snatching their carbines from +the slings. + +"Do not fire," the earl shouted as they passed. "Take them alive." + +As the officers came up, the general signalled to them to stop. + +"Don't go farther, gentlemen," he said. "The troopers will +doubtless overtake them; but for aught we know, there may be a +Spanish force in the village just on the other side of the +frontier, and, instead of capturing two prisoners, you might be +taken or shot yourself; and I am not disposed to lose any of my +staff, just as we are about to commence operations in earnest." + +Desmond looked back. He saw that only the four dragoons were +following. + +"They will not overtake us, Mike," he said, "our horses are +certainly better than theirs." + +Indeed, they had increased their lead fast. A few minutes later, +they heard a trumpet call in their rear, and their pursuers at +once checked their horses, and rode back in answer to the recall. + +"Tare an' ages," Mike exclaimed, "but that was nately managed. Who +would have thought that they would have let us give them the slip +so easily!" + +"Well, Mike--but this you must never mention to a soul--the earl +gave us this chance of escape, I believe. He had, you know, a long +talk with me, and said that they had so many French officers +captured in Flanders, that one more or less would make little +difference. He had asked about my adventures, and seemed much +interested in them, and remarked that our positions were somewhat +similar, both being exiles on account of our religion, and so +serving in foreign armies against our own countrymen. At any rate, +it was on his suggestion that I withdrew my parole not to attempt +to escape." + +"Then he is a rale gintleman, sir, and mighty obliged I feel to +him, for I have had enough of English prisons, though indeed, it +was only three or four days that I stopped at Harwich." + +The party on the hill had watched the pursuit, until the earl +said: + +"Well, gentlemen, I fancy he has slipped from our hands. I admit +that I am hardly sorry, for he was a very fine young fellow, and +it would have been a pity for him to be spending, perhaps some +years of the best part of his life, in prison. + +"Captain Chetwynde, will you order the trumpeter to sound the +recall? They are leaving our men behind fast. It is no use losing +four troopers as well as two prisoners." + +More than one quiet smile was exchanged between the English +officers, for, from the tone in which the earl spoke, they had no +doubt that he was by no means sorry at Desmond's escape, and that +possibly he had even taken him forward with him to afford him a +chance of making it. They had, indeed, been a little surprised +that, when Desmond withdrew his parole, the earl had not ordered +him into strict confinement, instead of taking him with him on his +reconnaissance. + +The pursuit over, Desmond rode on at a canter to Badajos, and +reported to Colonel Crofton that he had been taken prisoner, but +had managed to effect his escape, as he was but carelessly +guarded. + +"I shall now, sir, return to Madrid. I have completed the work I +was told to carry out, and shall finish writing up my report this +afternoon, and start tomorrow morning." + +"I congratulate you on your escape. The Portuguese are not very +particular, and might, as likely as not, have paid small regard to +the fact that you were in uniform." + +"Fortunately, sir, it was not by them that I was captured, but by +a small party of English dragoons, who were, I fancy, like myself, +investigating the state of the roads." + +Desmond had not been called upon to give evidence before the +commission of enquiry, it being found that all the contractors had +left their homes, a week before the troops arrived at Badajos, +taking all portable property with them. Some had apparently gone +to Andalusia, while others had made for Catalonia. All had +unquestionably made a considerable sum of money by their frauds, +and would take good care not to fall into the hands of the French. + +"They will never be able to return here," Desmond remarked to +Colonel Crofton. + +The latter smiled. + +"You do not know these people yet, Captain Kennedy, or you would +not say so. Some of these fellows are certainly among the richest +men in the province, and we may be quite sure that, in a very +short time, when the affair has blown over, they will, partly by +influence and more by bribery, obtain from the central junta an +order that no proceedings shall be taken against them. Anything +can be done with money in Spain. There are many upright and +honourable Spaniards, but very few of them take any part in public +affairs, and would not associate with such men as those who are in +the ascendant in all the provincial juntas, and even in the +central body in Madrid. + +"In France there is distress enough, and no doubt the men who farm +the taxes are no more scrupulous than they are in Spain, but there +is not the same general corruption, and the French nobility, +haughty and despotic to their tenants as they may be, are not +corrupt, and would scorn to take a bribe. Now that there is a +French king on the throne here, there may be, when matters have +settled down, some improvement; but it will be a long time, +indeed, before the nation can be regenerated, and even the king +will soon find that, if he is to reign peaceably, he must not +interfere too violently with methods that are so common that they +have come to be accepted as inevitable, even by the people who +suffer by them. + +"I can assure you that I, myself, have been many times approached +by men who supply forage and other things to the regiment, and +when I have indignantly refused to entertain any proposals +whatever, they have not been at all abashed, but have said boldly +that it was the general custom. I do not believe they thought any +the better of me for refusing even to listen to their offers, but +regarded me as a sort of Don Quixote, with ridiculously +exaggerated ideas of honour." + +On the morning following his return to Badajos, Desmond started on his +way to Madrid. Although this time he had no apprehension whatever of a +planned attack, he thought it safer and better to travel north from +Badajos, and skirt the foot of the sierras until he reached the banks +of the Tagus, where there was a strong garrison in each of the towns, +and the country was, in consequence, free from the incursions of bands +from the hills. The journey passed without an incident, and on reaching +Madrid and presenting his report, he received high commendation from +the Duke of Orleans, and spent a long day with the general's staff, +explaining his report, and going into details as to the nature of the +roads, the repairs necessary, and the positions which were, in his +opinion, most suitable for battle. + +On the following day, the members of the staff were all summoned +to meet him by the Duke of Orleans, who informed them that he had +received a sudden summons to return to Paris, and that Marshal de +Bay would, in his absence, be in command of the French troops. The +announcement came as a great surprise to Desmond, but was not +unexpected by the other officers. + +During the winter, the King of France had been engaged in efforts +to bring about a general peace, and had offered terms that showed +he was ready to make any sacrifices to procure it. The allies, on +the contrary, were bent upon continuing the war. The victory of +Oudenarde, the capture of Lille, Namur, and other fortresses, +opened the way to Paris, and knowing the general distress that +prevailed in France, they raised their demands higher and higher, +as they perceived the anxiety of Louis for peace. + +One of the obstacles to this was the situation in Spain, and it was +reported that Louis was ready to yield on this point also, and not +only to consent to the cession of the Spanish dominion in Spain, +but to his grandson Philip surrendering the crown to the Archduke +Charles; and that, ere long, the French troops would be withdrawn +altogether. While, during the month that had elapsed since Desmond +first left Madrid, these rumours had increased in strength, it was +known that couriers were constantly passing to and fro, between +Madrid and Versailles, with private communications between Louis and +Philip; and there was great excitement, in Madrid, at the rumour of +this desertion of their king by France. + +The rumours were indeed correct. The king had informed Philip +that, great as was the affection he bore for him, the state of +France, which was necessarily his chief care, would compel him, +ere long, to recall his troops from Spain. Philip had entreated +him not to desert him, and declared that, in any case, he would +remain in Spain, confiding in the support of the people who had +selected him as their monarch. At present, however, the +communications were proceeding, and nothing definite had been +arranged. + +The whole of the staff were to remain with Marshal de Bay, in the +same position as they had held under the duke, and, except for the +departure of the prince, matters went on as before. + + + +Chapter 17: An Old Friend. + + +The command had been effected so suddenly that Desmond had not +been able to make up his mind to request the Duke of Orleans, to +whom he had been attached personally, rather than to the French +army in Spain, to allow him to return with him to France, in order +that he might again join the Duke of Berwick. Before, however, he +could decide whether to do so or not, the duke had taken his +departure. + +Desmond spoke to the head of the staff, with whom he had been +constantly thrown in contact before he left Madrid, and whilst +explaining to him, on his return, the details of his report, asked +him for his advice. + +"I should think you had better remain here, Captain Kennedy. There +is likely to be a great battle fought, in a few weeks; but if the +rumours we hear are correct, we may not be here very much longer. +Certainly I hope there will be no change until then, for if we win +the battle, and so relieve Spain from the risk of invasion for a +time, we can leave the country with a better grace, as Philip +would then only have to battle with his rebellious subjects in +Catalonia." + +"I should certainly not wish to leave when a great battle is about +to be fought," Desmond said, "and will, therefore, continue to +serve under the Marshal de Bay until it is certain what is going +to be done." + +In a short time a general movement of the troops, both Spanish and +French, began. Desmond and the other aides-de-camp were actively +employed in keeping up communication between the various columns, +which were to assemble near Badajos. Moving forward at the same +rate as the troops, the march was a pleasant one. It was April +now, the country looked bright, and the heat was not too great for +marching. + +The marshal had gone on with the greater portion of his staff, +Desmond having been detailed to accompany the division from +Toledo. When within two days' march of Badajos, an orderly brought +a note from the marshal, requesting him to ride forward at once. +This he did without loss of time. + +Marshal de Bay had taken up his quarters at Badajos, and on +arriving in the town, Desmond alighted at the governor's house. + +"It was a stupid mistake of mine," the head of the staff said, "in +sending you on detached duty. I forgot at the moment, when I +nominated you, that your knowledge of the locality would be +invaluable to us. I only thought of it yesterday when, on the +marshal asking for some information on this matter, I pulled out +your report. He examined it and said, 'This is very complete and +valuable, Colonel. Whom is it made by?' + +"'By an officer of your staff, sir, Captain Kennedy.' + +"'Where is he?' + +"'He is coming down with the Toledo column, sir.' + +"'Please send for him at once,' he said. 'One of the others should +have been detached for that service. He is just the man we want +here.' + +"Accordingly we sent for you, and here you are." + +"This is an excellent report of yours, sir," the duke said, when +the colonel introduced Desmond to him. "As we came down, I noticed +that the roads had, in many cases, been thoroughly repaired at the +points mentioned in your report as being particularly bad, and the +bridges in many places greatly strengthened. Had it not been for +that, I do not know how I should have got my guns along. + +"And now, sir, I want to ask you a few questions as to the road on +the other side. By your report, I see that you consider the road +through Campo Mayor to be the only one by which an army could +move, and that a large body of workmen must be employed to make +the other road fit for the passage of cannon." + +He then asked a number of questions concerning this road. + +"I see," he said, "you have marked several places, in your report, +where an enemy coming down that road could post themselves +strongly, and others which might be defended to advantage by us." + +"Yes, sir; but of course, the suitability of those places would +depend largely upon the respective strength of the armies." + +The marshal nodded approvingly. + +"From all I hear from our agents in Lisbon," he said, "the enemy's +forces will be superior to our own in numbers, but the main +portion are Portuguese, who have shown very little fight, +hitherto. Their cavalry are almost entirely Portuguese. The only +really fighting portion of their forces are the English and Dutch, +who are most formidable foes; but against these we have our French +regiments, on whose bravery we can rely. Were it not that I think +the Portuguese will probably, as at the battle of Almanza, fly as +soon as the engagement begins, I should fall back and take up a +strongly defensive position. As it is, in spite of their superior +numbers, I think we can meet them on an equal field." + +The conversation lasted over an hour, and then Desmond retired, +leaving Colonel Villeroy with the marshal. As he left the house, +an officer standing at the door seized his hand. + +"My dear Kennedy," he said, "who would have thought that we should +have met again here!" + +Desmond staggered back. He could not, for a moment, believe the +evidence of his eyes and ears. + +"Why, O'Neil, I thought you were dead." + +"I am worth a good many dead men, yet," the other one laughed. +"Let us go into this wine shop and crack a bottle. We can then +talk over matters quietly." + +"And O'Sullivan, is he alive too?" Desmond asked. + +"No, poor fellow. He has never been heard of since that tremendous +licking we got. There is not a shadow of hope." + +Then many questions were asked, on both sides; and when these were +answered, Desmond said: + +"Now about yourself, O'Neil. I thought I was the only one that got +through safe." + +"So you were, for the other three of us were all on our backs." + +"But we did not hear of you as among the prisoners, of whom a list +was furnished by Marlborough." + +"No; the name of Patrick O'Neil did not appear. I was shot through +the body, and during the night I lay insensible, but in the +morning I opened my eyes and began to think. It seemed to me that +the name was not one that would be likely to please. In the first +place, because it was evident, by my age, that I was not one of +the Limerick men; in the next place, because of that little matter +of my escape from the jail in London. I had no fear of being shot. +I should be a prisoner of war, but I should not be likely to be +over kindly treated, and when they exchanged prisoners I should +certainly not be one of those sent back. You see, what with +Blenheim and Ramillies and Oudenarde, they had taken ten of our +officers for every one of their officers captured by us, so I +thought it best to pass as a French officer. + +"It was easy to do so, as my French was good enough to pass +anywhere, and, you see, I had on a French staff uniform. Luckily +my horse had been shot at the same time as I was. He was lying +dead beside me, and within reach of my arm, so that I was able to +lean over and get my flask from one of the holsters. I had a +terrible thirst on me, and could have drunk a barrel. + +"As I heard no firing, I knew that the fighting was over; and in +two or three hours a party came along with a stretcher, having a +doctor with them. When he saw that my eyes were open, and that I +was alive, he examined my wound and shook his head. + +"'He is badly hit,' he said, 'but you may as well carry him in.' + +"So they took me into Oudenarde, which had been turned into a big +hospital. + +"'You are not to speak,' the doctor said to me, before they lifted +me up. 'You must keep yourself perfectly quiet.' + +"When they got me into the hospital, they found a hole behind as +well as in front, which I heard one of the doctors say was a good +thing. They dressed the wounds and left me. I could see by their +faces, the next time they came, that they were surprised to see me +alive. One of them said to the other: + +"'The bullet must have passed through him without touching any +vital point. He may do yet.' + +"He bent down, and asked me in French what my name was, and I said +'Victor Dubosc, lieutenant;' so they stuck a card with my name +over my bed, and asked me no more questions. I lay there for six +weeks, and then I was well enough to get up and walk about. + +"Three weeks later, I went down with some other convalescents to +Ostend, and there we were embarked, and taken to Portsmouth. Then +we were put in boats and rowed to Porchester, which is a place at +the end of a sort of lake behind Portsmouth. There was an old +castle there, with a mighty high wall, enclosing a lot of ground, +where there were huts--rows of them--all filled with our +prisoners. Some of the huts were a little better than others, and +these were for the use of officers. A regiment of soldiers was in +tents outside the walls, and a hundred men were always on guard +with loaded muskets. + +"I said to myself, often and often, 'If Kennedy were here, he +would soon hit upon some plan for getting away;' but for the life +of me, I could not see how it was to be managed. It was a dull +time, I can tell you. The food was bad, and the cooking was worse. +Only a few officers were there, most of them being sent to some +place a long distance inland; but, as we were all wounded, I +suppose they thought that the loss of blood would keep us quiet. + +"One of the officers, having a little money hidden about him, +bought a pack of cards from an English soldier, and we passed most +of our time playing; but it was poor work, for we had nothing to +play for. At last, I said to myself, 'Patrick O'Neil, there must +be an end of this or your brain will go altogether. It is not +worth much at the best of times, or it would have thought of some +plan for getting out of this place before now.' + +"At last, I hit on a plan. It was a dangerous one, there was no +doubt of that; but as I was desperate, I did not think much of the +danger. The worst they could do was to shoot me, which I suppose +is what they would have done. My idea was to pounce suddenly on +one of the sentries, who kept guard all night; to gag him, and tie +him up, before he could give the alarm; and then to dress up in +his clothes, and take his matchlock. + +"But the difficulty was, what was I to do next. The soldiers came +on duty for twelve hours, coming in at six in the morning and +going out at six in the evening. + +"It was clear to me that it could only be done in the dark, and I +had to wait for nearly two months. It was the beginning of October +before it was dark enough, at six in the morning, for me to fall +in with the others and march out without being noticed. + +"At last, the time came. I stole out of my hut an hour before the +change would be made, and crept along quietly, till I heard a +sentry marching up and down between our huts and those of the +soldiers. I had torn up a blanket into strips, and twisted them +together to make ropes; and with these in one hand, and a big +piece ready to shove into his mouth in the other, I stole up close +to him; and when he turned his back to me, I jumped upon him. +Luckily, instead of carrying the musket on his shoulder, he had it +under his arm, so that I was able to seize the lock with one hand, +and clutch him by the throat with the other. I gripped pretty +hard, and the man, in half a minute, slipped down to the ground. + +"Before he could recover, I had stripped off his coatee and cloak; +then I tied his hands and feet, fastened the gag firmly in his +mouth, and dragged him in between two huts, where he would not be +found till morning. Then I took off my own coat and threw it over +him, for the night was chilly, and put on his cloak and shako, and +took his place. + +"In half an hour I heard a tramp of men, and knew the relief had +entered. Then there was a bugle call, and two or three sentries +passed towards the entrance. I ran on, too. When they fell in, I +managed to get in the last section. Some sergeants ran down the +line counting the men, and reported that all were present. The +gates were opened, and we marched out. + +"As soon as we got among the tents, we fell out, and I had no +difficulty whatever in getting off without being observed. Leaving +my musket and shako behind me, I went up a long lane which brought +me on to the main road, crossed that, climbed a hill beyond, and +came down into a wooded country. + +"At the first cottage I came to, I stopped. A man and woman came +out on my knocking. They looked kindly and good tempered, and I +told them a pitiful story, about how I had been unjustly accused +of striking an officer, and had been sentenced to two hundred +lashes; and that I had managed, in the night, to cut a slit in the +back of the guard tent and escape. + +"As I had been walking along, a sudden thought had struck me. At +Oudenarde, I was wearing the same boots I had worn when we were +captured together. When we took the money out, we each left, if +you remember, five pieces of gold in one of our boots, which I had +never thought of till that day; and, as I came along, I opened the +sole and took them out. It was a perfect godsend, as you may +guess. + +"The man and his wife expressed such sympathy that I did not +hesitate to say: 'I want to get rid of my coatee, and of this +cloak. The coatee would be of no use to you, and you had best burn +it, but the cloak, if you alter it, might be useful; or, if you cut +it up, will make a cover for your bed. I will give you that and a +gold piece--it is a French one I got in the wars, but you can change +it easily enough, when you go into the town marketing--if you will +give me a suit of your clothes.' + +"This the man readily consented to do, and the woman set before me +a large bowl of milk, and some bread, which I ate as soon as I had +put on a pair of breeches, smock, and broad hat. Now I felt +perfectly safe. They might send news all over the country of the +escape of a French officer, but as I had never spoken a word of +English, from the time that I was taken, no one would suspect a +countryman speaking English to be the man whom they were in search +of. + +"After leaving the cottage, I travelled quietly to Rye. I thought +it best to go there, for it was likely that it would be difficult, +elsewhere, for an unknown man to get a passage to France, and it +struck me that the man who took us across before, would carry me +over the first time he was going with despatches. I found him +easily enough, and though I was not dressed quite in the same way +as I was when we called on him before, he recognized me at once. + +"'Another job for me?' he asked. + +"'Not a special one,' I said. 'I am going across again, but there +is no occasion for you to make a special trip, and indeed my +employer forgot to give me an order upon you. I should have gone +back, if I had remembered it, but I thought you would not mind +giving me a passage the next time you sailed across.' + +"As the man remembered that we had made ourselves pleasant on +board, he agreed at once to take me, next time the boat should be +going. I laid out a pound in getting a coat more suitable for +travelling in France than the peasant's smock. Then I took a +lodging in a small inn. + +"Three days later, a messenger came down with an order for the man +to take him across at once, and as the captain charged me nothing +for my passage, I had enough left to pay for my place in a +diligence, and on arriving in Paris duly reported myself, at the +barracks, as having returned. + +"My first enquiry, of course, was about you and O'Sullivan. I +found that he had never been heard of, but that you had lost a +hand, and had been promoted to a captaincy; had been very ill, and +had gone to the south of France on sick leave. + +"After I heard that, I remained for two or three months at the +depot, and then learned that the Duke of Berwick had just arrived +from Dauphiny. I at once went to see him. He told me he could not +put me on his staff again, as his numbers were complete, but would +give me a letter to the Duke of Orleans, asking him to employ me +in that capacity. When I got down here, I found that the duke had +left, and that the Marshal de Bay was in command. + +"On reading Berwick's letter, he at once appointed me one of his +aides-de-camp. You were away, I found to my great disappointment, +and I was sent off into Catalonia, with orders for four battalions +to be sent at once to Badajos. I arrived here yesterday, in time +for the shindy." + +"Fortunately, O'Neil, I do not think there is much fear of another +Oudenarde. There is no royal duke here, to interfere with our +general; and the Portuguese are not to be compared with the +Hanoverians, and Dutch, and the other allies that fought against +us there." + +"I hear, from the others, that you have been occupied in +reconnoitring the country." + +"Yes, and I was captured, but was fortunately able to give them +the slip." + +Desmond did not care to tell even his friend that his escape was +due to the kindness of the British general. + +The next morning, Desmond was sent off to hurry up a body of +troops which was still some seven or eight marches away. The news +had come that the allied army was in motion, and would probably +concentrate near Portalegre. This seemed to show that they +intended to invade Spain by Badajos, and the valley of the +Guadiana; for, had their aim been to advance up the valley of the +Tagus, to Madrid, they would have marched towards Montalvao, and +so on by Alcantara to Almarez. + +After two days' hard riding he met the column, which, on receiving +the order from the marshal to hasten forward with all speed, +performed double marches until they arrived at Badajos. Desmond +found that the allies had not wasted their time, and that their +advance guard was already at Campo Mayor. The Spanish army were +posted on the Caya river, a stream that flowed down from the +sierra, and fell into the Guadiana at Badajos. + +Their position was a defensive one. The army of the allies was +known to be some twenty-two thousand strong, of whom some five +thousand were cavalry. The Spanish had about the same strength of +cavalry, but were inferior in infantry. The number of guns also +was about equal, both sides having about forty cannon. + +On the 7th of May, the two armies faced each other on opposite +sides of the river Caya. As neither party made any movement of +advance, Marshal de Bay determined to force on an engagement, and +sent orders to the cavalry to cross the river, and to place +themselves on the road between the enemy and Campo Mayor. + +The allies suffered, as the French had done at Oudenarde, by +conflicting counsels. The Earl of Galway was in command of the +British, and of two or three Dutch regiments. The Marquis de +Frontiera was in command of the Portuguese, who formed by far the +greater portion of the force, and, as soon as the movement was +seen on the other side of the river, he determined to cross and +attack the Spaniards. + +The Earl of Galway was strongly of opinion that it would not be +wise to take the offensive, but that the army should remain in its +present position, until the intentions of the enemy were clearly +ascertained. Their cavalry, he urged, could do little by +themselves, and it was evident that the infantry could not be +attacked while they remained under the shelter of the guns of the +fortress. The Marquis de Frontiera, however, and the other +Portuguese generals, were unanimous in insisting that battle +should be given at once, and the former gave orders for the +Portuguese cavalry, with a body of foot and five field pieces, to +march immediately. + +Seeing that, if unsupported, this force must meet with disaster, +the Earl of Galway reluctantly ordered the troops under his +command to advance. The river was fordable, and they met with no +opposition, until they crossed it and formed up in order of +battle. The Portuguese horse were now divided on each wing, the +British were in the centre; a portion of the Portuguese infantry +were on either flank, the rest were in the rear. + +"Captain Kennedy, you will carry my orders at once, to our +cavalry, to charge the Portuguese horse on the right wing." + +Desmond saluted, and was about to ride off, when he paused a +moment and asked: + +"May I charge with Brigadier Crofton's dragoons, sir?" + +The marshal nodded, and Desmond galloped off. Crofton was in +command of the first line of cavalry. His own regiment, which was +composed partly of Irishmen and partly of Spaniards, was in the +centre of the line. + +After delivering his orders to the general commanding the cavalry, +Desmond rode on to Crofton. + +"The cavalry are going to charge, sir," he said, "and I have +permission to ride with you." + +Crofton waited until the order from the general arrived, and then, +drawing his sword, shouted, "The first brigade will charge," and, +riding forward, led the way against the Portuguese horse, whose +cannon had already opened fire. The Portuguese fell into disorder +as soon as they saw the long line of horsemen charging down on +them like a torrent, and when it neared them broke and fled. They +were soon overtaken, great numbers were cut down, and the +remainder galloped off, a panic-stricken mob, and did not draw +rein until they reached Campo Mayor. + +The Spaniards at once turned the five cannon the fugitives had +left behind them upon the allied infantry, and then, after a few +rounds had been fired, the cavalry charged the British infantry. +But they had now foes of a different metal to reckon with, and +although, three times, the horsemen reformed their ranks and +hurled themselves against the infantry, they were each time +repulsed with heavy loss. + +Then, swerving round, they fell on the Portuguese infantry in the +second line, whom they dispersed as easily as they had defeated +the cavalry. + +The Earl of Galway now brought up the brigade of Brigadier General +Pierce, which consisted of the two British regiments of Barrimore +and Stanwix, and a Spanish regiment which had been recently raised +and named after himself. These charged the enemy with great +bravery, drove back their infantry for some distance, recovered +the five guns the cavalry had lost, and, still pressing forward, +fought their way deep into the centre of the Spanish ranks. + +Had they been supported by the Portuguese infantry, on their +flank, the battle might still have been won. But the latter, in +spite of the persuasions and orders of their officers, refused to +advance, and, turning their backs, made off in confusion, although +not yet attacked by the enemy. Orders were then sent to the +Portuguese horse on the left to charge to the assistance of +Pierce's brigade. But instead of doing this, they also galloped +off the field, and after defending themselves with desperate +valour for some time, the little brigade, being unsupported, and +being surrounded by the whole strength of the Spaniards, was +forced to surrender. + +In the meantime the Earl of Galway, seeing that the battle was +lost, through the cowardice of the Portuguese, was preparing to +withdraw his men, and had only despatched Pierce's brigade to +check the advance of the enemy while he did so. Seeing that these, +by their ardour, were irretrievably cut off, he gave the order to +the Marquis Montandre to draw off the British infantry, who alone +remained firm, and against whom the whole of the French and +Spanish forces now advanced; while he himself with a small body of +cavalry, charged into the midst of the enemy in hopes of reaching +Pierce's brigade and drawing it off. + +Although weakened by the loss of that brigade, attacked on both +flanks as well as in front, and frequently charged by the Spanish +horse, among which Crofton's dragoons were conspicuous for their +bravery, the retreating British maintained admirable order. +Occasionally, when severely pressed, they charged the enemy and +beat them back; till they were able to withdraw from the field +with comparatively trifling loss, thus saving the flying +Portuguese from annihilation. As at Almanza, the whole of the +fighting, and almost all the loss, fell upon the English, although +a considerable number of the Portuguese were cut down in their +flight, before the Spanish cavalry returned to join in the attack +on the retiring English. The allies had, altogether, seventeen +hundred men killed or wounded, and two thousand three hundred +taken prisoners, of whom fifteen hundred were Pierce's brigade; +and eight hundred Portuguese, who were cut off by the cavalry. + +Among the prisoners were the Earl of Barrimore, all the officers +of Pierce's brigade, Lord Pawlet, one of the earl's aides-de-camp, +two of his pages, and his master of horse. + +After the battle was over, and Desmond had rejoined the marshal, +he was sent to ride over the field, and ascertain who had fallen +and what prisoners had been taken. Night was already coming on, +and, after fulfilling his mission as far as was possible in the +confusion, he came upon two Spanish soldiers, with a prisoner. + +"Whom have you there?" he asked, in Spanish. + +"I don't know, sir. We found him lying under his horse, which, in +its fall, had so pinned down his leg that he could not escape. +Several others had fallen round him, and it was only when we heard +a cry for help that we turned the dead horse over, and found him +under it, and then got him out." + +Standing close, there was light enough for Desmond to distinguish +the prisoner's features. He gave a slight start of surprise, then +he said: + +"You have done well, my men. Here is a doubloon, to get some drink +with your comrades when you get into the town. I will look after +the prisoner." + +The men saluted and went off, well pleased to have got rid of the +trouble of marching their prisoner into the town. Mike, rather +surprised, moved up to take charge of the captive. + +"My lord," Desmond said, "I will now endeavour to repay the +kindness you showed me. + +"Do you see that little hut, Mike, just at the edge of those +trees? You must hide the earl there. Our cavalry are still all +over the country, hunting down fugitives." + +The earl, who was scarcely able to walk, his leg having been +injured by the weight of the horse upon it, murmured his thanks, +but did not speak again until they had entered the shed, when +Desmond said: + +"Now, General, I will first cut down your riding boot, to ease +your leg. Then, if you will lie down in that corner, we will pile +this firewood over you. It will not be safe for you to attempt to +go forward for two or three hours yet. I have a report to make to +Marshal de Bay. When I have handed it in, I will return at once. + +"Mike, do you stay near the hut, and if any searching party should +come along, which is scarcely likely, for they have all gone +farther afield, you can say there is no need to search the hut, as +you, with an officer, have already examined it." + +In a few minutes, the earl was completely hidden. Desmond then +rode into Badajos, and delivered his report to the marshal. He +then went to the stables, took out his spare horse, and, leading +it, rode out to the hut again. + +"Has anyone been here?" he asked Mike. + +"Not a soul, sir." + +"Take the horses into the wood, then, and stay with them for the +present. It will not be safe for the earl to move for a couple of +hours. + +"Now, General," he went on, as he removed the firewood, "I fear +that you have been very uncomfortable." + +"I can hardly say that I have been comfortable, sir, but that is +of no consequence. The pain in my leg has abated, since you cut +the boot open. + +"And now, how can I express my gratitude to you, for thus +sheltering me?" + +"It is but a fair return of services, sir. You gave me my liberty, +and I am doing my best to restore yours to you." + +"It is all very well to say that, Captain Kennedy. I am the +general in command of the British forces in Portugal, and had I +chosen to openly release you, none could have questioned me. It +was only because some magnified report of the affair might have +reached the ears of the Portuguese Government, and given rise to +rumours hostile to me, that I thought it best to let it appear to +be an accidental escape. You see, I am by no means popular with +the Portuguese. In the first place, I am a Protestant; and in the +next place, I am constantly bringing pressure to bear upon them, +as to the supply of provisions, the making of roads, the proper +feeding and arming of their own troops, and other matters of the +same kind; and they would be only too glad to have some cause of +complaint against me. + +"But your case is altogether different, for you are risking even +your life in thus aiding me to escape." + +"That may be, General, but it was nevertheless my duty, as a +matter of conscience, to endeavour to return the kindness that you +showed me; and as, at present, your army will hardly be in a state +to take the field against us for a long time, I do not feel that I +am seriously injuring our cause." + +"Well, sir, I shall be your debtor for life. + +"Do you intend to remain always an exile, Captain Kennedy?" the +Earl of Galway went on. "It seems to me little short of madness +that so many gallant gentlemen should cut themselves altogether +adrift from their native country, and pass their lives fighting as +mercenaries. I do not use the word offensively, but only in its +proper meaning, of foreigners serving in the army of a nation not +their own. Nor do I mean to insult Irish gentlemen, by even +hinting that they serve simply for pay. They fight for France +mainly in the hope that France will some day aid in setting James +Stuart on the British throne; a forlorn hope, for although Louis +may encourage the hopes of the Stuarts and their followers, by +patronizing their cause, which it suits him to do because it gives +him the means of striking at England, by effecting a landing in +Scotland or Ireland; it is yet a matter upon which he must be +indifferent, save in his own interest, and in the advantage it +gives him of keeping in his service some dozen or so splendid +regiments, on whose valour he can always rely." + +"That is true, sir," Desmond replied; "and I own I have no great +hope that, by the means of French assistance, the Stuarts will +regain their throne. But what could I do if I were to return to +Ireland? Beyond the fact that my name is Kennedy, I am in absolute +ignorance as to what branch of that family I belong to, and have +practically not a friend in the country. Were I to land in +Ireland, I have no means of earning my living, and should +doubtless be denounced as one who had served in the Irish Brigade. +I own that I should be glad to return there, for a time, in order +to make enquiries as to my family. I was but sixteen when I left, +and was kept, as it seems to me, purposely, in total ignorance on +the subject. It may be that I was the son of a brave officer of +that name, who certainly came over to France soon after I was +born, and fell fighting some years before I came out; but I have +no proof that it was so, and would give a great deal to be able to +ascertain it. + +"In Ireland they think a great deal of genealogy, and I am often +questioned, by Irishmen of old descent, as to my family; and find +it extremely awkward to be obliged to own that I know nothing of +it, with any certainty. I have no desire to pass my life in +battles and sieges, and, if I survive the risks and perils, to +settle down as a Frenchman with an Irish name." + +"That I can well understand," the earl said. "'Tis a life that no +man could desire, for it would certainly be a wasted one. I can +assure you that I think the chance of James Stuart, or his +descendants, gaining the throne of England is remote in the +extreme. When William of Orange came over, there was no standing +army, and as James the Second had rendered himself extremely +unpopular by his Catholic leanings, he became possessed of England +without opposition, and of Ireland by means of his Dutch troops. +The matter is entirely changed, now. England has a strong army, +against which a gathering, however strong, of undisciplined men +could have but little chance. I conceive it possible that a +Catholic Stuart might regain the throne of Ireland, if backed by a +French army, and if the people were supplied with French arms and +money. But that he would retain the throne, after the French were +withdrawn, I regard as next to impossible." + +"I cannot but think the same, sir. However, as I see no chance of +my being able to go to Ireland, even to push my enquiries as to my +family, there is nothing for it but to remain a soldier of +France." + +"In that matter, I might assist you, Captain Kennedy. I have no +doubt that my influence, and that of my friends in England, would +without difficulty suffice to gain permission for you to visit +Ireland on private business, on my undertaking that you have no +political object whatever in desiring to do so, and that you +engage yourself to enter into no plots or schemes for a rising. +Furthermore, I think I can promise that, if you succeed in your +researches, and find that you have relations and friends there, I +could, if you desire it, obtain a revocation of any pains and +penalties you may have incurred, and a restoration of all your +rights as an Irishman. That is certainly the least I can do, after +the vital service that you have rendered me--a service that, in +itself, shows you do not share in the bitter enmity so many of +your countrymen, unfortunately, feel against England." + +"I have no such enmity, assuredly," Desmond said. "The choice of +coming out here, to enter the service of France, was not of my own +making; but was made, for some reason which I have never been able +to understand, by the gentleman who had borne the expenses of my +bringing up, but who was himself a strong supporter of the English +rule, and therefore would have been expected to place every +obstacle in the way of my entering the Irish Brigade." + + + +Chapter 18: War. + + +After hearing Desmond's story the earl asked several questions, +and obtained further details of his life when a boy, and of his +interview with John O'Carroll. + +"It is certainly strange," he said thoughtfully, "and worth +enquiring into, for it would seem that he must have some interest +in thus getting you out of the way, and in your entering a service +that would render it next to impossible that you should ever +return to your native land." + +"I don't see any possible interest that he could have had in that, +sir; but, certainly, I have never been able to account for his +conduct." + +"It is clear that there is some mystery about it," the earl said +warmly, "and were I you, I should certainly take leave of absence, +for a time, and go over and get to the bottom of the matter. At +any rate, I will at once write to London and obtain a safe conduct +for you. This you can use, or not, as you may decide, and can +then, if you so please, return and continue your service here. + +"Methinks that the war will not last very much longer. France is +impoverished, the disasters which have befallen her arms in +Flanders have rendered the war unpopular, and in England, in spite +of the success gained by their arms, the heavy taxation is making +men ask why a war should be continued which may benefit Holland, +and the German allies, but can result in no good to England. + +"And now, Captain Kennedy, I will be making my way to join the +remains of my army. I thank you again, most heartily, for your +generous conduct; and, believe me, you may always command my +services in any direction. I only regret that these unhappy +political difficulties should drive you, and so many of your brave +countrymen, into the service of a power that has always been, and +so far as I can see is likely to remain, an enemy of England." + +"I may say, sir, that Lord Godolphin has, for a certain reason, +promised to befriend me; and that, if you write to him on the +subject of a safe conduct, I think I could rely upon his taking a +favourable view of the matter." + +"I will do so, certainly," the earl said. "His power is great. If +he is favourably disposed towards you, you may consider the matter +as done." + +They chatted for some time longer, and then Desmond said: + +"I think now, sir, that it would be safe to move. Everything is +perfectly quiet without, and I have no doubt that, by this time, +the cavalry have all returned to Badajos. However, I will +accompany you for a short distance, for you may be stopped by some +of our advance posts. You had best take the cloak and hat of my +follower, and, as I am well known, no questions will then be +asked." + +"By the way," Lord Galway added as, Mike having brought up the +horses, he mounted; "where shall I send a letter to you, with your +safe conduct? We are in communication with many persons at Madrid, +and can pass a letter through the lines at any time." + +"When there, I lodge at the house of Don Pedro Sarasta, in the +Calle del Retiro. I will request him to forward any letters to me, +should I be absent." + +The earl made a note of the address in his pocketbook, and then, +putting on Mike's cloak and hat, started with Desmond, who passed +him without question through the lines of outposts; which were +indeed but carelessly kept, as it was certain that, after the +signal victory that had been gained, it would be a long time +before any enemy would venture to attack them. + +Two days after the fight, the Marquis de Bay moved forward with +his army, with the intention of fighting another battle; but +Galway and Frontiera had, by this time, reorganized their forces, +and occupied so strong a position, near Elvas, that he could not +venture to attack them. However, he occupied the country for a +considerable distance beyond the frontier, subsisting his army +upon the provisions and forage collected by his cavalry in the +villages and small towns. As it was evident that, after the proof +given of the inability of the Portuguese to withstand any attack, +there was no probability of offensive operations being renewed by +the allies; and, the heat becoming intense, the force was +withdrawn across the frontier and went into quarters, the general +returning to Madrid, where he received an enthusiastic welcome +from the inhabitants. + +By this time, however, the knowledge that the king of France was +entering into negotiations, which would necessitate his desertion +of Spain, greatly excited the population against the French +stationed in the capital. They were hissed and hooted when they +appeared in the streets, and for a time, the indignation was so +great that the troops were ordered to remain in their barracks. +The king himself, however, gained rather than lost popularity, as +he issued a proclamation to the people, saying that, having +accepted their invitation to be their king, he would remain with +them until driven from his throne by force; and he confided +absolutely in their affection, and aid, to enable him to withstand +any foes who might attempt to dethrone him. + +In the autumn another change occurred. Although, in order to +obtain peace, he had granted all the demands, however exorbitant, +of the allies, and had undertaken to withdraw his troops from +Spain, Louis stood firm when to these conditions they added +another, namely, that he should himself undertake, by force, to +dethrone his grandson. This monstrous demand united, at once, both +those who wished to continue the war rather than grant such +humiliating terms as those which had been insisted upon, and the +party who were in favour of peace, even at that cost. The +negotiations were abruptly broken off, and the French troops, who +were already on the march towards the frontier, received orders to +remain in Spain. + +Now that he had O'Neil with him, the time in Madrid passed more +pleasantly for Desmond than before. He was frequently away for several +days, carrying despatches to the commanders of the forces in Valencia +and Barcelona. In the capital the French were again regarded as +friends, and as several successes had been gained and places captured, +in Catalonia, the hope that the civil war that had so long been waged +was approaching its end, and the confidence engendered by the victory +on the Caya, made the people doubt whether any attempt at invasion +from the west would be contemplated, and they gave themselves up to +gaiety. Balls and fetes were frequently organized, and at these the +French were among the most honoured guests. + +Early in the spring preparations were made for active operations. +Lieutenant General O'Mahony had just returned from Sicily, where +he had rendered distinguished service. In the previous year, +Crofton had been made a major general, and two new regiments of +Irish infantry had been formed, of deserters from the enemy in +Catalonia and Portugal. These were commanded by Colonel Dermond +M'Auliffe and Colonel John Comerford. These two regiments, with +another under Colonel Macdonald, marched from Madrid in April. + +As the Marquis de Bay was not yet moving he offered O'Mahony, who +had the command of the force, the services of Desmond and O'Neil +as aides-de-camp. The offer was a welcome one, for, as none of the +men in the newly raised regiments was acquainted with the +language, Desmond, who now spoke Spanish well, would be far more +valuable to him than Spanish officers could be. + +For two months the little force moved about in Catalonia, the +rapidity of its marches baffling the attempts of the archduke's +forces to interfere with its operations. These were principally +directed against various small fortresses, held by partisans of +Charles. Several of these were captured, thus clearing the roads +they guarded, and opening the country for the more important +operations that Philip himself was about to undertake. + +It was not until July that the royal army approached Lerida, where +O'Mahony's force joined it. General Stanhope marched, with the +troops under his command, and encamped at Balaguer; where he was +joined by Baron de Wetzel, with some troops which had been brought +from Italy. As Stanhope's force was insufficient to give battle +until joined by the main army of Charles, he marched, on the 31st +of July, headed by two English and two Dutch regiments of +dragoons, to secure the passes near Alfaro, and so check the +advance of the Spaniards. + +After performing a long and difficult march, they took up a +defensive position. Stanhope found, however, that the river in +front of him was so low that cavalry and artillery could pass +easily, and even infantry could cross without difficulty. Scarcely +had he taken up his position when two brigades of infantry and +nineteen squadrons of cavalry were seen approaching, having been +detached from the Spanish army to occupy the position which had +been secured by the rapidity of Stanhope's march. They therefore +waited for their main army to come up, but before it did so, the +whole of Stanhope's force had arrived, and was prepared for +battle. + +Although it was past six o'clock in the evening, Charles, on his +arrival, decided to fall upon the enemy before they could encamp, +which they might do in a position in which it would be difficult +to attack them. Fourteen cannon at once opened fire from an +eminence, whence they commanded the position taken up by the +advance force of the Spaniards. This position was on low ground in +front of the ridge upon which the village of Almenara stood, and +nothing could be seen of the force that lay behind this ridge. + +The advanced force of Spaniards ascended this ridge, as soon as +the artillery opened upon them, and General Stanhope obtained +leave from Marshal Staremberg, who commanded the archduke's army, +to charge them. With ten squadrons of horse he rode up the ascent, +and there, when he gained it, saw to his surprise twenty-two +squadrons facing him, flanked with infantry, and supported with +another line of cavalry equally strong. He sent back at once for +fourteen squadrons from his second line, and when six of these +came up he advanced against the Spaniards, who at the same time +moved forward to meet him. + +The cavalry on Philip's left at once gave way. The centre and +right, aided by the fire of the infantry, made a stout fight, but +were driven back by the English and Dutch cavalry. The fighting +was severe, for of the six English squadrons who charged, two +hundred men and twenty-one officers were killed or wounded. + +Philip's second line of cavalry gave but feeble support, and +Stanhope's horse soon had them all in confusion, and, driving them +from the field, pursued them hotly. The fugitives dashed into +their own infantry, who were just arriving in force, and their +panic communicated itself to them, and a total rout took place. +The pursuit was kept up until it was so dark that the troopers +were unable to see each other's faces, and they then halted, +having defeated the Spanish without the aid of their infantry, +which had not come up in time to take any part in the fight. Much +of the baggage, together with tents, many cannon, and a quantity +of ammunition, fell into the hands of the victors. Owing to the +darkness, the number of prisoners taken was small. + +O'Mahony and his troops had taken no part in the engagement, as, +having arrived late on the previous evening after a long march, +they were still at Lerida. It had not been deemed necessary to +hurry them forward, as no battle was expected to take place for +some days--as, indeed, would have been the case had the force sent +forward arrived at the river before Stanhope. + +The routed troops arrived under the shelter of the guns of Lerida. +Charles did not attack them there, but, making a detour, seized +several places in Aragon, with the intention of cutting the line +by which Philip would probably retire, and forcing him to fight +again. Philip, however, on his part, marched from Lerida in order +to retire into Castile by way of Saragossa. Charles followed +hotly, and a portion of his cavalry came up to the rear of the +enemy in the defile of Penalva. Here the Spaniards posted a strong +force of grenadiers, and the defile being too narrow for the +cavalry to act, these dismounted, and a hot fight took place, in +which both parties claimed the victory. However, Philip retired +the same day in great haste. Charles, arriving three hours later, +ate the dinner that had been prepared for his rival. + +The Spaniards, covered by the defence of the pass, crossed the +Ebro and posted themselves in a strong position within a mile of +Saragossa. On the 21st of August Marshal Staremberg, with his +generals, having reconnoitred their position, gave orders for the +attack to take place the next morning, and at daybreak the cannon +on both sides opened fire. General Stanhope, who commanded on the +left wing, found that the enemy had the greater part of their +cavalry facing him, and therefore strengthened his force by four +battalions of foot and six squadrons of Portuguese horse. + +The Spanish line ran obliquely, from the river on their left to a +steep hill on their right, occupied by their cavalry and a battery +of artillery. These, therefore, were much nearer to the attacking +force than were those on the plain. + +The battle began at twelve o'clock, Charles's force marching in +two lines, with the exception of Stanhope's cavalry and infantry. +These, from their situation, were the first to come in contact +with the enemy. The four battalions first pushed forward up the +hill, and, driving the Spanish cavalry back, allowed Stanhope's +horse to ascend the hill and form on its crest. The battle +speedily ranged along the whole line. The Spaniards, with superior +numbers, gained ground on their left. Here O'Mahony's corps were +stationed, and they drove a portion of the allies across the Ebro +again; but this success was more than counterbalanced on the other +flank, where Stanhope's cavalry and infantry carried all before +them. The latter, posted in a hollow, opened so heavy a fire upon +the Spanish infantry, as they advanced, that they fell into +disorder; and as their cavalry were driven off, hotly pursued by +Stanhope, they fell back upon the centre, which they threw into +disorder. Seeing that the battle was lost, the Marquis de Bay gave +the order to retire. + +Two hours after the first shot was fired, the rout of the Spanish +centre and right was complete, but a considerable portion of the +troops were rallied by de Bay at Alagon, three leagues above +Saragossa. The left wing, under Generals Amezaga and O'Mahony, +were checked in their course of victory by the disaster which +befell the centre and right; but, maintaining their discipline, +they fell back in good order, and rejoined their defeated comrades +at Alagon. + +All the cannon and most of the colours of the regiments forming +the centre and right fell into the hands of the victors. The loss +of the allies was about two thousand men, killed or wounded; and +that of the Spaniards and French three thousand killed and +wounded, and between five and six thousand prisoners. Philip rode +at once to Madrid, and on the evening of the battle the archduke +entered Saragossa; while de Bay retired, with the broken remains +of his troops, towards Navarre. + +Desmond and O'Neil, who had ridden behind O'Mahony, saw the +Spanish troops of the archduke yield before the impetuous attacks +of the Irish regiments, who, as they pressed their foes backwards, +burst into loud cheering, believing the victory already won. +Presently, O'Mahony stopped the advance. + +"We must not push too far forward," he said. "It seems to me that +things are not going so well in other directions. Our centre is +being pressed back. What is going on on the right I cannot say, +but the enemy seems to have gained the top of the hill, for our +cannon there are silent. If the centre is driven back, those we +have now beaten will rally, and we shall be taken in flank by the +fire of their centre. Therefore, let us be content with what we +have done, and wait and see how things turn out elsewhere." + +Even before the rout of the Spanish right, their centre was +yielding, for opposed to them were the British and Dutch +regiments, whose attack they were altogether unable to withstand. +It soon became clear that, at all other points on the field, the +battle was going against the Spaniards, and an aide-de-camp +presently rode up, hastily, with orders from Marshal de Bay for +his left to fall back and retire to Alagon. + +Deep was the rage and disappointment among the troops of O'Mahony +and Amezaga, as they faced about and set out on their march. They +were unmolested. The troops they had beaten were in no disposition +to follow them, while the allied cavalry and the infantry of their +centre were in full pursuit of the rest of Philip's army, the +remnants of which the little force joined, at Alagon, before +nightfall. + +It was some days before the archduke's army moved forward again. +The troops were exhausted by the long marches they had made, and +there was a difference of opinion among the generals as to the +course that had best be followed. The king wished to pursue the +beaten enemy and, if possible, to intercept their march towards +France, but Count Staremberg and Stanhope were of opinion that +they should first occupy Madrid, and then march into Navarre, so +as to bar the advance of fresh French troops into Spain, and at +the same time open communications by sea with England, whence they +could be supplied with reinforcements and stores of provisions. + +Finally, Charles gave way, and the allies marched towards Madrid. +The main portion of the army halted at Alcala, a day's march from +the capital, and General Stanhope marched on with his division to +Madrid, which opened its gates without resistance, Philip having +retired with his army. Charles entered the city on the 28th of +September, 1710. + +The alarm, in France, at the news of the defeat at Saragossa was +great, and Louis at once despatched the Duke of Vendome to command +there. The latter, travelling fast, and gathering up the garrisons +of the towns through which he passed, crossed the frontier at +nearly the same time as Charles entered Madrid, and effected a +junction with de Bay's army; which had, by this time, been +increased by some fourteen thousand men, drawn from the garrisons +of towns in Navarre, Castile, Galicia, and Valencia. + +Vendome had no doubt that the intention of the allies, in marching +upon Madrid, was to open communication with the Portuguese, and +determined to throw himself between the capital and the frontier. +Marching with all speed, he encamped near Salamanca on the 6th of +October, and thence moved to Plasencia, thereby securing the +bridge of Almarez, and preventing the Portuguese from joining +Charles. + +Had it not been for the usual indecision and want of energy on the +part of the Portuguese Government, the junction might have been +effected before Vendome arrived at Plasencia, for both Charles and +Stanhope had, after the victory of Saragossa, written urgently, +begging that the Portuguese army should at once advance and join +them at Madrid; and that, at any rate, if the whole army could not +move, at least the troops in the pay of England should push +forward instantly. Stanhope, indeed had marched with his division +to the bridge of Almarez to facilitate the junction, and had +defeated a Spanish force guarding the bridge. However, the +Portuguese did not arrive; and when a messenger brought the +alarming news that a Spanish and French army had occupied +Plasencia, Stanhope fell back towards Madrid. + +As large French reinforcements were known to be approaching the +frontier, and Philip's army was already much superior in numbers +to that of the allies, it was decided, in a council of war, to +evacuate Madrid. The forces which had occupied Toledo and other +towns were recalled, and, early in December, the army left the +capital; the archduke riding at once to Barcelona, while the army, +of which Stanhope's division formed the rear guard, followed in +the same direction. + +The movement had been delayed too long. Vendome and Philip were +already at hand, and on the 9th fell upon Stanhope's division at +Brihuega. This force, consisting of eight English battalions and the +same number of Portuguese horse, defended themselves desperately, and +although the town was wholly without fortifications, they repulsed +every attack until their ammunition was exhausted, and they were then +forced to surrender. Staremberg, on hearing that Stanhope was attacked +and surrounded, turned back and marched with all speed to relieve him, +but on arriving within three hours' march of the town, heard that he +had surrendered. + +The Duke of Vendome, hearing of his coming, drew his troops out +and formed them in line of battle, and the next morning attacked +him vigorously. The allied right held their ground, but the left +fled, and Vendome swept his right round and took the centre and +right of the allies in the rear. Three battalions of the second +line, however, fell in turn upon the French rear and repulsed +them, and the left wing, rallying again, renewed the battle. + +The combat was indecisive, both parties claiming the victory. +Staremberg wrote to Charles that he had captured all the enemy's +guns, and had killed six thousand of them; while the French +claimed that they had totally defeated the allies, and captured +all their cannon, killed four thousand, and taken nine thousand +prisoners. The balance of probability lies to some extent with the +French, for the day after the battle, Staremberg retired and +marched to Barcelona; but the fact that he was not at once pursued +shows that the French and Spaniards must have suffered very +heavily. + +Desmond had passed unscathed through the battle of Saragossa. +O'Neil had been severely wounded, but had managed to sit his horse +until the division effected its junction with the Marquis de Bay's +shattered forces. Great was the wrath among the two Irish +regiments at the issue of the battle. + +"What is the use," an officer said to Desmond, "of our throwing +away our lives, fighting for these Spaniards, when they themselves +are useless, save when they meet the Portuguese, who are still +more contemptible? Here have we, on level ground, fairly beaten +the enemy, while the right and centre, although having a great +advantage in position, allow themselves to be scattered like a +flock of sheep." + +"They had stouter foes to meet than we had," Desmond said. "We had +only Spaniards opposed to us, while they had English and Dutch to +fight; and as the best French troops have found, in Flanders, that +these were at least a match for them, we must not blame the +Spanish too severely for giving way before they were attacked." + +"There is something in that, I admit, Kennedy. It seems to me +that, in this war, it would be much better if the Spaniards and +Portuguese had both remained at home, and allowed the French and +us fight it out with the English and Dutch. The battles would have +been small, but at least they would have been desperately fought." + +"But it would be absurd, Moore, for us to lay down our lives in a +struggle in which those principally concerned took no part +whatever, and which was of no great interest either to us or to +the English. After the way in which Louis was ready to throw over +Spain and Philip at the beginning of the year, the Spanish +alliance can be of no great advantage to him, and I do not think +that even Philip's orders would induce a Spanish army to march +across the frontier to assist France. Therefore, as Louis can gain +nothing by the Spanish alliance, why should he weaken himself by +sending forces here to maintain Philip on the throne?" + +"But with the Archduke Charles here, he would have an enemy on his +frontier. Philip might not assist him, but Charles would be +actively hostile. The English and Dutch troops would be pouring +into the peninsula, and we should have another Flanders in the +south of France." + +"Well," Desmond said, after a pause; "the best way I can see out +of it is for both Philip and Charles to withdraw, and allow the +Spanish to elect a Spaniard for their king; or, if they could not +agree to that, which I don't suppose they could do, choose some +foreign prince belonging to a petty state which stands altogether +aloof from European affairs, and seat him on the throne. If, +again, they would not accept him, England and France should +mutually agree not to interfere in the affair, and let the +Spaniards indulge in civil war as long as it pleases them." + +Moore laughed. + +"It might be a good solution, Kennedy, but there is no more chance +of Philip or Charles renouncing their pretensions, or indeed of +the French on one side and the allies on the other permitting them +to do so, than there is of the world becoming an utopia, where war +shall be unknown, and all peoples live together in peace and +amity." + +"Well," Desmond said, "for my part, I am sick of fighting in +quarrels that do not concern me, and when this campaign comes to +an end I shall, if possible, rejoin Berwick. The cause of the +Stuarts is not advanced, in the slightest, by what is taking place +in Spain, and if I am to fight, I would rather do so where victory +would benefit us." + +"I don't know that you are not right," the other assented. "It +certainly seems a pity that the best blood of Ireland should be +spilled, in Flanders and Spain, in the service of a foreign +country. To my mind, the terms of the surrender of Limerick were +disadvantageous both to Ireland and England. England has gained a +number of inveterate foes who, with good and wise treatment, might +now be fighting in her own ranks. Ireland has lost her best blood, +men who were her natural leaders, and belonged to the old +families, whom all respected." + +"I am sure it was a mistake," Desmond said. "If the terms had been +an absolute equality in all matters of religion, and the free +pardon of all, without confiscation of their property or other +disability, it would have gone far to reconcile our people to +defeat; for they would have seen that they could not hope for more +than the right of free exercise of their religion, if the Stuarts +came to the throne again." + +"Perhaps you are right, Kennedy. I know that I myself, had it not +been for the persecutions and the priest hunting, and the closing +of our chapels, should never have thought of leaving Ireland and +taking foreign service. But now there is no going back." + +"No, I suppose not," Desmond said, gloomily. "Nothing short of an +amnesty, ensuring freedom of worship, and perfect civil equality +to all, would induce the majority of us to return to Ireland; and, +indeed, it is not easy to see what we could do if we got there. +The estates of our fathers are in the hands of strangers. We +should soon be altogether without resources, and we should be +almost driven to conspire again, even though success would in no +way mend the matter. + +"However, there is no chance of such an act being passed, for, +even if the English Ministry desired to do so, the Protestant +feeling in England and Scotland would be too strong for them; and +Parliament, which strongly represents that feeling, would reject +the bill by an immense majority." + +"Then there is nothing to do but to go on fighting," Moore said. + +"I see nothing else for it, Moore, but I own that I do not care +for the life. I have had three years of it now, and don't like the +prospect of another thirty." + +"You have been fortunate, too, Kennedy!" + +"Yes, I have been fortunate in the way of getting promotion; +fortunate that I was not, long before this, put under the sod; but +it is no great gratification to be a captain, and though in +another thirty years, if I live, I may be a general, I don't think +even that would reconcile me to the life. It is just as hard, and +a good deal more responsible; and if thirty years passed over, and +the Stuarts were not restored, they assuredly never would be, and +I should have wasted my life for nothing." + +"Well, I am very glad," Moore laughed, "that all our fellows do +not look at it in the same light as you do, but take things as +they come. I don't bother myself about the future." + +"It is a good thing," Desmond said, "and it is the national +character to take things as they come. I dare say I shall get into +the same way, some day, but just at present, I suppose partly +because we have got a thrashing, I feel rather down in the dumps." + +Desmond continued his duties as aide-de-camp to O'Mahony, and took +his share in the various operations, that ended with the army +going into winter quarters and Philip making a triumphant entry +into Madrid. Then he went to the general. + +"General, I wish to ask leave to return to France, at any rate for +a time. The Duke of Berwick, when he despatched me to join the +staff of the Duke of Orleans, said he would reinstate me on his +staff as soon as the duke no longer required my services. When the +Duke of Orleans left, I was handed over with the rest of the staff +to the Marshal de Bay, under whom I served in the battle of the +Guadiana, and until, as you know, I was detailed to accompany your +brigade. Now that the campaign is over, I should, at any rate, +like to pay a visit to the Duke of Berwick, under whom I served at +Oudenarde. I have, therefore, come to ask you to dispense with my +services, and to permit me to return to France." + +"Certainly, Captain Kennedy. Your assistance has been of great +value to me, but there is no chance of anything being done during +the winter; and, as many of my officers are now beginning to speak +Spanish, they will, should they remain here till the spring, be +able to get on very fairly. I shall be pleased, before you start, +to furnish you with a testimonial stating the services you have +rendered me. Indeed, I have, more than once, mentioned them in my +reports." + + + +Chapter 19: In Search of a Family. + + +On the following day, Desmond left the brigade, and, followed by +Mike, rode for Madrid, where was still lying a letter which had +arrived, some months before, from England. He had not asked for it +to be forwarded, for if he had been killed, and it had been found +on him, it might do his memory a great disservice, as it would +seem that he had been in correspondence with the British. The +letter, which contained an enclosure, was, to his surprise, from +Lord Godolphin. It ran: + +Dear Captain Kennedy: + +Partly at the request of the Earl of Galway, and still more from +my own remembrance of your conduct, in that affair you know of, +and of the silence that you maintained concerning it, I have +pleasure in sending you a safe conduct to visit Ireland on private +affairs. The earl tells me that you have rendered him the greatest +of services, and this alone should cancel the fact that you have +been serving against us in Flanders and Spain. For this, and your +conduct to myself, I can promise you that should you, at any time +while I am in power, decide to remain in Ireland, I will obtain +for you a full and complete pardon, and a restoration to all your +rights as an Irish subject of the queen. I will also obtain a +reversal of any attainders or acts of confiscation that may have +been passed against your family, on your giving your promise that +you will not take part in any secret plots or conspiracies against +the reigning family, though, in the event of a general rising in +Ireland, with the assistance perhaps of a French army, you would +be at liberty to choose your own course of action, without +incurring more pains and penalties than those which might befall +any native of Ireland waging war against the queen. + +As both Godolphin and Marlborough were known to be by no means +unfavourably disposed to the cause of the Stuarts, Desmond was +hardly surprised at the latter part of this intimation. Though he +had but small hopes of being enabled to remain permanently at +home, it was yet very welcome to him. Certainly, if he remained in +Ireland he would consider himself bound to hold himself aloof from +all Jacobite plots, although, if the country rose and a French +army landed, he would, unless he considered the cause a hopeless +one, draw his sword on behalf of him whom he considered as his +lawful sovereign. + +"It is not sorry I am, your honour, to be turning my back on this +country," Mike said, as they rode out from the gate. "The wine is +good, which is more than I can say for anything else in it, except +that the people are good Catholics." + +"I am starting a longer journey than you think, Mike. I am only +going to the duke, now, to ask for a year's leave; though I do not +think that I shall be absent more than a few months." + +"And where are you going, your honour, if I may make so bold as to +ask?" + +"I am going to Ireland, Mike." + +Mike looked at him with astonishment. + +"To Ireland, your honour? Sure they will hang you, before you set +your foot a week in the country." + +"I have obtained a safe conduct, Mike, from Lord Godolphin. You +remember him, the nobleman we kidnapped?" + +"Sure I remember him, your honour; and he has given you a safe +conduct? It is in luck you are, to be going back to Ireland +again." + +"It is not a visit of pleasure, Mike. I am going over to try to +ascertain to which branch of my family I belong." + +"And what can it matter, your honour? It's a good name you have +made for yourself out here." + +"I have done well enough, Mike, but I am tired of being asked, by +almost every officer I meet, about my family, when in fact I know +nothing myself." + +"Well, Captain, it does not seem to me worth troubling about, for +if you don't know who they are, it is little they can have done +for you." + +"It would seem so, Mike. There is a mystery about the whole +affair, and I want to get to the bottom of it." + +He rode silently for some distance. He knew that Mike would go +through fire and water for him, and that, simple as he seemed, he +had no ordinary amount of shrewdness; and he determined to tell +him all he knew, especially as he intended to take him to Ireland +with him. + +"Mike," he said at last, "I suppose you would like to pay a visit +to Ireland, also?" + +"I should that," Mike said, emphatically. "I was but eighteen when +I came out here to enlist in the brigade--that is twelve years ago +now, and it is few people would be likely to know me again." + +"Well, I am thinking of taking you with me, Mike; and, as possibly +you may be of use in my search, I will tell you my story." + +And he related the history of his youth. + +"He must be an unfeeling baste, to treat you like that," Mike +exclaimed indignantly. "Sure I know the name, and have heard him +spoken of as a traitor who had gone over to the enemy, and turned +Protestant to save his estate." + +"That is how you would hear him spoken of, Mike, for it is true; +but as to his treatment of me, it all depends whether I was forced +upon him by threats, or was taken by him out of friendship to my +father. If it were the first of these reasons, he cannot be blamed +for keeping me at a distance. If the second, he certainly ought to +have behaved differently. But neither explains why he, a supporter +of the usurper, should have sent me out to France to fight against +the English. It is a hard nut to crack." + +Mike agreed. "Mighty hard; but your honour will get to the bottom +of it, never fear. And why are we going to the duke, master?" + +"To get leave of absence. I cannot disappear suddenly, without +asking for leave. I shall, of course, tell the Duke of Berwick +exactly why I am going, and I feel sure he will grant my request, +without hesitation. There is no fighting to be done, just at +present, and even if there were, one officer more or less would +make no difference. + +"Have you any relations in Ireland, Mike?" + +"None that I know of, sir, barring a sister, who was twelve years +older than myself; and it is little I saw of her, for she married +when I was a bit of a gossoon. Her husband was killed in the siege +of Limerick, and I heard that after it was over, she went to +settle with some cousins in Cork. Whether she is there now, is +married again, or is dead years ago, is more than I can say, +seeing that I have never heard of her since." + +"Was she with her husband in the siege of Limerick?" + +"She was that. I heard about her from some men who knew her +husband. They said, after he was killed, she went as a servant in +the family of an officer and his wife for a bit, but the officer +was killed, and the lady died of grief and trouble; and it was +hard work she had to live till the place surrendered. That is all +I know about it, your honour. It might have been true, and it +might not. I was but a boy, and maybe I bothered the man with +questions, and he just told me what came into his head to keep me +quiet." + +"Well, at any rate, Mike, as we shall most likely land at Cork, +you might try to find your sister out. If she went through the +siege, she will know the names of many of the officers. She may +have heard of a Kennedy." + +"Maybe of half a dozen, your honour. As loyal gentlemen, they +would be sure to be there." + +"What was her name, Mike?" + +"Sure it was the same as my own before she married, just Norah +Callaghan." + +"So I suppose, Mike," Desmond said with a laugh; "but what was the +name of the husband?" + +"Rooney. I have not thought of it this many a year, but it is sure +I am that it was Rooney; and now I think of it, a message came to +me from her, just before I left the country, saying that should I +ever be in the neighbourhood, it is glad she would be to see me; +and I was to ask for Mrs. Rooney, who lived with her cousin, Larry +Callaghan, a ship's carpenter, in Middle Lane, which I should find +by the river bank." + +"Well, that is something to go by, Mike. Of course, she may have +moved away long since; but if her cousin is a ship's carpenter, it +is not likely that he would have left the neighbourhood." + +"I wonder your honour never asked about the Kennedys from some of +the officers who were at the siege?" + +"I did not like to do so. The colonel came to the conclusion that +I must be the son of Murroch Kennedy, who came out soon after +Limerick surrendered, and was killed at Breda two or three months +after he joined the brigade. The officers agreed with the colonel +that this gentleman was probably my father, and of course I was +contented that it should be supposed so, and therefore I asked no +questions about other Kennedys. Of late, however, I have been +worried over the matter. In the Irish regiments in Spain, as +elsewhere, were a number of officers belonging to good old Irish +families, and though I have got on well enough with them--in the +first place as Berwick's aide-de-camp, and afterwards as on the +staff of the generals here--I could see that when, in answer to +their question, it was evident I knew little or nothing of my +family, there was a sort of coolness in their manner which I could +quite understand, counting back their ancestors, as they did, +pretty nearly to the flood. At present, it does not make any +difference to me personally, one way or the other, but I am +convinced that if, by chance, when I get older, I should fall in +love with the daughter of an officer of one of these old families, +he would not for a moment listen to me, until I could give him +some proofs that I had a right to the name I bear, or at any rate +came of a good family. Certainly, at present, I could not assure +him on either point. I only know that I have always been called +Kennedy, and that it was under that name that I was committed to +the care of Father O'Leary. That proves nothing more than that it +is the name by which John O'Carroll wished me to be called; and it +is as likely as not--indeed a good deal more likely--that it was +not the true one." + +"Well, at any rate, your honour, you have made the name of Desmond +Kennedy well known and liked, both among the Irish and French +officers, for it is no slight thing that an officer in an infantry +regiment should be taken on the staff of the Duke of Berwick." + +"All that is very well, Mike; but it will not satisfy me more than +it satisfies others. So I am resolved to try to get to the bottom +of the affair, even if I have to go direct to John O'Carroll, +though I know that the chance of his telling me anything is but +slight. The only way, indeed, that seems likely to lead to +anything is to call upon as many of the Kennedys as I can +discover, and ask whether Murroch Kennedy, who left Ireland after +the siege of Limerick, married and left a child of two years old +behind him. If so, and that child suddenly disappeared when his +father left for France, there would be every reason for assuming +that I was the child in question; though why he should have +committed me to the charge of John O'Carroll, instead of to one of +his own family, is not easily seen; unless the whole of the +Kennedys were in such ill favour, with the English Government, +that he thought it better to trust me to one who was in good odour +with the supporters of Dutch William, and was therefore safe from +disturbance in his estates." + +"Sure, your honour, you are arguing it out like a counsellor, and +there is no gainsaying what you have spoken. I have no doubt you +will ferret it out. With such a head as you have on your +shoulders, it is hard if you cannot circumvent that ould rascal at +Kilkargan." + +"At any rate we will try, you and I. While I am visiting the +Kennedys, you can be finding out people who were at Limerick +during the siege, and gather all they can remember about the +Kennedys there." + +As Desmond had expected, the duke, as soon as he heard his story, +at once granted him leave of absence. + +"I hope you may succeed, Kennedy," he said. "It is a poor lookout +to be risking death continually in the service of a foreign king. +I grant that we have the knack of making ourselves at home, +wherever we may be, and there are Irish officers in every army in +Europe; but, however successful Irishmen may be, they cannot but +long to be among their own people in their own land. And if, as +you tell me, Lord Godolphin will befriend you, I for one shall +think no worse of you if you settle down at home when you have +found your family. I know that if the sword should be again drawn, +with a fair prospect of success, you will declare for the rightful +king." + +"That I should certainly do, sir; and will assuredly give no +promise, or undertaking, to abstain from joining any royal army +that may be raised in Ireland. But it is not with any intention of +settling at home that I am going there, but simply, as I have told +you, to discover to what family I belong, so that I can have a +right to the name I bear." + +"At what port will you embark?" + +"I intend to pay a visit, for a few days, to the Baron de +Pointdexter and Monsieur de la Vallee, after which I shall cross +into Italy. I have no doubt that I shall be able to find some +fishermen, at Toulon, who will undertake to land me somewhere near +Genoa, where I shall be able to take a passage in a ship bound for +England." + +"And I suppose you take your servant with you?" + +"With your permission, Duke. He has been my companion for three +years. He is shrewd as well as brave, and will give me valuable +help in my enquiries." + +After remaining a couple of days with Berwick's army, Desmond +started with Mike, and received the warmest welcome from the Baron +de Pointdexter, and afterwards from Philip and his wife. Then they +travelled on to Toulon, where Desmond sold the horses and +equipments. He left his uniform and Mike's there, and procured two +civilian suits. As he anticipated, he experienced no difficulty in +arranging to be landed near Genoa. There he found several ships +bound for England or Ireland, and took a passage in one that would +touch at Cork, on its way to Dublin. The voyage was uneventful, +and the ship, which had no great draught of water, proceeded up +the river to the city. + +"The first thing to do, Mike," Desmond said, as they stepped +ashore, "is to get rid of these clothes, whose French cut will at +once attract attention. I shall get a suit such as is worn by an +Irish gentleman. You had better equip yourself as my servant. No +livery is worn here, but any quiet dress will be suitable." + +They put up at a small inn, and remained there until a suit such +as Desmond desired was made for him, and Mike found no difficulty +in purchasing ready-made clothes suitable to his new position. +Desmond had taken rooms as Mr. Kennedy, and had asked carelessly +if there were any families of that name living in the neighbourhood. + +"There is one who lives a short distance out of the town. It is a +small house, and shame it is that one of the old family should +come down so; but most of their estates were stolen from them +after the war. Still, the old man holds his head as if he was +still lord of broad acres, and he is mightily respected among the +gentry." + +The next day, Desmond hired a horse and rode out to the house of +Mr. Kennedy, which was some three miles from the town. He sent in +his name, and was shown into a room, where a tall man, with a +somewhat haughty air, received him not unkindly. + +"Your name is the same as my own," he said, "though I do not +recognize the name of Desmond Kennedy among such members of the +family as I am acquainted with." + +"I have but just landed from France, and my object in coming here +is to obtain some information as to my father's family. Hearing +that a gentleman of the name lived here, I came first to you. May +I ask if you were acquainted with a Murroch Kennedy?" + +"Surely I was. He was my first cousin. We fought side by side at +Limerick. I was not one of those who cared to enter foreign +service. My estates were confiscated, and I have ever since lived +here on the wreck of my fortune, taking no part in politics. + +"My cousin was of a different mind. He did not, indeed, go out at +once with the greater part of the army of Limerick, but still, +hoping that the cause was not altogether lost, he lived for some +months among the mountains, and took part in a rising which was +promptly suppressed, and then joined the Irish Brigade; and I +received a notification, from one of his brother officers, that he +had fallen at the battle of Breda. And now may I ask, in turn, +what Murroch Kennedy's relationship was to you?" + +"I will tell you, sir. But first, will you kindly inform me +whether your cousin left a child about a year old behind him?" + +"Certainly not, sir. My cousin was an unmarried man, at any rate +up to the time when he left Ireland." + +"Then, sir, my questions are at an end. I may tell you that, about +the time your cousin left Ireland, I was sent as an infant to the +care of John O'Carroll, the traitor, of Kilkargan, and was brought +up under the name of Desmond Kennedy. He showed me but little +kindness, and, nearly three years ago, I went abroad and obtained +a commission in one of the regiments in the Irish Brigade, and now +hold the rank of captain. For many reasons, I am anxious to find +out what family I belong to. It was assumed, by my colonel and +fellow officers, that I was the son of Murroch Kennedy, and I +wished to ascertain whether this was true, and with that object +obtained leave of absence, and made my way back." + +"I am sorry that I can give you no assistance, sir. Assuredly you +are not the son of my cousin, Murroch Kennedy; and had you been, +John O'Carroll, the traitor, would have been the last man to whom +he would have entrusted you. I know well the history of all the +members of my branch of the family, and can answer, with +certainty, that no child was lost, or missing, or unaccounted for +at the time he went out; and as all were loyal gentlemen, none +would have had any dealings with John O'Carroll, who betrayed the +cause for which his brother died fighting at Limerick. I will, +however, jot down, for your information, the other branches of the +family of Kennedy and their places of residence, though I fear +that there is but little probability of your search being +successful, as, during the years that have elapsed since the late +war, many must have died. Others, like my cousin, have taken +service in one or other of the continental armies. Moreover, there +is also a possibility that the name by which you are known is not +your own." + +"I feel that myself, sir, and fear that my enquiries will not meet +with success. Still, I shall pursue them until I have at least +proved that I cannot belong to any well-known branch of the +family. I am much obliged to you, for having so courteously +answered my questions, and for your offer to give me a list of the +various branches of the family." + +For the next few minutes, Mr. Kennedy was engaged in making out +the list, which he then handed to Desmond. + +"And now, sir," the former went on, "that we have finished what we +may consider business, will you tell me a little more about +yourself? Your story naturally interests me, and I own that I am +surprised that a young gentleman who, from what you have told me, +cannot be much more than twenty years old, has risen to the rank +of captain, in a brigade where so many officers have signally +distinguished themselves. Your story, too, is an interesting one, +and seems to me in many respects remarkable; and possibly, when I +hear more of how you came to be brought up by John O'Carroll, it +may throw some light upon the subject." + +Desmond gave a detailed account of his life as a boy, and a short +sketch of his subsequent adventures. + +"A romantic story, young sir," Mr. Kennedy said, when he had +finished, "and to whatever family you belong, they should be proud +of possessing so gallant a member. You tell me that you have a +safe conduct, but you did not mention how you obtained it." + +Desmond had abstained from making any allusion, either to the +affair with Lord Godolphin, or to that with the Earl of Galway, +and he replied: + +"Sir, this is a secret that concerns other people, as well as +myself, consequently I am not at liberty to explain it. I may say, +however, that it was given to me on my engagement that my visit to +Ireland was one of a private nature only, and that I would in no +way meddle with politics. When I tell you that the Duke of +Berwick, himself, granted me the necessary leave of absence, it +will prove to you that he, on his part, was well satisfied that +the safe conduct had been issued to me without any unworthy +offers, on my part, to the Princess Anne's ministers." + +After chatting for some time longer, Desmond took his leave and +returned to Cork. + +Mike was standing at the door of the inn. + +"I have had no success, Mike. Have you fared better?" + +"I have not found her yet, your honour, but I have great hopes of +doing so. Larry Callaghan died four years ago, and the woman of +the house she occupied said that Mrs. Rooney moved, with his widow +and children, to some other part of the town. She knew little +about them, seeing that she only went into the house after they +had left; but her husband worked in the same yard as Larry did, +and she thought that he would be able to find out, from some of +the old hands, where the widow Callaghan had moved to. She said +she would ask her husband when he came home to his dinner, and +maybe he would be able to give her some news. + +"And so, your honour has learned nothing about yourself?" + +"Nothing, Mike, except that I am certainly not the son of Murroch +Kennedy, who was a cousin of the gentleman I called on. I was +assured that he was a single man, when he went to France. However, +he gave me a list of the principal branches of the Kennedy family, +but there is no hurry about starting to see them, and I will +certainly wait here till you find your sister, which should not be +many days, for some of Callaghan's fellow workmen are almost sure +to know where his widow lives." + +Mike went out, at seven o'clock that evening, and returned half an +hour later. + +"I have got the address, your honour. She and the widow Callaghan +have got a little place outside the town, and take in washing +there, and are going on nicely." + +"I am pleased to hear it, I am sure, Mike. I have but small hope +that she will be able to give any useful information, but for your +sake, I am glad that you have found a sister whom you have not +seen for so many years. I suppose you will go up there, at once." + +"I will that. They will have done their work, and we shall have a +comfortable talk, whereas she would not thank me if I were to drop +in when she was busy at the washtub." + +"Well, you might ask her to come down, tomorrow morning, to see +me. Of course, she shall not be a loser by giving up her morning's +work." + +"Whisht, your honour! When she knows how much you have done for +me, and how you have treated me, she would willingly lose a week's +work to give you pleasure. Well, I will be off at once." + +It was eleven o'clock before Mike returned. + +"We have had a great talk, your honour, me and Norah. She would +not believe at first that I was her brother, and in truth, I found +it hard to credit that she was Norah, who was a purty colleen when +I saw her last; but when we had convinced each other that we were +both who we said we were, matters went on pleasantly. I told her +some of my adventures with you, and that, by the same token, I had +a hundred gold pieces that the Baron of Pointdexter had given me, +sewn up in a belt round my waist, where it has been ever since I +got it, except when we went into battle, or on that expedition to +Scotland, when, as your honour knows, I always put it in with the +agent in your name, seeing that I would rather, if I was killed, +know that your honour would have it, instead of its being taken by +some villain searching the dead. I told her that, if she and Mrs. +Callaghan wanted to take a bigger place, I would share it with +her, and that quite settled the matter, in her mind, that I was +her brother. She said, as I knew she would, that she would come +and talk to you for a week, if you wanted it; and she will be here +tomorrow, at nine o'clock." + +"That is very satisfactory. I am afraid nothing will come of our +talk; but still, one may get a clue to other Kennedys who were +present at the siege of Limerick." + +Punctually at nine o'clock, Mike ushered his sister into Desmond's +sitting room. + +"I am glad to see you, Mrs. Rooney. Your brother has been with me +for three years, and has rendered me very many services, and I +regard him as a friend, rather than as a servant. I am glad that +he has found his sister, from whom he had been so long parted." + +"Mike has been telling me how good you have been to him, and that +he would go through fire and water for you, and that you have had +some wonderful adventures together. He said you wanted to speak to +me about the siege of Limerick. If there is anything that I can +tell you, your honour, I will do so gladly." + +"What I want to know is, what Kennedys were at the siege?" + +"There was Murroch Kennedy, and Phelim, who was always called 'Red +Kennedy', on account of his colour; and James and Fergus. I knew +all those, because they were friends of my master's. It may be +that there were many others, but they were unbeknown to me." + +"Am I like any of them?" + +The woman looked at him searchingly. + +"You are not, sir; but you are mighty like my master, barring, of +course, that he was a man ten years older than yourself. But the +more I look at you, the more I see the likeness." + +"I did not know that you had a master, Mrs. Rooney. I thought that +you were there with your husband." + +"So I was, your honour; but when he was kilt I was left alone, +saving for a child that had been born a fortnight before; and what +with the bad smells of the place, and the sound of the cannon, and +the fact of my grief, he pined away all at once, and died a week +after me husband. It is well-nigh starving we all were. Even the +fighting men had scarce enough food to keep their strength up, and +a lone woman would have died from hunger. So I was mighty glad, +when a friend of mine told me that there was an officer's lady who +had had a baby, and, being but weak and ailing, wanted a foster +mother for it; so I went at once and got the place, and was with +her for a month. + +"Her husband was killed three weeks after I went there, and the +blow was too much for her, and she died a week later. A fortnight +after that came the peace, and as everything was in confusion, +what wid our soldiers all going away to France, and the +persecutions and slaughterings, I took the child with me and went +down to my cousin Larry's here. Av course, I could not part with +it, and I could not make my way alone across the country, so I +came down here with the troops. I was not strong myself, and it +was a year later before I was able to take it to its friends." + +"What was the name of your master?" Desmond asked eagerly, for her +last words had excited a sudden train of ideas in his mind. + +"He was Mr. James O'Carroll, a great gentleman, and the head of +his family." + +Desmond sprang to his feet. + +"That explains it all!" he exclaimed. "Mrs. Rooney, I have no +doubt that I am your foster child." + +"Why, how can that be, your honour, seeing as your name is +Kennedy? Though, except for that, you might well be so, seeing +that you are so like my master." + +"At any rate, Mrs. Rooney, I was reared at Kilkargan, at the +expense of John O'Carroll, and was, as I heard, brought there by a +woman when I was a year old. O'Carroll said that my name was +Desmond Kennedy, but I had only his word for it." + +"Then how is it that you are not master of Kilkargan, for if you +are Mr. James O'Carroll's son, it is you that ought to be? I have +always thought of you as there. I have not been in the way of +getting news. I left my address with Mr. John, but I never heard +from him, or you. I thought, perhaps, that he might have lost the +address, but I never dreamt that you had been kept out of your +own." + +"I don't know that I can say that, altogether," Desmond said; +"for, if it had been known that James O'Carroll had left an heir, +his estates would certainly have been confiscated; whereas, owing +to his brother's turning Protestant, and joining the Williamites, +he was allowed to keep possession of them. I can understand now +what seemed so strange, namely, that he feared I might somehow +learn that I was his nephew, and heir to the estates. Therefore, +he behaved as if I was the son of a stranger, and when I was old +enough, sent me off to join the Irish Brigade, in hopes that he +had seen the last of me; for, even if not killed, I should never +be able to set foot in Ireland again after fighting for France. +'Tis strange that none of my father's brother officers ever made +any enquiries about it." + +"They all went with the army to France, sir. They knew, of course, +that the child was born, though they may never have seen you, for +the mistress never left her bed after you were born. Naturally, +after her death they lost sight of me, and might well have +believed that the child had died." + +"You must give me the names of all the officers who came to the +house, Mrs. Rooney. Many of them may be alive still, and their +testimony that a child was born would be most important, for at +present there is only your word against John O'Carroll's." + +"There is more than that, sir. You were baptized on the day she +died. My mistress gave me the paper the priest had given to her, +saying that it was of the greatest importance to you, and that I +was to give it to Mr. John O'Carroll when, as I promised, I took +the child to him." + +"And did you give it him?" Desmond asked eagerly. + +"No, your honour. I took it with me to the castle, but from the +reception I got, I thought it best to say nothing about it, but to +give it to yourself when you were old enough. I have got it at +home now. There it is, certifying that Gerald O'Carroll, the son +of James O'Carroll and his wife Elizabeth, was baptized by him on +the 6th of September, 1692." + +"That is fortunate, indeed," Desmond exclaimed. "And now, tell me +how this uncle of mine received you." + +"Faith, your honour, he was mightily put out, at first. He said +that I was an impostor, and that he would have me given in charge. +I told him that I had proofs that what I said was true, and that +there were many gentlemen, brother officers of Mr. James, who +would speak for me, and say in court that a son was born to his +brother before he died. He wanted to get out of me what proofs I +had, and who were the officers; but I told him that was my +business. Then he cooled down, and after a time he said that, if +he were to let it be known that Mr. James had left a son, the +estate would surely be confiscated, seeing that his father died as +a rebel fighting against the king; but that, as soon as the +persecutions had ceased, and it would be safe to do so, he would +say who the child was, and give him his rightful place. That +seemed reasonable enough, and so I left you with him, and have +always supposed that he kept his word; and that, as soon as it was +safe, he acknowledged you to be master of your father's estate." + +"And now, Mrs. Rooney, I must think matters over, and see how I +had best proceed. I feel how much I owe to you, and, if I recover +my estates, you shall see that I am not ungrateful. Will you come +again tomorrow morning, and bring with you the certificate of my +baptism, and all the names that you can recollect of the officers +who were intimate with my father?" + + + +Chapter 20: Gerald O'Carroll. + + +Mike, who had remained silent during the conversation between his +sister and Desmond, returned to the room after seeing her out. + +"Well, Mike, you have rendered me many services, but this is the +greatest of all. Little did I think, when you said you had found +your sister, and that she was coming to me this morning, that she +would be able to clear up the mystery of my birth, and to place me +in a position to prove myself a son of James O'Carroll. I do not +say that I shall regain the estates. My having been in the Brigade +will certainly render it difficult for me to do so, though +possibly, with the patronage of Lord Godolphin, I may succeed. For +that, however, I care comparatively little. My object, in coming +here, was to obtain proof that I belong to a good Irish family, +and that I have no doubt I shall be able to establish." + +"And what am I to call you, your honour, now that I know you are +Captain Gerald O'Carroll, and not Desmond Kennedy, at all?" + +"At any rate, I must remain Desmond Kennedy at present, Mike. It +is under that name that my safe conduct was made out, and if I +were arrested as Gerald O'Carroll, it would be no protection to +me. However, I shall not want to use it long, for it seems to me +that my first step must be to return to France, and to see some of +the officers who knew my father, and were aware of my birth. Their +testimony would be of great value, and without it there would be +little chance of your sister's evidence being believed." + +"But there is the paper, your honour." + +"Yes; that will show that a child was born, but the proof that I +am that child rests entirely with your sister. It might have died +when its mother did, and they would say that your sister was +trying to palm off her own child, or someone else's, as his. Of +course, Mrs. Callaghan would be able to prove that your sister +arrived immediately after the surrender of Limerick, bringing a +child with her, and that she said it was the son of James +O'Carroll; and that she went a year later to Kilkargan, and left +it there with John O'Carroll. Moreover, I could get plenty of +evidence, from those on the estate, that I was the child so left." + +"The likeness that Norah saw between you and your father might be +taken as a proof, sir." + +"I did not think of that, Mike. Yes, if some of these officers +will also testify to the likeness, it will greatly strengthen my +case. The chain of evidence seems pretty strong. First, there is +the certificate of my baptism, your sister's declaration that I +was entrusted to her by my mother on her deathbed, supported by +Mrs. Callaghan's declaration that three weeks later she arrived in +Cork with the child, which she told her was that of James +O'Carroll; your sister's declaration that she took me to Kilkargan +and handed me over to my uncle, which would be supported by the +evidence of the woman he first placed me with; while the servants +of the castle could prove that I was brought by a woman who, an +hour later, left the castle without speaking to anyone but my +uncle. + +"John O'Carroll will find it difficult to explain why he took me +in, and who is the Kennedy of whom I was the son, and what service +he had rendered for him, a Protestant and a Williamite, to have +undertaken the charge of the child of a rebel. There is no doubt +that the weight of evidence is all on my side, but whether the +judges would decide in favour of the son of a rebel, as against a +friend of the English party, is doubtful. Possibly Lord +Godolphin's influence might be exerted in my favour. He promised +in his letter to me to do me any service in his power. Still, even +if I lose the estate, which I may well do on the ground of my +father having fought and died for the cause of James the Second, I +should still have the satisfaction of establishing my name, which +I consider of more importance than the estates." + +"Sure, your honour, it's a grand thing to belong to a good old +Irish stock; but for myself, I would rather be Mike Callaghan and +have a fine estate, than Mike O'Neil without an acre of land." + +Desmond smiled. + +"There is common sense in what you say, Mike, but there is nothing +more unpleasant than, when you are with a number of Irish +gentlemen or Spanish grandees, who are equally proud of their +ancestors, to be unable to give any account of your family, or +even to be sure that you have a right to the name that you bear." + +"Well, your honour, it is a matter of taste. As for myself, if the +whisky is good, it makes no differ to me whether they call it Cork +or Dublin, or whether it is made up in the mountains and has sorra +a name at all." + +The next morning, Mrs. Rooney returned with the certificate of +baptism, and a list containing some twenty names of officers who +had been frequent visitors at James O'Carroll's. Among these +Desmond, to his satisfaction, found Arthur Dillon, Walter Burke, +Nicholas Fitzgerald, and Dominic Sheldon, all of whom now held the +rank of general in the French service, and to all of whom he was +personally known, having met them either when with Berwick or in +Spain. + +"Those names are good enough," he said. "And if they can testify +to my likeness to my father, it will go a long way towards +furnishing proof, when required. All of them entered the service +under the provisions of the treaty of Limerick, and therefore +their testimony cannot be treated as that of traitors; and their +names must be as well known in England as in France. + +"Now, Mike, our business here is, for the present, concluded. I +shall at once return to France, see all these officers who are +still alive, and obtain, if possible, their recognition. As I have +a year's leave, I can travel about as I choose. Then I shall +decide whether I shall commence an action in the courts, or +whether I shall first go over to England, see Lord Godolphin, +explain the circumstances to him, and ask for his protection and +patronage. + +"I suppose the case would be tried at Dublin, where the judges are +all creatures of England, and there can be no doubt that a +notification, from Godolphin, that he considered my claim to be a +good one, and was favourable to it, would have no slight influence +with them; and would counteract, to some extent, the fact of my +uncle's being a Protestant, and what they would consider a loyal +man. Before beginning an action, I should certainly communicate +with my uncle, and call upon him to resign in my favour; for I +would avoid the scandal of proving an O'Carroll to be a scoundrel, +as well as a traitor. As it has turned out, the step which he +thought would disembarrass him of me has had the other effect, +for, if I had not gone out to France, I should never have been +troubled by questions about my family; and should not have met +you, Mike, or known of the existence of your sister, the only +person who could clear up the matter. + +"I shall begin to think what O'Neil and O'Sullivan used to say, +that my luck would carry me through anything; and certainly, at +present, it has been marvellous." + +"Which way will we go back, your honour?" + +"Not the way we came, if we can help it. We were nearly a month +coming from Genoa, and might have been twice as long, if the wind +had not been fairly favourable. I think our best plan will be to +take passage by sea to London. There we shall have no difficulty +in finding a vessel bound for Rotterdam, or the Hague. Then we +will buy horses, and ride along by the Rhine. If we can get +through Luxembourg into France we will do so, but I think it will +perhaps be best to go on through Switzerland, and pass the +frontier somewhere near Lyons, where we shall be but a short +distance from Berwick's headquarters in Dauphiny." + +A month later, they rode into the duke's camp. They had, on +leaving Toulon, packed up their uniforms and sent them to the care +of a friend on the general's staff. To his quarters they first +went, and having changed his civilian costume for a military one, +Desmond waited on the duke. + +"Why, Captain Kennedy," the duke said, in surprise; "I did not +look to see you again, so soon. Have you been over to Ireland?" + +"I have, sir, and though there only a few days, gained information +that necessitated my return here. I have found out that the name I +go by is not mine, and that my proper name is Gerald O'Carroll." + +"The son of Major James O'Carroll, who fought by my side at the +Boyne, and was through the first siege of Limerick with me! That +explains it. Your face has often puzzled me. It seemed to me that +I recognized it, and yet I could not recall whose face it was that +it resembled so strongly. Now you tell me, I know at once. Your +father, when I first knew him, was a few years older than you are; +but he had the same figure, face, and expression. + +"And so, you are his son! By what miracle have you discovered your +relationship to him?" + +Desmond, or as he should now be called, Gerald, related as briefly +as possible the manner in which he had discovered his parentage. + +"Your uncle must be a thorough villain," the duke said, hotly. +"That he was a traitor we all knew, but that he should thus rob +his brother's son of his inheritance is monstrous and unnatural." + +"I am glad, indeed, sir, that you have thus recognized me. Your +testimony will go for much, even in an English court, and I hope +to receive a similar recognition from the officers who were +intimate with my father in the second siege, and whose names I +have here." + +The duke glanced down the list. + +"Well-nigh half of them are still alive," he said, "and all of +them are men of rank and repute, whose word would be taken even by +an enemy. How do you mean to proceed? Because I am afraid that, +even if we could spare them, there would be some difficulty about +their making their appearance in a court, in either England or +Ireland." + +"I quite see that that is out of the question. All I can hope for +is, that such of them as recognize my likeness to my father will +draw up a paper saying so, and will attest it before a notary, +having as witnesses men of weight and honour equal to their own. +The production of such certificates could not but have a strong +influence in my favour." + +"I will most willingly sign such a document," the duke said, "and +four of my best-known generals can sign as witnesses to my +signature." + +"I thank you most heartily, sir. Such a document should, in +itself, be considered as ample proof of my strong resemblance to +my father." + +"That may or may not be," the duke said, "but do not be content +with that. Get as many of the others as possible to make similar +declarations. One man may see a likeness where another does not, +but if a dozen men agree in recognizing it, their declarations +must have a great weight. Certainly no Irish judge would doubt the +testimony of so many men, whose families and whose deeds are so +well known to them." + +From Dauphiny, Gerald travelled first into Spain, and the three +Irish officers there whose names were on his list all recognized +the likeness, even before he told them his name. He put the +question to them in a general way. + +"I have learned, sir, that the name I bear is not my own, that I +am the son of an officer who was killed in the siege of Limerick. +May I ask you if you can recognize any likeness between myself and +any officer with whom you were well acquainted there?" + +In each case, after a little consideration, they declared that he +must be the son of James O'Carroll. All remembered that their +comrade's wife had borne a son, shortly before the end of the +siege. They remembered her death, but none had heard what became +of the child, for in the excitement of the closing scenes, and of +the preparation for the march immediately afterwards, they had had +little time on their hands, and it was hitherto supposed that it +had, like so many other infants, perished miserably. They +willingly signed documents, similar to that which he had received +from Berwick. + +He met with almost equal success on the northern frontier, only +two out of eight officers failing to identify him by his likeness; +until he mentioned his name, when they, too, acknowledged that, +now they recalled James O'Carroll's face, they saw that the +likeness was a striking one. + +Having obtained these documents, he resumed civilian attire, and, +riding by crossroads, passed through Flanders to Sluys, without +coming in contact with any body of the allied troops. There he had +no difficulty in obtaining a passage to London, and on his arrival +called upon Lord Godolphin, who received him cordially. + +"So you have utilized your safe conduct, Captain Kennedy. I am +glad to see my former captor, and I am as grateful as ever to you +for the silence you maintained as to that affair. If it had been +known to my enemies, I should never have heard the last of it. +They would have made me such a laughingstock that I could scarcely +have retained office. + +"Now, what can I do for you?" + +"It is a long story, my lord." + +"Then I cannot listen to it now; but if you will sup with me here, +at nine o'clock this evening, I shall be glad to hear it. I am so +harassed by the backstair intrigues of my enemies, that it would +be a relief to me to have something else to think of." + +Gerald returned at the appointed time. Nothing was said as to his +affairs while supper was served, but after the table had been +cleared, decanters of port placed on the table, and the servants +had retired, Godolphin said: + +"Now, Captain Kennedy, let us hear all about it." + +Gerald related the history of his younger days, and of the manner +in which he had discovered his real parentage, producing the +certificate of his baptism, a statement which had been drawn up at +Cork and signed by Norah Rooney, and the testimony of the Duke of +Berwick and the other Irish officers. + +"There can be no doubt whatever, in the mind of any fair man," +Lord Godolphin said, after listening attentively to the whole +story, and examining the documents, "that your uncle, John +O'Carroll, is a villain, and that you have been most unjustly +deprived of your rights. I know him by name, and from the reports +of our agents in Ireland, as one of the men who turned his coat +and changed his religion to save his estates. Those men I heartily +despise; while those who gave up all, and went into exile in +order, as they believed, there to serve the cause of their +rightful sovereign, are men to be admired and respected. Be +assured that justice shall be done you. Of course, you will take +action in the courts?" + +"I shall first summon him to give up the estate, shall let him +know that I have indisputable evidence to prove that I am the son +of his elder brother, and shall say that, if he will give up +possession peaceably, I will take no further steps in the matter, +for the sake of the family name. If he refuses, as I fear is +probable, I must then employ a lawyer." + +"Yes, and a good one. I will furnish you with letters to the lord +lieutenant, and to Lord Chief Justice Cox, strongly recommending +you to them, and requesting the latter to appoint one of the law +officers of the crown to take up your case. I should say that, +when this John O'Carroll sees that you have such powerful friends, +he will perceive that it is hopeless for him to struggle in so bad +a cause, and will very speedily accept your terms, though methinks +it is hard that so great a villain should go unpunished. + +"Now, it will be as well that you should have something stronger +than the safe conduct that I sent you. I will therefore draw out a +document for Her Majesty to sign, granting you a full and free +pardon for any offences that you may have committed against her +and the realm, and also settling upon you the estates to which you +are the rightful heir, in and about the barony of Kilkargan; being +influenced in so doing by the great services rendered by you, both +to Her Majesty's well-beloved and faithful minister and +counsellor, myself, and to her trusty general, the Earl of Galway. + +"The queen is not very likely to ask the nature of the service. +Unless it be something that concerns herself, she asks but few +questions, and signs readily enough the documents laid before her. +If she asks what are the offences for which she grants her pardon, +I shall say, when but a boy you were maliciously sent abroad to +join the Irish Brigade by your uncle, who wished thus to rid +himself of you altogether, and who had foully wronged you by +withholding your name, from you and all others. I shall also add +that you have distinguished yourself much, and have gained the +friendship of her half brother, the Duke of Berwick; and you know +that the queen, in her heart of hearts, would rather that her +brother, whom you Jacobites call James the Third, should succeed +her than the Elector of Hanover, for whom she has no love." + +"I thank you greatly, indeed, my lord. Never was a man so amply +rewarded for merely holding his tongue." + +"It was not only that, sir. It was your conduct in general to me. +You might have left me tied up in that house, to be found in the +morning, and to be made the jest of the town; instead of which, +you yourself conducted and guarded me hither, and so contrived it +that no whisper spread abroad that I had been carried off between +Saint James's and my own house. You trusted to my honour, in not +causing a pursuit of you to be set on foot, and behaved in all +ways as a gallant young gentleman, and certainly gained my high +esteem, both for the daring and ingenuity with which you carried +out your plans for obtaining a passage to France, and for your +personal conduct towards myself. + +"Where are you lodging?" + +"At the Eagle, hard by the Abbey." + +"Remain there, until you hear from me. Do not be impatient. I must +choose my time, when either the queen is in a good temper, or is +in such a hurry to get rid of me, in order to plot and gossip with +Mistress Harley, who is now her prime favourite, that she is ready +to sign any document I may lay before her." + +Feeling that his cause was as good as won, Gerald returned in high +spirits to his inn, where he delighted Mike by relating how the +great minister had promised to forward his suit. + +"Ah, your honour, it will be a grand day when you take possession +of Kilkargan--bonfires and rejoicing of all sorts, and lashings of +drink. Won't all the boys in the barony be glad to be free from +the traitor, and to have the true heir come to be their master. +None the less glad will be my sister." + +"You must fetch her from Cork, Mike. It is owing to her that I am +alive, and it will be owing to her if I recover the estate. She +shall have the place of honour on the occasion, though all the +gentry in the neighbourhood are there. When I tell them what she +has done for me, they will say that she well deserves the honour!" + +"And you will go no more to the wars, Captain O'Carroll?" + +"No, Mike. I have been but three years in the French army, but I +have seen enough of fighting, and, worse still, of fighting +against men of our own nation. Besides, if the queen grants me the +estates of my father, I shall consider myself bound in honour not +to draw my sword against her, or to mix myself up in any plot or +conspiracy, but to remain strictly neutral whatever may be going +on. Indeed, the more I think of it, the more I doubt whether it +would be for the good of Ireland did the Stuarts return to the +throne. It could only be done at a further cost of blood and +misery. The old religious quarrels would break out more fiercely +than ever, there would be risings and civil wars, confiscations +and massacres, whichever side happened to get the upper hand. That +James the Third is the lawful sovereign of the three kingdoms, I +shall always uphold, but there are cases when it is to the benefit +of the country, at large, that there should be a change in the +succession." + +"Sure that may be so, your honour; and yet, it is hard that a man +should be kept out of his own." + +"No doubt it is hard; but it is far harder that thousands of +people should be killed, and tens of thousands ruined, for the +sake of one man." + +"So it is, sir. So it is, sure enough, when one comes to think of +it. Ireland has suffered mightily in the cause of the Stuarts, and +I don't suppose that, if King James succeeded to the throne, his +English ministers would let him turn out all the men who have +taken the places and lands of the old families." + +"That they certainly would not, Mike. When Charles the Second +returned from exile, all those who had fought and suffered for him +thought that they would recover their estates, and turn out +Cromwell's men, to whom they had been granted. But they were +disappointed. The king found that he could not make so great a +change, without upsetting the whole country, and that an attempt +to do so would cost him his crown; and you may be sure that James +would find an equal difficulty, were he to come to the throne." + +"Well, well, your honour, you know more of such matters than I do; +but I have no doubt that you are right. I am sure we don't want +the bad times to come over again, in Ireland." + +Three days later, Gerald received a message from Lord Godolphin, +saying that he wished to see him; and, on going to his house, the +minister handed to him the paper with the full pardon, and the +confirmation of his ownership in his father's estates; together +with a letter to the lord lieutenant, and the Lord Chief Justice +Cox. + +The next day, he took ship for Dublin, and on arriving there +presented his letters, and was well received by those to whom they +were directed. + +The lord lieutenant said: + +"It is enough for me, Mr. O'Carroll, that Lord Godolphin speaks of +you in such high terms, and I question not that he has thoroughly +satisfied himself as to your right to these estates. At the same +time, I should be glad if you will give me a brief outline of how +it is that you never claimed them before, though perhaps it is as +well that you did not do so, for, until the passions excited by +the war had somewhat subsided, a friend of the Government would +hardly have interposed for the benefit of the son of one who had +died fighting for James." + +Gerald had drawn up three copies of a statement containing a +precis of the case, and he handed one of these to the lord +lieutenant, saying: + +"As the story is a somewhat long one, my lord, I have written it +down, in order that you might read it at your leisure." + +"I will certainly do so, Mr. O'Carroll. I should like to be +personally acquainted with the details of the matter. It will +doubtless excite a considerable stir. It is, I believe, the first +time that a supporter of the Government has had to defend his +title against one of the family that fought on the other side." + +"It is hardly a case of royalist and rebel, sir, but the +deliberate action of a man suppressing all knowledge of the +existence of his own nephew, in order that he might himself obtain +the property of his dead brother. + +"I have no doubt that, had it been known that I was in existence, +I should still have been thrust aside in order to reward his +adhesion to the cause of William, but that would have made his +position intolerable. As one who has changed his religion and his +politics, he is regarded as a traitor by the people of the barony, +and avoided by all the gentry round; but the feeling would have +been infinitely stronger, if it had been known that he was keeping +his own nephew out of his inheritance. My father was, as I +understand, immensely popular, and I doubt whether his brother +would have dared to show his face within fifty miles of Kilkargan, +had it been known that not only was he a traitor, but a usurper." + +The lord lieutenant smiled. + +"I am not surprised at your warmth, Mr. O'Carroll; but, +unfortunately, your case is not a solitary one. There are +thousands of men in Ireland who have suffered for the deeds of +their fathers. However, I shall understand the case better when I +have read your statement." + +It was evident to Gerald that the lord chief justice, who had +taken a leading part in the prosecution and punishment of persons +known to be favourable to the Jacobite cause, was not altogether +pleased with Lord Godolphin's letter. + +"A strange affair," he said. "A strange and, as it appears to me, +an unfortunate business. + +"However, sir," he went on, with a changed tone; "I shall +certainly do my best to see justice done, in accordance with his +lordship's request. I will read carefully through this statement +of your claim, and, after considering it, place it in the hands of +the crown lawyers. + +"But it seems to me that your own position here is a strange one, +and that you yourself are liable to arrest, as a member of a +family whose head was one of the late king's strongest adherents." + +"My own position, sir, is regulated by this document, bearing the +signature of the queen and her chief minister;" and he laid the +official paper before Cox. + +"That certainly settles that question," the latter said, after +perusing it. "Of course I shall, for my own satisfaction, read +your statement; but I do not wish to see any documents or proofs +you may possess in the matter. These you must, of course, lay +before your counsel. I think I can't do better than give you a +letter to Mr. Counsellor Fergusson, with whom you can go into all +particulars, and who will advise you as to the course that you had +best take." + +Mr. Fergusson, although one of the crown lawyers, enjoyed a wide +reputation, even among the Jacobite party, for the moderation and +the fairness with which he conducted the crown cases placed in his +hands. He had less employment than his colleagues, for only cases +in which the evidence of acts of hostility to the crown were +indisputable were committed to him, it having been found that he +was unwilling to be a party to calling doubtful witnesses, or to +using the means that were, in the majority of cases, employed to +obtain convictions. + +The lord chief justice's letter to him was as follows: + +Dear Mr. Counsellor Fergusson: + +I have been requested, by Lord Godolphin, to place the case of the +bearer of this letter in good hands, and cannot better carry out +his request than by asking you to act in the matter. Lord +Godolphin has expressed himself most strongly as to the justness +of his claim. The bearer's father was, he states, James O'Carroll, +a noted rebel who was killed at the siege of Limerick. This alone +would, it might have been thought, have proved a bar to any action +on his part against the present possessor of the property; but he +is the bearer of a document, signed by the queen herself, +reinstating him in all rights he may possess, notwithstanding the +actions of his father or of himself. It is not for me to make any +comment upon the royal document, though I may say that I fear it +may give rise to other suits, and alarm many loyal subjects who +have become possessed of confiscated estates. However, we must +hope that this will not be so, as it is expressly stated that, in +this instance, the pardon and restoration of rights are given in +consideration of services rendered by this young gentleman to Lord +Godolphin himself, and to the Earl of Galway. What the nature of +these services may have been does not concern me. + +Gerald carried this letter to the address indicated, and on saying +that he was the bearer of a letter from the lord chief justice, he +was at once shown into the counsellor's room. The latter, a man of +some fifty-five years old, with features that told of his Scottish +extraction, with keen eyes and a kindly face, took the letter +which Gerald presented to him, and begged him to be seated while +he read it. As he glanced through it, a look of surprise came +across his face, and he read the letter carefully, and then looked +at Gerald keenly. + +"You are fortunate in having such good friends, Mr. O'Carroll," he +said. "Before I go into the case, will you let me know something +about yourself? You are, I take it, some twenty years of age?" + +"I am but a few months past nineteen." + +"By your figure, I should have put you as three years older; by +your face, two years. You must have been fortunate, indeed, to +have gained the protection both of Lord Godolphin and the Earl of +Galway. No less than this would have sufficed to gain for you this +rescript of Her Majesty. + +"And now, sir, please to give me an outline of your case, as to +the nature of which I am, at present, entirely ignorant." + +"I have put it down in writing, sir," Gerald said, handing him the +third copy of his statement. + +"It will take me some time to read this, Mr. O'Carroll, and I +would rather do so alone, and ask you any question that may occur +to me afterwards. Will you therefore call upon me again, in an +hour's time?" + +Upon Gerald's return, the counsellor said: + +"It is a strange story, Mr. O'Carroll, and a very disgraceful one. +You allude, I see, to testimonies of Irish officers in the French +service as to your likeness to the late Mr. James O'Carroll. Will +you please let me see them?" + +"Here they are, sir, together with a sworn statement by my nurse." + +The lawyer read the documents through carefully. + +"The testimony of the Duke of Berwick, and of the other honourable +and well-known Irish gentlemen, as to the striking likeness +between yourself and Mr. James O'Carroll, cannot but carry immense +weight in the minds of all unprejudiced persons. They prove too, +conclusively, that James O'Carroll left an infant boy behind him, +and the statement of the nurse goes a long way to prove you are +that son; and I think that this is substantiated by the conduct of +John O'Carroll; first in receiving you and undertaking your care; +secondly, in the neglect, and I should almost say the dislike, he +manifested towards the child he had sheltered; and thirdly, in the +extraordinary step that he, a professedly loyal subject of Her +Majesty, took in sending you off to enlist in the brigade composed +of the devoted adherents of the son of James the Second. + +"No doubt, at any rate, can arise that you are the child brought +by this Mrs. Rooney to Kilkargan. That can be proved beyond all +question; and the fact that your nurse was sent off without having +any conversation save with John O'Carroll himself, would show how +anxious he was that no one but himself should know her errand. + +"I must say that you have shown great acumen in mustering +evidence, of all kinds, that would bear upon the question. I say +frankly that, without this royal rescript, and the influence of +these two noblemen, your chance, as James O'Carroll's son, of +wresting your patrimony from the hands of your uncle would be +small indeed. Politics have, much more than facts, to do with +decisions here; but with such powerful credentials, and with the +chief minister of England interfering on your behalf, I think that +there is no great doubt that you will secure a judgment in your +favour. When the facts are known, the feeling of the greater +portion of the population will run strongly with you, and against +this unnatural uncle of yours." + +"I should be desirous, if possible, sir, of avoiding a public +trial that would bring discredit upon the name of my family, and +would, in the eyes of the supporters of the present Government, +act prejudicially to myself." + +"You are quite right. How do you propose to proceed?" + +"I was thinking, sir, of sending a statement to my uncle, similar +to that which I laid before you, going somewhat further into +details, and promising that, if he would surrender the property to +me and publicly acknowledge me as his nephew, giving what reason +he chose for having so long concealed his knowledge of the fact, I +would take no proceedings against him, and would do my best to +prevent any discredit falling upon him." + +"That would do very well," the lawyer said, "but I should abstain +from making any allusion to the protectors you have gained. He +will learn that soon enough, and it will be well to see what his +first impulse is. Do not mention the names of the Duke of Berwick +and the others, who have testified to your likeness to your late +father. Simply say that many of his comrades have recognized your +likeness to him. It is of no use showing him all the cards we have +to play. I should not send the letter by post, but by hand. If you +like, I will despatch one of my own messengers down with it, with +instructions to bring back an answer, but not to say anything, if +questioned, as to his being in my employment." + +The next morning, the messenger started by coach for Kilkargan. He +returned four days later, bearing John O'Carroll's answer. It read +as follows: + +Sir: + +I have received your audacious letter, and proclaim you to be an +impostor, worthy of the severest punishment for attempting to +personate a son of my late brother. However, for the sake of my +friendship for Mr. Kennedy, your father, I give you twenty-four +hours to leave the country, before laying any information against +you, both as an impostor and as a rebel who has served against the +armies of Her Majesty. I shall, however, at once apply for a writ +ordering your arrest, which will be served upon you within +twenty-four hours of your receipt of this communication. I shall +also have this woman, your pretended nurse, arrested for perjury +and conspiracy. + +Gerald took this letter to the counsellor. + +"That is exactly what I expected," he said, after reading it. "It +shows the man in his true colours. We shall see what he says when +he learns who are employed against him, and what protection you +have obtained. My opinion is that, before many hours have passed, +you will receive a letter in a different strain. I consider it by +no means improbable that the lord chief justice will have written +to him privately, warning him that you have received a full +pardon, and are restored to all your rights, and that you are +strongly supported by Lord Godolphin, who has written to him and +the lord lieutenant in your favour; that you have also the +protection of the Earl of Galway, an officer who possesses the +confidence of Her Majesty; and that the Duke of Berwick, and many +of the best-known Irish officers in the service of France, have +all given their testimony, in the most positive manner, of your +likeness to James O'Carroll, whom they knew intimately; and will +say that, at the request of Lord Godolphin that the matter should +be placed in the hands of one of the crown lawyers, it has been +submitted to me; and that in my opinion, which I wrote him after +our interview, a decision in your favour is inevitable; and +strongly advising him to make the best compromise with you in his +power." + +The same evening, indeed, a mounted messenger, who had ridden +posthaste from Kilkargan, arrived with another letter from John +O'Carroll. It began: + +My Dear Nephew: + +I wrote yesterday in haste, on the receipt of your communication. +It seemed to me that you were rushing on destruction, by avowing +yourself to be the son of my brother James; and that you would be +liable to be arrested as a Jacobite agent in the service of +France. Therefore, I wrote the letter that I did in hopes that you +would leave the country, for the time had not yet arrived when you +could safely be recognized by me as the rightful owner of +Kilkargan. I have heard, however, that you have received a full +pardon for past offences, and a restitution of your rights, and I +am only too glad to be able to retire from the false position in +which I was placed, and by which I incurred the hostility and +dislike of my neighbours and tenants. As you know, I have lived an +almost solitary life here, and have spent far less than the income +of the estate. I am well aware that, acting as I have done as your +trustee, you have a right to demand from me an account of the +rents I have received; but I trust that you will not press this +matter, as you'll at once come in for the receipt of the rents; +and I shall be enabled to live in comfort, in Dublin, upon the +savings I have effected, and a small property I received as a +younger brother's portion. + +You will, of course, understand why, during your stay here, I +refrained from any outward demonstrations of affection for you. I +felt that suspicions might have arisen, had I not done so, that +you were my brother's son, in which case the estate would surely +have been confiscated. Seeing that the bent of your inclinations +was for an active and stirring life, and as the English army was +barred to you, I thought it best that you should go abroad, and so +be out of the way until the time should come when matters would so +quieten down, in Ireland, that my influence might avail to secure +an indemnity for you for serving in France, and enable me to hand +over your estate to you. + +Your affectionate uncle, John O'Carroll. + +Gerald laughed aloud as he read the letter. + +"Is it good news, your honour?" Mike, who happened to be busy in +the room, asked. + +"Nothing could be better. My dear uncle has heard that Lord +Godolphin and the Earl of Galway have become my patrons, that the +queen has restored to me my rights, and Mr. Counsellor Fergusson +has taken up my case. He therefore declares that, as it was always +his intention to restore the estate to me, as soon as I could +safely return, he is now ready to do so, and only hopes that I +will not insist upon his handing over the back rents; which, +indeed, I question whether I could do, as the estate was granted +to him, personally, by the Government. + +"However, of course I shall not press that. I shall be only too +glad to obtain possession without the scandal of having to show, +in the public courts, that my father's brother was a villain." + +"The ould fox!" Mike exclaimed indignantly. "I felt sure, when you +told me what the counsellor had said, that he would wriggle out of +it somehow. I would give all the gold pieces I have in my belt for +half an hour's talk with him, with a good shillelah!" + +"Well, we can afford to let bygones be bygones, Mike. And after +all, he did me a service, unwittingly, in sending me over to +France. In the first place, I had three years of stirring life; in +the next, I have made many good friends, and have gained the +patronage of two powerful noblemen, without which I should have +assuredly never come in for Kilkargan at all." + +"That is true for you, your honour. And without it, I might be +still a private in O'Brien's regiment, instead of being your +honour's body servant." + +"And friend, Mike." + +"Yes, sir, as you are good enough to say so." + +Mr. Fergusson put John O'Carroll's letter down, with a gesture of +disgust, after he had read it. + +"It is what might have been expected from such a man," he said. "A +traitor to the cause he once adhered to, false to his religion, +and a usurper of his nephew's rights. + +"At any rate, Mr. O'Carroll, I congratulate you. It has prevented +a grievous scandal from being made public, and the large +expenditure entailed by such a case. You have now only to go down +and take possession." + +"I shall write to my uncle, and give him a week to clear out, and +to make what explanation he chooses of the change." + +Gerald wrote at once to his uncle. It was coldly worded, and +showed unmistakably that he was, in no way, deceived by the +professions in his letter. He told him that he considered it fair +that he should retain the savings he had made, as he had +personally been confirmed in the ownership of Kilkargan, the +Government being ignorant that his brother had left a son. He said +that he thought it would be more pleasant, for both of them, that +they should not meet, and wished, therefore, that he would leave, +before his arrival to take possession. + +John O'Carroll at once summoned the tenants, and astonished them +by informing them that, he was glad to say, he was free at last to +lay down the position he had held as owner of Kilkargan. That his +brother James had left a son, whom they all knew as Desmond +Kennedy, but whom he had been obliged to treat with coldness, lest +suspicions should be excited as to his identity. Had this been +known, he would assuredly have been proscribed as the son of a +rebel, and debarred by law from any inheritance. He was delighted +to say that the time had come when he could publicly acknowledge +him, and place him in possession of the estate, as Her Majesty had +granted him a special indemnity against the pains and penalties +incurred by his father's act of rebellion and treason, and had +restored to him his full rights. + +A burst of cheering, such as had not been heard in Kilkargan since +James O'Carroll rode out, at the head of a troop raised among his +tenantry, to fight for King James, greeted the announcement; and, +for the first time since that event, John O'Carroll was, for the +moment, popular. Subsequent reflection, and their knowledge of his +character, soon dissipated that feeling; but in their joy at the +announced approaching arrival of their new master, John O'Carroll +rode away, with his followers, without the manifestation of +hostility that would otherwise have attended his departure. + +Bonfires blazed all over the barony when Gerald rode in, +accompanied by Mike. The tenants, and a number of the gentry who +had known him when a boy, assembled at the castle to meet him; and +even his father could not have met with a more enthusiastic +welcome than that which was given him. + +The next day, Gerald wrote to the Duke of Berwick, telling him +what had taken place, and resigning his commission in the Irish +Brigade. + +"I intend," he said, "to abstain from all part in politics. +Although no condition was made, in my pardon for serving abroad +and in the restoration of my estate, I feel that, having accepted +these favours, I must hold myself aloof from all plots against +Queen Anne, though my heart will still be with him whom I hold to +be my lawful sovereign. Unless a large army from France was landed +here, I believe that any attempt at his restoration would only +bring down fresh misery upon Ireland. But, should a force land +that would render success almost a certainty, I should then, with +the great bulk of my countrymen, join it." + +In due time he received an answer, approving the course he had +taken. + +"I myself," the Duke said, "am under no delusions. With the ten +regiments of the Irish Brigade, twenty thousand French troops, and +arms sufficient to distribute to the whole country, I believe that +Ireland and Scotland might again come under the rule of the +Stuarts; but nothing short of such a force would be of any avail. +So convinced was I of this that, in 1691, after the successful +defence of Limerick, I saw that the cause was for the time lost, +and that further resistance would only prove disastrous to +Ireland. I therefore resigned my command, and went over to France +to serve as a volunteer, and took no part in the war at home. +Therefore, I think that you are fully justified in the course you +have taken. When the present war, which I think is approaching its +end, terminates, and you can again visit France, I trust that I +shall see you; and I am sure that you will receive the heartiest +of welcomes from your comrades in the Brigade." + +Gerald followed out strictly the line he had laid down for +himself, and kept aloof from the plots and conspiracies that, for +years, agitated the country, entailing disaster upon all concerned +in them. Mike was installed as his body servant, and majordomo of +his household; and Norah Rooney as housekeeper at the castle. + +Three years later, in 1713, the treaty of Utrecht brought the war +to an end. Communications being restored between the two +countries, Gerald wrote to the Baron de Pointdexter, and told him +of the changes which had taken place in his position. He received +a warm letter in reply, urging him to go over and pay him and his +son-in-law a visit. + +But Gerald had had enough of travelling, and wrote to say that he +could not leave his estate, as there was much to look after. +Letters were, however, frequently exchanged between them, and +when, three years later, Gerald married the daughter of the Mr. +Kennedy he had visited near Cork, a present of a superb set of +jewels, the joint gift of the baron and Monsieur de la Vallee, +arrived for the bride. + +After the conclusion of the peace, some of the Irish regiments +were disbanded, and as the British Government, wiser than before, +offered a free pardon to all men and officers who would return, +many availed themselves of it; and among these was O'Neil, who +delighted Gerald by riding up, one day, to the castle. + +"You did not expect to see me again, Kennedy; or, as I hear we +ought to call you, O'Carroll. Not knowing where I should find you, +I took the liberty of writing to Baron de Pointdexter, and he +informed me of your good luck, and your change of name." + +"And you have left the French service altogether, O'Neill?" + +"Yes, and glad enough I am that I shall be able to end my days at +home." + +"And what are you thinking of doing?" + +"Anything I can get." + +"Well, O'Neil, I have some interest with the lord lieutenant. As I +am no longer regarded as one likely to join in plots, I think +that, were I to ride with you to Dublin after you have been here +for a time; and speak to him for you, as one who had seen the +errors of his ways, and was anxious to live peacefully, he would +procure you some appointment." + +O'Neil stayed there for three weeks, and they then rode to Dublin. +The lord lieutenant granted Gerald's request, and gave O'Neil an +appointment which would enable him to live in comfort; knowing +that there is nothing, for keeping a man peaceable, like giving +him something to do; and that an idle man is a dangerous man, +while one who has a comfortable position can be trusted to hold +himself aloof from any business that might imperil his place. + +O'Neil thoroughly justified Gerald's recommendation of him, and, a +couple of years after his return, married a young and well-endowed +widow; and, to the end of his life, abstained carefully from +mixing himself up, in any way, in politics. + +Gerald saw the failure of Prince Charlie's expedition to Scotland; +and the terrible disasters, that befell all who had taken part in +the movement, showed him the wisdom of the course he had +adopted--of standing aloof from all intrigues in favour of the +descendants of James the Second. + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of In the Irish Brigade, by G. 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