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diff --git a/old/wbtsd10.txt b/old/wbtsd10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5aa8894 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/wbtsd10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13789 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Won by the Sword, by G.A. Henty +(#6 in our series by G.A. Henty) + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Won by the Sword + +Author: G.A. Henty + +Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4931] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on March 31, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, WON BY THE SWORD *** + + + + +This etext was produced by Martin Robb (MartinRobb@ieee.org) + + +Won by the Sword +A Story of the Thirty Years' War + +G.A. Henty + + + +PREFACE. + + +MY DEAR LADS, + +In my preface to the Lion of the North I expressed a hope that +I might some day be able to continue the history of the Thirty +Years' War. The deaths of Gustavus and his great rival Wallenstein +and the crushing defeat of the Swedes and their allies at the +battle of Nordlingen brought the first period of that war to a +close. Hostilities, indeed, never ceased, but the Swedes no longer +played the leading part on the Protestant side that they had +hitherto occupied. Oxenstiern, the great chancellor of Sweden, +saw that the only hope of eventual success lay in engaging France +in the struggle, and he and the Duke of Weimar went to Paris and +pointed out to Richelieu that unless France intervened, Austria +must become the master of all Germany, and as the ally of Spain +would have it in her power to completely dominate France. Richelieu +perceived the opportunity, made a treaty with the Swedes and Weimar, +and engaged to grant large subsidies to the former, and to send +an army to cooperate with the latter. Then began the second period +of this long and terrible struggle, France now taking the place +that Sweden had hitherto occupied, and bearing the brunt of the +conflict. She emerged triumphant with her territories largely +increased, while Austria was crushed and humiliated, and Spain +was dethroned from her position as the dominating power of Europe. +The success of France was greatly due to the fact that her armies +were led by two of the greatest military geniuses of all times, +viz., Conde and Turenne, men of very different types, but equally +great as commanders, and equally at the time of which we are speaking +devoted to the cause of France. Both were men of extraordinary +personal courage, and although one was as prudent and careful of +the lives of his troops as the other was impetuous and careless +at what cost he won his victories, they worked together with a +harmony that could have hardly been expected among men so differently +constituted. Although, in the subsequent wars of the Fronde they +took different sides, their friendship, except during a short +period of alienation, was never shaken, and their admiration for +each other's genius never abated. + +Yours sincerely, + +G.A. HENTY + + + +CHAPTER I: A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE + + +A mounted officer, followed by two orderlies, was proceeding at a +brisk trot from Paris to St. Denis, in October, 1639, when he came +upon a large party of boys, who, armed with sticks, were advancing +in something like military order against a wall on the top of a +low hill. + +"What are you doing?" he asked the lad who appeared to be the +leader. + +"We are playing at war, sir. We are advancing against the fortress +of La Motte. This is the regiment of Turenne." + +"And who are you at other times?" the officer asked with a smile. + +"My name is Hector Campbell, sir." + +"Then you are not French?" + +"No, sir; my father was an officer in the Scotch regiment. He was +killed at the siege of La Rochelle." + +"And who is taking care of you?" + +"I live with Angus MacIntosh. He was a sergeant in my father's +company. He was badly wounded at La Rochelle, and not being fit for +further service, he took a cabaret near the barracks. The officers +are very kind. They allow him a sum for taking care of me. Of +course I am often in barracks, and have learned the drill, and +I have heard and read about battles and sieges, so I am chosen to +command." + +"And so you know something of the battles in which Turenne was +engaged?" + +"I think I know about them all, sir, both in Holland and on the +Rhine, and have seen plans of the battles. Of course this is not +at all like La Motte, which was on the top of a high rock, so that +when Turenne was ordered to attack with his regiment after the +general's son had failed, he had to pass not only through a heavy +fire, but through the huge stones that the enemy hurled down. It +was grand; and he did well at all the other sieges. Then, again, +there was Saverne. See how he fought there, and stormed the place +when even the Swedes, who are good soldiers, had failed. I think +he is going to be the greatest of our captains." + +"Turenne is only a learner in the art of war," the other said +gravely. + +"I think he has learnt more than any of the rest," the boy said +boldly; "and all the soldiers love him more than any of the other +generals, for he takes such care of them, and does not treat them +as if they were dirt under his feet, only meant to obey orders, +and go and get killed when told." + +"You have heard him very much over praised," the officer said +quietly. "I think that he does his best; but he is a young man +yet, not older than I am. His advance has been due to fortune rather +than to his own merits." + +"I don't think so," the boy said sturdily. "Do you think that he +would be a lieutenant general at twenty-eight, and that all the +soldiers would speak of him as they do, if it were only fortune? +Look how he captured Landrecies and Solre, and drove the Austrians +back from Maubeurge, and aided the Duke of Weimar to thrash +them at Weilenweir, and stormed the main fort of Breisach! He has +been successful in all his enterprises, and now it is said he is +to command in Italy, where things have been going on badly. The +cardinal would not have chosen him had he not considered that no +one could do better than he." + +The officer laughed. "Well, young sir, I see that you are so well +acquainted with the sieges and battles of our time that I cannot +argue with you." + +"I did not mean that, sir," the boy said in some confusion. "I was +only saying what our soldiers think, and it is natural that I, +being only a boy, should make him my hero, for he went to the wars +when he was a year younger than I am, and at fourteen carried a +musket as a volunteer under Maurice of Nassau, and for five years +he was in all the battles in Holland, and raised the first battery +that opened on Bois-le-duc." + +"And do you receive no pension as the son of an officer killed in +battle?" + +"No, sir. When the living soldiers often have to go months without +their pay, the sons of dead ones can hardly expect to be thought +of. But I don't care; in two years I shall be old enough to enlist, +and I shall go to the frontier and join Hepburn's Scottish brigade, +who are now, they say, in the French service." + +"They are fine soldiers -- none better," the officer said. "But +why does not the colonel of your father's regiment ask for a +commission for you?" + +"The regiment is not in favour with the cardinal," the boy replied +with a smile. "They are too Protestant for his eminence, and the +colonel is not a man to ask favours if he is likely to be refused." + +"Well," the officer said, "it is clear to me that you are a lad of +spirit, and that you have done your best to prepare yourself for +your profession as a soldier by studying military history, and I +think it hard that, as the son of an officer who died in battle +for France, France should have done nothing for you. I have some +little influence myself. What is the name of this cabaret that +Sergeant MacIntosh keeps?" + +"The Scottish Soldier, sir. It is near the gate of the barracks of +St. Denis." + +"Do not go out tomorrow afternoon. I will have a talk with him, +and maybe I can be of some assistance to you." + +So saying, he touched his horse's flank with his heel and rode on, +while the boys continued their play. The next afternoon the lad +remained at home, to the surprise of the sergeant. + +"What keeps you in today, Hector? It is rare indeed that you are +indoors in the afternoon." + +"An officer came along while we were playing," the lad said, "and +asked me some questions. I told him who I was. He said that he +had some influence, and might be able to assist me." + +"What sort of assistance?" the sergeant grumbled. "He must have +influence indeed if he can get you a pension." + +"I don't think it was that," the boy said. "I said that I should +like to enlist as a volunteer." + +The sergeant laughed. "Well, they do take volunteers as young as +you are, Hector, but they must be cadets of a noble family. You +will have to wait another couple of years before they will enlist +you, much less take you as a volunteer." + +There were a good many Scottish soldiers sitting in the room, when +an officer rode up to the door and dismounted. + +"It is a general officer," one of the men said, looking out of the +window, and as the door opened and the officer entered, all stood +up and saluted. + +"Sit down, men," he said. "I am not here to disturb you, but to +have a talk with Sergeant MacIntosh. Have you a room, sergeant, +where we can speak privately?" + +"Yes, general," the sergeant said, saluting again, and led the way +into a little room generally devoted to the use of noncommissioned +officers. The officer caught Hector's eye, and beckoned to him to +follow. + +"Do you know me, sergeant?" + +"Yes, general, you are Viscount Turenne." + +Hector gave an involuntary exclamation of horror at the thought of +the freedom with which he had the day before discoursed with this +famous commander. Military officers at that time did not wear any +set uniforms, and indeed there was very considerable latitude +among the soldiers, and it was only because he was followed by two +attendants that the boy had taken him to be an officer, probably +a young captain. The quietness of his dress had not even led him +to believe that he belonged to a noble family. + +"This lad tells me that he is the son of Captain Campbell of the +Scottish regiment?" + +"That is so, general." + +"And also that you were a sergeant in his father's company, and +have since taken care of him." + +"I have done the best I could for him, general; but indeed the +officers of the regiment allow me quite as much as the lad's food +costs." + +"He seems to be a careful student of military history, sergeant?" + +"That he is, sir. I don't think there has been a battle, or even a +skirmish, in the past ten years which he cannot tell you the ins +and outs of. He will sit here for hours as quiet as a mouse when +some soldiers from the wars come in, and sometimes he gets books +lent him with the plans of battles and sieges, and when he is not +doing that he is in the barrack yard watching the men drill. I +believe he knows all the words of command as well as any captain +in the Scottish regiment. As to handling his musket, I have taught +him that myself, and the use of a sword, too, since he was ten +years old, and the men of his father's company have taken pleasure +in teaching the lad all they knew in that way." + +"He reminds me of my own boyhood," the general said. "I like his +looks, and it seems to me that he has the making of a good officer. +All the officers of the regiment are men of good Scottish families, +and as such can serve in any capacity. I have often need of +a young officer who can carry my messages on a field of battle, +and can be trusted to understand their import and deliver them +faithfully. Now, Campbell," he said, turning to the lad, who +was standing with flushed face and eyes beaming with delight and +gratitude, "I will give you the choice. I will either appoint you +a volunteer for a year, in which time, if your conduct is satisfactory, +I will name you lieutenant, or I will take you directly into my +own household. My object in either case would be to produce an +officer likely to be useful to his Majesty. + +"I should certainly not have adopted that course had it not been +that you appear already to have learned the duties of a soldier, +and to be acquainted with the ordinary drill and with the necessities +of a soldier's life. If you enter my household you will find it +no child's play, certainly no life of ease and comfort. I do not +spare myself, nor do I spare the officers immediately under me. +In a regiment you would learn better, perhaps, the duties of a +regimental officer, but with me you will have more opportunities of +learning the art of war, and of some day becoming a distinguished +officer, always supposing that you are not shot down in battle or +die of fatigue and hardship. Which do you choose?" + +"Oh, sir, how can I thank you for your goodness? There is nothing +in the world that I should like so much as to be in your service." + +"So be it," the general said. "I shall obtain an appointment for +you as lieutenant attached to my household. At first, you will +simply have to carry messages for me; but when I have learnt more +of your character I shall employ you as one that I can trust. + +"Sergeant, here is a purse, use the contents in furnishing the lad +with clothes suitable for his position, and let him call on me in +three days at the hotel of the Duc de Bouillon, where I am staying. + +"Can you ride?" he asked suddenly. + +"Yes, sir." + +"I will see to the matter of a horse for you. I shall be leaving at +the end of a week to join the army in Italy. And remember always, +lad," he added with a smile, "that I am still but a learner in the +art of war." + +So saying he nodded kindly to him and the sergeant, went out, +returned the salute of the soldiers, mounted his horse, which his +orderly was holding for him, and rode off. + +"Well, well," said the sergeant, who with Hector had followed +him out, "the like of this I never saw before: to think that the +Viscount of Turenne should visit the cabaret of a soldier, and +should have deigned to offer you a position in his household! +I can scarce believe that I am not dreaming. How did it all come +about, and how have you thus gained his favour?" + +"I am ashamed to say, sergeant, that I gained it by my presumption; +now that I know who he was, I may say by my insolence. A party +of us were having a mimic battle. We were acting as the regiment +of Turenne at the storming of La Motte. I was in command, and so +acting as Turenne, when a gentleman, who, by his appearance and +age, and by the fact that two troopers rode behind him, I took to +be a captain in the army, came up and questioned me as to what +we were doing. I told him, then he talked about Turenne. I said I +thought he was our greatest general. He, that Turenne was only a +learner in the art of war. I upheld him, and spoke of the battles +and sieges in which he had taken part. Then he asked me about myself, +and I told him my birth and bringing up, and he said he might be +of assistance to me, and would call here and see you." + +"Well, well, it almost passes belief, Hector, that a boy like you +should have dared to enter into an argument with an officer, even +if only, as you believed, a captain. And to think that this has +come of it, instead of his having laid his whip across your back, +as you deserved. Your fortune is made, lad, that is, if you behave +yourself. Turenne is a great soldier; and more than that, from what +I have heard he is loved by his men more than any other general, +and they will do anything for him. His regiment here, though he was +but nineteen when he obtained his command, was admitted to be one +of the best drilled and the best disciplined of any in the service. + +"He saw to everything himself, spent his whole time in drilling +them as if he had been only a lieutenant with nothing but his +sword for his fortune, instead of a great noble. When he was with +de la Valette and Weimar, and the army had to fall back and were +well nigh starved, Turenne sold his plate and his carriages to buy +food for the men. He had his own baggage thrown out of the wagons +to make room for those who were too weak to march; and on one +occasion gave up his own horse to a soldier who was sinking from +fatigue and hunger, and himself marched on foot. He always leads +his troops in battle, and wherever he goes they will follow. He +was right in saying that he does not spare himself. The soldiers +believe that he does without any sleep when on a campaign, for he +is for ever going round seeing that everything is in order, that +the outposts are properly placed and vigilant, and that the soldiers +have food, and such comfort as can be obtained. Now let us go in +and tell my comrades of your good fortune. There is not a man in +the regiment who will not be glad to hear of it. I will go across +with you myself to the colonel's lodging." + +"But please, sergeant, do not say a word about my folly; only say +that the general, coming across a party of us playing at war, +questioned me, and finding that I was the son of a Scottish officer +who had been killed at La Rochelle, and that I had worked hard +at getting up the history of the wars, and longed much to go into +the army, had promised to come round the next day, and said that +he might be able to aid me." + +"I understand, lad. Yes, it is better that your foolishness should +not be known." + +The colonel was greatly pleased when he heard of what had happened. + +"I had intended myself to have asked for a commission for you when +you were a couple of years older," he said to Hector, "but I was +by no means sure of getting it, for the cardinal is not partial to +the regiment. Turenne, however, stands high in his favour -- in +spite of the fact that his brother, the Duc de Bouillon, has left +Richelieu's party, and is regarded by him as an enemy -- so we may +be sure that your commission will be at once signed. You must sup +with me and the officers of the regiment tonight. There is not one +who will not rejoice that your father's son has met with such good +fortune, for assuredly you could not have entered the army under +better auspices. + +"It is just like Turenne to have thus come forward to assist the +son of a brave soldier killed in action. As a rule, I am sorry +to say that the officers of our army concern themselves but little +with the affairs of the soldiers under their command. Of course +in our regiment it is different, as we have many gentlemen of +well known Scottish families serving in the ranks, and most of the +others are our own clansmen, or come from our dales. We all cling +together as countrymen among strangers, though indeed we can hardly +regard them as strangers, seeing that Scotland and France have +ever been allies, and that our Queen Mary was a French princess. +And now that Scotland has given kings to England, and English +troops fought side by side with the French under Henry of Navarre +against the Spaniards and Guises, and, although not in strict +alliance, are alike enemies of the Spaniards, we can scarce feel +ourselves as strangers here. Besides, is not a French princess +wife of King Charles? + +"I do not say that either England or France has altogether forgotten +the long wars between them, but that is a very old story now, and +as long as Spain threatens to extend her power over all Europe, so +long are we likely to remain good friends. If the power of Spain +is once broken, old quarrels may break out again, but I trust that +that will not be in my time, for assuredly the regiment, although +willing to fight against all other enemies of France, would refuse +to march against our countrymen. Now, Sergeant MacIntosh, I know +that you must be anxious to get back to your inn. You will have +a busy time this afternoon unless I am greatly mistaken. Leave +Campbell with me. + +"In the first place, it will be as well that he should not be down +there, for the fun is likely to get fast and furious. There is +not a man in the regiment who knew his father but will be drinking +the lad's health, and it were better that he should go tomorrow +through the barracks and shake their hands, than that he should +be among them there. You can tell them that I have taken the boy +off, so that they may not think that he stayed away on his own +account. We will see him fitted out. It is a matter that touches +the honour of the regiment that the son of our old comrade should +make a fair show in the household of the viscount." + +"The general has left me a purse for that purpose, colonel." + +"It was a kindly thought, but let the lad start with it in his +pocket. It is our duty to see that he has everything befitting +his father's son." + +As soon as the sergeant left, the colonel said, "Now, Campbell, do +you go into the anteroom. I shall be ready to go out with you in +half an hour." + +Orderlies were then despatched to the various officers' lodgings, +and in a few minutes they assembled. The colonel told them what had +happened, and said that in his opinion it concerned the honour of +the regiment to see that their comrade's son was properly equipped. + +All those who had known Captain Campbell were greatly pleased with +the news, and there was not a dissenting voice when the colonel +proposed that there should be a general subscription of two days' +pay. He himself, however, and Captain Campbell's friends, gave +a much larger amount, and the total was amply sufficient for the +equipment of a young man of good family joining the army. Hector was +then called in and informed of what had taken place, and heartily +congratulated by the officers. He was greatly affected by their +kindness and the proof of the estimation in which his father had +been held. + +"We had always intended to do this," the colonel said, "when the +time came for your entering the army, for we felt that it would +indeed be a discredit to the regiment were you to go into the +world without the equipment that a Scottish gentleman should have. +Now, Captain Mackenzie and Captain Home, I will ask you to act as +furnishers. You know what is required for a young officer on the +staff of a general like Viscount Turenne, who would be called upon +to accompany him to court, and must do him no discredit; besides +which, he must of course have clothes for a campaign. He will not +need arms, for I have kept for him his father's sword and pistols. +See that the tailors undertake to get his clothes ready quickly, +for he is to accompany Turenne to Italy in four or five days. One +suit at least must be finished in two days, for on the third he +is to wait upon Turenne, who is staying at the hotel of the Duc de +Bouillon, and he may possibly be presented to the cardinal." + +The dress of a French gentleman in the reign of Louis XIII differed +but slightly from that worn at the same time by the cavaliers of +Charles I. It consisted of a loose cloak of cloth, silk, satin, or +velvet, according to the occasion and the wealth of the wearer. It +generally hung loosely on the shoulders, but two or three of the +top buttons were sometimes fastened; the sleeves were loose and +open from the elbow. Sometimes the cloak was richly embroidered. +Over it fell a collar of rich lace, with Vandyke border. Beneath +it was worn a short tightly fitted doublet embroidered in front, +with puffed sleeves, and with a belt or sash round the waist. +The breeches were very full, reaching to the knee. For walking or +riding, loose high boots turned down at the top and trimmed with +lace or frillings joined the breeches; while in court dress, silk +stockings and shoes with rosettes were worn. The swords hung from +a richly embroidered baldrick going over the right shoulder. + +Officers of the different regiments were distinguished by the +colour of their sashes, which was the only point of regimental +uniformity. When on a campaign doublets were usually worn of thick +buff leather; armour was still used, but was far less cumbrous +than it had been, consisting for the most part solely of shoulder +pieces and cuirass, with plates covering the upper part of the arm, +thick buff leather gauntlets being considered sufficient protection +below the elbow. Four suits were ordered for Hector: one for court, +another for general use when in Paris or other large towns, the +third for travelling and when in attendance with the general, the +fourth for actual service in the field. + +Almost as expensive as the suits were the shirts, with their deep +lace collars and ruffle; while for service in the field half +a dozen plain shirts were purchased. The headdress on ordinary +occasions was a broad beaver hat with plumes, and in the field +a close fitting helmet with cheek pieces. Visors had been almost +entirely given up. On the third day Hector presented himself at +the appointed hour at the hotel of the Duc de Bouillon. He was +dressed in the second best of his costumes, and wore for the first +time his father's sword. In the hall were numbers of soldiers and +lackeys. One of the latter came up to him. + +"I am here to see the Viscount Turenne by appointment," he said. + +The lackey led the way to a large chamber, where several officers and +gentlemen were waiting. Here Hector gave his name to a chamberlain, +who took it into another apartment. He waited for half an hour, +and observed that while the officers, one by one, were taken into +the room where the lackey had carried his name, the nobles and +gentlemen, who were much more numerous, were shown into another, +which was evidently the principal reception room. He guessed +at once that it was here that the Duc de Bouillon was receiving +visitors, while his brother was engaged in giving interviews +to officers, who perhaps desired appointments in his army, or +in arranging details of stores, arms, and ammunition required for +its use. At last his turn came; and on his name being called, +he followed the usher into a small apartment, where Turenne was +sitting at a table covered with letters. The general looked at +him critically. + +"You make a very good figure," he said, "and better, I can tell +you, than I did at your age, for I was but weakly, while you are +well grown and strong. Among your other exercises you have not +neglected the use of your sword. I could tell that as soon as my +eyes fell upon you." + +"No, general, I have practised for two or three hours a day since +I was ten years old, and I think that almost every soldier in the +regiment has been my instructor in turn, and the maitre-d'armes of +the regiment himself gave me lessons twice a week." + +"I have managed your business for you," the viscount said. "I saw +the cardinal yesterday and asked for a commission for you. He simply +asked for what regiment, and I said that at present I intended to +keep you about my own person, as I thought you would make a good +officer and would some day do me credit. He was busy at the time, +so he simply signed an appointment as a lieutenant and gave it +to me to fill in your name. I asked if I should bring you to his +levee tomorrow, but he said, 'There is no occasion, viscount, we +have both plenty on our hands; neither you nor I can waste time on +young lieutenants. You can present him to me when you return from +the war.' You know the cardinal by sight, I suppose?" + +"Yes, general, I have seen him many times." + +"He is a great man," Turenne said thoughtfully, rather as if +speaking to himself than to Hector; "the greatest that France has +ever known -- he is the soul of France. It is well, indeed, that +we have at present a king who recognizes how great a man he is, +and is wise enough to know that although he himself is somewhat +overshadowed, France is made greater and stronger and his own reign +more glorious by his genius." Then he broke off with a smile. "I +was talking to myself rather than to you. I shall ride to St. Denis +at two o'clock today; be here at that time. I will order the horse, +that I have purchased for you, to be brought round here." + +Hector was about to express his gratitude, but the general at once +stopped him. "I need no thanks," he said. "I perceived in the +ardour with which you have studied military matters that you would +make a good officer, and you remind me of my own boyhood. I always +like to help forward officers who I see ready, not only to do their +actual business but to go beyond it, in order to acquire knowledge, +and I doubt not that I shall find this in you. But you must remember, +lad, that you are now no longer a civilian, but a soldier, that +you must be not only obedient but respectful to those above you in +rank, that discretion as well as courage is necessary for success, +that you must be thoughtful for the comfort of the soldiers, ready +to expose your life in battle to encourage them, and also to +set them an example of endurance, cheerfulness, and good spirits +in times of hardship and distress. Remember that, to the soldier, +there is no such thing as party; he fights for France and for +France only, and should hold himself aloof from even the smallest +expression of opinion on political matters. Then, at two o'clock." + +Hector bowed deeply and left the room. When he returned to the hotel +at two o'clock, six grooms were standing with the horses before +the entrance; he waited outside until the viscount, followed by +four officers, came out. + +"Oh, here you are, lieutenant!" he said, as his eye fell on Hector; +"I was afraid that punctuality was not among your virtues. Gentlemen, +this is Lieutenant Hector Campbell, son of a brave officer of the +Scottish regiment who fell at La Rochelle; he is, for the present, +attached to my household, and will ride with us for Italy the day +after tomorrow. Campbell, this gentleman is Colonel d'Estampes, +who is the head of my staff; this Major Mutton, who will have +the control of all matters connected with the artillery; these are +Messieurs de Lisle and Emile de Chavigny, who are my aides-de-camp. +Now, gentlemen, let us mount." + +As the Scottish regiment was a mounted one, Hector had had ample +opportunities to learn to ride well, and he now fell in with the +two aides-de-camp, who were both young men of eighteen or nineteen +years of age, members of good families, and together they followed +the Viscount Turenne, who rode on ahead with the two staff officers. +While they were making their way through the narrow streets of +Paris they rode but slowly, but as soon as they passed through +the gates they went on at a brisk pace. + +"You are fortunate," de Lisle said, "in having obtained a commission +so young, although I do not say that there are not many of similar +age in the army." + +"I am fortunate indeed," Hector replied, "fortunate beyond anything +that I could have believed possible, thanks to the goodness of +Viscount Turenne." + +"You could not enter the army under better patronage," de Chavigny +said. "We have both served under him for two years on the Rhine, +and had we been his brothers he could not have been more kind; but +the work, ma foi, was tremendous. The soldiers may well say that +the general is sleepless. Happily he does not expect us to go +altogether without rest. Frequently he is away all night by himself +in the saddle, sometimes he takes one or other of us with him, +but at any rate we get a night's sleep by turns. Much as he has to +worry him -- what with the ignorance of some and the carelessness of +others -- I have never seen him out of temper; but then a reproof, +however mildly spoken, by him, is more dreaded than a volley of +abuse from any other general. He was telling us before he came +out that you are already well up in drill, and in the use of arms." + +"Yes; I have been brought up, I may say, in the Scottish regiment, +and after my father's death the officers and men were all very kind +to me, and I learnt my drill both as a soldier and an officer, to +fence, use my pistols, and ride. The officers lent me books on +military history and tactics." + +"The viscount said you were wonderfully well read in such matters," +de Lisle said. "I own that beyond the campaigns that I have taken +part in I have a very vague idea of such things. My time before +I joined was taken up with learning the use of arms, equitation, +and certain dry studies under an abbe. I wish now that instead +of Latin I had learned something of military history; it seems to +me that when one is intended for the army it is a good deal more +important than Latin or theology." + +"I fancy, de Lisle," his companion said laughing, "that from what +I know of you your objection was not so much to the course of +study as to study altogether. I know that that was my case." + +"Well, perhaps so; still, I might as well have been whipped into +learning something useful, instead of something that, so far as +I can see, will never be of any value whatever. Were you born over +here, lieutenant?" + +"No, I was born in Scotland; but my father, who was a younger son, saw +no chance of making his way by his sword at home. It was certain +that James would never go to war, and as there was no regular +army, there seemed no opening for a penniless cadet in England or +Scotland, so he came over here and obtained a commission, and as +soon as he did so sent for my mother and myself. She died two years +later; he kept me with him. When he went on service I was left in +the charge of a Huguenot family, and it was well that it was so, +for otherwise I might have grown up unable to read or write. The +last time that I saw him was before he rode to La Rochelle. After +his death I was adopted by the regiment, for the good people I was +with left Paris to join their friends in the south. Had it been +otherwise I should have stayed with them. The good man would +probably have brought me up to be, like himself, a minister, and +I am afraid I should have made a very poor one." + +The two young men laughed. "Just at present," de Lisle said, "the +two religions get on quietly together. The cardinal, churchman as +he is, knows that if France is to be great religious enmities must +cease, and that the wars of the last reign cost tens of thousands +of lives, and drove great numbers of men to take refuge in Holland +or England, to the benefit of those countries and our loss. Still, +his successor, whoever he may be, may think more of party and less +of France, and in that case you might have found your vocation of +a Huguenot minister as full of danger as that of a soldier." + +"It would have been much worse," Hector said, "for it would not +have been a question of fighting, but of being massacred. I know +nothing of either religious disputes or of politics. In the regiment +these things were never talked about, either among the men or the +officers; all were for the king. But at the same time, as it seemed +to them that it was the cardinal who had stopped the persecution +of the Huguenots, and who had now gone to war with the Austrians +to prevent the Protestant princes of Germany being altogether +subjugated by the Imperialists, they felt grateful to him; for of +course Scotchmen are all on the side of the princes, and nigh half +the army of Gustavus Adolphus was composed of my countrymen." + +"I do not suppose," Chavigny laughed, "that the cardinal would have +cared very much for the destruction of all the Protestant princes +of Germany, had it not been that their ruin would make Austria +more formidable than ever. As long as Gustavus lived and the +Swedes were able to hold their own against the Imperialists, France +troubled herself in no way in the matter; but when the Swedes were +finally routed at Nordlingen, and it seemed that the Imperialists +would triumph everywhere -- for most of the Protestant princes +were leaving the Confederacy and trying to make the best terms +they could for themselves -- Richelieu stepped in; and now we see +France, which for the past hundred years has been trying to stamp +out Protestantism, uniting with Protestant Holland and Sweden +to uphold the Protestant princes of Germany, and this under the +direction of a cardinal of the Church of Rome. And here are we +riding behind a Huguenot general, who perhaps more than any other +possesses the cardinal's confidence." + +"It seems strange," de Lisle said, "but it is assuredly good +policy. While fighting Austria we are fighting Spain, for Austria +and Spain are but two branches of one empire. Spain is our eternal +enemy. True, she is not as formidable as she was. Henry of Navarre's +triumph over the Guises half emancipated us from her influence. +The English destroyed her naval power. Holland well nigh exhausted +her treasury, and brought such discredit on her arms as she had +never before suffered. Still, she and Austria combined dominate +Europe, and it is on her account that we have taken the place of the +Swedes and continued this war that has raged for so many years." + + + +CHAPTER II: CHOOSING A LACKEY + + +The policy of the great cardinal had for its objects the aggrandizement +of France, as well as the weakening of the power of Austria. So +long as the struggle between the Protestant princes and the Swedes +against the Imperialists had been maintained with equal successes +on both sides, he had been well content to see Germany watering its +soil with the blood of its people. Nearly a third of the population +had been swept away during the terrible war. Many hundreds of +towns and villages had already disappeared, while large tracts of +country lay uncultivated, and whichever party won a victory France +gained by it. Her interest, however, lay with the Protestant +confederation. So long as Germany was cut up into a number of small +principalities, divided by religion and political animosity, she +could count for little against a foreign enemy. + +France had for centuries suffered from the same cause. The families +of Lorraine, Bouillon, Enghien, Burgundy, the Guises, Longueville, +the Counts of Armagnac, and other powerful vassals of France, paid +but a nominal allegiance to the crown, and were really independent +princes. Louis XI had done much to break their power. Richelieu +continued the work, and under him France for the first time became +consolidated into a whole. Had he lived, the work would doubtless +have been completed, but his death and that of the king postponed +the work for years. The long regency, controlled by a minister +possessing none of the courage and firmness of Richelieu, and +personally obnoxious alike to the nobles and to the population of +Paris, again threw the power into the hands of the great nobles, +plunged France into civil strife, and the wars of the Fronde, +like those of the Roses in England, so weakened the nobles that +the crown under Louis XIV became absolutely dominant. + +Had Austria succeeded in crushing the Protestant princes, that +empire, with all Germany under her control, would have become +a power greatly superior in strength and population to France. It +was principally to prevent this result that Richelieu after the +battle of Nordlingen threw himself into the struggle, but his aim +was also to carry the frontier of France up to the Rhine. Here the +territories of the Dukes of Lorraine, and Bouillon Prince of Sedan, +not only cut France off from the Rhine and the Moselle, but opened +a door by which she could at any time be invaded from Germany. +The Dukes of Lorraine had always borne themselves as independent +princes, giving, indeed, a nominal allegiance to France, but +as often allying themselves with German princes as with her. The +Duc de Bouillon, on the north of Lorraine, and the Duke of Savoy, +farther to the south, also regarded themselves as independent. The +former, as Huguenots, had a strong leaning towards the Protestant +Hollanders, and both were ready to furnish asylums to French nobles +who had incurred the wrath of their kings or ministers. + +The Duc de Bouillon, father of Turenne, had fought bravely on the +side of Henry of Navarre through the wars of the League. He died +when the viscount was but ten years of age, and, his elder brother +being but six years older, his mother became regent of the little +state. After having greatly weakened the strength of the Huguenot +nobles by the siege and capture of La Rochelle, which had long been +the stronghold and bulwark of that religion, Richelieu obtained +from the duchess a treaty by which she engaged to remain always +attached to the interests of France, while the king undertook to +protect the house of Bouillon. The Duke of Savoy was next compelled +to hand over to France the town and province of Pignerol, and +Richelieu then turned his attention to Lorraine. The reigning +duke had entered into an alliance with Austria, and the invasion +of his territory was therefore the first step by which France +entered into the terrible struggle known as the Thirty Years' War. + +The duke had given Richelieu an excuse for hostilities. He had +married his cousin, the nearest heir to the dukedom, but he treated +her so badly that she fled to France and begged the protection of +Louis XIII. This he gave her, a French army was at once set in +motion against Lorraine, and it was in this struggle that Turenne +had first fought under the French flag. He had always evinced the +strongest predilection for the life of a soldier, and when he +reached the age of fourteen, Richelieu being at the time engaged +in breaking the power of the Huguenots and in the siege of La +Rochelle, the boy's mother sent him to his uncle Maurice of Nassau, +who at the death of his father had become the leader of the Dutch +people. He was treated by his uncle in exactly the same way as +other gentlemen volunteers, carried a musket, and performed all +the duties of a private soldier. + +Six months later Prince Maurice died, and his brother, Henry +Frederick, succeeded him in the government of the United Provinces. +He at once promoted his nephew, and the latter speedily rose to +the rank of captain of infantry. Here he was indefatigable in +his duties, and unlike most young men of good family, who left the +internal economy and discipline of their companies to subordinate +officers, Turenne saw to everything himself. He drilled and +instructed his soldiers, insisted not only upon strict military +discipline, but on good manners and conduct in every particular. +He won their respect and affection by his personal kindness, and +denied himself almost the necessities of life in order to be able +to add to their comforts. In the wars in the Netherlands there were +few pitched battles, and the operations consisted almost entirely +of the sieges of fortified towns or of measures for their relief. + +In all these Turenne took much more than his full share, paying +attention not only to his own duties but to all that was being +done, spending his whole time in the batteries and the trenches, +and in learning all that was possible of war carried on under +such conditions. In the winter, operations were always suspended, +and Turenne spent his time in Paris, where his manner and conduct +won for him the favour of all with who he came in contact. He had +been severely brought up under a Calvinist tutor; his habits were +simple, his tastes quiet and almost ascetic, and he cared little +for the amusements of the brilliant and corrupt court. When the +war with Lorraine broke out, Turenne at once sought for employment +with the French army. + +He recognized that there was comparatively little to be done in +the war of sieges in Holland, and longed to enter a wider field. +His request was gladly granted, for the presence of the Duc de +Bouillon's brother in the French army was in itself some guarantee +of the duke's fidelity to his engagements with France, and Turenne +was at once appointed to the colonelcy of a regiment. He devoted +himself as assiduously to his work as he had done in Holland, and +it was not long before his regiment gained the reputation of being +the best disciplined in the king's service. He took part in a short +expedition in 1630, but there was on that occasion no fighting, +and he first saw real service under Marshal de la Force in 1634. +After the siege of La Motte, the success of which was due to the +storming of the breach by Turenne and his regiment, and for which +exploit he was promoted to the rank of Marechal de Camp, a rank +equivalent to that of major general, he took part in several +sieges, until Lorraine was completely conquered and its duke driven +to abdicate and retire to Austria. + +The battle of Nordlingen showed Richelieu that if France did not +resolutely enter into the conflict the Austrians would become +absolute masters of all Germany. He at once signed a treaty with +the Swedes, agreeing to grant them large subsidies to carry on the +war. By a similar treaty he promised subsidies and the province of +Alsace to the Duke of Saxe-Weimar. He entered into an arrangement +with the Dutch, who were to aid France to conquer Flanders, which +was to be divided between the two powers; while the Dukes of Savoy, +Parma, and Mantua agreed to undertake, in alliance with France, +the invasion of Milan, and to receive in return a portion of the +territory won from Spain. At the same time France declared war +against Spain. It was to the army commanded by Cardinal de la +Valette, which was to act with that of Saxe-Weimar against the +Imperialists, that Turenne was attached. + +The campaign began unfavourably. The impetuosity of Saxe-Weimar, +who hoped to recover his own principality, induced Valette to cross +the Rhine; but he was forced to retire in all haste, and the army +suffered terribly in the retreat. Turenne was in command of the +advanced guard, and his courage and activity alone saved the army +from complete destruction -- seizing upon defiles, overthrowing the +enemy who barred the passages, and enabling the army to recross +the Rhine with numbers diminished only by sickness, fatigue, and +hunger. At the siege of Saverne, Turenne led the French troops to +the attack after three repulses, and succeeded in gaining a footing +in the town, but received himself a very severe wound in the arm +with a musket ball. During the following year several towns were +captured but no decisive operations took place. + +In 1638, the Duke of Saxe-Weimar gained some great successes, +defeated the Imperialists with heavy loss at Rheinfelden, and +besieged Breisach, the key of southern Germany. The Imperialist +army marched to relieve the place, but reinforcements were sent +from France under the command of Turenne and Longueville. Three +battles were fought and the Austrians driven off. After an assault +by Turenne, Breisach capitulated, and all Alsace had now fallen +into the hands of Saxe-Weimar. Having been promised Alsace he +refused, as Richelieu desired, to hand over Breisach to France; but +on the death of the duke in the following year, Richelieu bought +over his lieutenants, the French flag waved over the towns of Alsace, +and the Upper Rhine became the French frontier. Turenne returned +to court, where he was received with enthusiasm, and was a short +time afterwards ordered to Italy to assist De la Valette, who had +been faring but badly there. + +Matters had not gone there as Richelieu had calculated. The Duke +of Savoy remained true to his engagement with France, but he died +in October, 1637. The Spaniards had captured Vercelli, and the +emperor had bestowed the regency of the duchy on the Cardinal of +Savoy and on Prince Thomas, brother-in-law of the duchess. These, +supported by the Duke of Modena and the Governor of Milan, the +Marquess of Leganez, declared that they were determined to protect +the people against the French and to deliver the young duke from +French domination. The duchess implored help from France, and la +Valette advanced to her aid. + +While in Paris, Turenne had obtained from the cardinal permission +to raise a regiment of dragoons and also that a company of dragoons +should be attached to each regiment of cavalry. These troops were +not intended to fight on horseback, but were, in fact, mounted +infantry, an arm which, after being in disuse for many years, has +lately been recognized as a very valuable one, possessing as it +does the mobility of cavalry with the fighting power of infantry. +It was at the head of this regiment that the general started for +Italy. The position of affairs in Savoy was dark indeed, for the +whole of Piedmont had risen against the duchess. Many considerable +towns had been captured by the Spanish, others, including the city +of Turin, had opened their gates to them, and with the exception +of Susa, Carignano, Chivasso, Casale, and the citadel of Turin, the +whole country was lost to her. The French forces were, however, +too weak to take the offensive, and the ill health of La Valette +deprived him of his former energy and rendered him unwilling to +undertake any offensive movement. Nevertheless, Turenne's counsels +infused a new spirit into the army, and indeed the news that the +young general, whose name was already known throughout Europe, +had arrived, and the belief that his coming would be followed by +that of large reinforcements from France, at once reanimated the +remaining supporters of the duchess and dispirited the Piedmontese, +who began to fear that they had been too hasty in siding with +Spain. + +But if, for the time, Turenne was not in a position to act in the +field, he began at once to take steps to prepare to meet the coming +storm. Early in October La Valette died. The general opinion was +that Turenne would have succeeded to the command, but his brother +the Duc de Bouillon had broken with Richelieu and joined the +party opposed to him. When in Paris, the duke had been on terms +of intimate friendship with the Count of Soissons and had invited +him to stay with him at Sedan. The invitation had been declined, +but the count, having been implicated in a plot against Richelieu, +had been obliged to fly and had taken refuge at Sedan, where he +had been most warmly received by the duke. Richelieu had at first +invited, and then in the name of the king commanded, Bouillon +to expel his guest. This the duke absolutely refused to do, and +becoming deeply offended at the manner in which he was pressed, +joined the party opposed to Richelieu. + +It was for this reason that the cardinal decided not to appoint +Turenne to the command, knowing the warm affection that existed +between the brothers, and fearing that Turenne might be influenced +by Bouillon, and might, beloved as he was by the soldiers, lead +many of the troops away from their allegiance were he to join the +party opposed to him. He therefore appointed the Count d'Harcourt +to the command. He had proved himself a brilliant officer on many +occasions, and Turenne did not feel in any way aggrieved at his +being placed over him. He made a rapid journey to Paris to arrange +with the cardinal and d'Harcourt the general plan of the campaign, +and was now setting out again to make preparations for it. + +Hector Campbell enjoyed the journey greatly. His duties were +nominal; and the party always halted at towns, where the troops +were billeted upon the inhabitants, and the viscount and his suite +entertained by the authorities. After crossing the Alps, however, +by the pass of Mount Cenis, and arriving at Susa, his work began +in earnest. Turenne himself was almost entirely occupied in +consultations with the duchess; his three aides-de-camp, however, +were kept hard at work carrying messages to the governors of towns +that still adhered to the duchess, with orders for the strengthening +of the defences and for the collection of stores and provisions +in case of siege. Each was provided with three horses, and almost +lived in the saddle. + +"You seem to be tireless, Campbell," de Lisle said, when it one +day happened that all three were together at headquarters. "I feel +as if I had not a whole bone in my body; as I have not had a whole +night in bed for the last six days, I can hardly keep my eyes +open, while you, who have been doing as much as we have, are going +about as actively as if you had had nothing to do for a week." + +"I have the advantage of riding so much lighter than you do," +Hector said; "weight tells both on horse and rider, and when the +horse is tired his pace soon adds to the weariness of his rider. +If we had had to do this work when we first left Paris, I have +no doubt that I should have felt it, but the journey here has been +a fine preparation. Another thing is, that every morning I take +a dip in the first mountain stream I come to, and that does one +almost as much good as a night's sleep." + +De Lisle shivered. "It may do good, Campbell, but I would not jump +into one of these icy streams for anything. It makes one shudder +to think of it." + +"I always had a swim in the Seine every morning when it was not +closed by ice," Hector said. "I was told that there was nothing +braced one up and made one so hardy as that; and I certainly found +that even in the coldest weather I never felt the need of a cloak." + +"Well, I don't deny that it may be a good custom, and if all +Scotchmen do it, it may account for their hardiness; but I like +comfort when I can get it." + +"But it is not comfort to be always in the saddle, and to feel so +sleepy that you fancy that at any moment you may fall off. Even +if a dip in snow water is, to those unaccustomed to it, somewhat +sharp, it is better than having to struggle against sleep for +hours." + +"Well, possibly I may try the experiment some day when I feel that +I must either lie down by the roadside and sleep or take a dip, +but until I feel like breaking down altogether I shall postpone +the experiment." + +Turenne several times spoke approvingly to Hector. On one occasion, +when the lad presented himself on being told that an aide-de-camp +was required to carry a message, Turenne said to him: "But it is +not your turn, Campbell; de Lisle and Chavigny both returned some +hours ago, while it is not an hour since you came in." + +"They are both asleep, general," Campbell said; "they have been +thirty-six hours in the saddle." + +"But you have been more than that, Campbell?" + +"But I do not feel it, sir," he said. "I am perfectly fresh and +ready to go on. I was a little tired when I came in, but I have +taken a swim in the river, and am now at your service." + +Turenne hesitated. "You see, sir," Hector went on, "being of light +weight the horse does not feel it as he does that of a heavier +man, his pace continues light and elastic, and his spirit good, and +that makes all the difference to the fatigue of his rider. After +two days' rest my horses are perfectly ready for another long +day's work, while those of Chavigny and de Lisle start heavily, +not having recovered from their fatigue." + +"Very well, you can go then, Campbell. I am pleased with your +spirit, and also with your thoughtfulness for your companions, +who, although strong young men, do not seem to have your power of +endurance. I find, too, that you always carry out your instructions +with intelligence, and that your reports on matters touching which +I have sent you to inquire are always clear and full. It may be +that ere long I may find employment for you in which courage as +well as intelligence is required. There is but one drawback, namely, +that you do not speak Italian. I know that there are few officers +in our service who do so; but it would be so much the more valuable +were you able to master it." + +"I had intended to study the language, general, as soon as I got +here, but have had no time to begin it." + +"That you certainly have not," Turenne said with a smile. + +"Do you think that it would be of any use, sir, if I were to take +a Savoyard servant? I find that many of them who come from places +near the frontier speak French as well as their own language." + +"That would be useful, certainly; but you would have to be careful +in your choice, and see that you get one whose sympathies are with +the duchess; not only for your own safety, but because a chance +word heard here, or an order given and conveyed to the Spaniards, +might involve the loss of a battle." + +"I see that, general, and will be very careful." + +Hector had formed the acquaintance of several young officers +attached to the household of the duchess, and on the day following +his return from his mission he was supping with a party of four of +them when he said: + +"Can one of you gentlemen recommend a servant to me? He must be able +to talk French as well as Italian. He must be active and intelligent. +I should like him to be handy and accustomed to camp service, though +this is not so important, for I want him as an interpreter before +anything else. I should like him to be a lightweight, so as to be +able to ride with me. He must be accustomed to fatigue, and he must +have courage, for some of the journeys on which I may be sent will +not be without danger, and of course he must be of the duchess's +party." + +"And I suppose," one of the young men said, "that this Admirable +Crichton of whom you are in search must be sober, honest, and +truthful. Are you particular whether he is Huguenot or Catholic?" + +"As to the last, not a bit. I should like him to be as sober as +soldiers in general are, and if he confined himself to taking his +wine when I did not require him, it would not be very important, +provided that he is not talkative when in liquor. As to his honesty, +he would have no great temptation so far as I am concerned, but +I certainly should not wish to lose him by his being strung up by +the provost marshal for robbing citizens. As to his truthfulness, +providing he did not lie to me, it is a point on which I should +not be particular." + +There was a general laugh. + +"And as to his age?" the officer asked. + +"If I could find all the qualifications that I require, I should +not be particular about that; but I think that for choice I would +take a lad of from sixteen to twenty." + +"In that case I fancy that I know a lad who might suit you," one of +the other officers said. "He is a brother of my groom, and I may +own that he has been of no little trouble to him. The boy is an +orphan, and having no other friends so far as I know, he has attached +himself to his brother, and for the past two years, wherever he +has gone Paolo has gone too. He earns a little money by doing odd +jobs -- running messages, and so on, helps his brother to clean +the horses; and with an occasional crown from me, and what he earns +otherwise, it cannot be said that he costs his brother anything in +money; but in other respects he is always getting him into trouble, +for he is a very imp of mischief. Two or three times his brother +has obtained places for him, but he always comes back at the end +of a week, and sometimes sooner, with bitter complaints from his +master that he has set the household in a turmoil with his tricks +and ill conduct. Many a thrashing has he had, but they do him no +good." + +The others laughed. + +"There is no doubt that Paolo is a perfect young imp," one of +them said, "but he is as sharp as a needle. I have no doubt that +if he could be tamed he would make a most useful lad. As it is, I +certainly would not recommend anyone who cares for his peace of +mind to have anything to do with him." + +"I will see him anyhow," Hector said. "I think that I would rather +have a sharp boy than a man. Being but a boy myself, I could +appreciate and put up with more in the way of mischief than a man +could." + +"I will tell my groom to bring him round to your quarters in the +morning," the officer said; "but mind, I in no way recommend your +taking him. You won't keep him a week if you do." + +The next morning Hector's orderly told him that a man desired to +speak to him. + +"Has he a boy with him?" + +"Yes, lieutenant." + +"Bring them in here, then." + +In a minute a man entered, followed by a boy. The former was a good +looking young Savoyard of some four- or five-and-twenty years; the +latter was a lad of about the same height as Hector but somewhat +older. He had black hair which fell over his forehead down to his +eyebrows. His face bore an expression of extreme humility, which, +however, was marred by the merry twinkle of his dark eyes. + +"My master has bid me bring my brother with me, Lieutenant +Campbell," the man said, "and I have done so, but I fear greatly +that he will hardly suit you as a servant. I have obtained a dozen +places for him, but he is always sent back at the end of three or +four days, and I told him last time that I would never say a word +in his recommendation again, for that it only gets me into trouble +with the gentlemen." + +"Well, that is honest," Hector said with a smile. "However, I will +ask him a few questions. Now, Paolo, in the first place, could +you be faithful?" + +"I could be faithful to a master I loved," he said. + +"In the second place, are you honest?" + +"He is honest," the man said, "I will say that for him." + +"Are you truthful?" + +"I am as truthful as other people," the boy said. + +"What do you mean by that?" + +"I mean, sir, that if I were asked a straightforward question I +would give a straightforward answer, unless it were wiser not to +do so. I would tell the truth to my master, but I do not consider +it necessary always to do so to others. For instance, sir, if you +were my master, and questions were asked about you, there might be +times when it would not be convenient for you that I should mention +where you had gone, or what you were doing." + +"That is so," Hector said with a laugh. "The important thing for +me to know is, would you always tell me the truth?" + +"I think that I could promise to do that, sir, or at least to be +very near the truth." + +"You understand horses?" + +"I do, sir." + +"And you can ride?" + +"Yes, sir, I can ride and run too. In a long day's journey I should +get to the end on foot nearly as fast as you would on horseback." + +"He can make himself useful on a campaign," the brother said. "He +has been with my master and myself in the field for the last three +years, and knows his work well if he chooses to do it." + +"The principal point with me is that which I first asked him about, +can he be faithful? I may have to ride on dangerous missions for the +general. I may have to enter an enemy's town to obtain information. +There is another thing, being of the general's staff, and sometimes +quartered in the same house with him and chatting freely with his +other aides-de-camp, secrets might be picked up by a sharp pair of +ears that if repeated would do grievous harm to the cause of the +duchess, as you can well understand. Now, the question, Paolo, +is, can you be absolutely trusted; can you, as to all matters you +may hear, be as one who is deaf and dumb?" + +"I could, sir," the boy said earnestly. "I am all for the duchess, +and I hate the Spaniards. I once was found out in a bit of mischief +in the palace, and should have been whipped for it and turned out +of the town, but the duchess herself said that I was only a boy +and forgave me, and I would do anything for her. I would indeed, +sir, and I swear that I would be always honest and truthful with +you. I should like you as a master. You don't speak to me as if +I were dirt under your feet, and I am sure by your voice that you +would be kind. Try me, sir; my brother will tell you that I have +never said as much before to anyone to whom he has taken me, for +indeed I never meant to stay with them, preferring my liberty, +rough though my fare may sometimes be." + +"I will try you, Paolo. I believe that you are in earnest, and that +I can trust you; but mind, there must be no monkey tricks here. +The general must not be disturbed by the antics of a servant boy. +You are likely, in my service, to have as much excitement and +adventure as you can wish for, and you must behave yourself, for +if you do not do so you will be lucky if you escape with a flogging +and being turned out of camp. I am younger than you are, and am +just as fond of a piece of fun, but I know when it is good to enjoy +one's self and when one must put aside boyish pranks. I have my +duties to perform, and do them to the best of my power, and shall +expect you to do the same." + +"I will, sir," the boy said respectfully. "I will give you no cause +to complain of me, at least no wilful cause." + +"Then that is settled. Here," he said to the boy's brother, "are +five pistoles; see that he is decently clad so as to make a fair +appearance by my side. When he is so, let him return here. It were +best that he should come this evening, for it is likely that I +shall be away on duty tomorrow." + +"He shall be here, sir," he said, "and I thank you heartily for +engaging him; and I do think that he means this time to behave +himself." + +"I do mean it," the boy said. "You shall have no reason to complain +of me, sir." + +Shortly afterwards Hector met the officer who had spoken of the +boy. + +"Well, have you thought anything more of young ne'er-do-well?" + +"I have engaged him." + +"You have, after the warning I gave you? Well, I hope you will not +have reason to repent it." + +"I do not think that I shall. I can quite believe that he is a +mischievous young varlet, he shows it in his face; but I am sure +that he is shrewd, and I believe that he will be faithful. At any +rate I think that we took to each other, and that he has made up +his mind to try for once to stay in a place. He really seemed in +earnest about it, and if he keeps to his promises I think that he +will be just the sort of lad to suit me." + +"Well, we shall see," the officer said; "but if he turns out badly, +please remember that I warned you against him." + +"And if he turns out well," Hector said with a laugh, "I shall not +fail also to remind you of your prognostications." + +That evening when Hector returned to his room after he had finished +his meal, he found Paolo waiting outside his door. His appearance +had so changed that he would not have known him. His hair had been +cut short in the front and left long behind, as was the custom of +the day, hanging down on to his collar. He was neat and tidy. He +wore a dark blue doublet reaching to the hips, with a buff leather +belt, in which was stuck a dagger. His leggings, fitting tightly +down to the ankles, were of dark maroon cloth, and he wore short +boots of tanned leather. A plain white collar, some four inches +deep, was worn turned down over the neck of the doublet, and a +yellow cloth cap, with a dark cock's feather, was stuck on one side +of his head. In his hand he held a bundle containing a leather +jerkin and breeches of the same material, and a pair of buff leather +riding boots that would reach to the knee. + +"Your brother has laid out the money well, Paolo," Hector said, as +he opened the door and led the way into his room. "I do not think +that I should have known you." + +"I am quite sure that I should not have known myself, master, if +I had looked into a horse trough and seen my reflection. It will +be a long time before I shall be able to persuade myself that these +clothes are my own, and that I really am an officer's lackey. Now, +master, you must teach me my duties, of which I know nought when +in a house like this, though I know well enough what they are when +you are in the field." + +"They are few enough at present, Paolo. Monsieur de Turenne's +stablemen look after the horses of his staff. When I do not dine +with him, I and my two friends, M. de Lisle and M. de Chavigny, +dine and sup together at an inn. There is my room to keep tidy, +my bed to make, my armour and arms to be polished, and my clothes +to be brushed. Hitherto, my orderly has done these things, but it +will now be your duty. As I do not eat in my rooms, it is clear +that there is no food for you, and when we are in towns I shall +give you money to pay for your meals at a cabaret." + +"I hope, master, that you will soon find something more useful +for me to do, for, in truth, I fear that with so much time on my +hands I shall find it sorely difficult to comport myself as is due +to your lackey." + +"Do not fear, I have little doubt that you will soon find work +enough and to spare, and indeed you will often ride with me." + +Some few days later, the other two aides-de-camp being away, the +viscount requested Hector to accompany him on a tour of inspection +that might last two or three days. He was accompanied by his orderly +and three other troopers, behind who rode two of his own lackeys +with baskets of provisions. With them rode Paolo, Hector having +asked the general if he should take him with him. + +"You may as well do so, Campbell, it will accustom him to his work. +What made you choose so young a servant?" he asked, as he rode +off. + +"He is a year older than I am, though perhaps not so tall. He is +the brother of a man in the employment of Monsieur de Vevey. He has +been through the last two campaigns. I find him very intelligent. +He obeys my orders promptly, and as he is heart and soul in the +cause of the duchess, I feel sure of his fidelity, especially as +he has had a hard time of it up to now, and is, I think, grateful +to me for taking him. He speaks French very well, and might certainly +be of great use to me in any enterprise that your lordship might +be good enough to entrust me with. Being about the same age, I +think that we might perhaps go together unquestioned where a man +would be unable to pass." + +The viscount rode on for some minutes without speaking. "There is +something in what you say, Campbell, and after this journey is +over I may be able to employ you in that way when it is necessary +to obtain information I can get in no other manner. Has he ridden +with you before?" + +"Yes, sir, he has ridden behind me each time that I have been away +since I engaged him. When I say behind me, he starts behind me, +but when out of town I call him up beside me, and we talk, or rather +try to talk, in Italian -- or rather I should say in Piedmontese, +for he tells me that each district of Italy has its own dialect, +and that the natives of one can scarce understand the other. I have +bought a book printed here and a dictionary, and of an evening when +I have no duties to perform he comes into my room, and translates +sentence by sentence as I read it to him. I learn it by heart, and +hope that ere long I shall be able to make myself understood in +it." + +"You do well -- very well," the viscount said. "If all my young +officers were to do the same, instead of spending the evening and +half the night in drinking and gambling, things would go on much +more smoothly, and there would not be so many blunders in carrying +out my orders. You will greatly add to your usefulness by acquiring +a knowledge of the language, and it would certainly enable you to +carry out with far less danger such commissions as those you were +just speaking of; for you might be asked a question, and if it +were replied to by your lackey, suspicions would be at once aroused. +You have ridden along this road before?" + +"Several times, sir." + +"Have you noted the features of the country -- I mean from a military +point of view?" + +"I have nothing else to do as I ride along, sir. As I go I notice +where an ambuscade might be laid, either by ourselves or an enemy, +where we might expect to be opposed on our march forward, or where +a rear guard might check an enemy were we retiring before him." + +"Good! the fate of a battle depends in nine cases out of ten upon +a knowledge of the ground, and in quickness in utilizing that +knowledge. Our journey today is only taken for that purpose. I +want to see for myself the country across which we shall at first +operate, to inspect the various routes by which we might advance, +or through which, if we find the enemy in too great a force to be +encountered, we should be obliged to retire. As we go you shall +point out to me the observations that you have made, and I shall +be able to judge whether the spots are well chosen for the purpose." + + + +CHAPTER III: THE FIRST BATTLE + + +During the three days that were spent in reconnoitering the country +Hector Campbell learnt more than he would have done in as many +years under ordinary circumstances. Turenne took the greatest pains +to point out to him how the nature of the ground could be taken +advantage of, how flanks could be protected against attack by +comparatively small bodies, occupying positions from which they +could be with difficulty expelled; how important was the action of +guns, especially when so placed as to be able to sweep the ground +across which an enemy must advance in any endeavour to turn the position +of an army. Turenne, on his part, took pleasure in instructing a +pupil who was at once so eager to learn, and who showed himself so +apt in profiting by his teaching. + +"You see," he said, "I am concerned rather in defensive positions +at present than in seeing how we could best turn an enemy barring +our advance. Although the greater portion of the dominions of the +duchess has fallen into the hands of the enemy, she is fortunate +in that the few places that remain are those that at once enable +her to make a defence with comparatively small forces; and at the +same time, it is possible for her to receive aid from France, +or, if absolutely necessary, for her to fall back across the Alps. +Susa, her headquarters, lying at the mouth of the valley up which +the road over Mount Cenis finds its way, at once guards the pass +and keeps open communication with France. + +"It is, as it were, the handle of a fan, and can be approached by +three main roads only, -- those to Turin, Carignano, and Chivasso. +Unfortunately Turin is in the enemy's hands, but as the duchess's +troops still hold the citadel, an advance could not very well be +made until that has fallen. Chivasso and Carignano are safe from any +sudden attack. There are other minor roads, but so long as these +towns are in our hands and held by strong garrisons, an enemy +advancing by any of these roads towards Susa would be liable to have +their communications cut, and their convoys captured by parties +from these fortresses. It has long been a fixed idea in military +operations that an army cannot advance as long as a town near the +line of route is held by the enemy. That idea is an erroneous +one, and several times upon the Rhine we have gained successes by +neglecting this rule and disregarding the towns, contenting ourselves +with leaving a force sufficient to keep the garrison in check. + +"The Spaniards, however, are slow to change their tactics, good +soldiers as they are. The consequence is that, although greatly +superior in force, last year they made no offensive movement against +us. We have had several regiments join us since we arrived here, +and although I believe the enemy's force to be twice as strong as +our own, I have no doubt that the Count d'Harcourt will as soon as +he arrives decide upon taking the offensive. You see our position +here, guarded as it is on both flanks by the line of mountains, is +as favourable for offence as defence, for we can advance either +through Carignano on our right or Chivasso on our left; and however +the enemy may dispose themselves they are vulnerable on one side +or the other." + +This anticipation was justified. D'Harcourt arrived three days +later. A council of war was held, and it was decided that an +advance should at once be made against the enemy. The main body of +the Spanish troops were posted in a fortified camp at Villanova, +halfway between Asti and Turin. Leaving only a small body of troops +to guard the lower valley of Susa from an attack by the Spaniards +at Turin, the army advanced to Carignano, and thence towards +Villanova. The Spaniards, however, although nearly twice as +strong as the French, were so much surprised at the boldness of +this proceeding that instead of marching out to give battle they +contented themselves with strengthening still further the defences +of their camp, and in order to force them to come out d'Harcourt +advanced to Chieri -- called by the French Quiers -- a town situated +between Villanova and Turin, and about two leagues distant from +each. + +Turenne was in command of the cavalry, and took post between Chieri +and Villanova. The Spaniards, however, made no effort to relieve +the town, which capitulated after a resistance of only two or three +days. While the siege was proceeding, a large convoy of provisions +succeeded, unmolested, in making its way to Casale, and thus placed +the garrison there in a position to hold out for several weeks to +come. But a very small store of provisions was found in Chieri, +and the army was forced to fall back towards Carignano to obtain +food from the stores collected there. The Marquis of Leganez, +whose headquarters were at Asti, knowing that the French had sent +all the stores they had brought with them to Casale, had foreseen +that this would be the case, and advancing rapidly with the troops +from Villanova seized Poirino, on the line by which the French +would retire, while at the same time Prince Thomas, who commanded +at Turin, advanced with the greater portion of his troops, and +marched towards the little river Santina, intending to cross there. +Thus the French army could not retire on Carignano without exposing +both flanks to the attack of the enemy. + +During the short campaign Hector had ridden behind Turenne, and +shared in the general disappointment of the army when the enemy +refused to accept their offer of battle, and still more so when +after the capture of Chieri it became necessary to retreat. His +two fellow aides-de-camp loudly bewailed the bad fortune that thus +obliged them to retire without having effected anything beyond the +capture of an insignificant town, which, however, had the advantage +of opening a way for them into the heart of the country then held +by the enemy. + +"You seem to take it rather philosophically, Campbell," de Lisle +said to Hector, as he remained silent while they were bemoaning +their fate. + +"I do not see that it is of any use taking it otherwise. At least +we have had the satisfaction of bearding the Spaniards, who indeed +seem to me to behave wisely in remaining in their intrenchments and +waiting until they can unite all their forces against us. However, +we have shown them that we are not afraid of them, and that even +in the middle of November we are so eager to meet them that we have +hastened to take the field and to strike a blow before winter sets +in in earnest; but I think it possible that we may have a fight +yet before we get back. Leganez has the reputation of being a good +general, and he may yet combine his troops at Asti with those of +Villanova and Turin and try to cut us off from Carignano." At this +moment Turenne suddenly entered the room. + +"To horse, gentlemen! News has come that Prince Thomas is marching +at the head of three thousand foot and fifteen hundred horse to cut +us off, and that Leganez is moving with all speed towards Poirino +with the same object. Carry my orders for a thousand cavalry and +as many infantry to be ready to march at once. We must be beforehand +with Prince Thomas." + +In ten minutes the cavalry and infantry selected were in movement, +and Turenne, placing himself at the head of the former, rode on at +a gallop, and keeping on at full speed with his cavalry, occupied +the bridge before Prince Thomas came up. On his arrival, the +latter, having with him three thousand foot and fifteen hundred +horse, prepared to attack, but before he did so Turenne's infantry +arrived. The Spaniards attacked with fury, but Turenne's troops +stood firm and repulsed them, and as soon as they fell back charged +in turn, broke the enemy, and drove them in headlong rout towards +Turin. Prince Thomas himself was twice unhorsed and thrown into a +ditch, but it was now almost dark, his rank was unrecognized, and +he succeeded in making his escape and rejoining his scattered +troops. + +While this fight was going on, d'Harcourt had attacked the Marquis +of Leganez and gained a considerable advantage, but not knowing +how the fight was going on at Santina did not venture to advance +towards the Po. As soon, however, as a messenger from Turenne +brought him news that Prince Thomas had been defeated he continued +his march towards Carignano. He was speedily joined by Turenne's +horse, which took up the duty of rear guard and checked the +Spaniards, who were pressing on in hopes of attacking the French +as they crossed the river. He held them at bay until d'Harcourt had +got all his guns and baggage wagons across the river, and then, +following him, broke down the bridge and joined him at Carignano. +Here the army went into winter quarters. + +D'Harcourt, whose health was bad, retired to pass the winter at +Pinerolo, leaving the command in the hands of Turenne, who again +established himself at Susa, and began to make preparations for +throwing a convoy of provisions into the citadel of Turin. + +During the fight at Santina Hector remained behind Turenne, while +the two young Frenchmen, carried away by their ardour, joined in +the hot pursuit of the enemy. The prince, who had led the charge, +had halted. + +"Are you alone here, Monsieur Campbell?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Where are de Lisle and Chavigny?" + +"They rode on with the cavalry, sir." + +Turenne frowned. + +"You have done well to remain. An aide-de-camp's place is to carry +orders, not to fight. Now, sir, ride at once to the count. I hear +his battle is still going on. Tell him that I have defeated and +scattered the troops of the prince, and that as soon as I can +gather my men I shall march to join him." + +Hector bowed, turned his horse and galloped off, while the general +rode on, sending every officer he overtook in search of the cavalry +with orders that they were to abandon the pursuit and return +instantly. That evening after they had entered Carignano he called +de Lisle and Chavigny into his room. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "you will have to choose whether you remain +with me or join one of the cavalry regiments. If you remain with +me, you must bear in mind in future that you are my aides-de-camp, +and that your sole duty here is to carry my orders, and not to +fight like troopers in a battle. It is through hotheadedness of +this sort that battles are lost. A general, without officers to +carry his orders, can do nothing towards controlling the movements +of his troops in battle, of following up a victory or covering a +defeat." + +The two young officers hung their heads and murmured their excuses. + +"Enough, gentlemen," Turenne said. "I am perfectly aware that it +was your ardour that carried you away, but ardour is a bad leader. +Over and over again the ardour of cavalry to pursue the troops they +have defeated has brought about the loss of a battle. Courage is a +virtue, and most soldiers possess it, but steadiness and coolness +are rarer and more useful, and on the part of officers on a general's +staff are absolutely indispensable. I doubt not that you will +remember this in future, and that I shall not have reason to +complain of you again." + +The next morning it was Hector's turn to be in attendance on the +general. + +"You behaved as I expected you would do," Turenne said, when he +entered his room on hearing the bell sound. "You fought close to +me as long as there was fighting to be done, and I observed that +you used your sword well. The moment I drew rein you did the same, +and took up your post behind me, showing that although this was +your first battle you retained your coolness. I will therefore tell +you in confidence that Count d'Harcourt has enjoined me to throw +provisions, if possible, into the citadel at Turin. It will take +me some time to make arrangements, and my only fear is that the +garrison, on hearing that we have retired across the Po -- of +which you may be sure the Spaniards will take care to inform them +-- may believe that we shall do no more this winter; and as we +know that their provisions must be well nigh exhausted, they will +abandon the citadel and march thither. + +"It is now well nigh eighteen months since they were first cut off. +It is certain that their investment is a very close one, and that +the most vigilant watch is used to prevent news of any kind from +reaching them from the outside. We have made several efforts to +communicate with them, but without success. Some of the messengers +we sent never returned, and were, doubtless, detected and killed. +Others came back and reported their failure, saying that every +avenue to the citadel was so closely watched that it was impossible +to get through." + +"Have you any objection, general, to my mentioning this matter to +my boy? I am absolutely convinced that he is thoroughly faithful +and trustworthy." + +"You may do so if you like, Campbell, though it is hardly likely +that he will be able to suggest any method of communication with +the garrison that has not already been tried." + +"Thank you, sir." + +The general shortly afterwards went out to wait upon the duchess; +in two hours he returned, and as soon as he did so Hector entered +his room. + +"What is it?" Turenne asked. + +"I have been thinking about what you said about the garrison of +Turin. I have been talking it over with Paolo, and have come to +offer to do my best to deliver a letter from you to the garrison +if you will do me the great honour to entrust the mission to me. +We both think that two boys would be much more likely to succeed +than men. No one would regard them with suspicion; and they could +creep and crawl more easily. I do not say that we should succeed, +but I think that we should have some chance of doing so. At any +rate I am willing to try." + +"It would be a very dangerous expedition," Turenne said gravely. + +"Not more dangerous than going into a battle, viscount. Not a +quarter as dangerous as storming a breach." + +Turenne smiled. "The idea has passed through my mind," he said, +"but I should not have proposed it had you not first spoken. It +is the sort of mission in which I thought you could be made useful, +but it is a rough adventure to begin with, and you must not minimize +the danger. It is the duty of a soldier to run the risk of being +killed in battle, but it lies beyond his duty to go into the +enemy's camp to obtain news. He may volunteer for it, but with a +knowledge that if detected he would assuredly be hanged." + +"I do not think, general, that the risk of detection would be great, +but the risk of failure would be so. If when we get there we can +see no possible means of passing through the line of sentries, +there would be nothing to do but to come back, and I own that in +talking it over the thought that I might be obliged to return and +to tell you that I had failed occupied a much larger portion of my +thoughts than the risk of being detected." + +"But I shall not expect you to succeed, Campbell; the chances are +a hundred to one against it. I should be glad, however, to have +the experiment tried once again, so that if the garrison capitulates +before we arrive to its succour, I shall not be able to blame +myself for not having made one more effort to induce them to hold +out for another few weeks. Have you thought of your plans?" + +"Only so far, sir, that we shall dress up as two country boys, +cross the Po, and enter the city from the other side. After that +we must be guided by circumstances and trust to good luck. May I +ask, general, if you have a plan of the city and fortress?" + +"Yes; at least the duchess has one, which she has placed at my +disposal. I can send an officer to the palace to request her to +let me have it. No doubt it would be a great advantage to you to +study the position beforehand." + +"Well, sir, we will see about getting our disguises at once." + +"I will give you an order on the paymaster for a hundred crowns +for special service," Turenne said. "It is as well to be amply +provided with money, as it may be necessary to buy fresh disguises +or to bribe someone to conceal you;" and he drew an order on the +treasury and handed it to Hector. + +"You will find the plan of the town in your room when you return." + +Paolo was waiting for him. + +"It is settled, Paolo; we are to go." + +"This is an adventure after my own heart," the boy said with delight. +"It will be great fun to outwit the Spaniards." + +"Yes, but we must mind that they don't outwit us, Paolo, which is +quite as likely. Now let us talk of our disguises again. I think +you had better go and buy them. I would rather get old ones than +new. I don't suppose that anyone is likely to take notice of me +in the streets, but it would be well at any rate that we should +not both have new clothes, and better that neither of us did so." + +"I can manage that, sir. There are shops here where one can buy +old clothes as well as new ones. I noticed one the other day in +a narrow street by the wall. I wondered then who would buy some of +the garments hung up. They were so old and so often mended that +it was difficult to say what was the original colour. The people +are very poor up in the mountains; since the war began, doubtless +they have grown poorer, and are glad to buy anything that will +cover them." + +"Well, here are ten crowns." + +"They won't cost half that, master, but I will take them." + +"Mind and get something warm, Paolo; it is like enough that we +shall have to sleep more than once in the open air, and the winds +are bitterly cold." + +In half an hour the officer came with the plan, which Hector at +once set to to study. The citadel stood on ground but little, if +at all, higher than that upon which the town was situated. It was +pentagonal in form, and was built in 1565, and was the earliest +fortification in Europe in this style, and was considered a +masterpiece. It was separated from the town by its glacis. A deep +fosse ran along the foot of the wall. The town itself was walled, +and extended to the foot of the citadel, and was capable of offering +a sturdy resistance even after the citadel had fallen, just as the +citadel could protect itself after the capture of the town by an +enemy. Hector examined carefully that portion of the town facing +the citadel, and took notes of the streets that ran through to +the walls, specially noting those which extended farthest from the +wall before being broken by cross lanes. + +It was evident from the width of the streets that this was the +poorest quarter of the town, for the wealthy would not care to +build their houses in a position where, if the town and citadel +were hostile to each other, they would be exposed to the fire of +the latter's guns. + +In another half hour Paolo returned with a large bundle. It +contained two coarse cotton shirts, two warm garments resembling +waistcoats, and fastened by strings closing up to the neck, two red +sashes of coarse flannel, and two loose doublets reaching down to +the hips. These were worn and patched, but had been newly lined +with sheepskin. The breeches, which reached down to the knee, were +of coarse brown cloth; to cover the leg below the knee were bands +of gray flannel which were wrapped round and round the leg and foot, +while over these were worn wooden shoes. The hats were of conical +shape with wide brims, and both, like the clothes, bore signs of +long wear. + +"It could not have been better, Paolo," Hector said as he examined +them. "I have seen scores of boys so dressed, and we shall certainly +attract no attention by our garb. They are warm, too, and we sha'n't +come to any harm from sleeping out in them." + +"They cost more than I expected, master, owing to the doublets +being freshly lined, but I thought it would be worth it." + +"Quite right! those sheepskins will be most useful. There is one +thing more we shall want, a thin rope, that will bear our weight +well, some twenty yards long. You had better go to a smith's and +get him to make a strong iron hook, by which we can fix the rope +on to the edge of a wall should it be needed. You had better have +it made a good nine inches across the hook, and the shank fifteen +inches long." + +After again studying the map he took it to the general. + +"We have our disguises, sir, and shall be ready to start tomorrow +morning." + +"You have lost no time," the general said approvingly. "You will, +of course, ride to Chivasso. I will give you an order to the +governor there, to take charge of your horses and clothes, telling +him that you are about to proceed on a mission in disguise, and +requesting him to send an officer to pass you through the outposts +beyond the bridge across the Po, that is if the other side is +not guarded by the Spanish troops. I should advise you to make +straight south so as to strike the road from Casale two miles west +of Turin. I do not like letting you go, lad, and yet I feel it is +of such importance that the garrison should know that aid will be +at hand before long, that I feel I ought not to prevent you from +carrying out your enterprise. When do you think of starting?" + +"At eight in the morning, sir. If we do so we shall easily reach +Chivasso before dark, and may be near Turin by morning." + +"I will have my note for the commandant ready by the time your +horses are at the door. I will make it as small as possible, and +you had better before you start sew it up in the lining of your +coat, so that if you are searched -- which I own I do not think +to be likely, unless in some other way you excite the suspicions +of the Spaniards -- it may not be found upon you." + +"I think, sir, that I would rather make it into a little pellet +which I can swallow. I fancy that if they were suspicious enough +to search me they would rip all the linings open." + +"That would be a better way certainly, Campbell; I see that you +have thought the matter over thoroughly. Of course, you will take +no arms with you." + +"Nothing but a long knife each. Every peasant carries one, and it +may be possible that we shall be compelled to silence a sentinel. +If you would not mind, sir, I should like to have six copies of +your letter to the commandant. I could manage to swallow six as +well as one, and as it is not likely that I shall be able to enter +the citadel it would be as well to give them a better chance of +finding the letter if I have to try to shoot or throw it in." + +"That shall be done; we will use the thinnest paper, so that if +you have to swallow them you can do so without difficulty." + +"If I find that I cannot by any possibility get my message in through +the town, sir, I shall try to cross the river and so make my way +in on that side." + +"That would be even more dangerous than the other," Turenne said. +"On that side an even stricter watch is likely to be kept than +on that facing the town, for the Spaniards know that the garrison +is not strong enough to attempt any enterprise against the city, +while it might at any moment attempt to break out and march away +on the other side. + +"I own that I do not see myself how you can possibly succeed in +either case, but assuredly there must be more chance on the side +of the town. I have been thinking it over, and will order a troop +of cavalry to ride with you to Chivasso, for the Spanish horse +from time to time make forays from Turin, carry off prisoners, and +burn villages. Until we are in a position to make a general advance +it is impossible to check these attacks without keeping the whole +of our cavalry massed near Turin, and wearing out horses and men +by the necessity for perpetual vigilance. And now, goodbye; may +fortune attend you! Do not be too rash. The letters shall be sent +you in an hour's time." + +As they issued out from Susa they found the troop of cavalry awaiting +them. The officer in command was well known to Hector, and said: + +"So it is you that I am to escort to Chivasso, Monsieur Campbell?" + +"Yes; I am sorry to give you occasion for so much trouble." + +"No trouble at all; we have not been in the saddle for the past +week, and a ride to Chivasso will make a pleasant change. Besides, +I have a brother in the garrison there, so that altogether I shall +be your debtor. You see, we are not allowed to ride beyond St. +Ambrogio, or Rivoli at farthest, for once beyond that, we should +be liable to be caught by the enemy's scouting parties. Of course +we have a strong force at Rivoli, but except to drive off small +parties of the enemy who may venture to come up too close, they +are forbidden to engage in any affairs. It is annoying, but one +can understand that the general is anxious to avoid encounters in +which the enemy is sure to be superior in force, until his reinforcements +come up and we are able to take the field in earnest." + +"I do not think we shall be otherwise than inferior in force +even when our last regiment comes up," Hector said. "What with +Holland and the Rhine and the frontier of Spain, it is clear that +the cardinal must have as much as he can do to enable all our +commanders to make head against the enemy, and it is no secret that +beyond one more regiment of cavalry that will arrive with Count +d'Harcourt, no other reinforcements are likely to reach us for +some time to come. But then, you see, we have Turenne as well +as d'Harcourt, and each of them ought to count for two or three +thousand men." + +"Well, I would rather fight against long odds," the officer said, +"than be kept here month after month doing nothing. Here is winter +coming on, and I suppose that will put a stop to everything." + +"I should hardly think so," Hector replied. "I am sure that the +viscount is as eager for action as we are, and winter here is not +the same thing as in Holland or on the Rhine. From what I hear +there is very little snow in the plains; and as the country is +generally flat, an army could march almost as easily as in summer, +and in some respects they would be better off." + +"How do you mean?" + +"I mean that in summer the barns would be all empty of food until +filled again by the harvest, whereas in winter they would be all +well stocked with forage for the cattle and horses." + +"You are right, Monsieur Campbell. Certainly there should be +nothing to prevent our operating through the winter, and I shall +look forward even more eagerly than I did before for d'Harcourt's +return. Will you come back with us tomorrow from Chivasso?" + +"That will depend upon circumstances. I think it is more probable +that I shall not return to Susa for a few days; my orders are to +report myself to the governor." + +No bodies of the enemy's cavalry were met with on the way, and at +four o'clock in the afternoon they rode into Chivasso. They alighted +at the commandant's, and on stating that he was the bearer of a +despatch from the general Hector was at once shown in. As he had +more than once ridden there with despatches from Turenne, he was +known to the officer. + +"We heard of the victory three days since," the latter said, +as Hector handed him the despatch, "and fired a salvo of guns in +honour of it. An Italian deserter from the other side brought the +news. The two generals were unwounded, I hope?" + +"Yes, colonel, and our losses were altogether slight." + +The commandant opened the despatch. He looked a little surprised +at its contents. "So you are going to endeavour to pass a message +into the citadel. It is a difficult undertaking. The enemy's watch +is a very vigilant one. Once or twice during the siege men have +succeeded in swimming the Po and evading the enemy's guards, but +of late these have been doubled, for it is thought that the garrison +may attempt to break out. On the town side the firing has all but +ceased; they know that the store of provisions is almost exhausted, +and regard it as a waste of powder and shot to continue their +cannonade, which only results in the citadel answering it, and +that with very much more effect than the Spanish guns produce. May +I ask if you have any plan of getting in?" + +"No, sir, we must decide upon that when we see how matters stand." + +"Who is the we?" the colonel asked. + +"Myself and my servant, who is a very sharp and intelligent lad +whom I can thoroughly trust. Alone I could do nothing, for I have +only picked up a few phrases in Italian yet, and should be detected +at once; so anything that has to be said must be said by him. May +I ask, sir, if the enemy are in force on the other side of the +bridge? if so, we must cross by swimming, either above or below +it." + +"No; there was a regiment there until three days ago, but they +marched away, and no doubt formed a portion of Prince Thomas's +force. They know well enough that although our garrison can hold +the walls, we are not strong enough to undertake any enterprise." + +"Then, sir, we have only to ask for an escort for a mile or so beyond +the other side of the bridge, in case a company should have been +left to watch the road. Beyond that we will dismount and proceed +on foot. We will, if you please, put on our disguises here, with +the exception of our hats, and perhaps you will lend us a couple +of long cloaks, so that our appearance may not be noticed. Although +we shall not start until after dark, it is as well to be upon +the safe side. Maybe the enemy have spies in the town, and were +it noticed that two young peasants rode out under the escort of +a troop of cavalry news might be sent to Turin. In that case we +might be arrested as soon as we entered the city. I should be +obliged if you would give orders to the officer in command that +one of the troopers should bring the horses, cloaks, and hats back +here with him." + +The governor rang a bell, and on an orderly entering said: "Tell +Captain Sion to have his troop in readiness to start in an hour's +time, in order to form an escort for one of Viscount Turenne's +officers, and tell him that when he has the troop ready to start +he is to come to me for detailed orders. I have said an hour, +Monsieur Campbell," he went on, after the orderly had left the +room, "because, in the first place, it is not yet dark, and in +the second, it will take some twenty minutes to prepare a meal. +You will have a long night's work before you, and I dare say you +have had nothing since you halted for breakfast." + +"Thank you, colonel, I had not thought of it; but I should certainly +have remembered it before tomorrow morning. We halted for breakfast +at eleven, and if it had not been for your kind offer we should +have had no chance of getting anything till we entered Turin, and +even there the less we go into any cabarets the better." + +"That is true. I have sent a message to the cook that twenty minutes +is the utmost we can give for the preparation of a meal." + + + +CHAPTER IV: SUCCESS + + +Although the governor apologized to Hector for the poorness of +the repast and the haste with which it had been prepared, it was +really excellent, consisting of soup, some fish fresh from the +river, a cutlet, and an omelette, with a bottle of good wine of +Asti. Paolo's wants had been attended to in the kitchen. It was +six o'clock when they started. The officer in command had already +received his instructions, and the governor accompanied Hector to +the door, where two horses were standing saddled. + +"They are not your own," he said, "but are two of mine. I thought +that yours had made a sufficiently long journey today." + +Thanking him for his kindness, Hector mounted, and took his place +by the side of Captain Simon, while Paolo fell in with the orderlies +riding close behind. + +"I presume, monsieur, that you are going to obtain some information +for Viscount Turenne. I don't want to ask any questions as to the +nature of your mission, but as I have orders to bring back with +the horses your cloaks and hats, I presume that in the first place +you are going on foot, and in the second, you are going in disguise." + +"Your judgment is correct, captain. The viscount wishes to obtain +certain information, and I am going to fetch it for him, if I +can." + +"I hope that you will be successful, sir. It is a good night for +travelling, the stars are bright and the moon down, so that you +will have light enough to keep the road, and time enough to step +aside should you meet any party who might be inclined to question +all passersby." + +"Do you know the roads well about here?" Hector asked. + +"I was stationed in Turin before the enemy came with too great a +force to be resisted." + +"I want to strike across the country, and to come into the road +from Turin to Casale at a distance of three or four miles from +the city." + +"A mile or so away a road branches off from this which keeps by +the river. It is a mere country road, and except in two or three +small villages that you will pass through, you are not likely +to meet with anyone upon it. It is about eight miles to the main +road from the point where you turn off, and you will then be five +miles from Turin. It is just possible that you may meet patrols, +but I should think it very unlikely; now that our army has gone +into winter quarters at Carignano, they are not likely to be very +vigilant." + +As they rode along Hector related some of the incidents of the +late battle. No signs of the enemy were met with, and the officer +presently said, "I am sorry to say that this is the point where you +leave us, monsieur. I wish it had been a little farther, so that +I could hear more of the fight." + +Hector and Paolo dismounted. Two troopers were called up and took +charge of their horses, while the cloaks and hats were given to +the officer's orderly, then the two lads put on the Savoyard hats +they had carried under their cloaks. The officer took two packets +from his holster. + +"The colonel bade me give this to you at starting," he said. "He +thought that after a long walk on foot you would want some slight +refreshment before the inns were open in the morning." + +"Will you please give him my hearty thanks for his thoughtfulness," +Hector said, "and accept the same yourself for your courtesy in +escorting me." + +"Now we are fairly on our way, Paolo," he went on as he turned +down the lane, for it was little more; "this package is a bottle +of wine, and the one that I have handed to you contains the eatables." + +"That is good, master. We shall find it pretty cold before morning, +and there is nothing like a good meal to warm one up again." + +"Did you get the bow and arrows at Chivasso?" + +"Yes, sir. I went out and bought them as soon as we got there. I +wanted them, I told the man, for a boy of ten years old, but all +he had were a good deal too long, which I was glad of, for a child's +bow would hardly have been strong enough, so I made him cut one +down until it was not more than three feet long. That way I shall +be able, as we agreed, to carry it under my doublet. Of course it +will make me walk stiffly, and there will be no possibility of +sitting down, but that matters not at all. It is all the stronger, +and will send an arrow a good distance. I have got six arrows as +you ordered me. They are regular arrows, but I made the man shorten +them so as to suit the bow, and then repoint them. I have got them +inside my doublet. I tied them together, made a hole in the lining +under the arm, and put them in." + +"You have not forgotten the cord, I hope, Paolo?" + +"Not I, master. I should have deserved having my ears cut off if +I had done so." + +They were in no hurry, and walked only fast enough to keep themselves +warm. In two hours and a half they arrived at the main road and +turned to the right. "Now we will go another couple of miles, Paolo, +and then look out for a sleeping place. An empty barn or stable +or a stack of fodder is what we want. We may as well sleep warm +as cold. We shall not want to be moving on till seven o'clock." + +After walking three miles they came upon a small village. + +"Do you stay here, master, I will go round and see if I can find +a place. I am more accustomed to these villages than you are." + +In five minutes he returned. "I have found a capital place," he +said. "It is a stable, but it is empty. No doubt the Spaniards +have taken the horses, and are using them in their transport wagons." + +"It is enough for us that the place is empty, Paolo." + +The door stood ajar. They entered and closed it behind them, and +they then felt about until they found a pile of rough fodder. +They pulled some of this aside, lay down and covered themselves up +with the stalks they had removed, and in three minutes were fast +asleep, for they had had a long day's work. Hector slept until +he was awakened by Paolo, who said, "The day is breaking, and the +village will be astir in a few minutes." The weather had changed, +and as they stepped out fine flakes of snow were drifting through +the air, and the ground was already whitened. They regained the +road and walked along until they came to a wood. + +"We may as well wait here and breakfast, Paolo." The parcel was +opened and found to contain a cold capon and some bread, and on +these and the wine they made a capital breakfast, each taking a +long sip at the bottle to the health of the colonel. "The market +people are beginning to come along, and we may as well buy +something from them going in. If we have not something to sell +it is not unlikely that we shall be asked questions." It was now +broad daylight, and they saw several peasants pass along the road, +some with baskets, others driving a pig or a goat. + +"Either of these would do," Hector said; "but we don't know where +the market is, and it would never do to seem ignorant of that." +The snow had stopped suddenly some minutes before, and the sun was +now shining. + +"That is lucky," Hector said as they walked down towards the road, +"we may hope that there will be no more snow and that the sun will +soon melt what has fallen. It would be fatal to us if the ground +were white, for the most careless sentry could not help seeing us +upon it." + +They reached the road just as a peasant came along. He was an old +man, and was dragging behind him a pile of faggots, which were +placed upon two rough poles. He was walking between these, holding +two ends in his hands, while the others trailed along on the ground +behind. + +"Bargain with him, Paolo." + +"That is a heavy load, father," the latter said. + +"Ay, it is heavy." + +"How much do you expect to get for your faggots in the town?" + +"I shall get a crown," the man said. "I would not take under, and +they ought to be worth more than that now the snow has begun to +fall." + +"We are going into the town," Paolo said. "We are younger than you, +and between us we could drag it along easily. I have got a crown +in my pocket to buy some things with. I don't mind giving it to +you for your load. If I can sell the faggots for a few soldi over +that we shall be able to buy something for ourselves." + +"It is a bargain, lad," the old man said. "I am getting old and the +rheumatism is in my bones, and I shall be very glad to be spared +the journey; so give me your money and take the poles. I hope you +will be successful, and sell them a little higher. You had better +ask a crown and a half. The women are sure to beat you down, but +you will make ten or twelve soldi for yourselves." + +Paolo handed the crown to the old man. + +"How had we better take this, Paolo?" Hector asked, as the old man, +chuckling with satisfaction at having escaped a toilsome journey, +turned to retrace his steps. + +"There is room for us both between the shafts," Paolo said, "one +behind the other. It would be much easier to walk holding both +poles than for us both to take one, as in that way the weight will +be balanced on each side of us." + +There was indeed just room between the ends of the poles and the +pile of brushwood for them to walk close behind each other, and +as the greater portion of the weight rested on the other ends of +the poles they did not find the burden a heavy one. + +"How are we going to sell these, Paolo?" + +"We shall have no difficulty in selling them, master. This frost +will set every housewife on the lookout for wood, and you will +find that we sha'n't have to go far before we are accosted." + +It was two miles from the spot where they had bought the faggots +to the gates of Turin. + +"I sha'n't be sorry to get rid of this load," Hector said. "It is +not the weight but the roughness of the poles. My hands are quite +chafed by them." + +"Loose your hold for a bit, master. My hands have been accustomed +to rough work, and many a load of faggots have I drawn in my time." + +"I will hold on, Paolo. It is not more than a quarter of a mile +farther. My hands have done plenty of work, too, but it has been +done with smooth handled weapons. It is well that they should become +accustomed to harder work." + +They passed without a question through the gate, and following the +example of other vendors of wood, of whom they saw several, Paolo +began to shout, "Large faggots for sale!" + +It was not long before a door opened and a woman beckoned him. + +"How much do you want for the whole?" + +"A crown and a half," Paolo said. + +"I have been offered as many for a crown," the woman replied. + +"Then, signora, you did wrong to refuse. It took two days' work +to cut them, and we have dragged them here for miles. Two crowns +would not pay for the labour. Not one scudo would I take under +the price that I have named. Why, if the town is besieged these +faggots would be worth twenty crowns before the winter is over." + +"Well, I will give you the money," the woman said. "It is extortionate. +Generally I can buy them at half that price." + +"I do not say no to that," Paolo laughed, "but with two armies +wanting firewood and cutting down the copses without even taking +trouble to ask leave of their owners, I think that you will see +firewood very scarce in the city before long." + +"Well, carry it in and pile it in the yard." + +This was soon done, the poles were thrown on to the top of the +heap, and the boys went off along the street again. + +"We have made half a crown for ourselves," Paolo laughed; "now we +must decide how we shall spend it." + +"It would be a good plan to spend some money anyhow," Hector said. +"What kind of things would you be likely to buy for your family +in the country?" + +"Well, I should say a cooking pan to begin with, and a few yards +of warm stuff for making my mother a skirt." + +"Well, buy the cooking pan first and sling it across your shoulder, +and then as we wander about we can look in the shops and it will +seem as if we were on the search for articles that we had been told +to purchase; it would be better than sauntering about without any +apparent object. But first let us walk briskly towards the side +of the town facing the citadel. The Strada Vecchia is the one that +I want to examine first." + +The knowledge that he had gained from the plan of the city enabled +Hector to find the street without their having to ask any questions. + +"Now, buy your cooking pan at the next smith's shop you come to, +and then we can go slowly along making our observations." + +They soon found that the street they had entered was, for the most +part, deserted by its inhabitants. The shops were all closed, +the road was strewn with fallen chimneys and balconies, and here +and there were yawning holes showing how severely the street had +suffered when the artillery duel was going on between the guns on +the walls and those of the citadel. A short distance down the street +a chain was stretched across it, and here a musketeer was pacing +up and down on guard. Two others could be seen at the farther end +of the street, where there was a gateway in the wall, now closed +up with sandbags piled thickly against it. + +"We will see if the other streets are similarly guarded." + +This was found to be so, sentries being placed in every street +running down to the wall in this quarter. + +"So far so good, Paolo. I do not think that matters could have been +better for us. The next thing is to buy a tool with which we can +wrench open a door or the shutter of a window; but a door will be +best, because we could not work at a shutter without running the +risk of being seen by a sentinel, while in a doorway we should be +screened from observation. These houses in the Strada Vecchia are +old, and the doors ought not to give us much trouble." + +"Some of these old locks are very strong, master. I should think +that it would be easier to cut out one of the panels than to force +the door open." + +"Possibly it would, but it is not an easy thing to get the saw to +work. We should have to bore a hole large enough for the saw to go +through before we could use it. However, we will buy both a saw and +a crowbar; as they are both things that are useful to woodcutters, +your buying them will not appear suspicious, nor will the purchase +of an auger, but we had better get them at different shops." + +Leaving that part of the town they re-entered the streets where +business was being carried on as usual. + +"We won't buy the things until late in the afternoon, Paolo. There +would be no advantage in dragging them about all day." + +They sauntered about the streets for some hours, then Paolo went +into a small baker's and bought two loaves of coarse bread. At +another shop he purchased some cheese, and with these they sat down +on a stone bench in the principal square and leisurely ate their +food and looked on at the crowd, which consisted principally of +soldiers, Spanish veterans, stiff in carriage and haughty in manner, +together with others, horse and foot, belonging to the contingent +of the Duke of Milan, an ally of the Spanish. Among these were +townspeople, the younger ones chatting with each other or with +ladies of their acquaintance; the middle aged and older men talking +gravely together as they walked up and down. + +Among these there was an air of gloom and depression. The state +of panic in which the troops of Prince Thomas, who had marched +out confident that they were about to annihilate the French, had +returned, and the knowledge that the Marquis of Leganez had also +failed, had created a feeling of the deepest disquiet among that +portion of the population who had taken a leading part in throwing +off the authority of the duchess and in acknowledging that of Prince +Thomas. They had regarded her cause as lost, but the vigorous +steps that France was taking to assist her had caused uneasiness; +and if, while as yet a comparatively small force had arrived, +these had shown so bold a front, had captured Chieri in the face +of a powerful army, had revictualled Casale, had defeated Prince +Thomas and forced their way past the array of Leganez, it might +well be that in the spring, when reinforcements reached them, they +might even defeat the Spaniards and lay siege to Turin itself. The +boys remained where they were until it began to grow dusk, when, +after buying at three shops a saw, a crowbar, and an auger, they went +and sat down on a doorway in a quiet street until eight o'clock. +Then they took their way to the Strada Vecchia. It was entirely +deserted. Lights showed in one or two of the windows, but, except +that they could hear the tread of the nearest sentry, all was +silent. Taking off their wooden shoes they moved cautiously along, +keeping close to the houses. The fourth they came to had an +unusually deep doorway, and they decided at once that this would +suit their purpose. First they tried with the crowbar, but the +lock held firmly. + +"We will try another way, Paolo. If the door yields, it will go +with a crash, and the sentry might come down to see what had caused +the noise. We had better take out this lower panel; we shall want +four holes bored touching each other to make one large enough for +the saw to enter." + +The wood was of oak, and it took Paolo fully five minutes to make +the holes. + +"Now give me the auger," Hector said when it was found that the +hole was large enough for the saw to pass through. + +"I will begin at the bottom of the panel while you saw away at the +top." + +Paolo had done his share by the time the holes along the bottom +were ready for the saw. + +"Now you take the auger again," Hector said. "We have not done +half our work yet. The holes must be made on each side. There is +no turning the saw." + +It took them an hour and a half of hard work before the last cut +was completed and the panel fell forward. + +"You go in first, Paolo. I will follow you, and will wedge the +panel into its place again with some of the chips that the auger +has cut out. No one has passed since we began, and if anyone did +come along before morning he would not be likely to notice that +the panel was gone. Still it is as well to avoid all risk." + +As soon as the panel was replaced they mounted the stairs. Before +beginning they had seen that there were no lights in any of the +windows, and feeling sure that the house was deserted they groped +their way upstairs without hesitation until they reached the +attics in the sloping roof. They entered one of these facing the +street, opened the casement, in which oiled paper took the place +of glass, and stepped down on to the parapet. Their course was now +easy. The divisions between the houses were marked by walls some +six feet high extending from the edge of the parapet over the +roof. They were able to climb these, however, without having to +use their cord, one helping the other up and then being assisted +by him. They had left the cooking pan and their tools, with +the exception of the crowbar, behind them, and had fastened their +wooden shoes round their necks. The sun during the day had melted +the snow that had fallen in the morning, but light flakes were +again beginning to come down fast. + +"I don't care how hard it snows as long as it keeps on," Hector +said in a low voice in answer to an exclamation from Paolo when +the first flake fell upon his face. "The harder the better, for in +that case no sentry could see us half a dozen paces away. There +is another advantage. The wind is from the north, and we have +only to keep the driving snow on our right cheeks to make our way +straight to the fortress, whereas with an overcast sky on such a +dark night as this we should very soon lose all idea of the direction +that we were going in." + +Being obliged to use great caution to avoid noise while getting +over the walls, it took them half an hour to reach the end of the +street. They had, while waiting before commencing their operations, +twisted one of their sashes, and then wound it round the hook so +thickly that this would fall almost noiselessly upon the ground. +The snow prevented them from seeing six feet below them, but they +felt sure that there must be a narrow lane between the house and +the wall. They had during the day bought a length, equal to that +of their rope, of strong string. + +"I have got it as you ordered it, master," Paolo said as they came +out of the shop, "but it would never bear our weight." + +"I think it might do in case of necessity," Hector said. "In fact, +I am sure it would. It does not require a great thickness of new +cord to hold a man's weight; but I don't want it for that." + +Paolo walked silently along for some time, and then said: "If it +is not wanted to carry our weight, master, I cannot think what it +is wanted for." + +"It is wanted to get the hook down with. You see when we get down +into the street there would be little chance of getting the hook +off its hold. We shall most likely want it again, and certainly we +shall want the rope. I have been puzzling over it, and I think I +have found a way at last. My idea is to fasten this thin rope to +the point of the hook, then, on pulling upon it the point will +rise until it gets level with the top of the wall on which it is +fixed, and we can then shake it down without difficulty. I don't +know whether it will act, but I think that it ought to do so; an +upward pull at the point must, I should think, lift it as far as +the edge." + + +"I should think that it must," Paolo agreed. "I should never have +thought of that." + +"We will try it on this last division wall. I have no doubt about +it myself, because even if it did not pull it quite to the top +the thing would be so canted over that I think it would fall from +its own weight." + +They now attached the string to the point, fixed the hook to the +top of the wall, and then pulled upon the string. The hook at +once fell to their feet. + +"That is capital," Hector said. "Now we can go to work. We need +carry this crowbar no farther. In the first place we will cross +this roof and other roofs as far as we can go; the sentry at the +corner is probably standing up for shelter in a doorway, and we +may as well get as far as we can from him, and at the same time +not go far enough to get near the one at the next corner." + +After one or two attempts the hook became fixed on the ridge of the +roof, and they at once climbed up, unfastened the hook, and slid +down on the now snow covered tiles. Two more roofs were crossed in +the same way, and then they prepared to descend. They had, when +they put on their disguises, tied knots in the rope at a distance +of a foot apart. They now adjusted the hook on the parapet. + +"Shall I go first, master, or will you?" + +"I will go first, though in fact it matters little which of us does +it; but first I must warm my fingers. I don't think that I could +trust to them at present." + +He gathered a handful of snow, made it into a ball, and held it +in his hands until the cold pained him, then he dropped the snow +and thrust his hands up the sleeves of his doublet. Paolo looked +on in astonishment, but having great faith in his master imitated +his example. + +"That is a curious way of warming the hands," he said. + +"I daresay you have made snowballs in your time, Paolo, and if you +have you will remember that, although it made your hands bitterly +cold at first, after you had done they soon became almost as hot +as fire." + +"I do remember that, master, but I should never have thought of it +as a way of warming our hands." + +For a minute or two there was a sharp pain as the blood began to +rush into the fingers, and when this passed off their hands were +in a glow. Hector took the rope, lowered himself over the parapet, +and then began to descend. When halfway down the darkness became +more intense than before, and he knew that he was now below +the level of the outer wall. When he reached the ground he shook +the rope as a signal, and then, stretching his arms before him, +crossed the lane. It was but a step, for the house stood but five +feet back from the wall. He waited until Paolo joined him, then he +drew on the thin rope and, to his satisfaction, he felt it yield. + +"Stand aside," he said, "it is heavy enough to give one a nasty +thump." + +Paolo withdrew a few paces, then Hector gave another pull. The rope +gave way at once. He flattened himself against the house, and the +hook fell with a dull thud a foot or two away. + +"Coil up the rope, Paolo, and then feel along the wall to the right; +don't go too far. I will go to the left, there may be some steps +up to the rampart." + +This proved to be the case, and together they made their way up +quietly, but even had they had their shoes on, the snow was already +sufficiently deep to deaden their footsteps. On reaching the top +they stood silent for a minute or two. Presently they heard the +sound of heavy stamping of feet. They turned at once to descend, +if necessary, the steps they had mounted, then Hector put his hand +upon the other's shoulder and whispered, "It is the sentry trying +to warm his feet; no doubt he is standing up somewhere to shelter +himself from the snow; let us go on at once." + +They crossed the rampart, fastened the hook on the top of the wall, +and descended, and were again successful in bringing the rope down +after them. + +"Go carefully, Paolo; no doubt there is a moat somewhere here." There +was, however, no necessity for caution, for the white surface of +the snow was soon broken by a black line. + +"It will be awfully cold," Paolo said, with teeth that chattered +at the prospect. + +"Of course you can swim, Paolo?" + +"Not very well, master." + +"Then I will go first. You fasten the rope under your arms, and I +will haul you across. Be sure you do not make a noise in getting +into the water. But first of all take off your doublet, I will carry +it and mine across on my head. It cannot be many yards across. +The wind will soon dry the rest of our things, and once our work +is done we can warm ourselves by running. I would say strip altogether, +but we may have to do another swim; for, as we agreed, there is +no chance of our being able to return by the way we came. + +Fastening the two doublets on his head, Hector lowered himself into +the water, which was three feet below the level on which they +stood. He had fastened the rope across his shoulder. As he expected, +he found the water out of his depth, and at once struck out to +the opposite side. It was about forty feet across. He found, on +reaching the other side, that the wall was there nearly five feet +above the water. He undid the rope and threw up the hook. At the +second attempt it caught, and he climbed the side, and then in a +low voice told Paolo to start. Presently he heard a slight splash, +followed by a gasp. He hauled away rapidly on the rope, and in a +couple of minutes Paolo stood beside him, shivering and gasping. + +"Put your doublet on. Now let us go forward as fast as we can." +They climbed the steep slope to the top of the glacis, and then +ran down until they were brought to a standstill by another moat. + +"This is the one marked in the plan as dividing the fortifications +of the town from those of the citadel. Now we have another swim +before us. It is wider than the last, but is really no distance. +Give me your doublet again." + +"I don't mind this so much," Paolo said. "I cannot be colder than +I am." + +"Don't try to swim, Paolo; lie on your back, with your mouth just +out of water. I will have you over in no time." + +It was fully fifty yards across; but, accustomed to bathe in almost +icy cold water, the swim was nothing to Hector, who was soon +across, and who then towed Paolo over as before. They mounted +another glacis, and presently reached the edge of a third moat. + +"We need go no farther. I know that this moat is but some fifteen +yards from the foot of the fortifications. Now, get the arrows +out. Cut off a foot or two of the thin cord, and unravel it. I must +warm my fingers again first, I cannot use them at all." + +"Mine are pretty cold, too." And both lads warmed them as before. +Paolo then set to work to string the bow, which required all his +strength to accomplish. While he was doing so, Hector drew from his +pouch the six little pellets, and taking the arrows, straightened +out each pellet, wrapped it round an arrow, and secured it firmly +with a small strand from the string. When he had done this, he took +the bow from Paolo, fitted an arrow to the string, drew it with +his full strength, and then, pointing the arrow high, loosed it. +The six arrows were sent off. Just as the last was discharged there +was a shout of "Who is there? Speak, or I fire!" It was a sentry +on the wall, who had caught the sound of the twang of the bow. + +"I am a friend, a messenger from the French general," Hector +replied. "I have just shot six arrows into the fortress; a message +is attached to each for the governor. Report to the officer, and +have a search made for them in the morning. + +"That is a piece of good luck," he went on as they turned away. "I +thought of shouting, but we might have got a shot in reply, and +I made sure that one or other of the arrows would be picked up. +Still, this makes certain of it." + +"I think I would rather stop out here until morning," Paolo said, +"then they will take me in. I am afraid I shall never get across +the river." + +"Nonsense! The water is low, and we are not likely to have to swim +farther than we did in crossing the last moat. Getting through +the part of the town between us and the river is a more serious +matter. However, it is not very far across, and they are not likely +to be very vigilant." + +They turned to the right, and kept along at the edge of the moat, +until Hector considered that they had made a fourth of the circuit of +the walls, and were now facing the river. They had decided before +that this would be the easiest side on which to leave the town. +The sentinels would not expect that anyone attempting to enter +or leave the citadel would try to do so here; as, in addition to +passing the wall facing the fortress and that bordering the river, +they would be obliged to swim the river itself. The snow was falling +as quickly as ever, and the wind blowing fiercely. + +"There is no fear of their seeing us, unless we happen to run into +the very arms of the sentry," Hector said encouragingly; "we shall +only have the moat to swim; and as, according to the plan, it is +nothing like so wide as that we passed before, we shall have no +trouble with it." + +"Ah! here it is," Paolo groaned. + +"Nonsense!" Hector said. "One cold bath more or less makes no +difference now. There, give me your coat again, and I will take +it over." + +The moat was indeed but some twelve yards across, and in two or +three minutes Paolo stood shivering on the other side. + +"The edge is not far from the wall, not much more than the breadth +of the moat. Give me the cord." + +A few steps and they reached the wall. After two attempts the hook +caught, and Hector climbed up. He was looking back to watch Paolo +when he was suddenly seized from behind, and a deep voice in Italian +said, "If you move I will kill you. Who are you?" + +With a sudden effort Hector twisted himself round and seized the +disengaged wrist of his opponent, which he doubted not held a +dagger. The man loosened his hold of his doublet and tried to grasp +his neck, but Hector in a moment leapt forward and threw his arm +round the man's waist. They wrestled backwards and forwards, but +the soldier was a powerful man, and Hector found that he could not +long retain a grasp of his wrist. Suddenly he felt his antagonist +collapse; the dagger dropped from his hand, the other arm relaxed +its hold, and he fell a lifeless mass. + +"Thank you, Paolo. You were but just in time. The fellow was too +strong for me. Now let us slip down the inside of the wall as +quickly as possible." + +A minute later they both stood at the foot of the wall, the hook +was shaken off, and they proceeded along the wall until they came +to a street. + +"It is not more than two or three hundred yards to the outer wall," +Hector whispered. + +Whether there were sentinels or not in the street they knew not. +If so, they had withdrawn themselves into deep doorways to avoid +the blinding snow, and the wind drowned the slight sound made by +their feet on the soft snow. + +In a short time they reached the outer wall, crept along it until +they found the steps leading up, crossed it in safety, fixed their +hook, and rapidly descended. A run of fifty yards brought them to +the edge of the river bank. + +"We will try to find a boat," Hector said. "There are sure to be +some along here." + +They walked across the dry bed of the river till they reached the +water's edge, and then followed this. In a few minutes, to their +delight, they came upon a boat. The bow was hauled a few feet out +of water, and a rope, doubtless attached to a heavy stone anchor, +stretched from its bows. This they cut, put their shoulders to the +gunwale, and soon had her afloat. Then they scrambled in, put the +oars out cautiously, and began to row. Both had had some practice +at the exercise, and it was not long before the boat grounded on +the opposite shore. + +"Pull it up a bit," Hector said. "No doubt it belongs to some poor +fisherman to whom its loss would be serious. Now we must keep +along the bank for some distance, until quite sure that we are well +beyond any patrols the enemy may have on the road. Let us get into +a run, Paolo, and see if we can't get our blood in motion again, +for I own that I feel half frozen." + +They set off at a brisk trot, which they kept up for half an hour, +and then they struck off from the river and soon found the road. +Following this, after an hour's walking they came upon a little +shed by the roadside, and in one corner found a pile of old sacks. + +"We are in luck again!" Hector exclaimed joyfully. "Tired as I +am, I don't think that I could have slept in these wet clothes, if +one can call them wet -- at present they are frozen stiff. These +sacks are the very thing. We can strip now and wring out our clothes +thoroughly. There are enough sacks here to lay under us and cover +us too. After wringing out the shirts we will put them in under the +sacks next to us. The heat of our bodies will dry them to some +extent, and they will be warm to put on in the morning. The other +things we can pile over us. There is no chance of their getting +dry; but I am so pleased with our success that I am not disposed +to grumble at trifles." + + + +CHAPTER V: THE RELIEF OF THE CITADEL + + +As soon as the first gleam of daylight showed itself Hector and +his companion were on their feet again. + +The operation of dressing was by no means a comfortable one, for the +frost had set in in earnest during the night, and their clothes, +with the exception of the shirts, were as stiff as boards. The snow +had ceased and the sky was clear. + +"It is going to be a fine day, master," Paolo said as they left +the hut. + +"That is better than battling with a snowstorm such as that of +yesterday evening. Come on, Paolo, let us trot for a bit. The snow +is four inches deep, and we shall soon get warm running through +it." + +In a quarter of an hour they broke into a walk again, panting from +their exertions. + +"I am as warm as a toast now, Paolo. There is a village half a mile +ahead. I expect that lies on the road. The sun will be up before +we get there, and no doubt we shall be able to get some hot spiced +wine and some bread at a wineshop." + +This turned out to be the case. They had settled what story to +tell; and when the landlord asked what brought them there so early, +Paolo said that they had been on the road a couple of hours, as +they were going to see an aunt who was ill at Chivasso, and their +father wanted them back again that night. The explanation satisfied +the host and he asked no further questions, and in ten minutes they +were on their way again, greatly warmed and comforted by their +meal, and after walking for another hour and a half they arrived +at the bridge of Chivasso. There was a strong guard at the bridge +head, for at any moment the garrison of Turin, aided by a force +from Leganez's army, might endeavour to carry the town by a sudden +assault. The lads passed the bridge unquestioned, entered the gate +of the town, and made their way to the commandant's house. + +"What do you want?" the sentry at the door asked as they came up. + +The regiment was French, and Hector answered at once: + +"We want to see the governor, we have important news for him." + +The soldier was greatly surprised, for he had not expected his +question to be understood by these peasant boys. + +"Sergeant," he called out, "here are two peasant boys who speak +French. They want to see the governor, and say that they have news +of importance to give him." + +A sergeant came out. + +"Sergeant," Hector went on quietly, "you will please tell the +governor that the two persons he sent out under an escort the +evening before last, wish to see him." + +By the tone of assurance in which the lad spoke, rather than by his +words, the sergeant saw that there was something more than appeared +on the surface, and at once took up the message. He returned almost +immediately. "Please to follow me," he said, and led the way up to +the governor's room. + +"Welcome back again, Monsieur Campbell! You have returned sooner +than I expected. You found, of course, that the difficulties were +insuperable?" + +"On the contrary, sir, we have been successful, and have communicated +with the garrison of the citadel." + +"You have!" the governor exclaimed in astonishment. "How on earth +did you manage it? I heard that the watch was so strict that it +was absolutely impossible for a message to be sent through." + +"It was not very difficult after all, and we were greatly favoured +by the snowstorm." He then gave an account of how they had managed +it. + +"Pardieu!" he exclaimed, "that was admirably done; but I am keeping +you talking while you are sitting in your wet clothes." + +"I think they are quite dry now, sir; and we have walked so fast +that we are both thoroughly warm. Still, I own that I shall not +be sorry to change them for my own." + +The governor rose and opened the door. "Your clothes are all +hanging up in that closet. I will have some hot water sent up at +once. I shall be breakfasting in half an hour, so you will have +time to change comfortably." + +Hector was even more glad of a thorough wash than of a change of +clothes, and went down to join the governor at breakfast, feeling +greatly refreshed. + +"Shall I wait on you, master?" + +"No, it is not necessary, Paolo; you had better go into the kitchen +at once. I have no doubt the governor has ordered them to attend +to your wants as he did before." + +Four other officers had just arrived on the invitation of the governor +to breakfast; one of these was the captain who had commanded the +escort. + +"Gentlemen," the commandant said, "let me introduce to you Monsieur +Campbell, a lieutenant on the staff of Viscount Turenne. He has +just returned after having successfully carried out a most dangerous +and difficult mission, namely, that of communicating with the +garrison of Turin." + +The officers gave an exclamation of surprise, while Captain Simon +stepped forward and shook hands warmly with Hector. + +"You did not tell me exactly what you were going to do," he said. +"I thought that it was to see some of the duchess's adherents +in Turin, but I never dreamt that you were going to attempt to +communicate with the citadel. Had I known that, I certainly should +not have expected to see you again, for from what we have heard +it is next to impossible to get through the enemy's lines." + +"We will not trouble Monsieur Campbell until he has finished his +breakfast," the commandant said. "He has already told me briefly +how he managed, but I shall be as glad as you will to have the +details." + +Accordingly, after breakfast Hector related at much greater length +the story that he had told the governor of the manner in which +the mission had been carried out. + +"Ma foi!" the colonel said, "I would rather have faced a battery +than swum those moats in such weather. Well, gentlemen, I think +that you will agree with me that Monsieur de Turenne is fortunate +in having so brave and enterprising an officer on his staff." + +The officers cordially assented. + +"I wonder that you did not enter the citadel and stay there till +the convoy arrived." + +"In the first place, colonel, I had received no orders to do so, +and the general might require me for other service. And in the +second place, had I not returned he would not have known whether +his message had reached the garrison, and so might have hurried on +his preparations more hastily than he otherwise would have done, +and might, in his fear that the garrison would surrender, have made +the attempt before he had collected sufficient food to last them +until he was in a position to raise the siege." + +"Your reasons are good ones; but certainly, with shelter and warmth +close at hand -- for the sentry would speedily have passed the +word along, and as soon as it was ascertained that you were indeed +a French officer, and alone, the gates would have been opened for +you -- it must have required no small effort to turn away and to +face the danger of passing the sentries and scaling the walls, of +possibly having to swim the Po, and of certainly having no chance +of getting a change of clothes until you arrived here, for you +could not have calculated upon finding the shed, much less those +sacks, with the snow falling heavily." + +"That was a piece of good fortune, indeed. If we had not found it, +we should have gone on walking until we got here. Still, we had +had little sleep the night before, and were heartily glad that we +had no farther to go. And now, sir, with your permission we will +start for Susa at once." + +"Your escort returned yesterday, but I will send a troop of cavalry +with you." + +"Thank you, sir, but I do not think that there is any necessity +for it. We are very well mounted, and should we see any party of +the enemy's cavalry I think that we ought to be able to outdistance +them. I shall be glad, colonel, if you and your officers will say +nothing about the manner in which I communicated with the garrison, +as doubtless the enemy have spies here; and if the story comes out +and reaches the ears of the authorities at Turin, I should have +no chance whatever of making my way in, in the same manner, should +the general entrust me with another mission to communicate with +the citadel." + +A quarter of an hour later Hector and Paolo mounted and rode out of +the town. They kept a vigilant lookout, and traveled by byroads, +but they saw none of the enemy's parties, and reached Susa late +that afternoon. On sending in his name to Turenne, Hector was at +once shown into his room. + +"I did not expect you back for another three or four days, Campbell," +the general said, "and I am heartily glad to see you again safe +and sound. I blamed myself for letting you go. Of course, as I +expected, you found the task an altogether impossible one. Had it +been otherwise you would not have been back so soon." + +"On the contrary, general, for I should have tried many plans +before I gave it up. As it is, I have only to report that I have +carried out your instructions, and that your despatches are in the +hands of the garrison of the citadel." + +"You do not say so!" Turenne said, rising from the table at which +he had been sitting writing when Hector entered, and shaking him +warmly by the hand. "I congratulate both you and myself on your +having performed a mission that seemed well nigh hopeless. But by +what miracle did you succeed in passing through the enemy's lines? +All who have tried it before have either died in the attempt or have +returned to tell me that it was an absolutely impossible one." + +"It would have been very difficult, general, had not the weather +favoured us. The snowstorm drove the sentries into shelter, and +even had they remained at their posts they could not have seen us +five yards away." + +"No, I can understand that once beyond the wall you might in such +a storm make your way unnoticed up to the fortress; but I understood +that not only were there guards on the walls and down near the +great moat, but that there were also sentries in all the streets +leading to the walls, and that none were allowed to pass along those +leading to the walls facing the citadel. Tell me how you managed +it." + +"The story is a long one, sir." + +"Never mind how long it is; give me all details. I am not particularly +busy at present, and I would fain know exactly how this feat has +been accomplished." + +Hector told his story at length. Beyond asking a question now +and then, Turenne remained silent until he had brought it to a +conclusion. + +"I have never heard a story that interested me more," he said, "and +I do not know which to admire more, your ingenuity in planning +this affair or the hardihood and courage with which you carried it +out. Even had there been no enemy to get through, the adventure +of letting yourself down by a rope from the housetop and then from +the battlements, swimming three moats, crossing the river in such +terrible weather, and finally making your way to Chivasso in your +frozen clothes, is no slight feat of endurance. The service that +you have rendered is a great one, the manner in which you have +carried it out is worthy of the highest praise, and I shall at once +make out your commission as captain. You are still a year behind +me," he added with a smile, "but if you go on in this way, you bid +fair to obtain a regiment as soon as I did. You have nearly four +years to do it in. Tomorrow you will dictate your story in full to +my secretary. I shall be sending a messenger with despatches on +the following day. I shall mention that I have promoted you to the +rank of captain, and that the story of the action that you have +performed, which I shall inclose, will fully explain my reason +for so speedily advancing you. No, I require no thanks; you have +to thank yourself only. I may consider that you have not only done +me but the state a service. Your servant deserves a reward also. +Here are twenty pistoles; tell him not to throw them away, but to +lay them by where some day they will be useful to him." + +Paolo was astonished indeed when Hector handed him the general's +present. He could at first hardly believe that it was meant for +him. + +"Why, master," he said, "it would buy me a farm up in the hills!" + +"Not a very large one, Paolo, but I daresay that you will add to +it; still, this is a good beginning, and some more opportunities +may come in your way." + +"What shall I do with them, master?" + +"That I cannot say. Certainly you cannot carry them about with you. +Do you know anyone to whom you could entrust them?" + +Paolo shook his head. "There is never any knowing who is an honest +man and who is not," he said. "I will bury them, master." + +"But somebody might find them." + +"No fear of that, sir. I will go a bit up the valley and bury them +under a big rock well above the river, so that it will not be +reached in the highest floods. They might lie there a hundred years +without anyone finding them, even if every soul in Susa knew that +they were hidden somewhere and went out to search for them." + +"Very well; but be sure you take notice of the exact position of +the stone, or you may not be able to find it again yourself. One +big stone is a good deal like another. Choose a stone with a tree +growing near it, and make a cross with your knife on the bark. That +will serve as a guide to you, and you would recognize the stone +by it even if you could not find it in any other way." + +"Thank you, master. I will go out tomorrow morning and choose my +stone, and then when it begins to get dark I will go out and bury +my money there. It would not do to hide it in the daytime, for even +were there no one on the road someone upon the hills might catch +sight of me and come down afterwards to see what I was disposing +of." + +"Well, I think that that is the best thing that you can do, Paolo. +There is certainly a danger in leaving it in anyone's hands, for +when you return to claim it, perhaps some years hence, you might +find that he was dead, or the place might be captured and burned +down. Yes, I think that hiding it is the safest way. You will be +pleased to hear that the general has given me a commission as +captain." + +"That is good news, indeed," the boy said. "I was just going +to ask, master, what he had done for you, because, though I went +with you, it was you who planned the business, and I only did as +you told me." + +"You had something to do with the planning, too, Paolo. However, +I think that we may both feel well content with the rewards that +we have obtained for two days' work." + +As Hector went out he met de Lisle and Chavigny. + +"Well met!" the former exclaimed. "We have just left the general, +and he has told us what you have done, and that he has made you +a captain in consequence. We were just coming to look for you to +carry you off to supper in honour of your promotion." + +"You deserve it, if anyone ever did, there is no doubt of that," +Chavigny said heartily. "We are quite proud of our comrade." + +"It seems absurd that I should be a captain." + +"Not absurd at all," Chavigny said. "Turenne was a captain when +he was a year younger than you are, and there is many a noble who +has been made a colonel before he ever drew sword in battle." + +Hector was much pleased at the evidently genuine congratulations of +his companions. He had indeed rather feared that they would take +his promotion ill; being nearly five years his senior, and having +served in two previous campaigns, they might well feel hurt at +his being promoted while they still remained only lieutenants. The +young nobles indeed felt no shade of jealousy. It was but of late +that there had been a regular army, for the nobles still brought +their tenants and retainers to the field and supported them at +their own expense. + +To de Lisle and Chavigny these grades of military rank were of no +account whatever. The rank of colonel would add in no way to their +position as members of noble families. They fought for honour, +and against the enemies of France. They were always addressed +by their family name, and would both have resented being called +lieutenant. They were proud of being Turenne's aides-de-camp, but +had no thought of remaining in the army after the war was over, as +they would then resume their place at court. They had both taken +a strong liking to their young comrade, whose manner of thought +differed so widely from their own. They appreciated the merits of +the action of which their general had spoken in such warm terms, +and the fact that in point of military rank he was now above them +concerned them in no way. It was a merry supper at the best hotel +in Susa. + +"You see now, de Lisle," Chavigny said, "the advantage of taking +a morning dip in snow water. Neither you nor I would have swum +across those moats, and remained all night long in our wet clothes, +for a thousand crowns." + +"No, no, nor for five thousand," the other laughed. "Pass me the +wine; it makes me shiver to think of it. I fancy we may as well +admit at once that if the mission had been entrusted to us, we +should have made a mess of it. We should have been shot by the +guards in the first street we entered. As to climbing along the +roofs of houses till we had passed the first line of sentinels, the +idea would never have entered our heads. Of course we might have +disguised ourselves, and might have got into the town by harnessing +ourselves to a load of faggots, but once there we should have had +no more chance of getting into the fortress than if we had at once +proclaimed ourselves French officers, and had requested a pass into +the citadel." + +For the next ten days every effort was made to obtain carts and +pack horses from the villages round Susa, and a number of wagons +filled with provisions were brought from Carignano, where the principal +supplies for the army had been collected. On the fourteenth day +all was ready, and late in the afternoon the convoy, with fifteen +hundred men from Susa, and four pieces of artillery, marched out. +At the same hour the force at Carignano, six thousand strong, +leaving only a small body to garrison the city, started for Turin +along the farther bank of the Po, and just as day broke a heavy +cannonade was opened by them against one of the city gates. + +Astonished and alarmed, the troops in the city flew to arms, and +hurried to repulse the attack. A quarter of an hour later the dim +light of the morning showed the astonished sentries at the end of +the town surrounding the citadel a considerable force advancing +to the attack of the gate there, opposite which, at a distance of +two hundred yards, four cannon were placed, and scarcely had they +made out the enemy when these opened fire. A few rounds and the +gate was in splinters, and the infantry rushed forward. The sentries +on the walls took to flight, and the assailants pushed forward to +the inner gate. Access was obtained from that side to the citadel, +and then, under the direction of their officers, the assailants +occupied all the side streets. At once the procession of carts was +allowed to pass along. Some of the garrison ran down and lowered +the drawbridge across the moat, and amid exultant shouts a store +sufficient for many months was conveyed into the citadel. The +carts as quickly as they were unloaded returned through the gates +and passed out Into the country beyond. By this time a fierce fight +had begun. As soon as the firing was heard opposite the citadel, +Prince Thomas and his military advisers guessed at once that the +attack had been but a feint, made with the object of effecting +the relief of the citadel, and calling several regiments to follow +them they hastened in that direction. On their way they met the +fugitives, and hurried on with all speed. As they approached the +street through which the wagons were passing out, they were checked +by a heavy fire. The four guns had been placed in pairs at the +end of the streets, and the houses near them filled with troops +who kept up a murderous fire from the windows, on the head of the +columns, and held them completely in check until the last wagon +had been taken out. Then the cannon were removed, and when these too +were fairly outside the city, a bugle call summoned the defenders +of the houses, and the infuriated Italians and Spaniards, when +they rushed down into the street between the gates, found that the +last of their foes had escaped them. The artillerymen ran up to +the walls, only to find that the guns had been spiked, and they were +powerless to inflict any serious damage upon the retiring force. + +Prince Thomas ordered a sally, but at this moment a regiment of +cavalry from Chivasso was seen dashing across the plain, and being +without artillery or cavalry the order was countermanded. Indeed, +the prolonged roll of artillery at the other end of the city seemed to +show that the French were converting their feigned attack into a +real one. Turenne had himself accompanied the column from Carignano, +for he knew that the sound of firing might bring up Leganez from +Asti, and that he might find his retreat to Carignano intercepted. +The moment, however, that the sound of four guns at equal intervals +showed that the other column had achieved its object, he at once +fell back, his fire ceasing a few minutes before Prince Thomas +and his horse arrived at the walls. He had not been accompanied by +Hector, who was with the force from Susa. + +"You carried my message to the garrison," he said, "and it is but +right that you should have the honour of leading the party to its +relief." + +On arriving near the city Hector had dismounted, and, giving +his horse in charge of Paolo, had placed himself at the head of +the company that was first to enter the town, its captain being +transferred to another company. + +"Now, men," he said, as they stood waiting for the dawn to break, +"the moment we enter the gates half the company will mount the +wall to the right, the other half to the left, and each will push +along to the next angle of the wall. Lieutenants, one of you will +go with each wing of the company, and you will oppose to the last +any force that may march along the rampart to attack you. I want +one soldier to keep by me." + +As day began to break, each man grasped his firelock and awaited +the signal with impatience. A cheer broke from them as the four +cannon roared out at the same moment, and at so short a distance +that every shot told on the gate. Another salvo and both halves +of the gate were splintered. + +"Aim at the centre where the lock is," an officer shouted. + +"Get ready, men," Hector said. "Another round and the gate will +fall." + +As the cannon rung out there was a shout of triumph. One of +the gates fell to the ground and Hector dashed forward, followed +closely by his company. Not a single shot was fired from the walls, +and the men burst through the gates cheering. The leading wing of +the company turned to the right, and, led by Hector, ran up the +steps close to the gateway on to the rampart. + +"Take them on to that bastion at the angle of the wall, lieutenant. +I do not think that you are likely to be attacked at present. The +enemy must all have been drawn off to the other end of the city. +Now, my man, open that bag." + +In it were a couple of dozen large nails and a hammer. "Drive one +of those right down the vent of this gun. That is right. One more +blow. That will do. They won't get that nail out soon." + +He went along the wall spiking each gun until they reached the half +company drawn up in the bastion. "No enemy in sight, lieutenant?" + +"None, sir, at least not on the wall. We heard them running away +in the streets below." + +"Remember, lieutenant, whatever force may come along you must withstand +them. It will not be for long. You will be at once supported if +we hear firing." + +Then he retraced his steps along the ramparts, passed over the +gateway, and saw to the spiking of each gun as far as the next angle +of the wall. Here he repeated his instructions to the lieutenant +there. + +"I do not think," he said, "that there is much chance of your +being attacked. The enemy would have to make a detour right round +the citadel to come here, and certainly they will return by the +shortest way, as soon as they discover that the other attack is +but a feint." + +Then he returned to the first party. + +"Get the two guns," he said, "out of their embrasures and wheel them +here. It is likely enough that we may be hotly attacked presently." + +They waited half an hour, by which time the wagons were beginning +to pour out of the town. + +"We have done our business, lieutenant; the citadel is revictualled. +Ah! here come the enemy, just too late." + +A strong body of troops were seen marching rapidly towards them, +and almost at the same moment a heavy fire broke out in the street. +The guns had been loaded from a small magazine in the bastion, and +had been trained to fire along the rampart. When within a hundred +yards the enemy opened fire. Hector ordered the men to lie down +and not to reply until he gave the order. They lay in two lines, +the first were to fire and the second to reserve their fire until +ordered. He took his post at one gun and the lieutenant at the +other. A messenger had been sent along the wall to bring up the +twenty-five men of the other wing. When the enemy were within fifty +yards he asked quietly, "Does your gun bear well on the centre of +the column?" + +"Yes, captain." + +"Then fire!" + +The ball cut a way through the dense column. + +"Load again!" + +The four men, told off to the duty, leapt to their feet. There was +a halt for a moment, and then the Spaniards came on again. When +they were within twenty paces Hector fired, and at the same time +shouted, "First line give fire!" and twenty-five muskets flashed +out, every ball taking effect on the head of the column. The +Spaniards recoiled, the leading ranks being swept away and many +of those behind wounded, for three balls had been rammed down the +mouth of the cannon fired by Hector, and these and the musketry +volley had done terrible execution. At this moment the twenty-five +men sent for ran up. + +"Second line give fire!" Hector shouted; and the discharge added +to the confusion in the column, and many ran down some steps into +the lane by the side of the wall. + +"Have you loaded again, lieutenant?" + +"Yes, sir, with three balls," + +"Then form up, men, and deliver your fire," Hector said to the +newcomers. "Now, lieutenant, touch it off." + +As the discharge rang out, mingled with the roar of the guns, +Hector shouted, "Fix bayonets, and charge!" The wooden shafts of +the bayonets were thrust down the barrels of the firelocks, and +with a cheer the seventy-five men rushed upon the shattered head +of the column. The charge was irresistible, and the enemy at once +fled at full speed along the rampart or leapt from the wall into +the lane below. + +"Well done, men, well done!" Hector shouted. "Do not pursue. Reload +your cannon, though I do not think there is much fear of their +returning." + +A few minutes later the soldier who had carried the spikes, and +who had been left on the wall, ran up to say that the last cart +had passed out. + +"Go and tell the other party to fall back to the gate," Hector +said; "but first give me two spikes and the hammer. They might +run these cannons into the places of those disabled." So saying, +he spiked the two guns that had done such good service, and then +retired to the gate, where he was joined by the remainder of the +company. As the bugle rung out after the last wagon had passed, +and he saw the troops issuing from the houses at the corners of +the cross streets, he marched his company across the drawbridge, +out into the country, and followed the guns. When he reached the +spot where Paolo was holding the horses, he resigned the command +of the company and mounted. + +"Men," he said, "you have played your part well, and I am proud to +have commanded soldiers so steady and courageous." + +At this moment the general, who was in command of the force, and +who had been the last to leave the town, rode up, the men coming +along at a run. + +"You had better hurry your men on," he said to the colonel with whom +Hector had acted; "the enemy will be on the ramparts in a minute, +and you may be sure that they won't let us off without trouble from +their guns." + +"I beg your pardon, general," Hector said saluting, "but the guns +all along this side of the wall are useless; I have spiked them." + +"You have, sir! That was well done indeed. Who gave you the orders, +and how did you come by spikes?" + +"I had no orders, general; but I was appointed to command the first +company that entered, and was told that we were to turn right and +left along the ramparts. It struck me that as, when we had left, +the enemy would be sure to turn their guns upon us, it would be +as well to silence them, so I brought the nails and a hammer with +me for the purpose." + +"It would be well, sir, if we had a good many officers as thoughtful +as you are. You have saved us from heavy loss, for, as the country +is perfectly level for a mile round, they would have swept our +ranks as we marched off. Were you attacked, sir?" + +"Yes, general, by a force of about four hundred men, but I turned +two of the guns against them. My men fought well, and we repulsed +them with a loss of fully a hundred men." + +"Bravo, sir, bravo! I shall not fail to mention the service that +you have rendered in my report of the affair. Have you lost any +men?" + +"No, sir; they lay down until the enemy were within twenty paces of +us, and their volleys and the two cannon created such a confusion +among the Spaniards that when we went at them with the bayonet they +fled at once, and I have not a single man killed, and only two or +three slightly wounded." + +"We have only lost twenty," the general said, "and most of those +were killed while serving the guns. That was a small price indeed +to pay for our magnificent success." + + + +CHAPTER VI: A CHANGE OF SCENE + + +Hector gained great credit from the report of the manner in which +the force had been enabled to draw off without loss from the enemy's +guns, owing to his forethought in bringing with him the means of +spiking them, and also for his success in checking the advance of +the enemy along the ramparts. + +"You see, messieurs," Turenne said to the members of his staff, +who, with the exception of Hector, were together on the day after +his return to Susa, "how important it is for officers, before setting +out on an expedition, to think seriously over every contingency +that may happen. Now the vast proportion of officers consider that +all the thinking has to be done by the general, and that they only +have to obey orders. No doubt that is essential, but there may +be numerous little matters in which an officer may render great +service. This young captain of ours did not content himself with +leading the company to which I appointed him through the gateway. +Before leaving Susa he must have thought over every incident likely +to occur. As the leading company he would know that it would be +his business to clear the ramparts, to check any parties of the +enemy coming along that way, and it would be only natural for him +to determine to use the enemy's cannon to keep them at bay. + +"This would probably have occurred to most officers placed as he +was. But he did not stop there -- he must have thought over the +events that would probably follow the entry. He knew, of course, +that our feint at the other end of the town would draw off +the greater portion of the garrison, but would be sure also that +as soon as the attack began, and it became evident that our real +object was to revictual the citadel, they would come pouring back +again. He would have said to himself, 'We shall be able to keep +them at bay until our work is done, then we shall have to fall +back. What then? The enemy will mount the ramparts, and while their +main force pours out in pursuit, their guns on the walls will +play havoc with us. To prevent this I must silence them before my +company retires.' + +"It is all very simple when we look at it after it is done, and +yet probably it did not occur to a single officer of that force +except to Captain Campbell. I admit that it did not occur to myself. +Had it done so, I should have ordered that some of the artillerymen +should carry spikes and hammers, and that upon entering the town +they should immediately take steps, by rendering the guns harmless, +to enable the force to draw off without heavy loss. In the same +way he showed a cool and calculating brain when he carried out that +most dangerous service of bearing the news that we should speedily +bring aid to the citadel. It is difficult to imagine a better laid +plan. He thought of everything -- of his disguise, of the manner in +which it would alone be possible to approach closely to the wall. + +"I think that few of us would have thought of making our way up +through a house a hundred yards away, working along the roofs and +descending into the lane by the wall itself. I asked him how he got +the rope down which it was necessary for him to use four or five +times afterwards, and he showed me the plan by which he contrived +to free the hook; it was most ingenious. It did not seem to me +that it would have acted as he told me, and I asked him to have +another one made so that I might understand how it was worked, for +such a contrivance would be extremely useful in escalades, when +the troops, after descending into a deep fosse, need the rope +for climbing a wall or bastion. There it is, gentlemen, and as you +see, by pulling this thin cord the hook is lifted from its hold, +and the slightest shake will bring it down. + +"The contrivance is an excellent one. The line he took was well +chosen. He accomplished the most dangerous part first, and made +his way out by the side where the watch was most likely to be +careless, as anyone leaving or entering the town there would have +to swim the river. The feat shows that he has not only abundance +of courage of the very highest order, but that he has a head to +plan and leaves nothing to chance. You will see, gentlemen, that +if this young officer lives he is likely to gain the highest rank +and position. Already I have every reason to congratulate myself +upon having, almost as it were by chance, taken him under my +protection." + +The winter passed quietly, but as soon as spring set in and the +roads were sufficiently good for the passage of wagons, d'Harcourt +prepared to attempt to raise the siege of Casale, before which +Leganez with twenty thousand men had intrenched himself. The roads +were still, however, far too heavy for cannon, and as the garrison +were becoming hardly pressed he left his guns behind him and started +at the end of April with seven thousand foot and three thousand +horse. The position occupied by the Spaniards was a strong one, +and their general did not for a moment think that the French, with +a force half the strength of his own, would venture to attack him. +D'Harcourt, however, resolved upon doing so. He divided his force +into three parts; two of these were composed of French soldiers, +the third comprised the forces of the Duchess of Savoy. The attack +was successful on all sides -- although d'Harcourt for a time +could make no way, and Turenne was repulsed three times before he +entered the intrenchments -- the Spaniards were completely defeated, +and lost their guns, ammunition, and baggage, three thousand +killed, two thousand prisoners, and great numbers were drowned in +endeavouring to cross the river. + +A council of war was held, and Turenne's advice that Turin should +be besieged was after much debate accepted, although it seemed +a desperate enterprise for an army of ten thousand men to besiege +a town garrisoned by twelve thousand, while the Spaniards, after +recovering from their defeat and drawing men from their various +garrisons, could march to relieve the town with eighteen thousand +men. No time was lost in carrying Turenne's advice into effect. +The army marched upon Turin, seized the positions round the town, +threw up lines facing the city to prevent sorties being made by the +enemy, and surrounded themselves by similar lines to enable them +to resist attack by the Spaniards, who were not long in approaching +them. Thus there were now four bodies of combatants -- the garrison +of the citadel, which was surrounded and besieged by that of the +town; the town was besieged by Turenne, and he himself was surrounded +by the Spaniards. Each relied rather upon starving the others out +than upon storming their positions, but Leganez managed to send +a messenger into Turin telling Prince Thomas that he intended to +attack the French and calling upon him to fall upon them with his +troops at the same time. + +In pursuance of this design he retired some distance up the Po, and +proceeded to cross the river at Moncalieri. D'Harcourt despatched +Turenne to oppose the passage, but before he could arrive there +some five thousand men had crossed the bridge. Without hesitating +a moment, although his force was a much smaller one than that of +the Spaniards, Turenne attacked them at once, carried the intrenchments +they had begun to throw up, killed a large number, and drove the +rest into the river, where hundreds were drowned. Then he set fire +to the bridge, which was of wood, and intrenched himself on the +banks of the river, occupied all the fords higher up, and completely +checked any advance of the Spaniards in that direction. He was, +however, wounded in the shoulder, and was obliged to leave the army +and to be carried to Pinerolo. While he was away Leganez attacked +the French line from without, and Prince Thomas from within, and the +former succeeded in passing twelve hundred horse and one thousand +foot into the town. + +The French were now closely beleaguered, and began to suffer severely +from famine. In the meantime fresh troops had arrived from France, +and although not yet recovered from his wounds, Turenne took the +command, and escorted a great convoy of provisions into the camp +in spite of the enemy's efforts to prevent him. The townspeople +were suffering even more severely. Sorties were made in great force, +but were always repulsed, as were the attacks made by Leganez, and +on the 17th of September the garrison surrendered, being allowed +to march out with their arms. The Count d'Harcourt returned to +France, and Turenne again assumed the command of the army for the +winter. + +Hector conducted himself to the satisfaction of his general throughout +the campaign, but was severely wounded in the last sortie made by +the besieged, having been thrown down in a charge of Prince Thomas's +cavalry and trampled upon by the horses, and being taken up for +dead when the enemy fell back. + +Directly he heard the news Turenne sent his surgeon to examine him. +He reported that he still breathed, but that several of his ribs +and his left arm were broken. He mended but slowly, and Turenne, +a month after the surrender of the town, came in one day to see +him, and said, "The surgeon tells me that it will be some months +before you are fit for service again, and that you will need a +period of perfect rest to recover your health. There is a convoy +of invalids returning to France tomorrow, and I think it were best +that you should accompany them. There is no rest to be obtained +here, and I know that you will be fretting at being unable to +ride, and at your forced inactivity. I shall give orders that you +are conveyed in a horse litter to Sedan, where my brother, the Duc +de Bouillon, will gladly entertain you for my sake, and you must +remain there until entirely restored to strength. + +"I do not think that there will be much doing on this side of the +Alps in the next campaign. Unhappily France has troubles of her own, +and will find it difficult to spare more troops in this direction, +and without reinforcements we can but act on the defensive. Though +we may capture a few towns, there is small chance of any great +operations. Indeed, methinks that it is by no means unlikely that +Prince Thomas, seeing that his effort to rule Savoy in place of +his sister-in-law, the duchess, is likely to end in discredit and +loss to himself, will before long open negotiations with her. +Therefore you will be losing nothing by going. It is to the +duchess that I shall commend you rather than to my brother, who is +unfortunately occupied by public matters, and is at present almost +at war with Richelieu. + +"He is a man of noble impulses, generous in the extreme, and the +soul of honour, but he knows not how to conceal his feelings; and +in these days no man, even the most powerful, can venture to rail +in public against one who has offended him, when that man happens +to be the cardinal. I love my brother dearly, but I have mixed +myself up in no way with his affairs. I am an officer of the king, +and as such I stand aloof from all parties in the state. The +cardinal is his minister; doubtless he has his faults, but he is +the greatest man in France, and the wisest. He lives and works +for the country. It may be true that he is ambitious for himself, +but the glory of France is his chief care. It is for that purpose +that we have entered upon this war, for he sees that if Germany +becomes united under an emperor who is by blood a Spaniard, France +must eventually be crushed, and Spain become absolutely predominant +in Europe. If he is opposed, Richelieu strikes hard, because +he deems those who oppose him as not only his own enemies but as +enemies of France. + +"As a prince of the church it must have been bitter for him to +have to ally himself with the Protestant princes of Germany, with +Protestant Holland, and Protestant England, but he has done so. +It is true that he has captured La Rochelle, and broken the power +of the Huguenot lords of the south, but these new alliances show +that he is ready to sacrifice his own prejudices for the good of +France when France is endangered, and that it is on account of the +danger of civil broils to the country, rather than from a hatred +of the Huguenots, that he warred against them. Here am I, whom +he deigns to honour with his patronage, a Huguenot; my brother, +Bouillon, was also a Huguenot, and strangely enough the quarrel +between him and the cardinal did not break out until my brother +had changed his religion. + +"He was more rigorously brought up than I was, and was taught +to look upon the Catholics with abhorrence; but he married, not +from policy but from love, a Catholic lady, who is in all respects +worthy of him, for she is as high spirited and as generous as he +is, and at the same time is gentle, loving, and patient. Though +deeply pious, she is free from bigotry, and it was because my brother +came to see that the tales he had been taught of the bigotry and +superstition of the Catholics were untrue, at least in many instances, +that he revolted against the intolerance of the doctrines in which +he had been brought up, renounced them, and became an adherent of +his wife's religion. + +"Nigh four years ago the Duke of Soissons, a prince of the blood, +incurred the enmity of Richelieu by refusing, with scorn, his +proposal that he should marry the Countess of Cobalet, Richelieu's +niece. The refusal, and still more the language in which he +refused, excited the deep enmity of the cardinal. Soissons had +joined the party against him, but as usual Richelieu had the king's +ear. Soissons was ordered to leave the court, and went to Sedan, +where he was heartily received by my brother, who had a warm affection +for him. Bouillon wrote to the king hoping that he would not be +displeased at his offering a retreat to a prince of the blood, +and the king wrote permitting the count to stay at Sedan. After +a time Richelieu again endeavoured to bring about the marriage +upon which he had set his heart, but was again refused, and, being +greatly exasperated, insisted on Bouillon obliging the count to +leave Sedan. My brother naturally replied that the king having +at first approved of his receiving Soissons, he could not violate +the laws of hospitality to a prince of the blood. + +"Richelieu then persuaded the king to refuse further payments +to the garrisons at Sedan, although the latter had confirmed the +agreement entered into by his father, whereupon my brother openly +declared against Richelieu, and still further excited the cardinal's +anger by furnishing an asylum to the Archbishop of Rheims, second +son of Charles of Lorraine, who had also quarrelled with Richelieu. +So matters stand at present. What will come of it, I know not. I +doubt not that the cardinal's hostility to Bouillon does not arise +solely from the Soissons affair, which but serves him as a pretext. +You see his object for the past four years has been to strengthen +France by extending her frontiers to the east by the conquest of +Lorraine. He has already carried them to the Upper Rhine, and by +obtaining from the Duke of Savoy Pinerolo and its dependencies +has brought them up to the foot of the Alps. + +"But my brother's dukedom stands in the way of his grand project, +for it is a gate through which an enemy from beyond the Rhine +might invade France; and, moreover, the close family relationship +between us and the Prince of Holland would add to the danger +should Holland, at present our ally, fall out with France. Thus +the possession of Bouillon's dukedom, or at any rate its military +occupation for a time, is a consideration of vital importance to +the kingdom. Such, you see, is the situation. Were I not an officer +in the French army doubtless my feelings would be on the side +of my brother. As it is, I am a faithful servant of the king and +his minister, and should deem it the height of dishonour were I to +use my influence against what I perceive is the cause of France. +I tell you this in order that you may understand the various matters +which might surprise you at Sedan. + +"You go there as a patient to be nursed by the duchess, my +sister-in-law, and having no influence, and at present not even +the strength to use your sword, there is little fear that any will +seek to involve you in these party turmoils. I shall write to my +brother that you are a soldier of France and that you have done +her good service, that you are a protege of mine, and being of +Scottish blood belong to no party save my party, and that I entreat +that he will not allow anyone to set you against the cardinal, or +to try and attach you to any party, for that I want you back again +with me as soon as you are thoroughly cured." + +Hector would much rather have remained to be cured in Italy, but +he did not think of raising the slightest objection to Turenne's +plans for him, and the next day he started for Sedan, taking, of +course, Paolo with him. The convoy traveled by easy stages over +the passes into France, and then, escorted by a sergeant and eight +troopers, Hector was carried north to Sedan. Though still very weak, +he was able to alight at the entrance of the duke's residence, +and sent in Turenne's letters to him and the duchess. Three minutes +later the duke himself came down. + +"Captain Campbell," he said heartily, "my brother has done well in +sending you here to be taken care of and nursed. In his letters +to me he has spoken of you more than once, especially with reference +to the manner in which you carried a message for him to the citadel +of Turin. I shall be glad to do anything that I can for so brave +a young officer, but I fear that for the present you will have to +be under the charge of the duchess rather than mine." + +The duke was a tall, handsome man with a frank and open face, a +merry laugh, and a ready jest. He was extremely popular, not only +in his own dominions, but among the Parisians. His fault was that +he was led too easily. Himself the soul of honour, he believed +others to be equally honourable, and so suffered himself to become +mixed up in plots and conspiracies, and to be drawn on into an +enterprise wholly foreign to his nature. + +"I will take you at once to the duchess, but I see that you are +quite unfit to walk. Sit down, I beg you, until I get a chair for +you." + +Three or four minutes later four lackeys came with a carrying chair, +and Hector was taken upstairs to the duchess's apartments. + +"This is the gentleman of whom Turenne has written to me, and +doubtless, as I see by that letter upon the table, to you also. He +has been a good deal damaged, having been ridden over by a squadron +of Prince Thomas's horsemen, and needs quiet and rest." + +"Turenne has told me all about it," the duchess said. "I welcome +you very heartily, monsieur. My brother says that he has great +affection for you, and believes you will some day become a master +in the art of war. He says you have rendered him most valuable +services, which is strange indeed, seeing that you are as yet very +young." + +"I was sixteen the other day, madam." + +"Only sixteen, and already a captain!" she exclaimed. + +"I was made a captain nine months ago," he said, "for a little +service that I performed to his satisfaction." + +"Turenne would not have promoted you unless it had been an important +service, I am sure," she said with a smile. "He does great things +himself, and expects great things from others." + +"It was the affair of carrying the message to the garrison of the +citadel of Turin urging them to hold out, as he would come to their +relief soon," the duke said. "Do you not remember that he wrote us +an account of it?" + +"I remember it perfectly. Turenne said a young officer, but I did +not imagine that it could have been but a lad. However, Captain +Campbell, I will not detain you here talking, or you will begin +by considering me to be a very bad nurse. Directly I received the +letter I ordered a chamber to be prepared for you. By this time +all will be in readiness, and a lackey ready to disrobe you and +assist you to bed." + +"I do not need," he began, but she held up her finger. + +"Please to remember, sir, that I am head nurse here. You will go to +bed at once, and will take a light repast and a glass of generous +wine. After that our surgeon will examine you, and remove your +bandages, which have been, I doubt not, somewhat disarranged on +your journey; then he will say whether it will be advisable that +you should keep your bed for a time, which will, I think, be far +the best for you, for you will be much more comfortable so than +on a couch, which, however good to be sat upon by those in health, +affords but poor comfort to an invalid. Have you brought a servant +with you?" + +"Yes, madam. He is a very faithful lad, and accompanied me on that +enterprise that you have been speaking of. He is a merry fellow, +and has proved himself a good and careful nurse. He sat up with me +for many nights when I was first hurt, and has ever since slept +on the floor in my room." + +"I will give him in charge of my majordomo, who will see that he +is well taken care of, and we can have a pallet laid for him at +night on the floor of your room." + +She herself led the way to a very comfortable apartment where a +fire was burning on the hearth; a lackey was already in waiting, +and after a few kind words she left him. + +"I have fallen into good hands indeed," Hector said to himself. +"What would Sergeant MacIntosh say if he knew that I was lodged +in a ducal palace, and that the duke and duchess had both spoken +to me and seen after my comfort as if I had been a relation of +their own?" + +In spite of the care and attention that he received, Hector's recovery +was slow, and even when spring came the surgeon said that he was +unfit for severe work. However, the letters that he received from +time to time from de Lisle and Chavigny consoled him, for not +only had the winter passed without any incident save the capture +of three or four towns by Turenne, but it was not at all likely +that any events of great importance would take place. All accounts +represented the Spaniards as being engaged in adding to the strength +of three or four towns in the duchy of Milan, so that evidently +they intended to stand upon the defensive. + +The palace of Sedan was the centre of a formidable conspiracy against +Richelieu. Messengers came and went, and Bouillon, Soissons, and +the Archbishop of Rheims were constantly closeted together. They had +various allies at court, and believed that they should be able to +overthrow the minister who had so long ruled over France in the +name of the king. + +As Hector was now able to move about, and was acquainted with all +the members of the duke's household, he learned much of what was +going on; and from a conversation that he accidentally overheard, +he could see that the position was an extremely serious one, as a +treaty had been signed with Ferdinand, son of the King of Spain, +and the Archduke Leopold-William, son of the Emperor of Austria, +by which each agreed to assist the duke and his friends with a +large sum of money for raising soldiers, and with seven thousand +men. In order to justify themselves, the heads of the movement +issued a manifesto, in which they styled themselves Princes of +Peace. In this they rehearsed the cardinal's various acts of tyranny +and cruelty towards his rivals, the arbitrary manner in which he +carried on the government, and declared that they were leagued +solely to overthrow the power that overshadowed that of the king, +plunged France into wars, and scourged the people with heavy +taxation. + +As soon as this manifesto was published in Sedan, Hector went to +the duke. + +"My lord duke," he said, "I cannot sufficiently thank you for +the hospitality and kindness with which you and the duchess have +treated me. Nevertheless, I must ask you to allow me to leave at +once." + +"Why this sudden determination, Captain Campbell?" + +"If, sir, I were but a private person I should have no hesitation, +after the kindness that you have shown me, in requesting you +to give me employment in the force that you are raising; but I am +an officer of the king, and what is of far greater importance at +the present moment, an aide-de-camp of the Viscount Turenne, your +brother. Were it reported that I was with your army, or even indeed +that I was here, the cardinal would at once conclude that I was +representing the viscount, and was perhaps the intermediary through +whom communications between you and your brother were being +carried on. Therefore I should not only compromise myself, which +is of no importance, but I might excite suspicion in Richelieu's +mind against your brother, which might result in his recall from +the position in which he has so distinguished himself, and grievously +injure his prospects. The viscount himself warned me against mixing +myself with any party, saying that a soldier should hold himself +free from all entanglement, bent only on serving, to the utmost of +his power, the king and France." + +"You are right," the duke said heartily. "Turenne has no grievances +against king or cardinal, and has acted wisely in holding himself +aloof from any party; and badly as I am affected towards Richelieu, +I will own that he has never allowed my brother's relationship towards +me to prevent his employing him in posts of honour. I have never +sought to influence him in the slightest, and am far too proud of +the credit and honour he has gained to do aught that would in any +way cause a breach between him and the cardinal. What you have said +is very right and true. Doubtless Richelieu has spies in this town, +as he has elsewhere, and may have learned that a young officer on +my brother's staff was brought here last autumn grievously wounded. +But it is certainly well that now, as the time for action is at hand, +you should retire. You are not thinking, I hope, of returning at +once, for it was but a day or two ago that the surgeon assured me +that it would need another three or four months of quiet before +you would be fit to resume your duties." + +"I feel that myself, my lord, and moreover I think that it would +be as well that I should not join the viscount at present, for +it might well be supposed that I was the bearer of some important +news from you to him; therefore I propose to go to Geneva, and +remain there until I have completely recruited my strength. In the +Swiss republic I should pass unnoticed, even by the cardinal's +agents. And the fact that, although being but a comparatively +short distance from Piedmont, I abstained from joining the general, +would, if they inquired, show that I could not have been entrusted +with any private communication from you to him." + +"It could not be better," the duke said. "When you leave here you +should no longer wear that military scarf. Of course, when you +enter Switzerland there is no reason why you should disguise the fact +that you are a French officer, and having been severely wounded, +have come there to repair your health. Doubtless many others have +done so; and, dressed as a private person, you would excite no +attention. But the Swiss, who strive to hold themselves neutral +and to avoid giving offence, might raise objections to a French +officer wearing military attire staying among them." + +That evening Hector bade his adieu to the duchess and to the friends +he had made during his stay, and the next morning, attended by +Paolo, he started for Geneva. + +"I am glad indeed that we are off, master," the latter said. "In +truth, had I stayed here much longer I should have become useless +from fat and idleness, for I have had nothing whatever to do but +to eat and sleep." + +"I am glad to be off, too, Paolo. I am convinced myself, in spite +of what the surgeon says, that actual exercise will do more for +me than the doctor's potions and rich food. I am stiff still, but +it is from doing nothing, and were it not that coming from here +my presence might be inconvenient for Turenne, I would journey +straight to his camp. You saw the prince's manifesto?" + +Paolo nodded. "I did, master. Not being able to read or write, I +could make nothing of it myself, but a burgher coming along read +it aloud, and it made me shake in my shoes with fright. I made my +way as quickly as I could from so dangerous a spot, for it seemed +nothing short of treason to have heard such words read against +the cardinal." + +"I fear that the duke has made a terrible mistake, Paolo. Hitherto +all who have ventured to measure their strength with the cardinal +have been worsted, and many have lost everything and are now fugitives +from France. Some have lost their lives as well as honours and +estates. Bouillon is an independent prince, and so was Lorraine, +and although the latter could put ten men in the field to every one +the duke could muster, he has been driven from his principality. +Soissons could not help him except with his name, nor can the +Archbishop of Rheims. Not a few of the great nobles would join the +duke did they think that he had a prospect of success. None have +so far done so, though possibly some have given him secret pledges, +which will count for nothing unless it seems that he is likely to +triumph. + +"It is rumoured, as you know, that he has made an alliance with +Spain and Austria. Both will use him as an arm against France, but +will throw him over and leave him to his fate whenever it suits +them. Moreover, their alliance would assuredly deter any, who +might otherwise range themselves with him, from taking up arms. +No Huguenot would fight by the side of a Spaniard; and although +the Guises and the Catholic nobles allied themselves with Spain +against Henri of Navarre, it was in a matter in which they deemed +their religion in danger, while this is but a quarrel between +Bouillon and the cardinal; and with Spain fighting against France +in the Netherlands, they would not risk their lands and titles. +Bouillon had better have stood alone than have called in the +Spaniards and Austrians. We know whose doing that is, the Archbishop +of Rheims, who is a Guise, and, methinks, from what I have seen +of him, a crafty one. + +"I am sure that neither the duke nor Soissons would, unless won +over by the archbishop, have ever consented to such a plan, for +both are honourable gentlemen, and Soissons at least is a Frenchman, +which can hardly be said of Bouillon, whose ancestors have been +independent princes here for centuries. However, I fear that he +will rue the day he championed the cause of Soissons. It was no +affair of his, and it is carrying hospitality too far to endanger +life and kingdom rather than tell two guests that they must seek +a refuge elsewhere. All Europe was open to them. As a Guise the +archbishop would have been welcome wherever Spain had power. With +Spain, Italy, and Austria open to him, why should he thus bring +danger and misfortune upon the petty dukedom of Sedan? The same +may be said of Soissons; however reluctant Bouillon might be to +part with so dear a friend, Soissons himself should have insisted +upon going and taking up his abode elsewhere. Could he still have +brought a large force into the field, and have thus risked as +much as Bouillon, the case would be different, but his estates are +confiscated, or, at any rate, he has no longer power to summon +his vassals to the field, and he therefore risks nothing in case +of defeat, while Bouillon is risking everything." + +"I daresay that that is all true, master, though in faith I know +nothing about the matter. For myself, it seems to me that when +one is a noble, and has everything that a man can want, he must +be a fool to mix himself up in troubles. I know that if the King +of France were to give me a big estate, and anyone came to me and +asked me to take part in a plot, I would, if I had the power of +life and death, have him hung up over the gate of my castle." + +"That would be a short way, no doubt, Paolo, but it might not keep +you out of trouble," Hector said, smiling. "If the person who +came to you were also a noble, his family and friends would rise +in arms to avenge his death, and instead of avoiding trouble you +would bring it at once upon your head." + +"I suppose that would be so, master," Paolo said thoughtfully; "so +I think that it would be best for me that the king should not take +it into his head to give me that estate. And so we are going to +Geneva, master?" + +"Yes." + +"That pleases me not," the other one said, "for I have heard +of it as a terribly serious place, where a man dares not so much +as smile, and where he has to listen to sermons and exhortations +lasting half a day. My father was a Huguenot, and I suppose that +I am, too, though I never inquired very closely into the matter; +but as for exhortations of four hours in length, methinks I would +rather swim those moats again, master, and to go all day without +smiling would be a worse penance than the strictest father confessor +could lay upon me." + +"I own that I am somewhat of your opinion, Paolo. My father brought +me up a Protestant like yourself, and when I was quite young I +had a very dreary time of it while he was away, living as I did in +the house of a Huguenot pastor. After that I attended the Protestant +services in the barracks, for all the officers and almost all the +men are Protestants, and, of course, were allowed to have their +own services; but the minister, who was a Scotchman, knew better +than to make his discourses too lengthy; for if he did, there was +a shuffling of jackboots on the stone floor and a clanking of sabres +that warned him that the patience of the soldiers was exhausted. +In our own glen my father has told me that the ministers are as +long winded as those of Geneva; but, as he said, soldiers are a +restless people, and it is one thing for men who regard their Sunday +gathering as the chief event in the week to listen to lengthy +discourses, but quite another for soldiers, either in the field +or a city like Paris, to do so. However, if we do not find Geneva +to our taste, there is no reason why we should tarry there, as +Zurich lies on the other end of the lake, and Zurich is Catholic, +or at any rate largely so, and Calvinist doctrines have never +flourished there. But, on the other hand, the sympathies of Geneva +have generally been with France, while those of Zurich are with +Austria; therefore I think that if we like not Geneva we will go +to Lyons, where, as an officer of Viscount Turenne's, I am sure to +be well received." + +"Why not go there at once, master?" + +"Because I think that the fresh air of the lake will brace me up, +and maybe if I find the people too sober minded for me we will +go up into the mountains and lodge there in some quiet village. I +think that would suit both of us." + +"It would suit me assuredly," Paolo said joyfully. "I love the +mountains." + +Such was indeed the course eventually taken. The strict Calvinism +of Geneva suited neither of them; and after a fortnight's stay +there they went up among the hills, and in the clear brisk air Hector +found his blood begin to run more rapidly through his veins, and +his strength and energy fast returning. Sometimes he rode, but +soon found more pleasure in climbing the hills around on foot, for +the mountain paths were so rough that it was seldom indeed that +his horse could break into a trot. + + + +CHAPTER VII: THE DUC D'ENGHIEN + + +From time to time news came up of what was passing in the world. +The Spaniards had afforded no assistance in men to the duke, for +Richelieu had sent a powerful army into the heart of Flanders, and +so kept them fully occupied. An Austrian force, however, joined +that of the duke, and a battle was fought with the royal army +which, under Marshal Chatillon, lay encamped a league from Sedan. +The Austrian general commanded the main body, the Duc de Bouillon +the cavalry, while the Count de Soissons was with the reserve. +At first Chatillon's army had the advantage, but Bouillon charged +with such vehemence that he drove the cavalry of the royalists +down upon their infantry, which fell into confusion, most of the +French officers being killed or made prisoners, and the rest put +to rout. The duke, after the victory, rode to congratulate Soissons, +whose force had not been engaged. He found the count dead, having +accidentally shot himself while pushing up the visor of his helmet +with the muzzle of his pistol. + +Bouillon soon learned the hollowness of the promises of his allies. +The Spaniards sent neither money nor men, while the Austrians +received orders to march away from Sedan and to join the Spaniards, +who were marching to the relief of Arras. + +The duke, deserted by his allies, prepared to defend Sedan till the +last. Fortunately for him, however, the position of the French at +Arras was critical. The place was strong, two armies were marching +to its relief, and it would therefore have been rash to have +attempted at the same time the siege of Sedan. The king himself +had joined the army advancing against Bouillon, while the cardinal +remained in Paris. Many of those round the person of the king, +foremost among whom was the Marquis of Cinq-Mars, his master of +horse, spoke very strongly in favour of the duke, and represented +that he had been driven to take up arms by the persecution of the +cardinal. The king was moved by their representations, and gave a +complete pardon to Bouillon, who was restored to the full possession +of all his estates in France, while on his part he released the +prisoners, baggage, and standards taken in the late battle. + +This was welcome news to Hector, who at once prepared to cross +into Italy; but when they reached Chambery he heard that Turenne +had been ordered to join the army that was collected near the +Spanish frontier, in order to conquer Roussillon, which lay between +Languedoc and Catalonia. The latter province had been for three +years in a state of insurrection against Spain, and had besought +aid from France. This, however, could not easily be afforded them +so long as the fortress of Perpignan guarded the way, and with +other strongholds prevented all communication between the south of +France and Catalonia. As it was uncertain whether Turenne would +follow the coast route or cross the passes, Hector and his companion +rode forward at once, and arrived at Turin before he left. + +"I am glad to see you back again," the general said as Hector +entered his room, "and trust that you are now strong again. Your +letter, giving me your reasons for leaving Sedan, was forwarded to +me by a messenger, with others from my brother and his wife. He +speaks in high terms of you, and regretted your leaving them; but +the reason you gave for so doing in your letter to me more than +justified the course you took, and showed that you were thoughtful +in other than military matters. You served me better by leaving +Sedan than you could have done in any other way. In these unhappy +disputes with my brother, the cardinal has never permitted my +relationship to Bouillon to shake his confidence in me. But after +being engaged for many years in combating plots against him, he +cannot but be suspicious of all, and that an officer of my staff +should be staying at Sedan when the dispute was going to end in +open warfare might well have excited a doubt of me while, had you +traveled direct here at that moment, it might, as you said, have +been considered that you were the bearer of important communications +between my brother and myself. + +"Now, I hope that you are completely restored to health; you +are looking well, and have grown a good deal, the consequence, +no doubt, of your being so long in bed. You have heard that I am +ordered to Roussillon, of which I am glad, for the war languishes +here. The king, I hear, will take up his headquarters at Narbonne, +and Richelieu is coming down to look after matters as he did at +Rochelle. So I expect that things will move quickly there. They +say the king is not in good health, and that the cardinal himself +is failing. Should he die it will be a grievous loss for France, +for there is no one who could in any way fill his place. It has +been evident for some time that the king has been in weak health. +The dauphin is but a child. A regency with the queen as its nominal +head, and Richelieu as its staff and ruler, would be possible; +but without Richelieu the prospect would be a very dark one, and +I cannot think of it without apprehension. However, I must continue +to do as I have been doing ever since Bouillon fell out with the +court; I must think only that I am a soldier, prepared to strike +where ordered, whether against a foreign foe or a rebellious subject. + +"Happily my family troubles are over. I hear that there is +a probability that, now Bouillon has been restored to favour, he +will obtain the command of the army in Italy, which will just suit +his active spirit." + +Three days later Turenne with his staff crossed the Alps, and +journeying across the south of France reached Perpignan. The +Marquis of Mielleraye was in supreme command, and Turenne was to act +as his lieutenant; the latter at once took charge of the operations +of the siege of Perpignan, which had already been beleaguered for +some months by the French. The fortress was a very strong one, but +as the efforts of the Spanish to reinforce the garrison by a landing +effected on the coast failed altogether, and as the operations of +Mielleraye in the field were successful, and there was no chance of +any relief being afforded to the besieged town by a Spanish army +advancing through Catalonia, it was certain that the fortress +must in time surrender by hunger. As it could not be captured by +assault unless with a very heavy loss indeed, Turenne contented +himself with keeping up so vigilant a watch round it that its +communications were altogether cut off, and the garrison knew +nothing whatever of what was passing around them. + +The Duc de Bouillon had received the command of the army in Italy, +and Turenne hoped that henceforth his mind would be free from the +family trouble that had for the past four years caused him great +pain and anxiety. Unfortunately, however, Cinq-Mars, the king's +master of horse and personal favourite, had become embroiled with +the cardinal. Rash, impetuous, and haughty, the young favourite +at once began to intrigue. The Duke of Orleans, the king's only +brother, one of the most treacherous and unstable of men, joined +him heart and soul, and Bouillon was induced to ally himself with +them, not from any political feeling, but because Cinq-Mars had +been mainly instrumental in obtaining terms for him before, and +appealed to his sense of gratitude to aid him now. He insisted, +however, that this time there should be no negotiating with Spain +and Austria, but that the movement should be entirely a French one. + +Unknown to him, however, the others entered into an alliance with +Spain, who engaged to find money and an army. The conspirators +had gained the ear of the king, Cinq-Mars representing to him that +their hostility was directed solely against the cardinal, and +the latter was in great disfavour until he obtained a copy of the +treaty with Spain. The disclosure opened the king's eyes. The Duke +of Orleans, Cinq-Mars, Monsieur de Thou, his intimate friend, +and de Bouillon were at once arrested. Orleans immediately turned +traitor to his fellow conspirators, revealed every incident of +the plot, and was sentenced to exile. Cinq-Mars and de Thou were +tried and executed. De Bouillon saved his life by relinquishing +his principality to France, any hesitation there may have been +in sparing him on those terms being removed by the receipt of a +message from the duchess, that if her husband were put to death +she would at once deliver Sedan into the hands of the Spaniards. +De Bouillon was therefore pardoned, and in exchange for the surrender +of his principality, his estates in France were to be enlarged, +and a considerable pension granted to him. + +All this was a terrible trial to Turenne, who was deeply attached +to his brother, and who mourned not only the danger he had incurred, +but that he should have broken his engagements, and while commanding +a royal army should have plotted against the royal authority. + +At the end of November the cardinal's illness, from which he had +long suffered, took an unfavourable turn, and the king, who had +returned to Paris, went to see him. Richelieu advised him to place +his confidence in the two secretaries of state, Chavigny and de +Noyers, recommended Cardinal Mazarin strongly as first minister of +the crown, and handed the king a document he had prepared barring +the Duke of Orleans from any share in the regency in case of the +king's death, the preamble calling to mind that the king had five +times pardoned his brother, who had yet recently engaged in a fresh +plot against him. On the 2nd of December, 1642, Richelieu died, +and the king, on the following day, carried out his last advice, +and appointed Mazarin to a place in his council. + +The year had passed quietly with Hector Campbell. His duties had +been but slight during the siege, and as during his stay at Sedan +and in Switzerland he had continued to work hard at Italian, at the +former place under a teacher, who instructed him in more courtly +dialect than that which he acquired from Paolo, so during the six +months before Perpignan he had, after taking the advice of Turenne, +set himself to acquire a knowledge of German. Working at this +for eight hours a day under the tuition of a German gentleman, who +had been compelled to leave the country when his native town was +captured by the Imperialists, he was soon able to converse as +fluently in it as in Italian. + +"It is in Germany that the next great campaign is likely to take +place," Turenne said to him, "and your knowledge of German will be +of infinite utility to you. Fortunately for myself, Sedan standing +on the border between the two countries, I acquired German as well +as French without labour, and while in Holland spoke it rather +than French; the knowledge of languages is of great importance to +one who would rise high in the army or at the court, and I am very +glad that you have acquired German, as it may be of great use to +you if we are called upon to invade that country again, that is, +if the new council of the king are as kindly disposed towards me +as Richelieu always showed himself to be; but I fear that ere long +there may be changes. The king's health is very poor. He may not +live long, and then we have a regency before us, and the regencies +of France have always been times of grievous trouble. + +"Even had Richelieu lived he might not have been able to avert +such disasters. He and the queen have never been friends, and he +would not have had the support from her that he has had from the +king, who, although he no doubt fretted at times under Richelieu's +dictation, yet recognized his splendid genius, and knew that he +worked heart and soul for the good of France. However, his death +is a sore misfortune. A regency needs a strong head, but where is +it to come from? The Duke of Orleans is a schemer without principle, +weak, easily led, ambitious, and unscrupulous. The Prince of Conde +is equally ambitious, even more grasping, and much more talented. +There is no one else, save men like Chavigny, the father of our +friend here, de Noyers, and some others of good family, honest and +capable business men, but who would speedily become mere ciphers; +and Cardinal Mazarin, who has just been appointed to the council." + +"Do you know him, sir?" Hector asked. + +"I have seen him more than once. He is said to be very clever, and +it is no secret that he is nominated to the council on Richelieu's +recommendation, which speaks volumes in his favour, for Richelieu +was a judge of men, and must have believed, when recommending him, +that Mazarin would render good service to France. But however +clever he is he cannot replace the great cardinal. On him was stamped +by nature the making of a ruler of men. He was tall, handsome, +and an accomplished cavalier. Seeing him dressed as a noble among +noblemen, one would have picked him out as born to be the greatest +of them. No doubt this noble appearance, aided by his haughty +manner and by his ruthlessness in punishing those who conspired +against him, had not a little to do with his mastery over men. + +"Mazarin is a man of very different appearance. He is dark in +complexion, handsome in a way, supple, and, I should say, crafty; +an Italian rather than a Frenchman. Such a man will meet with +difficulties far greater than those which assailed Richelieu. The +latter, personally fearless, went straight to his end, crushing +his enemies if they stood in his way, possessed of an indomitable +will and unflinching determination. Mazarin, if I mistake not, +will try to gain his end by other means -- by intrigues, by setting +those who oppose him against each other, by yielding rather than +by striking. He is said to stand high in the queen's favour, and +this will be a great aid to him; for those who might rebel against +the authority of a cardinal will hesitate to do so when he has +at his back the protection and authority of a queen. However, we +must hope for the best. It is probable that Richelieu acquainted +him with all his plans and projects, and urged him to carry them +into effect. I sincerely trust that he will do so; and in that case, +if he comes to the head of affairs, I should assuredly serve him +as willingly and faithfully as I served Richelieu, knowing that it +will be for the good of France." + +It was, indeed, but a short time after the loss of his great adviser +that the king followed him to the tomb. He had for long suffered +from bad health, and now that the statesman who had borne the +whole burden of public affairs had left him, he felt the weight +overpowering. He had always been devoted to religious exercises, +and saw his end approaching without regret, and died calmly and +peacefully on May 14, 1643. By his will he left the queen regent. +He had never been on good terms with her, and now endeavoured +to prevent her from having any real power. The Duke of Orleans +was appointed lieutenant general, but as the king had rightly no +confidence in him, he nominated a council which, he intended, should +override both. It was composed of the Prince of Conde, Cardinal +Mazarin, the chancellor, Seguerin, the secretary of state, Chavigny, +and superintendent Bouthillier. The king's will prohibited any +change whatever being made in the council, but this proviso was +not observed. The queen speedily made terms with the ministers; and +when the little king was conducted in great state to the parliament +of Paris, the Duke of Orleans addressed the queen, saying that he +desired to take no other part in affairs than that which it might +please her to give him. The Prince of Conde said the same; and +that evening, to their astonishment, the queen having become by +their resignation the sole head of the administration, announced +that she should retain Cardinal Mazarin as her minister, and shortly +afterwards nominated Turenne to the command of the army in Italy. +Prince Thomas had now broken altogether with the Spaniards, +finding that their protection was not available, for the King of +Spain had been obliged to recall a considerable proportion of his +troops from Italy to suppress an insurrection in Catalonia. Hector +did not accompany Turenne to Italy, for early in April Turenne had +said to him: + +"There seems no chance of employment here at present, Campbell, while +there is likely to be some heavy fighting on the Rhine frontier. + +"The death of Richelieu has given fresh courage to the enemies of +France, and I hear that de Malo, the governor of the Low Countries, +has gathered a large army, and is about to invade France. Our army +there is commanded by the young Duc d'Enghien, the Prince of Conde's +son. He is but twenty-two, and of course owes his appointment +to his father's influence. The king has, however, sent with him +Marshal de l'Hopital, who will be his lieutenant and director. +I know Enghien well, and esteem his talents highly. He is brave, +impetuous, and fiery; but at the same time, if I mistake not, +cautious and prudent. I will give you a letter to him. I shall +tell him that you have greatly distinguished yourself while on +my staff, and being anxious above all things to acquire military +knowledge and to serve with honour, I have sent you to him, begging +him to give you the same post on his staff as you have had on mine, +asking it as a personal favour to myself. This, I have no doubt, +he will grant. He has affected my company a good deal when I have +been in Paris, and has evinced the greatest desire to learn as +much as he can of military matters from me." + +"I am grateful indeed for your kindness, sir, of which I will most +gladly avail myself, and shall indeed be pleased at the opportunity +of seeing a great battle." + +"I wish to show my approbation of the manner in which you have, +since you left me in Italy, endeavoured to do all in your power to +acquire useful knowledge, instead of wasting your time in idleness +or gambling, to which so many young officers in the army give +themselves up." + +The next day Hector and Paolo joined the army of Enghien as it was +on the march to Eperney. The former was now within a few months +of seventeen, of middle height, strongly built, his hard exercise +and training having broadened him greatly. He had a pleasant and +good tempered face, his hair, which was brown with a tinge of +gold, clustered closely round his head, for he had not adopted the +French mode of wearing it in long ringlets, a fashion unsuited +for the work of a campaign, and which de Lisle and Chavigny had in +vain urged him to adopt. He was handsomely dressed, for he knew +that Conde would be surrounded by many of the young nobles of +France. He wore his broad hat with feather; his helmet and armour +being carried, together with his valises, on a sumpter mule led +by Paolo. + +Putting up at an hotel, he made his way to the house occupied by +Enghien and the marshal. It was crowded by young officers, many of +whom were waiting in an anteroom. On one of the duke's chamberlains +approaching him Hector gave his name, and requested him to deliver +Viscount Turenne's letter to the prince. In a few minutes his name +was called, to the surprise of those who had been waiting for some +time for an interview. Enghien was seated at a table, from which +he rose as Hector entered. + +"I am glad to see you, Captain Campbell, both for your own sake +and for that of Turenne, whom I greatly love and admire. As I was +with Mielleraye during the campaign in the south, while you were +with Turenne, we did not meet there, for though he once rode over +and stayed for a few days you did not accompany him. But he has +told me of your adventure at Turin, and has spoken of your diligent +studies and your desire to learn all that is known of the art +of war. I shall be glad indeed to have you riding with me, for I, +too, am a diligent student in the art, though until last year I +had no opportunity whatever of gaining practical knowledge. I envy +Turenne his good fortune in having been sent to begin to learn his +duty when he was but fourteen. He tells me that you were but a year +older when you rode to Italy with him. It humiliates me to think +that while I am sent to command an army simply because my father +is a prince of the blood, Turenne gained every step by merit, and +is a general in spite of the fact that his brother was an enemy +of the cardinal and defied alike his power and that of the king. +However, I hope to show that I am not altogether unworthy of my +position; and at least, like Turenne, I can lead my troops into +battle, and fight in their front, even if I cannot always come out +victorious. Where have you put up your horses? With the best will +in the world, I cannot put either room or stable at your disposal +today, for I believe that every cupboard in the house is occupied; +but at our halting place tomorrow we shall be under canvas, and a +tent shall be assigned to you." + +"I thank you, sir. I have fortunately been able to find quarters +at an inn." + +"At any rate, I hope that you will sup with me. I will then introduce +you to some of my friends." + +Enghien was at the age of twenty-two of a striking rather than +a handsome figure. His forehead was wide, his eyes sunken and +piercing, his nose very prominent and hooked giving to his face +something of the expression of an eagle's. He resembled Turenne +in the eagerness with which in childhood he had devoted himself +to his studies, and especially to military exercises; but except +that both possessed a remarkable genius for war, and both were +extremely courageous, there was but slight resemblance between their +characters. While Turenne was prudent, patient, and thoughtful, +weighing duly every step taken, bestowing the greatest pains upon +the comfort and well being of his troops, and careful as to every +detail that could bring about success in his operations, Conde +was passionate and impetuous, acting upon impulse rather than +reflection. Personally ambitious, impatient of opposition, bitter +in his enmities, his action and policy were influenced chiefly +by his own ambitions and his own susceptibilities, rather than by +the thought of what effect his action might have on the destinies +of France. He was a born general, and yet but a poor leader of +men, one of the greatest military geniuses that the world has ever +seen, and yet so full of faults, foibles, and weaknesses that, +except from a military point of view, the term "the Great Conde" +that posterity has given him is but little merited. He had much +brain and little heart. Forced by his father into a marriage with +a niece of Richelieu's, he treated her badly and cruelly, although +she was devoted to him, and was in all respects an estimable woman +and a true wife, and that in a court where virtue was rare indeed. + +At supper that evening Enghien introduced Hector first to the +Marshal de l'Hopital and then to the young nobles of his company. + +"Monsieur Campbell," he said, "is the youngest of our party, and +yet he is, as the Viscount of Turenne writes to me, one in whom +he has the greatest confidence, and who has so carefully studied +the art of war, and so much profited by his opportunities, that +he would not hesitate to commit to him any command requiring at +once courage, discretion, and military knowledge. No one, gentlemen, +could wish for a higher eulogium from a greater authority. Turenne +has lent him to me for the campaign, and indeed I feel grateful to +him for so doing. When I say, gentlemen, that it was he who saved +the citadel of Turin to our arms, by undertaking and carrying +out the perilous work of passing through the city and the Spanish +lines to carry word to the half starved garrison that succour would +arrive in a fortnight's time, and so prevented their surrendering, +you will admit that Turenne has not spoken too highly of his +courage and ability. I have heard the full details of the affair +from Turenne's own lips, when he paid a short visit to Paris +after that campaign closed; and I should feel proud indeed had I +accomplished such an enterprise. Captain Campbell is a member of +an old Scottish family, and his father died fighting for France +at the siege of La Rochelle, a captain in the Scottish regiment. +And now, gentlemen, to supper." + +It was a joyous meal, and of a character quite new to Hector. +Grave himself, Turenne's entertainments were marked by a certain +earnestness and seriousness. He set, indeed, all his guests at +ease by his courtesy and the interest he took in each; and yet +all felt that in his presence loud laughter would be out of place +and loose jesting impossible. Enghien, on the other hand, being +a wild and reckless young noble, one who chose not his words, but +was wont to give vent in terms of unbridled hatred to his contempt +for those whom he deemed his enemies, imposed no such restraint +upon his guests, and all talked, laughed, and jested as they chose, +checked only by the presence of the gallant old marshal, who was +nominally Enghien's guide and adviser. Next to Hector was seated +General Gassion, one of the finest soldiers of the time. He, like +Hector, had no family influence, but had gained his position solely +by his own merits. He was enterprising and energetic, and eager +to still further distinguish himself, and Hector was not long +in perceiving that Enghien had his cordial support in combating +the prudent and cautious counsels of the marshal. He spoke very +cordially to the young captain. He saw in him one who, like himself, +was likely to make his way by merit and force of character, and +he asked him many questions as to his past history and the various +services in which he had been engaged. + +"I hope some day to win my marshal's baton, and methinks that if +you have as good fortune as I have had, and escape being cut off +by bullet or sabre, you, too, may look forward to gaining such +a distinction. You see all these young men around us have joined +rather in the spirit of knight errants than that of soldiers. Each +hopes to distinguish himself, not for the sake of advancing his +military career, but simply that he may stand well in the eyes +of some court beauty. The campaign once over, they will return to +Paris, and think no more of military service until another campaign +led by a prince of the blood like Enghien takes place, when they +will again take up arms and fight in his company. + +"Such campaigns as those under Turenne in Italy would be distasteful +in the extreme to them. They would doubtless bear the hardships +as unflinchingly as we professional soldiers, but as soon as they +could with honour retire you may be sure they would do so. It is +well for us that they should. Were it otherwise our chances of +advancement would be rare indeed, while as it is there are plenty +of openings for men of determination and perseverance who will +carry out precisely any order given to them, and who are always, +whether in the field or in winter quarters, under the eyes of +a commander like Turenne, who remains with his army instead of +rushing off like d'Harcourt to spend his winter in the gaieties +of the court, and to receive their smiles and praises as a reward +for his successes." + +"I suppose, general, there is no doubt that we shall give battle +to the Spaniards?" + +"No doubt whatever. It depends upon Enghien, though no doubt the +marshal will throw every obstacle in the way. In the first place, +there can be no denying that the Spanish infantry are superb, and +that Fuentes, who commands them, is a fine old soldier, while +our infantry are largely composed of new levies. Thus, though the +armies are not unequal in strength, l'Hopital may well consider +the chances of victory to be against us. In the second place, in +a battle Enghien will be in command, and though all of us recognize +that he possesses extraordinary ability, his impetuosity might +well lead to a disaster. Then the marshal must feel that while +the glory of a victory would fall to Enghien, the discredit of a +defeat would be given to him, while if aught happened to Enghien +himself the wrath of Conde and his faction would bring about his +disgrace. + +"I doubt not that he has received instructions not to hazard +a battle except under extraordinary circumstances, while Enghien +would, if possible, bring one about under any circumstances whatever. +Lastly, the king is desperately ill, ill unto death, some say, and +none can foretell what would take place were we to suffer a heavy +defeat while France is without some great head to rally the nation +and again show face to the Spaniards. At the same time, I may tell +you at once, that in this matter I am heart and soul with Enghien. +I consider that did we shrink from battle now, it would so encourage +Spain and Austria that they would put such a force in the field +as we could scarcely hope to oppose, while a victory would alter +the whole position and show our enemies that French soldiers are +equal to those of Spain, which at present no one believes. And +lastly, if we win, Enghien, when his father dies, will be the foremost +man in France, the leading spirit of the princes of the blood, +and having behind him the vast possessions and wealth accumulated +by Conde, will be a power that even the greatest minister might +dread, and I need hardly say that my marshal's baton would be very +appreciably nearer than it is at present." + +"Then I may take it," Hector said with a smile, "that the chances +are in favour of a pitched battle." + +"That is certainly so; l'Hopital's instructions are to force the +Spaniards, who have advanced against Rocroi, to raise the siege, +but to do so if possible by manoeuvering, and to avoid anything +like a pitched battle. But I fancy that he is likely to find +circumstances too strong for him, and that one of these mornings +we shall stand face to face with the enemy. + +The Spaniards are doubtless grand soldiers, and the army we shall +meet is largely composed of veteran troops; but we must remember +that for years and years the Dutchmen, by nature peaceable and +for the most part without training in arms, and although terribly +deficient in cavalry, have boldly withstood the power of Spain." + +"They seldom have met them in the open field," Hector said doubtfully. + +"Not very often, I grant, though when allied with your countrymen +they fairly beat them on the sands near Ostend, and that over and +over again they fought them in their breaches on even terms, and, +burghers though they were, beat back Alva's choicest troops." + +The next morning the army marched forward. Hector rode with the +group of young nobles who followed Enghien. Rocroi was a town of +considerable strength lying in the forest of Ardennes. It was the +key to the province of Champagne, and its capture would open the +road to the Spaniards. The siege was being pressed forward by +de Malo, who had with him an army of twenty-seven thousand veteran +troops, being five thousand more than the force under Enghien. Gassion, +who as Enghien's lieutenant had the control of the movements, so +arranged the marches that, while steadily approaching Rocroi, the +marshal believed that he intended to force the Spaniards to fall +back, rather by menacing their line of communications than by +advancing directly against them. + +After the first day Gassion invited Hector to ride with him, an +invitation which he gladly accepted, for the conversation of his +younger companions turned chiefly upon court intrigues and love +affairs in Paris, and on people of whose very names he was wholly +ignorant. Riding with Gassion across from one road to another +along which the army was advancing, he was able to see much of the +movements of bodies of troops through a country wholly different +from that with which he was familiar. He saw how careful the general +was to maintain communication between the heads of the different +columns, especially as he approached the enemy. + +"De Malo ought," he said, "to have utilized such a country as this +for checking our advance. In these woods he might have so placed +his men as to annihilate one column before another could come to +its assistance. I can only suppose that he relies so absolutely +upon his numbers, and the valour and discipline of his soldiers, +that he prefers to fight a pitched battle, where a complete success +would open the road to Paris, and thus lay France at his feet and +bring the war to a conclusion at one stroke." + + + +CHAPTER VIII: ROCROI + + +Gassion conducted the movements of the army so adroitly that he +had brought it to within almost striking distance of the Spanish +divisions before Marshal l'Hopital perceived the fact that it was +so placed that a battle was almost inevitable. He besought Enghien +to fall back while there was yet time, pointing out the orders +that had been given that a battle was not to be hazarded, and +the terrible misfortunes that would fall upon France in case of +defeat. Enghien, however, was deaf to his advice, and refused to +acknowledge his authority. + +Turenne, under similar circumstances, would have drawn off and +forced the enemy to raise the siege by threatening their line of +communications; but Turenne thought nothing of personal glory, and +fought only for France. Enghien, on the other hand, throughout +his career was animated by personal motives, and cared nothing +for the general welfare of France. Turenne was wholly unselfish; +Enghien was ready to sacrifice anything or everything for his own +glory or interest. At present, surrounded as he was by young nobles +as eager to fight as he was himself, and backed by Gassion, one +of the most able and enterprising soldiers of the day, he declared +that he had come to fight and would do so. Even had l'Hopital known +the news that had been received by Enghien, he would have been +powerless to check or control him. A courier had indeed the day +before brought the young duke a despatch containing the news of the +king's death and peremptory orders not to fight. Enghien simply +put the letter in his pocket, and the contents were known only to +Gassion and a few of his most intimate friends. + +De Malo was as anxious to bring on a general engagement as was his +fiery opponent. He was kept well informed of what was going on in +Paris, and knew that the king's death was imminent. His position +on a plain, surrounded on all sides by woods and marshes with but +one approach, and that through a narrow defile, was practically +impregnable; and by occupying the defile he could have kept the French +at bay without the slightest difficulty until Rocroi surrendered. +He knew, too, that General Beck with a considerable force was +hastening to join him; but he feared that prudent counsels might +at the last moment prevail in the French camp, or that the news +of the king's death might reach them, and he therefore left the +defile open and allowed the French army to gain the plain and form +up in order of battle facing him, without offering the slightest +opposition or firing a single gun. + +It was late in the afternoon by the time the French were in position, +and as both commanders were anxious that the battle should be +a decisive one neither took any step to bring on the fight, but +contented themselves with preparing for the encounter next morning. +The night was cold and somewhat thick, and the positions of the +two armies were marked by lines of fire. The march had been a long +and fatiguing one, and silence soon fell upon the scene. Enghien +wrapped himself in his cloak, and, lying down by a watch fire, was +speedily asleep, wholly unoppressed by the tremendous responsibilities +that he had assumed, or the fact that he had risked the destinies +of France for the sake of his personal ambition, and that in any +case the slaughter that must ensue in the morning would be terrible. +Gassion, however, with a few of the older officers, sat for hours +discussing the probabilities of the battle. Hector, remembering the +manner in which Turenne exercised the most ceaseless vigilance, +and nightly inspected all the outposts, endeavouring to ascertain +the plans and positions of the enemy, had, as night closed in, +requested Gassion's permission to go the rounds. + +"Certainly, if it so pleases you, Captain Campbell. The watchword +tonight is 'Conde', but I will in addition give you a pass enjoining +all officers to allow you to go where you please, you being on +the staff of the prince. I shall go round myself later on, for de +Malo may intend a night attack, by which he would certainly gain +advantages. His troops are fresh, while ours are weary. He has had +every opportunity of studying the ground, while it is all new to +us. Still, I hardly think that he will move till morning. Enterprise +is not the strong point of the Spaniards, they love to fight in +solid bodies, and hitherto their infantry have never been broken +by cavalry. At night they would lose the advantage of their steadiness +of formation. It is clear, by his willingness to allow us to pass +the defile and take up this position, that de Malo is absolutely +certain of victory and will wait, for daylight would permit him +to make his expected victory a complete one, while at night great +numbers of our army would be able to make their escape through the +woods." + +Hector returned to the spot where his horses were picketed with +those of Enghien's staff. He found Paolo lying down under a tree +where he had been ordered to take up his post, so that Hector could +find him if required. + +"Are you asleep, Paolo?" + +"No, master; I have been thinking about the battle tomorrow, and +where I had best bestow myself." + +"As to that, Paolo, I should say that you had better keep with +the prince's servants here. You will, of course, have your horse +saddled and be ready to ride on the instant. If we are victorious +there will be no occasion for you to move, but if you see that +we are beaten, my orders are that you are not to think of waiting +for me. I must keep with the others. Doubtless the cavalry would +cover the retreat, and it would be a serious inconvenience for +me to have to come here to look after you, therefore as soon as +you see that the day has gone against us mount and ride. You can +wait at our halting place of last night until you see the prince's +party come along. If I am alive I shall be with them; if not, my +advice to you is to ride south and to report yourself to Turenne. +He will, I doubt not, either take you into his own service, or give +you such strong recommendations that you will have no difficulty +in obtaining a post with some officer of distinction should you +wish to continue with the army. Now, I am going along our line of +outposts, and I intend to reconnoitre the ground between us and +the enemy. That is what Turenne would be doing were he in command +here." + +"I will go with you, master; when it comes to reconnoitering, methinks +that I am as good as another. I can run like a hare, and though a +bullet would go faster, I am quite sure that none of these heavily +armed Spaniards would have a chance of catching me." + +"I intended to take you with me, Paolo. We shall need as much care +and caution here as we did in getting into the citadel of Turin." + +"I think, master, that it would be well for you to leave your armour +behind you. It will be of small avail if you fall into the midst +of a band of Spanish spearmen, while it would be a sore hindrance +in passing through these woods, and the lighter you are accoutred +the better." + +"That is so, and I will take your advice. I will give it into the +charge of the horse guard. I will, of course, take my sword and +pistols, and you may as well take yours." + +"I like a knife better than a sword, master, but I will take the +both. I think it would be as well for you to lay aside your helmet +also, for the light from one of these watchfires might glint upon +it and catch the eye of a Spaniard." + +"You are right, Paolo; have you got the hat?" + +"Yes, sir, it is here with your valises." + +"That is certainly more comfortable," Hector said as he put it on. +"Now, you had better carry the things across to that fire where the +prince's staff are sitting. There is no fear of anyone interfering +with them there." + +As soon as this had been done they started, picking their way +carefully through numbers of sleeping men, and stopping once or +twice to exchange a word with the groups still gathered round the +fires. First they passed along the whole line of outposts, answering +the challenges by the words, "Officer of the prince's staff on +duty." They found the sentries fairly vigilant, for with so powerful +an enemy within striking distance every soldier felt that the +occasion was one for unusual watchfulness. At each post Hector +questioned the sentinels closely as to whether they had heard any +sounds indicating the movement of troops in the interval between +the two armies, and in only one case was there an affirmative +answer. + +"I heard a sound such as might be made by the clash of armour against +a tree or by an armed man falling. I have listened attentively +since, but have heard nothing more." + +"From which direction did the noise seem to come?" + +"From across there, sir. It seemed to me to come from that copse +in the hollow." + +"That is just what I thought might be likely, Paolo," Hector said +as he walked on. "That hollow ground between the armies, with its +wood and low brushwood, is just the place where an ambush might be +posted with advantage. Turenne would have taken possession of it +as soon as darkness closed in, for it would not only prevent the +possibility of the army being taken by surprise during the night, +but it might be invaluable during the fight tomorrow, for a force +ambushed there might take an advancing enemy in the rear. We will +go farther on till we get to a point where the brushwood extends +nearly up to our line. We will enter it there, and make our +way along until we see whether de Malo has taken advantage of our +failure to utilize the wood." + +As soon as they reached the point he indicated they moved forward, +crouching low until they reached the bushes; then they crawled +along, keeping outside but close to them. In this way they would +be invisible to any sentries posted near the edge of the wood, +and would also avoid the risk of drawing the enemy's attention by +accidentally breaking a dried branch or even snapping a twig. In +ten minutes they entered the wood that extended along the greater +portion of the hollow. + +"Keep on your hands and knees," Hector whispered, "and feel the +ground as you go to make sure that there are no broken branches +that would crack if you placed your knee upon them. We may come upon +the Spaniards at any moment. Keep close to me. Touch me if you +hear the slightest sound, and I will do the same to you. The touch +will mean stop. Move your sword along the belt till the handle is +round at your back; in that way there will be no risk of it striking +a tree or catching in a projecting root." + +"I will do that, master, and will keep my knife between my teeth. +It may be that we shall come upon a Spanish sentinel who may need +silencing." + +"No, Paolo; only in the last extremity and to save our lives must +we resort to arms. Were a sentry found killed in the morning they +would know that their position in the wood had been discovered. It +is most important that they should believe that their ambush is +unsuspected." + +Their progress was very slow. When they were nearly opposite the +centre of their position Paolo was suddenly touched by his master. +They listened intently, and could hear at no great distance ahead +low sounds at regular intervals. + +"Men snoring," Paolo whispered in his ear. + +They moved forward again even more cautiously than before. Presently +they stopped, for at the edge of the wood facing the camp they +heard a slight movement and a low clash of arms, as if a sentinel +on the lookout had changed his position. Feeling sure that the +guards would all be placed along the edge of the wood, they moved +forward again, stopping every few yards to listen. There was no doubt +now that they were close to a large body of sleepers. Occasional +snores, broken murmurs, and a sound as one turned from side to side +rose from in front of them. + +"You go round on one side, I will go round on the other, Paolo. We +will meet again when we have passed beyond them. It is important +that we should form some estimate as to their numbers." + +In half an hour they met again, and crawled along for some distance +side by side in silence. + +"How many should you say, Paolo?" + +"They were lying four deep as far as I could make out, master. I kept +very close to the outside line. I could not count them accurately +because of the trees, but I should say that there were about two +hundred and fifty in a line." + +"That was very close to what I reckoned them at. At any rate, it +is a regiment about a thousand strong. They are musketeers, for +several times I went close enough to feel their arms. In every case +it was a musket and not a pike that my hand fell on. Now we will +go on till we are opposite our last watchfire, and then crawl up +the hill." + +They were challenged as they approached the lines. + +"A friend," Hector replied. "An officer of the prince's staff." + +"Give the countersign," the soldier said. + +"Conde." + +"That is right, but wait until I call an officer." + +"Good! but make no noise; that is important." + +The sentinel went to the watchfire, and an officer sitting there +at once rose and came forward. + +"Advance, officer of the staff!" he said in low tones. "That is +right, monsieur," he went on as Hector advanced close enough to +be seen by the light of the fire. + +"I have a special pass signed by General Gassion," he said. + +The officer took it, and looked at it by the light of the fire. + +"That is all in order," he said as he returned it; "but the sentry +had the strictest orders that no one coming from the side of the +enemy was to be allowed to enter our lines, even if he gave the +countersign correctly, until he had been examined by an officer." + +"He did his duty, sir. One cannot be too careful on the eve of battle. +A straggler might stray away and be captured, and be forced under +pain of death to give up the countersign, and once in our lines +much information might be obtained as to our position. However, +I hardly think that any such attempts will be made. The Spaniards +saw us march in and take up our position, and must have marked +where our cavalry and artillery were posted. Good night!" + +The greater part of the night had already gone, for in May the days +are already lengthening out. After the troops had fallen out from +their ranks wood had to be collected and rations cooked, and it was +past ten o'clock before any of them lay down, and an hour later, +before Hector left on his expedition. The examination of the +outposts had taken more than an hour; it was now three o'clock in +the morning, and the orders were that the troops should all be +under arms before daybreak. Hector returned to the spot where he +had left General Gassion. All was quiet there now, and he lay down +until, somewhat before five, a bugle sounded. The signal was +repeated all along the line, and almost at the same moment the +Spanish trumpets told that the enemy, too, were making preparations +for the day's work. General Gassion was one of the first to spring +to his feet. Hector at once went up to him. + +"I have come to report, general," he said, "that I have reconnoitred +along the whole line of wood in the hollow in front, and have +found that a regiment of musketeers about a thousand strong have +been placed in ambush there." + +"Then, by heavens, you have done us good service indeed, Captain +Campbell! They might have done us an ill turn had we advanced +knowing nothing of their presence there. Nothing shakes troops more +than a sudden attack in the rear. Please come across with me and +repeat the news that you have given me to the prince himself." + +There was bustle all along the line. The troops were falling into +their ranks, stamping their feet to set the blood in motion, +swinging their arms, and growling at the sharp morning air. At the +headquarters bivouac the young nobles were laughing and jesting +as they prepared to mount. + +"Where is the prince?" Gassion asked. + +"There he lies under his cloak, general. He is still fast asleep. +It is evident that the thought of the coming battle does not weigh +heavily upon him. I acknowledge that I have not closed an eye; I +do not think that any of us have done so." + +So sound, indeed, was the prince's sleep that Gassion had to shake +him almost roughly to rouse him. + +As soon, however, as his eyes opened he leapt to his feet. "I +have had a wonderful night," he laughed; "never have I slept more +soundly on a down bed than on this hard ground, which, however, as +I find, makes my bones ache wonderfully. Well, it is a fine day +for a battle. What is your news, Gassion?" + +"It is important, monseigneur. Captain Campbell has spent the night +in reconnoitering on his own account, and has discovered that +a thousand Spanish musketeers are lying in ambush in the copse in +the hollow." + +"Is that so?" the duke said shortly. "Well, Captain Campbell, you +have rendered us a vital service indeed, and one that I shall not +forget. However, now we are forewarned, we shall know how to deal +with them. If I should fall, Gassion, and you should survive, +see that Captain Campbell's service is duly represented. Now, to +horse, gentlemen!" + +The morning sun rose on the 20th of May on a brilliant scene. The +two armies were disposed along slightly elevated ridges, between +which lay the hollow with its brushwood and copses. Enghien commanded +the cavalry on the right wing, with Gassion as second in command. +In place of his helmet the prince wore a hat with large white +plumes, remembering, perhaps, how Henri of Navarre's white plumes +had served as a rallying point. Marshal l'Hopital commanded the +cavalry on the French left, Baron d'Espenan commanded the infantry +in the centre, and Baron Sirot the reserves. The right of the +Spanish army was composed of the German horse led by de Malo, the +Walloons on the left were under the Duke of Albuquerque, while in +the centre were the veteran Spanish infantry under the command +of General Fuentes, who had often led them to victory. He was too +old and infirm to mount a horse, but lay in a litter in the midst +of his hitherto unconquerable infantry. + +All being ready on both sides, the trumpet sounded, and simultaneously +the cavalry of both armies moved forward. Enghien moved farther to +the right, and then dashing down the slopes led his cavalry along +the bottom, fell suddenly upon the musketeers in ambush and cut +them to pieces. Then galloping forward he fell upon the Spanish +left in front and flank. The impetuous charge was irresistible; the +Walloons broke and fled before it, and were speedily scattered over +the plain, pursued by the victorious French. But upon the other +wing de Malo's charge had proved equally irresistible. L'Hopital's +horse was broken and scattered, and, wheeling his cavalry round, +de Malo fell upon the flank and rear of d'Espenan's infantry, +shattered them at once, captured the whole of the French artillery, +and then fell upon the reserves. Baron Sirot, an officer of great +courage and ability, held them together and for a time repelled +the attack of the German cavalry; but these, inspirited by their +previous success, continued their attacks with such fury that the +reserves began to waver and fall back. Enghien was still in pursuit +of the Walloons when an officer rode up with news of the disaster +that had befallen the rest of the army. Enghien grasped the +situation instantly, and his military genius pointed out how the +battle might yet be retrieved. His trumpets instantly recalled his +scattered squadrons, and galloping round the Spanish centre he fell +like a thunderbolt upon the rear of de Malo's cavalry, already +exulting in what appeared certain victory. + +Astounded at this unlooked for attack, they in vain bore up +and tried to resist it; but the weight and impetus of the French +assault bore all before it, and they clove their way through the +confused mass of cavalry without a pause. Then wheeling right and +left they charged into the disorganized crowd of German horsemen, +who, unable to withstand this terrible onslaught, broke and fled, +de Malo himself galloping off the field with his disorganized +troopers. Never was a more sudden change in the fate of a great +battle. The French cause had appeared absolutely lost; one wing +and their centre were routed; their reserves had suffered heavily, +and were on the point of giving way. Humanly speaking, the battle +seemed hopelessly lost, and yet in ten minutes victory had been +converted into defeat, and the right and left wings of the Spanish +army had ceased to exist as collected bodies. There remained the +Spanish infantry, and Enghien, recklessly courageous as he was, +hesitated to attack the solid formation that had hitherto proved +invincible. + +While still doubting whether, having defeated the rest of the army, +it might not be best to allow this formidable body to march away +unmolested, news reached him that General Beck, with his reinforcements, +would be on the ground in an hour. This decided him, and he ordered +the whole of the guns that had been rescued from their late +captors to be turned on the Spanish square, and then, collecting +his cavalry into a mass, dashed at it. The Spaniards remained +motionless till the French line was within twenty yards of them, +then men stepped aside, a number of guns poured their contents +into the cavalry, while a tremendous volley swept away their front +line. So terrible was the effect, so great the confusion caused by +the carnage, that had the Walloon cavalry been rallied and returned +to the field, the tide of the battle might again have been changed; +but they were miles away, and Enghien rallied his men without a +moment's delay, while the French artillery again opened fire upon +the Spanish square. Again the French cavalry charged and strove +to make their way into the gaps made by the artillery, but before +they reached the face of the square these were closed up, and the +guns and musketry carried havoc among the French squadrons, which +again recoiled in confusion. Once more Enghien rallied them, and, +when the French artillery had done their work, led them forward +again with a bravery as impetuous and unshaken as that with which +he had ridden in front of them in their first charge; nevertheless +for the third time they fell back, shattered by the storm of iron +and lead. Enghien now brought up his artillery to close quarters, +Baron de Sirot led up the infantry of the reserve, and the attack +was renewed. + +The aged Spanish general, though streaming with blood from several +wounds, still from his litter encouraged his soldiers, who, stern +and unmoved, filled up the gaps that had been made, and undauntedly +faced their foes. But the struggle could not be long continued. +The square was gradually wasting away, and occupied but half the +ground which it had stood upon when the battle began. And Fuentes, +seeing that further resistance could only lead to the annihilation +of his little band, felt that no more could be done. There were +no signs of Beck coming to his assistance. Indeed the troops of +that general had been met by the cavalry in their flight; these +communicated their own panic to them, and such was the alarm that +the division abandoned its baggage and guns and fled from the field, +where their arrival might still have turned the tide of battle. + +Fuentes at last ordered his officers to signal their surrender. +Enghien rode forward, but, the Spanish soldiers believing that, +as before, he was but leading his cavalry against them, poured in +a terrible volley. He escaped by almost a miracle, but his soldiers, +maddened by what they believed to be an act of treachery, hurled +themselves upon the enemy. The square was broken, and a terrible +slaughter ensued before the exertions of the officers put a stop to +it. Then the remaining Spaniards surrendered. The battle of Rocroi +was to the land forces of Spain a blow as terrible and fatal as +the destruction of the Armada had been to their naval supremacy. +It was indeed a death blow to the power that Spain had so long +exercised over Europe. It showed the world that her infantry +were no longer irresistible, and while it lowered her prestige it +infinitely increased that of France, which was now regarded as the +first military power in Europe. + +The losses in the battle were extremely heavy. The German and +Walloon cavalry both suffered very severely, while of the Spanish +infantry not one man left the battlefield save as a prisoner, and +fully two-thirds of their number lay dead on the ground. Upon the +French side the losses were numerically much smaller. The German +cavalry, after routing those of l'Hopital, instead of following up +the pursuit hurled themselves upon the infantry, who broke almost +without resistance. These also escaped with comparatively little +loss, de Malo leading the cavalry at once against the French reserves. +Among the cavalry commanded by Enghien the loss was very heavy, +and included many gentlemen of the best blood of France. There was +no pursuit; half the French cavalry were far away from the field, +the rest had lost well nigh half their number, and were exhausted +by the fury of the fight; indeed, the fugitive cavalry were miles +away before the conflict ended. The gallant old general, Fuentes, +expired from his wounds soon after the termination of the battle. + +Hector was with the body of young nobles who followed close behind +Enghien in the three first desperate charges. In the third his +horse was shot under him just as the cavalry recoiled from the +deadly fire of the square. He partly extracted his foot from the +stirrup as he fell, but not sufficiently to free him, and he was +pinned to the ground by the weight of the horse. It was well for +him that it was so, for had he been free he would assuredly have +been shot down as he followed the retreating cavalry. This thought +occurred to his mind after the first involuntary effort to extricate +his leg, and he lay there stiff and immovable as if dead. It was +a trying time. The balls from the French cannon whistled over his +head, the musket shots flew thickly round him, and he knew that +ere long the attack would be renewed. + +Fortunately the fourth advance of the French did not come directly +over him, the commanders purposely leading their troops so as to +avoid passing over the ground where so many of the young nobles +had fallen. Not until the last musket had been discharged and the +cessation of the din told that all was over, did he endeavour to +rise. Then he sat up and called to two dismounted soldiers, who were +passing near, to aid him. They at once came up, and soon lifted +the horse so far that he was able to withdraw his leg. His thick +jackboot had protected it from injury, although it had been partly +the cause of his misfortune, for the sole had caught against +the side of the horse and so prevented him from withdrawing it. +Nevertheless, his leg was so numbed that it was some time before +he could limp away. He retraced his steps towards the spot where +he had mounted at starting. He had not gone far when he saw Paolo +galloping towards him. The young fellow gave a shout of joy as he +recognized him, and a minute later drew rein by his side and leapt +off his horse. + +"Thank God I see you alive again, master! Are you wounded?" + +"No; my horse was killed and fell upon my foot, and has no doubt +bruised it a bit, otherwise I am unhurt." + +"It has been terrible, master. I climbed up into that tree beneath +which we halted yesterday and watched the battle. I shouted with +joy when I saw Enghien clear out the ambuscade, and again when he +drove the Walloon horse away; then everything seemed to go wrong. +I saw the marshal's cavalry on the left driven off the field like +chaff before the wind. Then the centre broke up directly they were +charged; and as the enemy fell upon the reserve it seemed to me +that all was lost. Then I saw Enghien and his horsemen coming along +like a whirlwind, bursting their way through the enemy's horse, and +in turn driving them off the field. I hoped then that the battle +was all over, and that the Spanish infantry would be allowed to +march away; but no, my heart fell again when, time after time, +our cavalry dashed up against them, and each time fell back again, +leaving the slope behind them covered with dead men and horses; and +I shouted aloud when I saw the artillery move up and the reserves +advancing. As soon as I saw that the square was broken and a +terrible melee was going on, I knew that all was over, and could +restrain my impatience no longer, so I mounted my horse with, I may +say, small hope of finding you alive, seeing that you rode behind +Enghien, whose white plumes I could see ever in front of the line." + +"It has been a marvellous victory, Paolo, and there can be no doubt +that Enghien has covered himself with glory. It was his quick +eye that saw what there was to be done, his brain that instantly +directed the blow where alone it could be effectual, and his +extraordinary bravery that roused the enthusiasm of those around +him to a point at which no man thought of his life. But for him it +was a lost battle." + +"Well, master, I am glad that we have won the battle, but that is +as nothing to me in comparison that you have come out of it safely, +and I think, master, that we have a right to say that we helped +in some degree to bring about the victory by discovering that +ambuscade down in the hollow." + +"That had not occurred to me, Paolo," Hector laughed. "No doubt +it was a fortunate discovery, for had the musketeers lain hidden +there until we were beaten back after our first charge, and then +poured their fire into us, it would doubtless have thrown us into +some confusion, and might even have caused a panic for a while." + +"Now, master, if you will mount this horse I will be off and catch +another; there are scores of them running about riderless, some of +them belonging to the marshal's men, but many more to the Germans, +and a few that galloped off riderless each time Enghien fell back." + +"Don't take one of those, Paolo; it might be claimed by its master's +lackeys; get one of the best German horses that you can find. You +might as well get two if you can, for I want a second horse while +I am here with the prince." + + + +CHAPTER IX: HONOURS + + +In half an hour Paolo returned leading two horses. By their trappings +and appearance both had evidently belonged to officers. + +"Take off the trappings," Hector said, "then put a saddle on one +for me; shift your own saddle on to the other, and picket your own +with the spare horses of the staff, then we will ride over and get +my saddle, bridle, holsters, and trappings. The horse has carried +me well ever since I left Paris, and I am grieved indeed to lose +it." + +"So am I, master; it was a good beast, but I think that either +of these is as good, though it will be long before I get to like +them as I did Scotty. We shall want housings for this second horse, +master." + +"Yes; there will be no difficulty about that. There are scores +of dead horses on the field; choose one without any embroidery +or insignia. You may as well take another pair of holsters with +pistols." + +Riding across to the spot where Enghien and his officers were forming +up the prisoners, talking courteously to the Spanish officers and +seeing to the wounded, Hector, leaving Paolo to find his fallen +horse and shift his trappings to the one that he rode, cantered +up to the spot where Enghien's white plume could be seen in the +midst of a group of officers, among whom was General Gassion. He +saluted as he came up. + +"I am glad indeed to see you, Captain Campbell," Enghien said warmly, +holding out his hand; "I feared that you were killed. Some of my +friends told me that you were struck down in the third charge, and +that they had not seen you since and feared that you were slain." + +"My horse was killed, prince, and in falling pinned me to the +ground, and being within thirty yards of the Spanish square, I +lay without movement until you came back again and broke them. Then +some soldiers so far lifted my horse that I could get my foot from +under it, my servant found and caught a riderless German horse, +and here I am unharmed." + +"Well, sir, at the time that you came up General Gassion was just +telling these gentlemen that had it not been for you things might +have gone very differently. Had you not discovered that ambush +their fire would have been fatal to us, for we fell back, as you +know, farther than the copse, and a volley from a thousand muskets +would have played havoc among us, and after so terrible a repulse +might well have decided the day against us. For this great service, +rendered by you voluntarily and without orders, I as commander-in-chief +of this army, with the full and warm approval of General Gassion, +appoint you to the rank of colonel, a rank which I am sure will be +confirmed by the queen's minister when I report to him my reasons +for the promotion. General Gassion reports that the man who +accompanied you on this reconnaissance was the same who followed +you in the expedition to Turin. As he is not a soldier I cannot +promote him, but I will order my chamberlain to hand him a purse +of a hundred pistoles. When you return to Turenne, tell him that I +owe him my best thanks for having sent you to me, and that, thanks +to the aid of his teaching, you have been the means of preventing +a great disaster to our forces." + +"I thank you, indeed, monsieur, for your kindness, and for promoting +me so far beyond my merits, but I hope in the future I shall be +able to still further prove my gratitude." + +"That is proved already," Gassion said, "for although every man +today has fought like a hero, you were the only one in camp that +suspected that the Spanish might be lying in an ambush, and who not +only thought it, but took means to find out whether it was so." + +The next morning Enghien informed Hector that he was elected as +one of the three officers who were to have the honour of carrying +his despatches to Paris, and that he was to start in half an hour. +Paolo, who was in the highest state of delight at the purse that +had been presented to him the evening before, was greatly pleased +with the prospect. + +"Heaven be praised, master, that you are not going into another +battle! It was well nigh a miracle that you escaped last time, +and such good luck does not befall a man twice. I have never seen +Paris, and greatly do I long to do so. How they will shout when +they hear the news we bring!" + +"It will not be altogether news to them, Paolo. La Moussaie, +Enghien's intimate friend, who acted as his aide-de-camp during +the battle, was sent off ten minutes after the fight ended with +a paper, on which the prince had pencilled that he had utterly +defeated the enemy. He will change horses at every post, and will +be in Paris by this evening. We bear the official despatches, giving +a full account of the battle, and of the total destruction of the +Spanish infantry, with no doubt a list of the nobles and gentlemen +who have fallen. Well, I should think now, Paolo, that when we +have seen enough of Paris and we have journeyed down to Perpignan +again, you will leave my service and buy a farm; you can afford a +substantial one now." + +"What, master! I leave your service, where gold comes in in showers, +and where one serves a master whom one loves? No, sir, I am not +such a fool as that. I do not say that when the war is over I may +not settle down in a snug home among the mountains of Savoy, but +not until then; besides, I am but eighteen, and a nice hand I +should make at managing a farm." + +"Well, get the horses ready at once and the valises packed. You +can put them on my spare horse. The mule will scarce keep up with +us, for we shall certainly travel fast, so you had best hand it +over to someone who you think will treat it kindly." + +Twenty minutes later Hector, and two officers who had distinguished +themselves especially in the battle, sat mounted before the tent +that had now been raised for d'Enghien. The young prince himself +came out. "Gentlemen," he said, handing the three sealed packets, +"you will present these to the queen, who is now Regent of France, +for Louis XIII died a week ago. They contain the despatches and +reports of myself and General Gassion. Your packet, colonel," he +added to Hector, "is General Gassion's report; it goes more fully +into military details than mine. You, Monsieur de Penthiere, carry +my despatches in reference to the battle of yesterday. You, Monsieur +de Caussac, are the bearer of my plans for our future operations. +I think that you will all agree with me that, after the battle we +have won, we shall be able to make ourselves masters of Flanders +with but slight resistance." + +The three officers bowed their agreement with the words. + +"I know not who is in power or on whom the queen chiefly relies +for counsel, but should any questions be put to you, you will, +I hope, be able to express the urgency of prompt action in this +matter before the Spaniards have time to rally from the terrible +blow that this defeat has inflicted upon them. And now, gentlemen, +a rapid and pleasant journey. Orders were sent on last night that +four sets of fresh horses should be in readiness along the road. +They are my own horses, and good ones. Twelve troopers will accompany +you; three of these will remain behind at each stage where you +change, and the horses that you have used will be brought on at a +more leisurely pace after you. They will readily find out in Paris +where you are lodged, and I beg that you will retain the horses +as a slight proof of my goodwill." + +Then he waved his hand and went into his tent again. The three +lackeys, each holding a spare horse, were sitting in readiness +for a start some fifty yards away. After a moment's conversation +the officers rode up to them. + +"You must follow us quietly," one of them said. "For today you can +keep up with us to the end of the first stage. Three fresh horses +have been provided for us, for we ride without a stop to Paris. +Three soldiers will there take charge of the horses we ride. When +we go on you will follow quietly with the horses that you are now +leading. It will be impossible for you to keep up with us." + +Then they placed themselves at the head of their escort of dragoons, +the lackeys fell in behind them, and they started at a fast pace. + +"Do you know where the first relays are?" one of the officers asked +the sergeant in charge of the escort, after they had ridden three +or four miles. + +"The first is at Rethel, monsieur, the second at Rheims, the third +at Chateau-Thierry, the fourth at Meaux." + +"Then we will ride on at once. You have your orders?" + +"Yes, sir." + +Whereupon the three officers quickened their pace. The distance to +be traversed was about a hundred and thirty miles, and as they had +five horses, including those they rode, each stage would average +about twenty-six miles. + +"Now, gentlemen," de Penthiere said, "it seems to me that it would +be a pity to founder fifteen good horses in order to gain an hour +on this journey. The queen has already received news of the victory, +or at least she will receive it some time today, therefore the +details we bring are not of particular importance. It is now eight +o'clock. If we were to gallop all the way we might do it in twelve +hours. The roads in many places will be bad, and we must stop for +meals at least three times; with the utmost speed we could hardly +be in Paris in less than fifteen hours. Her majesty will scarce +want to read long despatches at that time, and may take it that +we ourselves will need a bath and a change of garments, and the +services of a barber, before we could show ourselves in court. +Had we been bearers of the original despatch, we might have gone +in splashed from head to foot. As it is, it seems to me that if +we present ourselves with our papers at seven in the morning we +shall have done that which is necessary. What do you both say?" + +"I agree with you, de Penthiere. It would be a sore pity to injure +good horses by galloping them at the top of their speed, to say +nothing of knocking ourselves up. Had we been sent off from the +field of battle I should have said, spare neither the horses nor +ourselves. But indeed it seems to me that tomorrow morning will be +quite early enough for us to present ourselves and our despatches. +To tell you the truth, I have never ridden a hundred and thirty +miles or so at the pace of a courier. I should say let us go at +a reasonable pace, and get into Paris soon after midnight, which +will give us time for some little sleep, and afterwards to make +ourselves presentable. What say you, Colonel Campbell?" + +"I have no opinion, messieurs. I know nothing of the manners of the +court, and if you think that tomorrow morning will be quite soon +enough for us to deliver the despatches I am quite willing to fall +in with your view. It is certainly a long ride, and as we marched +hither we found that the roads were very bad, and certainly where +the army has passed they are so cut up by the artillery and wagons +that they are sure to be quite unfit for going at racing speed. +Therefore I think that if we present ourselves at the palace early +in the morning, we shall have done all that can be expected of +us." + +It was indeed two o'clock in the morning when they arrived at the +gates of Paris. Accustomed though they all were to horse exercise, +the journey had been a very fatiguing one. Until night fell they +had ridden briskly, talking as they went on the probable state of +affairs in France and of the military operations that were likely +to be undertaken as the result of the victory, but progress became +slow after darkness set in. The roads were in many places detestably +bad. In passing through forests it was not possible to travel much +beyond a walk, as it was necessary not only to avoid overhanging +arms of trees, but to keep the track, for the road in many places +was nothing more. + +Once or twice they lost it altogether, and it was only when they +hit upon the house of a peasant or a little village, and obtained +a guide, that they were able to recover their road. Consequently all +were thoroughly exhausted when they reached Paris. The gates were +opened to them when it was understood that they bore despatches +from the army. They made their way to the Hotel Conde. It was +illuminated, for the prince had given a great banquet in honour +of the victory won by his son; and although most of the guests had +left long before, a party of the closest friends and connections +of the prince were holding an informal council, when the word +came to them that three officers had arrived with despatches from +the Duc d'Enghien. The prince came down. Hector had dismounted +without assistance, but the other two officers had to be lifted +from their saddles. + +"Are you bearers of any special news, de Penthiere?" the prince +asked; for the two young nobles were well known to him. + +"No, monseigneur, save that our despatches give full details of +the battle." + +"What is our loss?" + +"It is very heavy," de Penthiere said. "Fully a hundred men of +good blood have fallen. The loss principally fell upon the cavalry +commanded by the duke, who three times charged the Spanish infantry, +and only succeeded at the fourth attempt in breaking their square." + +"And the Spanish infantry?" + +"Every man was either killed or taken." + +"Glorious!" the prince said. "Well, I will not detain you now, for +I see that you can scarce stand, and it would be cruel to keep +you up, much as we desire to hear the particulars." + +"I think, monseigneur, that this gentleman, Colonel Campbell, is +more in a condition to talk to you than de Caussac or myself." + +"I shall be happy to answer any questions," Hector said, bowing +to the prince. "I have been campaigning for the last four years +under Monsieur de Turenne, and am accustomed to long journeys and +sleepless nights." + +"Thank you, colonel. We will not keep you up long." + +Some lackeys were ordered to assist the two young nobles to couches, +and then Conde and his companions left the courtyard and entered +a small saloon where they had supped two hours before. Some fresh +bottles of wine and cold viands were at once placed upon the table. +Hector drank off a goblet of wine. + +"Now, Monsieur le Prince, I will tell you all I know about the +fight." And he gave Conde and his companions a brief sketch of +the various movements and changes of the battle. + +"It was a hard fought field indeed," Conde said, "and the result +is a glorious one for France. Now we will keep you no longer from +your couch." + +"May I ask, sir, at what time we ought to present ourselves with +the despatches at the palace?" + +"It will not be necessary for you to present yourselves before ten +o'clock, for it was late last night before her majesty retired. +Paris was wild at the news of the victory, and the reception at +the palace was crowded. Still, I should say that at ten it would +be well that you and your companions should attend there, though +you may have to wait for an hour or more for an audience." + +At ten o'clock Hector and his companions presented themselves at +the palace. Seven hours' sleep, a warm bath, and the services of +the barber, who curled the hair of the two young nobles and sprinkled +them all with perfume, did much to restore them, though they were +all somewhat stiff, and every bone seemed to ache. They were kept +waiting for half an hour, at the end of which time the door of the +antechamber was opened and their names were called. The queen, who +was still a beautiful woman, was standing talking to a gentleman, +in whose attire there were but few symbols that would betray to a +stranger that he was an ecclesiastic of high rank. + +"You are the bearers of despatches from the army, messieurs?" + +"We have that honour, your majesty," de Penthiere, who was the +senior of the party, said. "We arrived from Paris at two o'clock +this morning, but did not venture to disturb your majesty at that +hour." + +"You did rightly," the queen said graciously. "We already knew that +a great victory had been gained, and could afford to wait for the +particulars. Do you each bear a despatch?" + +"We do, your majesty," de Penthiere said, producing that which +he bore. "This, your majesty, is the general report of the Duc +d'Enghien of the events of the battle. Colonel Campbell is intrusted +with the more detailed description of General Gassion. Monsieur +de Caussac's despatch contains the duke's views as to the carrying +on of the campaign; these he submits to the judgment of your majesty +and the council." + +Cardinal Mazarin stepped forward and took the three documents. + +"These we will peruse and consider at our leisure," the queen +said, "and I shall, I hope, see you at my levee this evening. In +the meantime I thank you for your service in having brought the +despatches so speedily here, and am well aware that the fact that +you have been chosen as the messengers of the commander-in-chief +is in itself a proof that your share in the battle was in the +highest degree honourable." + +She graciously held out her hand, which de Penthiere and his companions, +dropping upon one knee, raised to their lips, one after the other. + +"You are aware of the contents of the despatches, cardinal," the +queen said when they were alone. + +"Of their general scope, madam. The Prince of Conde did me the +honour to call upon me at eight this morning. He had gathered a +general account of the battle from the lips of that young Scottish +colonel, who was the only one of the party who was capable of +relating it, the others being almost speechless with fatigue, for +the road from Rocroi hither is long and rough." + +"You may well say the young Scottish colonel, cardinal. He is +but a youth, and it is strange indeed that he should already have +attained that rank." + +"He has served for four years under the Viscount Turenne," +Mazarin said, "and must therefore have had good opportunities of +distinguishing himself. Still, it is seldom indeed that any save +one of royal blood or of the very highest families obtains such +a rank so quickly. Turenne, however, was himself a colonel after +less than four years service." + +"Yes, cardinal, but he had the advantage of belonging to the family +of an almost independent sovereign." + +"Conde said that he had himself asked the young man how it was +that he had won it, and he replied that it was solely due to the +kindness of the Duc d'Enghien, who had been pleased to consider +a small service he had rendered as worthy of recognition. It is +like enough, your majesty, that we shall see his name mentioned +in one of these documents. It is certain that he would not have +been chosen to carry the despatches -- a duty which is regarded +as a reward of the most distinguished service -- unless he had done +something of marked importance." + +The two French officers on leaving the palace at once went off +to pay their respects in the first place to the heads of their +families, and afterwards to visit the various circles and coteries +with which they were connected, and where they would be sure of a +flattering welcome and attentive listeners. Hector, for his part, +rode direct to the quarters of the colonel of the Scottish regiment. +A soldier came out and took the bridle of his horse as he saluted, +while a sergeant asked what name he should announce. + +"Then you do not remember me, Sergeant Macfarlane?" + +The soldier looked at him earnestly. "Why," he exclaimed suddenly, +"it's Hector Campbell!" + +"Right enough, sergeant." + +"You have changed mightily, sir; you were but a laddie when you +went away nigh four years ago. The news came to the regiment that +you had been made a captain, and proud we all were. The colonel +will be right glad to see you," and he led the way into the house. + +"Then the regiment has not been on service just lately?" + +"We had two years on the Rhine; but we came back here last autumn. +The Red Cardinal was not fond of us, but he knew that he could trust +us -- which is more than he could have done some of the regiments +-- so he had us back again; and we were not sorry, for it was but +dull work there -- sieges and nought else." + +He was just going to open the door of the inner room when Hector +said, "You can announce me, Macfarlane, as Colonel Campbell." + +"Gude Lord," the sergeant ejaculated, "ye dinna say that ye are a +colonel?" Then reassuming with a great effort his military stiffness, +he opened the door and announced in a loud tone, "Colonel Hector +Campbell." + +There was an exclamation of astonishment from the colonel and two +or three officers who were sitting with him. + +"Why, Campbell," the former said, coming forward and warmly shaking +his hand, "you are changed indeed, and you have come back to us +almost the living image of your father when he first joined." + +The officers all shook hands with him warmly, and the colonel went +on, "Macfarlane announced you as colonel, Hector, but surely you +cannot have gained that rank?" + +"I only obtained it two days ago. You see it is a good thing +to be a prince's aide-de-camp. Turenne, wishing to give me every +opportunity of seeing service, sent me to Enghien with a message +asking him to employ me on his staff." + +"And you were at Rocroi?" the colonel exclaimed. "What is the real +news of the battle? It was given out officially last night that we +had won a victory, and there are all sorts of rumours this morning +in the town -- they say that three officers arrived last night +with full details." + +"I was one of the three, colonel; and I have just now come from +the palace after handing my despatches to the queen." + +"Then it was Enghien who made you colonel?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, then, you must have done something marked, or you could never +have got the rank. Why, he has half the young nobles of France in +his train -- he has not made them all colonels, I suppose?" + +"No, I suppose not; but we started early the next morning, and +therefore cannot say what promotions were made." + +"Still they made yours, Campbell. When did they do that?" + +"Just after the fight was over." + +"Umph! and what for?" + +"Well, I luckily discovered that the Spaniards had set an ambush." + +"Come, come, let us hear all about it. Tell us the whole story of +the fight." + +Hector gave all the details. + +"Well, it certainly seems to have been an extraordinary battle. +Everyone appears to have been beaten in turn." + +"Not Enghien's command, sir." + +"Well, no; but when cavalry are repulsed three times with a loss, +as you say, of nearly half their numbers, it is pretty well +equivalent to a beating; and if Enghien had not been able to bring +up the artillery and reserves, I take it that the third charge +would have been the last. The ambush that you discovered was, I +suppose, that of the thousand musketeers Enghien charged at the +beginning of the fight." + +Hector nodded his assent. + +"Well, it is as well they were found out and surprised before the +other part of the business began, or there is no saying how the +battle would have ended. We heard you had got your company. Turenne +himself was good enough, when he came here to confer with Richelieu +that summer, to call at the barracks and to give me an account of +the service you had rendered. We all agreed that the rank was well +earned, and I have no doubt that this new step has been just as +honourably gained. And how do you think matters are going?" + +"I know nothing about it, sir, beyond the fact that it was not a +secret that Enghien and Gassion were both in favour of advancing +at once into Flanders, and capturing the Spanish strong places +before they could gather another army together." + +"No doubt that would be the best way, but I should doubt very much +if Enghien will be allowed to carry out his plans. You see, the +king's will, appointing a council to act in concert with Conde, +Orleans, and the queen, has been set at nought. The queen is +absolute regent, and Mazarin is her minister -- just as Richelieu +was minister of Louis. Of course this victory will put everyone +in the best of temper, and make the way easy for Mazarin just at +first, but a defeat would set all the cliques at work against him. + +"It is quite true that the defeat would not be his fault, but for some +mysterious reason or other the French always hold the ministers, +for the time being, responsible for military disasters. So long +as Mazarin checks Enghien, and prevents his running any risks of +disaster, things are likely to go on smoothly here, and you may be +sure that he will give the prince no chance of either suffering a +defeat or achieving a victory. You see, the prince and his father +together might be a great deal too powerful for the cardinal. +Everyone knows that Conde himself has never cared much for anything +but his own interests. Enghien has the character of being the most +impetuous and violent young noble of the day, and the fact that he +forced this fight when, as is generally known, l'Hopital had the +strictest orders not to risk a battle, makes it clear that Enghien +has but little regard for authority. + +"You will see that Mazarin will not give him further opportunities +of becoming the idol of France until he has assured himself that +he can count upon his friendship. Mazarin is not Richelieu. The +red cardinal won his way to the leadership of France by proving +himself able to defeat all intrigues against him, and crush every +enemy, even those of the most exalted position. Mazarin has no such +antecedents. He is not even a Frenchman; he does not even look +like a noble. That he is clever we may be sure, or Richelieu would +not have recommended him as his successor. But I fancy that it is +the cleverness of an adventurer, and however adroit, an adventurer, +and especially a foreign adventurer, will not hold power in France +very long without exciting the hatred of the community and the +hostility of the nobles. However, I suppose you are remaining here +for a time." + +"That I do not know. I would rather return at once to the camp. +But I suppose I must wait for some intimation that I may do so. +You see, I am altogether out of my element in Paris, and I should +feel particularly uncomfortable at the court." + +"Who would you rather go to, Enghien or Turenne?" + +"Just at present there is more doing with Enghien than Turenne, +and more to learn, otherwise I would far rather be with Turenne. +Enghien's camp is too full of young nobles; and I should say that +he would take but little trouble in keeping order and repressing +license. Turenne is by no means unduly strict, but he enforces +order, and sets us such an example of earnestness and attention +to work, himself, that he has a right to expect the same, to some +degree, of everyone under him." + +"Where are you staying?" + +"At the Hotel Conde. The prince was good enough this morning to +ask me to establish myself there while I remained in Paris, and +I could not very well decline his invitation." + +"I should think not," one of the other officers laughed. "In these +days a powerful friend is of the greatest use. Without that one +has not much chance of advancement. Not that I want advancement; I +would rather remain as I am, a captain in the Scottish regiment, +surrounded by good and loyal friends and comrades, than be made a +general. Still, one likes to have a grumble sometimes at any rate." + +"Well, Home," the colonel said, "Hector Campbell is a proof that +even in France merit will make its way. That Turenne should have +taken a fancy to him in the first place was fortunate. But Turenne +would surely not have promoted him to be a captain within three +or four months of his joining except for the marked bravery and +diligence that he told us he displayed at Turin; and I have no +doubt that when we hear the particulars we shall find that this +promotion now has been equally well deserved, for certainly Enghien +is not likely to have gone out of his way to promote one altogether +a stranger to him when he had so many young nobles round him, +personal friends of his own, belonging to families whom he would +wish to oblige. Of course you will, as one of the bearers of +despatches, attend at the court this evening, Campbell?" + +"Yes, the queen said that she would expect to see us." + +"Of course; and you will be envied by every young courtier there. +At the present moment Paris is half wild over the victory of +Rocroi, and as you three will be the representatives of the army, +specially selected for the share you had in the battle, you may +be sure that you will be regarded with eyes of favour by every lady +of the court." + +"Well, I should think it would be a great nuisance," Hector said +gruffly. "Hitherto I have had nothing to do with ladies. There +were very few with the Duchess of Savoy, and whenever there were +receptions or state ceremonies of any kind, I was always ready +to exchange with de Lisle or Chavigny, my fellow aides-de-camp. So +that during the whole time I was there, I never but once or twice +accompanied the general on such occasions." + +"Ah, you were younger then," Home laughed. "You have passed eighteen +now, and, as you must know yourself, are by no means bad looking, +with a certain air of freshness and simplicity that is so rare here +in Paris that it will be regarded as refreshing and delightful +after the flippancies of the court gallants." + +Hector laughed uncomfortably. "I could not take up flippancies, I +am afraid. But what you say is true, Home; and if I had to remain +at court, I suppose I should have to set to work at once to cultivate +some affectation or other to counteract this simplicity of which +you speak. However, thank goodness, I do not suppose that I shall +stay here long. At any rate, it is lucky that I purchased a new +court suit before I started to join the Duke of Enghien. Coming +from Viscount Turenne I thought that I was bound to make a good +figure among the crowd of young nobles round Enghien, but it made +a large hole in my savings." + +"Do you mean to say that you had savings?" one of the other officers +exclaimed. "Who ever heard of such a thing? I never have a pistole +left in my pocket a week after I get my month's pay." + +"It is a very different thing living in Susa to living in Paris," +Hector laughed. "I can assure you that I never spent more than +half my pay; but living was dearer down in Roussillon. Things have +been in such a disturbed state there for years that the country +was well nigh a desert; and though my two comrades and I messed +together, the living cost twice as much as it did at Susa. Shall +I see any of you this evening at the palace?" + +"I shall be there," the colonel said, "and so will Home and Lesley. It +is always expected that three officers from each of the regiments +stationed in Paris, and five from the one that happens to be +on guard for the evening, should attend the royal receptions. It +will be a specially brilliant affair tonight, for the queen has +held but few receptions of late. It was only announced yesterday +afternoon, after the news of the battle arrived. Had it not been +for that, the salons would not have been opened for another month." + +"I am very glad that there will be somebody there I shall know." + +"Don't flatter yourself that you are going to consort with us," +the colonel laughed. "You will have to be presented to at least +a score of court dames. However, fortunately, they will not expect +the usual amount of compliments. They will be really wanting to +hear of the battle, and most of them will be interested in some +special friend with the army, and will want to inquire about him." + +"It will not be so bad, then," Hector said. "If I only have to +talk of military matters I shall not mind, but it will be painful +indeed if I have to give news of the death of anyone dear to the +lady I am speaking to." + +"I don't think that you need fear very much about that. Enghien +is pretty sure to have sent a list containing the names of any +court gallants that have fallen, and their relatives will at once +have been notified of it, and will not be present at the court. +As to the others, who have merely lost lovers, they will not break +their hearts over it. It is the fashion to change them so rapidly +that probably not a few of the ladies will have consoled themselves +for their absence already. However, to begin with, I daresay I +shall be able to act as your mentor and guide, and point out to +you who is who, so that you can avoid falling into serious errors. +You see, there are half a dozen parties at court already. There +are Mazarin's friends, who, by the way, are not numerous; there +are the Duke of Beaufort's clique; there is Conde's party. + +"Madame Chevreuse's party consists largely of herself. She is +a power, but at present no one can say with whom she will ally +herself. Hitherto she has been simply anti-Richelieu, and was +his most troublesome and bitter enemy; and I should say that not +improbably she will at once begin to conspire against Mazarin as +she did against him. She has been the queen's greatest ally; but +then the queen was always a bitter enemy of Richelieu, whereas at +present it is supposed that she is strongly in favour of Mazarin. +In a few months the situation will clear itself, parties will +become defined. No doubt Enghien's victory will add to the power +and importance of Conde, who is already dangerously strong; then +matters will become interesting. At present the situation is somewhat +chaotic, and politics will not be openly and generally discussed, +simply because no one knows what anyone else's opinion may be." + +"Well, then, till the evening I will say goodbye, colonel. I am +going to have a chat with Sergeant MacIntosh, and shall then return +to Conde's hotel. I suppose I shall be expected to take my midday +meal there." + +"It would be as well to do so certainly, even though it is like +enough that he himself will not be there. He is the prince of +schemers, and doubtless at present his thoughts are concentrated on +the manner in which he and Enghien can best gain advantages from +the victory." + + + +CHAPTER X: AN ESTATE AND TITLE + + +On entering the Scottish Soldier, Hector found that, as he hoped, +the cabaret was deserted, for it was the hour at which the regiment +was assembled for drill. It would have been a little embarrassing +for him as a colonel to come upon a number of private soldiers +at the cabaret. Separately he might have chatted with each, but +a general greeting when a number of them were there together would +have been embarrassing. + +The old sergeant as he entered ran up to him. "Well done, my lad, +well done! 'Tis a delight to me indeed to know that you have so +grandly made your way, and already won the rank of colonel." + +"Why, how did you know, MacIntosh?" + +"The guard at the colonel's was changed just after you went into his +quarters, and you may be sure that they lost no time in spreading +the news that you had returned, and returned a colonel. In ten +minutes this place was as full as it would hold, and there was +such a crowd outside the door that a sergeant-de-ville came in to +inquire what was the matter, thinking, perhaps, that the regiment +was in mutiny. I was right glad when I heard the trumpet sound +the assembly a few minutes ago, and they had to rush off in a hurry, +for I felt that it would be awkward for you were you to come in +when they were all so excited." + +"Yes, I was glad myself when I found that they were gone. I regard +every soldier in the regiment as my friend, and would shake hands +with them now as heartily as I did when I went away near four years +back, but I myself felt that it would be somewhat embarrassing +were I greeted by them wine cup in hand. Here are twenty pistoles; +say that I left them here for them to drink my health on my promotion, +but that I shall be so busy during the day or two that I remain +in Paris that I shall not be able to pay another visit here. Now +let us have a quiet talk together, and give me all the news of the +regiment." + +"Perhaps, colonel -- " + +"Oh, you need not call me colonel, MacIntosh, when you and I are +together alone. I am what I was -- Hector Campbell, the lad to +whom you showed so much kindness for his father's sake. Yes, I will +tell you one or two of my adventures, and you shall come round to +me tomorrow morning at seven o'clock at the Hotel Conde, and we +will stroll out together, and sit down in the gardens of the Palais +Cardinal, and you shall then tell me about the regiment, who have +gone, and what changes there are." + +"That will be best," the sergeant said. "We did hear something of +how you were made captain. Turenne was good enough to tell the +colonel, and so some of it came down to us, but of course it was +very little. The men would like to hear all about it and about +this battle at Rocroi, at which, of course, you must have in some +way distinguished yourself to be appointed colonel at your age." + +Hector gave him a full account of the battle. "The special thing +for which I was promoted," he said, at the finish, "was that, the +night before, it struck me that there might be an ambush set in the +copses in the hollow between the two armies. So far as I could see, +no efforts whatever had been made either to occupy the woods or to +find out if the enemy had done so; so I went with my servant, who +is a capital fellow, and we made our way into them, and discovered +a regiment of musketeers hidden there. Of course I reported the fact +to General Gassion, and he told the prince. So, before attacking +the enemy's lines, the prince charged right along the wood and +destroyed the musketeers there. If he had not done so, they would +have taken him in rear when he was hotly engaged with the Spaniards, +and might have changed the fate of the battle." + +"Certainly they might," the sergeant said. "A volley from a thousand +muskets from the rear would well shake even the best cavalry. It +was a happy thought of yours indeed." + +"Any merit there is in it was due to Turenne, who had carefully +instructed me in everything that could be of importance when two +hostile armies faced each other; and as he would never have dreamt +of retiring to rest before having every place where an enemy could +conceal himself carefully searched, it seemed to me a matter of +course that it should be done. However, General Gassion and the +prince were both good enough to consider that the service was a +vital one, and as soon as the battle was over the prince gave me +my promotion." + +"And it was well earned, lad, well earned. And now about that affair +at Turin." + +"It could not have been better done, Hector," the old soldier said +in high delight when the story was told. "I used to think that +you spent more time than was necessary in reading over accounts of +battles and sieges, but I see that the time was well spent. You +may be sure that I will be with you at seven tomorrow morning," +he added as Hector rose to leave, "though I expect I shall have a +heavy night of it here, for there will scarcely be a man in the +regiment who won't come round and stay to hear the news. I warrant +that by this evening there will not be a sou remaining out of the +money you have left for them." + +Hector arrived at the hotel just in time for the midday meal, and +was pleased to find that Conde himself was not present. He and his +two companions were placed at different points at the great table, +so that as many as possible could hear the story of the battle. +After the meal was over, Hector was glad to leave the salon, and +in company with a gentleman of the household, who had volunteered +to be his guide, spent the afternoon in visiting the principal +sights of Paris, of which he had seen but little when a boy in +barracks. The hotels of the nobles, each a fortress rather than a +private building, interested him greatly, as also the streets in +which the principal traders lived; but he was unfavourably impressed +with the appearance of the population in all other parts, and +could well understand what his guide told him, that it was dangerous +in the extreme for a gentleman unattended to pass through these +quarters. + +At six o'clock he sat down to the evening meal at Conde's, after +which, having attired himself in his new suit, he repaired with +de Penthiere and de Caussac to the Louvre. It was eight o'clock +when they entered, the reception rooms were already full, and the +brilliancy of the attire, both of the courtiers and ladies, seen +by the light of great chandeliers, was impressive in the extreme +to one who had never seen any gathering of the kind before. There +was a little pause in the buzz of conversation as the three officers +entered, and Hector's two companions were at once surrounded by +friends, while he himself was joined by Colonel Maclvor and the +other two officers. + +"You are the heroes of the evening, Campbell," the former said with +a laugh. "A dozen ladies have already asked me to present you to +them." + +"Well, please don't do so just now, colonel; let me look round +first." + +"That is but fair, Campbell. First, though, I will tell you a piece +of news that I have just heard. The queen sent off a messenger +two days ago to Turenne, and it is believed that he is to have the +command of the army on the Rhine." + +"That is good news indeed," Hector exclaimed. "It is high time +that he should be given a command, instead of being always put +under men less capable than himself. Still, it is unexpected at +the present moment." + +"I know that the queen always had the greatest liking for Turenne," +the colonel said, "but of course until now she has had no power. +Moreover, I fancy that the appointment is to some extent dictated by +policy. Conde is already dangerously powerful; Enghien's victory +will, of course, largely add to his influence. No doubt some +large estates will be given to the latter, such a service cannot +be ungenerously rewarded, but it will be thought unadvisable to +give him at present further opportunities. Conde is old, and his +son, who is certainly ambitious and hotheaded now, will be even more +powerful than his father has been. Were he to win more victories, +and to become a popular idol, his power might well overshadow +that of the throne. Therefore it is likely enough that my news is +true. Turenne has proved that military duty is with him supreme, +for he held aloof from all the troubles in which his brother the +duke has involved himself, and he may act as a counterpoise to +Enghien. I fancy that the latter's plan, which, as you have told +me, would lead to a conquest of Flanders, will not be adopted. +It would not have been so in Richelieu's time. The red cardinal +would not have lost a moment in ordering him to march into Flanders, +thinking only of the good of France, and disregarding the fact +that continued successes might lead to his own power being shaken." + +"And you do not think that Mazarin will act in the same way?" + +"I think not. Of course at present not much is known about him. He +affects the greatest humility, is almost obsequious to the great +nobles, and even professes to be anxious to return to Italy as soon +as his services here can be dispensed with. But I expect that he +will in time occupy as great a position as that of Richelieu, but +that he will hold it by craft rather than strength is, from the +look of the man, likely enough. For myself I should say that it +is infinitely better for France that an ecclesiastic like Richelieu +or Mazarin should be at the head of affairs, than that the great +nobles should all struggle and intrigue for power, ready as they +have shown themselves over and over again to plunge France into +civil war for the attainment of their aims. Ah, here comes the +queen!" + +The door at the end of the salon opened and Anne entered. By her +side walked the young king, a little behind were Orleans and Conde, +Beaufort and Bouillon, while, following them, with an air that was +almost humble, came Mazarin. The queen and the young king were +dressed in violet, the mourning colour of the court, and the +ladies present all wore shades of that colour relieved by white. All +present formed themselves into two lines, through which the queen +walked. She acknowledged the deep reverences, and the little king +bowed repeatedly. Anne of Austria was one of the most beautiful +women of her time, and although the charm of youth had disappeared, +her stateliness of bearing made up for this loss, and Hector thought +that he had never seen so lovely a woman. + +As soon as they had passed into an inner apartment known as the +audience chamber the lines broke up, and a buzz of conversation +and light laughter followed the silence that had reigned as the +procession passed. The court, indeed, felt a general feeling of +relief at the death of Louis. Although well meaning and desirous +of doing good, the life of the monarch had not been a happy one. +His health had never been good, and although he had the wisdom to +see that in supporting Richelieu, and in every way adding to his +authority, he was acting for the good of France, the knowledge +that he himself was little more than a cipher galled and irritated +him. His disposition was a jealous one, and as the great minister +knew that Anne of Austria was ever his opponent politically, he +worked upon this feeling, and embittered the lives of both the king +and queen, and the latter was the constant victim of the king's +jealousy and caprices. + +These things, combined with the ascetic temperament of the king, +had rendered the court of France a dismal one, and the royal salons +formed a strong contrast to the brilliancy of those of Richelieu. +Now the king was gone, and there was a general feeling of relief +among the nobles and ladies of the court. It might be that stormy +times were ahead, and indeed it was no secret that Conde, Beaufort, +and many other nobles were already united against Mazarin. They +called themselves "The Importants," a term well suited to their +own idea of their power, and of the position they aspired to as +the natural leaders of France. + +"Madame de Chevreuse wishes you to be presented to her," Colonel +Maclvor said to Hector. "Everyone knows her reputation; she is +the cleverest woman in France, and one of the most intriguing. She +is the queen's greatest friend, and has been her mainstay in her +struggle with Richelieu. Of one thing we may be sure, that she +will not tamely see Mazarin step into his place, and she has, it is +whispered, already thrown herself into the arms of 'The Importants,' +and if anyone can persuade the queen to throw over the cardinal it +is she." + +With a slight shrug of his shoulders Hector followed the colonel +to a group of three or four ladies seated upon some fauteuils. + +The colonel stopped before one of these, and bowing deeply said, +"Duchess, I have the honour to present to you my compatriot, Colonel +Campbell, who arrived here this morning with despatches from the +Duc d'Enghien." + +Madame Chevreuse, like the queen, was still a beautiful woman. +She was petite, and possessed a face whose fascination few could +withstand. She was the most restless of intriguers, and was never +so happy as when engaged in conspiracies which might cost her her +estates and liberty. + +"Why, Monsieur Campbell," she said with a smile, "I had looked to +see a fierce warrior, and, lo and behold I find one who, by his +appearance, will be far more in his element at court than in the +field." + +"Then appearances must greatly belie me, madame," Hector said; +"for while I may say that I am at home in a military camp, I feel +sorely ill at ease here, and I feel I would rather face an enemy's +battery than so many beautiful faces." + +"That is not bad for a beginner," the lady said with a smile, "but +methinks you will soon get over that fear, for there is nothing +very dangerous in any of us. The Duchesse de Longueville," and she +motioned to the lady next to her, "is as desirous as myself that +you should be presented to her, and that she should hear from your +lips somewhat more of the doings of her brother than she has yet +learned." + +Hector again bowed deeply. The sister of Enghien was as ambitious +for her brother's sake as he was for his own self, and she was +his potent ally in the troubles of the times. + +"Enghien was wounded," she said. "Monsieur la Moussaie left the +field directly the battle was won, and could tell me little about +my brother's injuries." + +"He received three wounds, duchess, but happily none of them were +severe, and he was on horseback on the following morning. It +seemed miraculous to us all that he should so escape, for he rode +ever ahead of us in the charges against the Spanish square." + +"You were acting as one of his aides-de-camp? I do not remember +having seen your face before." + +"No, madame. I have been for the past four years on the staff of +the Viscount de Turenne, and have not left the army during that +time. The general had the goodness, seeing that there was little +doing in the south, to send me to learn what I could from the +operations of the duke against the Spanish. He sent me a letter +of recommendation to your brother, who kindly appointed me to the +same position under him that I had occupied under Turenne." + +"Did you find the ladies of Italy very lovely?" Madame de Chevreuse +asked suddenly. + +"In truth, madame, I had but small opportunities of judging, seeing +that, unless when sent with some message from the general to the +Duchess of Savoy, I do not think that I exchanged a single word +with a woman during the whole of my stay there." + +Madame de Chevreuse, and the Duchesse de Longueville, and all the +ladies sitting round, smiled. + +"Then you have very much to learn, Colonel Campbell," Madame de +Chevreuse said. "You will find plenty of ladies in the court here +who will not object to give you lessons." + +"I trust, madame," Hector said bluntly, "that there will be little +opportunity for me to take lessons as to the manners of the court, +for I hope that my stay here will be short indeed." + +"That is a most ungallant speech," the younger duchess said, +laughing, "and shows indeed the truth of what you have said as +to your ignorance of women. Do you not know, sir; that it is an +unwritten law at court that every gentleman here must be at the +feet of one fair lady?" + +"I suppose that, had I been brought up at court," Hector said, "I +should not be more insensible than others; but when one passes +three-quarters of one's time on horseback, and that under a +commander like Turenne, who sets us all an example in the matter +of endurance and watchfulness, one has small leisure indeed for +aught else, and indeed is glad enough to seek one's bed as soon as +the day's work is done." + +"If you are another Turenne," Madame de Chevreuse laughed, "I give +you up. He is the most insensible of men. His head contains but +one idea, and that is duty; and as to us poor creatures, he is as +insensible as was St. Anthony." + +At this moment the door that separated the salon from that of the +queen opened, and the names of Monsieur de Penthiere and Monsieur +de Caussac were called. The two officers at once passed into the +inner room. + +"You are either left out in the cold, monsieur le colonel, or you +will have the honour of a separate audience," Madame de Chevreuse +said. + +"As I have been rewarded far above my merits for any service +that I have rendered," Hector said quietly, "it is probable that +the queen has nothing to say to me. She was pleased to receive me +very graciously this morning, and gave me her hand to kiss, and +I assuredly have no right to expect any further favours." + +In a few minutes the two officers came out, both looking radiant, +the queen having graciously presented them with the titles to two +estates. A minute later Hector's name was called, and he went off, +with a deep bow to the ladies and a murmured apology for leaving +them. + +"A loyal spirit, surely," Madame de Chevreuse said; "bizarre, of +course, and at present simple as a child. Moreover, I should say +that the atmosphere of the court will not infect him as it has the +others. It is refreshing to meet with one who, although he must +have distinguished himself vastly, is still modest and simple, +without a shadow of conceit or of self consciousness. He spoke +as frankly to us as if we were two waiting maids at a cabaret. +However, men of that stamp may always be made useful, and I would +rather have the devotion of a young officer like that, who is, I +should say, likely to rise to high rank, than that of half a dozen +men ready to lay their hearts at the feet of the first comer, and +who are as ready to change mistresses as sides." + +By this time the door had closed behind Hector. The queen was sitting +on a sofa, with the little king by her side. Mazarin stood a pace +behind her. Conde and Orleans had a short time before gone out, and +had mingled with the crowd in the antechamber, and the courtiers +present, who were all members of her council, stood some distance +in the rear. + +"We have had time, Colonel Campbell, to read our despatches, and +can now estimate the service that you rendered the Duc d'Enghien +and our army. General Gassion, or I should say Marshal Gassion, +for he has today been raised to that rank, speaks of the value +of that service in terms of the highest eulogy, and indeed says +frankly, that had it not been for your voluntary expedition and +the discovery by you of the Spanish ambuscade, it is probable that +we should have suffered a defeat instead of a victory. The duke +speaks no less strongly in your favour. I can remember that when +the Viscount Turenne was here three years ago, he told us how +a young Scottish officer on his staff had saved Turin to us by a +most daring enterprise, by which he informed the garrison of the +citadel that help would soon reach them, and mentioned that for +that service he had appointed Monsieur Campbell a captain. You +are Scottish by birth, are you not?" + +"I am, your majesty, by birth and descent. My father was a captain +in the Scottish regiment, and fell at the siege of La Rochelle. I +was, I may say, adopted by the regiment, and had the good fortune +to be trained in arms from a child, and the still greater fortune +to attract the attention of the Viscount de Turenne, who, young as +I was, obtained a commission for me and appointed me to his staff." + +"Well, young sir, the viscount rewarded you for the great service +that you rendered him at Turin; the Duc d'Enghien has similarly +rewarded you for your service to him at Rocroi; but it is ours +to reward you for your services to France; and Cardinal Mazarin +will, in my name, hand you tomorrow the estate of de la Villar, +in Poitou, which carries with it the title of Baron de la Villar. +A soldier who has rendered such service to us cannot be allowed +to remain a soldier dependent on his pay, and I am sure that should +need arise you will do me as good service as you have rendered to +Turenne and Enghien." + +"Your majesty is too good and gracious," Hector stammered, overcome +by this sudden and unexpected reward; "but be assured, madame" +-- and he recovered himself, and his voice was steady -- "should +there be need, I will willingly lay down my life in your majesty's +service, and in that of the king, your son." + +"Which means also," the queen said gently, "in that of my minister, +who may need faithful friends even more than we do, and under +whose advice we have now acted." + +"Assuredly, madame. Cardinal Mazarin is your minister, and as long +as he possesses your confidence he represents France in my eyes, +and I will render as faithful service to him as to yourself." + +"Well spoken, baron," the queen said graciously. "Henceforth I +shall count you as among my friends." She held out her hand for +him to kiss, as did the little king, and after a deep bow to them +and to the cardinal, Hector left the audience chamber still almost +bewildered by the honours bestowed upon him. + +Hector made his way through the crowd to the side of Colonel +Maclvor, the general verdict of those who watched him being that +he had not met with the same good fortune as those who preceded +him, but that for some reason or other he had been reprimanded. + +"Well, lad," the colonel said, "what fortune have you met with? +Judging by your face, either the queen or the cardinal have failed +to recognize the service that you have rendered." + +"Upon the contrary, colonel, they have so heaped favours upon me +that at present I can scarcely realize my good fortune, and feel +almost humiliated that so much should have been given for what was +a mere matter of duty and attended by no great peril." + +"What have they done, then, Campbell?" + +"Well, colonel, absurd as it seems even to myself, the queen has +graciously bestowed upon me the estate of la Villar, by which gift +she says I become as its owner the Baron de la Villar." + +"That is fortunate indeed, my dear Campbell," the colonel said, +heartily shaking him by the hand. "It shows that the duke and +Gassion were of the same opinion that we expressed, namely, that +your discovery of that ambush was the chief factor in bringing +about the victory of Rocroi." + +"But it was such a simple thing," Hector said. "It was merely a +reconnaissance, such as I have made scores of times in Italy." + +"No doubt, Campbell; but you see the other reconnaissances did +not lead to any results, while this did. My dear lad, it is by +results that men are judged. That you, a young officer on Enghien's +staff, should unbidden, and, as you say, as a matter of duty, have +undertaken such a business, shows how thoroughly you have profited +by your teaching under Turenne; and as such you deserve what you +have gained, though I do not say that you would have obtained your +desserts had not your reconnaissance saved Enghien from defeat. +Now I will take you to Madame de Chevreuse again. She beckoned to +me after you entered the audience chamber, and told me to bring you +up again when you came out, as she and the Duchesse de Longueville +had taken a great fancy to you. Now, my dear boy, your position is +changed. You have become a French noble, and, however unwilling, +may find yourself mixed up on one side or the other with the doings +of your court. Both these ladies have power, and it is well to +keep in with them, for either of them might prove a valuable friend +and protector, and the first rule here is make as many friends as +possible, for no one can say when you may require them." + +Hector again followed the colonel to the group of ladies. + +"Madame," Maclvor said, "I have the honour to present you -- " + +"Why, have you not presented him to us already?" Madame de Chevreuse +said with a laugh. "Your memory must be singularly short, colonel." + +"My memory is not short, madame, but it is a somewhat different +personage that I have now to present to you. Madame, I have the +honour to present Colonel Campbell, Baron de la Villar." + +Both ladies uttered an exclamation of surprise. + +"Why, what has he done, colonel?" the duchess exclaimed. "It must +have been some remarkable action, surely, for him to be made +colonel by my brother and Baron de la Villar by the queen." + +"In the opinion of the Duc d'Enghien and General Gassion, duchess, +he performed a service that to a large extent brought about the +victory of Rocroi. My young friend is at present not beyond the +age of modesty, and therefore if you will allow me I will state +the circumstances. Under General de Turenne he was in the habit of +constantly visiting the posts at night with the viscount or alone, +and endeavouring to discover the position and intentions of the +enemy. The night before the battle he started voluntarily to perform +the same duties, and, accompanied only by his servant, he crept +into a wood that lay between the two armies and there discovered +a thousand musketeers who were lying in ambush. He reported the +discovery to General Gassion, who on his part informed the duke +of this most important intelligence, for it was evident that, had +the ambuscade been unsuspected, they would have taken the cavalry +in the rear at the critical moment of the battle, and would have +opened so heavy a fire that even the bravest of cavalry, thus +surprised and shot down by an unsuspected foe in their rear, might +have fallen into confusion. Being forewarned, the duke directed +his first charge upon the wood, took the musketeers by surprise, and +annihilated them, before charging and routing the enemy's horse. +Thus you see, ladies, that we have another illustration of the +mouse saving the lion, and the lion was generous and noble minded +enough to give the mouse full credit for the service that he had +rendered him." + +"Then we have good reason to be grateful to you, monsieur le baron," +Madame Chevreuse said, laying aside the bantering tone in which +she had before addressed the young Scot, "and her majesty has done +well to reward your loyalty, for the estate is a fine one, and has +remained without a master since Richelieu brought its last owner +to the block for having, as he affirmed, conspired against the king +-- that is to say, against himself. You have begun well indeed, sir. +Henceforth the Duchesse de Longueville and myself may be counted +upon as your friends. And now," she said, changing the subject +abruptly, "as you say that you are anxious to be off, with whom +will you serve, with Turenne or with Enghien? For I hear that +Turenne has been sent for to take the command of the army of the +Rhine." + +"I belong to Viscount Turenne," Hector said. "It is to him that I +owe everything. He picked me up a rough boy, with no recommendation +save that my father died fighting for France, and that I was more +addicted to military study than most lads of my age, and that, as +he was good enough to say, I reminded him of his own boyhood. It +was owing to his kindness and his tuition that I have now made my +way, and it was still further to increase my military knowledge +that he sent me for a time to serve under the Duc d'Enghien. +Therefore, much as I admire the glory that the duke has gained, +and recognize his extraordinary genius, I feel that duty and +gratitude alike bind me to my great master." + +"Quite right," the Duchesse de Longueville said warmly. "I am +sure that my brother will approve of your decision. He admires +Turenne as much as you do, and regards him as his master in military +science, and it may be perhaps that one of these days you will +take part in a battle in which my brother and Turenne will both +have command." + +"If it be so, madame," Hector said, "there can be little doubt of +victory, for with the two greatest military geniuses France has +produced during the last hundred years it would be hard indeed if +victory did not attend their united banners." + +The news of the honour that had been bestowed upon this young +colonel circulated rapidly through the salon, and many gentlemen +came up and begged Colonel Maclvor to introduce him to them. One +who had received so marked a proof of the queen's favour, and +who had won the praise and goodwill of both Turenne and Enghien, +might well become in time a man of mark, and so many compliments +were showered upon Hector that he was glad indeed when the queen +again passed through the room on her way to her apartments and he +was at liberty to retire. He walked slowly back to Conde's palace, +went up to his room, changed his court suit for that which he had +worn during the day, and then went out again, feeling that it would +be hopeless to attempt to sleep. He paced backwards and forwards +for some hours on the quay, thinking of the changes that three +days had brought about. + +He could scarcely realize even now, that he who a week ago was but +a captain with nought but his pay, was now not only a colonel but +a noble of France, with an estate of whose value he was ignorant, +but as it carried with it a patent of nobility it was evident that +it must be one of dimensions sufficient to support the title. The +change excited no feeling of exultation. His whole thoughts so far +had been directed solely to his career as a soldier. He had hoped +that some day he might win a colonelcy; more than that he had +never thought of. High commands in France were matters of birth, +interest, and connection. Gassion, who had just earned his marshal's +baton, was the sole exception to the rule. Hitherto generals, and +still more marshals, had always been men belonging to the first +families of France. It had been a matter of course that when an +army went to the field it was under the command of a prince of the +blood, and the utmost an outsider could look for was the command +of a regiment. The promotion had delighted him, not for the sake +of the pay or position, but because, if he obtained the command +of one of the regiments that were rapidly being formed to meet +the dangers that threatened France, he would have opportunities +of doing good service and of earning the esteem of such men as +Turenne. His civil dignity, however, oppressed rather than gratified +him. He would have heavy responsibilities. When not on active +service he would be expected to show himself at court, and would +have a difficulty in holding himself aloof from its intrigues and +conspiracies. His thoughts turned to Scotland. He had relations +there, it was true, both on his father's and mother's side, but +they were strangers to him. Moreover, Scotland at present was torn +by a civil and religious war. In England a civil war was raging, +and the extreme party in Scotland, having got the upper hand, had +allied themselves with the English parliamentarians, and the cause +of the king was well nigh lost. + +The Scottish officers and men in the French service had for the most +part left their homes owing to the bitter religious differences of +the times, and, under the easier conditions of the life in France, +had come to look with disgust at the narrow bigotry of the Scottish +sects, a feeling heightened perhaps by the deep resentment that +still prevailed in France at the insolence with which Knox and the +Scottish reformers had treated their princess, Queen Mary. Among +the French officers the feeling was wholly in favour of the royal +cause in England. The queen was French, and had France herself not +been engaged in warfare numbers of the young nobles would have +gone over and drawn their swords in her cause, and Hector would +gladly have done the same. + +For the time, at any rate, he had no idea whatever of returning +to Scotland. If better times came he had often thought that, if +successful in winning a competency, he would return to his native +land, for his close connection with the Scottish regiment kept +alive in him his feeling of nationality, and he always regarded +himself as a stranger in France. The estates and title now bestowed +upon him seemed to put this hope further away than ever, and to +fix him permanently in France, a contingency more disagreeable to +him the more he saw how completely France was dominated by faction, +and how unstable were the conditions of life there. His musings, +therefore, as he walked up and down for hours, were very different +from those which most young men would have felt at so great and +sudden a change in their fortunes. + + + +CHAPTER XI: THE CASTLE OF LA VILLAR + +The next morning he called at eleven o'clock, at which hour the +cardinal's secretary had informed him that Mazarin would expect +him. He went to the abode of the minister. Mazarin received him +with marked courtesy. + +"Here are the deeds appointing to you the estate of la Villar and +your patent of nobility," he said, pointing to a box upon his table. +"You have been singularly fortunate, sir, and from all inquiries +that I have made from officers who have served with Monsieur de +Turenne, and, I may say, from Colonel Maclvor, I hear nothing but +good of you, as a soldier devoted to duty, as a young man free from +the vices and dissipations too common among those of your age, +and as possessing intelligence as well as courage. Such men, sir, +even royalty does well to attach to itself, and for them a splendid +career is open. I, high as is the office in which Providence has +placed me, may well envy you. You fight against the enemies of +France; I am surrounded by enemies open and secret, and the war +is no less earnest than that which Turenne and Enghien are waging. + +"The great nobles of France are jealous that I, a foreigner, should +have the ear of the queen, and be first minister of the country. +Gladly indeed would I resign my position and return to my bishopric +in Italy, were it not that I promised the great man to whose place +I have so unworthily succeeded, that I would do my best for the +country on whose behalf he spent every hour of his life, and that +I would, unless driven from it by force, hold the seals of office +until the young king should be old enough to rule France unaided. +You, baron, are like myself a foreigner, and ready to risk your +life in the service of France, and you will understand how I +am situated and how I feel. You, happily for yourself, are not so +highly placed as to excite enmity, although doubtless not a few +of those who flocked round you yesterday evening to congratulate +you on your good fortune felt a sensation of envy that a young +soldier of fortune should be so honoured. + +"In my case envy is accompanied by the deepest animosity. The great +nobles find me an obstacle in the way of their grasping power, +and they would hesitate at nothing to rid themselves of me. Were it +not for the support of the queen, my position would be untenable +even for an hour. Without me the queen herself would speedily +become as much a cipher as she was so long as the weak king reigned. +We have need, both of us, of men of heart and devotion such as +I take you to be. I ask for no engagements, sir, but I felt that +there was a genuine ring in your voice yesterday evening when you +promised faithful service to her majesty, and I feel that if such +service is needed you will be ready to render it." + +"I shall indeed, your eminence. I cannot conceive that any circumstances +can occur that would render such aid as I could offer of service +to you, but be assured that should such an occasion arise, the queen +may count upon me to render it to the extent of my life; and when +I say the queen I, of course, include your eminence as her trusted +adviser and supporter." + +"Well spoken, sir. I believe your words, and it may be that the +occasion is not so far distant as you may imagine. Here is the +box, sir. By the way, it will, I am sure, be a pleasure for you to +know that her majesty has the intention of creating the Viscount +de Turenne field marshal as soon as he arrives in Paris." + +"It is indeed, monseigneur; never did a soldier better earn such +honour. There, indeed sir, is a true and noble heart, loyal to his +duty beyond all things, adored by his soldiers, ready to serve under +officers altogether inferior to himself, incapable of jealousy, +and devoted to his sovereign and his country." + +"You do not speak too warmly of him," the cardinal said; "and among +all the difficulties of the situation there seems to be but one +fixed point, and that point is that upon Monsieur de Turenne we +can at least confidently rely." + +Hector felt that his audience was at an end, and taking the box +from the table, and again thanking the cardinal for the honour +bestowed upon him, he retired. The cardinal's chamberlain met him +at the door. "Will you step in here, monsieur le baron?" he said, +and led the way into a small apartment. "As a stranger to the +court, monsieur, you are probably unaware of the value of the gift +that has been granted to you, or of its duties and obligations." + +"Altogether, sir; beyond the fact that it is in Poitou, which her +majesty mentioned yesterday, I know absolutely nothing about it." + +"Without being an estate of the first class," the chamberlain said, +"it is one which is of importance in its province. The revenue is +punctually paid and is amply sufficient to enable its lord to make +a good figure at court, and to rank among the notables in the +province. It is a fief held directly from the crown; its owner is +bound to furnish feudal service of twenty-five mounted men and +twenty-five arquebusiers, or, should he prefer it, fifty horsemen +in all. Some of its owners have in times of peril raised a force +of thrice that strength. So you will see that the Lord of la Villar +is not an unimportant personage. The estate is held at present by +a royal intendant. You will find in that box an order for him to +place you in possession of the castle and estate whensoever you +may present yourself, and as at the present moment your services can +be spared from the army, it might be as well to visit it at once, +if only for a few days. Possibly the cardinal did not inform you +that he has ordered that the regiment that has been just recruited +shall bear the name of the regiment of Poitou, and has appointed +you to its command." + +This news gave much greater pleasure to Hector than did the gift +of the fief, or the rank that accompanied it. + +"Will you please give my earnest thanks to his excellency," he +said, "and assure him that he can depend upon my devotion." + +When Hector returned to the Hotel Conde he found that the soldiers +who had started with him from Rocroi had all arrived, bringing +with them the twelve horses that had been left on the road; four of +these were to be handed over to each of the officers. The division +was just being made as he entered the courtyard, each officer +taking the four he had ridden by the way. + +Paolo at once came up to him. "What are we to do with these horses, +master?" he asked, with an air of bewilderment. + +"We have now seven of them, counting mine, the one I led, and that +you rode when you set out." + +"I must see where I can bestow them for the present until we think +the matter over;" and going up to one of Conde's officers, he asked +him if he could recommend a place where he might leave safely four +horses for a time. + +"The auberge of the Pome d'Or is but a street from here, monsieur; +it has good stables, and the host is an honest man, which is not +often the case with men of his class. When the stables here are +full the prince often engages extra stalls there for the use of +his guests. I will send four men with the horses at once, if such +is your pleasure." + +"You will greatly oblige me by doing so," Hector replied. Having +seen the horses safely and comfortably lodged at the inn, Hector +returned to the hotel with Paolo. + +"You are not tired, I hope, Paolo?" he asked as they walked back. + +"No, master; we have taken three days to do what you did in one, +and have fatigued neither ourselves nor our beasts." + +"That is well, for I am going to start on a journey this afternoon, +that is to say, if I can manage to make my arrangements." + +"May I ask where you are going, master?" + +"You will be surprised to hear that I am going to visit my estates +in Poitou." + +Paolo looked sharply up to see whether Hector was joking. Seeing +that he looked serious, he said hesitatingly, "But I did not know, +master, that you had estates in Poitou. I never heard you speak +of them." + +"Because I had them not, Paolo. That box that you are carrying +holds the titles. The fief was granted to me last night by the +queen herself, the Duc d'Enghien and General Gassion having been +good enough to make a good deal more of that night adventure of +ours than it deserved. The estates carry a title with them, and I +am now the Baron de la Villar." + +Paolo gave an exclamation of delight. "Well, master, I am glad indeed; +but," he went on in a changed tone, "now that you, monsieur, have +become a noble, you will no longer require the services of a lad +from Savoy." + +"Indeed I shall, Paolo, as long as you choose to remain with me. +Why, have you not shared with me in the adventures, one of which +made me a captain, and the other a colonel and a noble? Of course +I shall have other servants, but you will always be my bodyservant +and companion." + +"And are you going to leave the army, monsieur?" Paolo asked, after +pouring out his thanks. + +"No, I shall still remain in the army. Turenne will be in Paris +soon, and will then go to the Rhine to take the command there, +and I hope to go with my regiment." + +"Then you have a regiment, master?" + +"Yes; one of the newly formed regiments has been named the regiment +of Poitou, and I am to have the command. Of course, it may be sent +either to him or to Enghien, but I hope that it will be to Turenne; +and I should think so, because from what I hear there is scarcely +any army left on the Rhine, and therefore it is probable that the +new regiments will all be sent there, as Enghien's force is quite +sufficient to cope with any enemy he is likely to meet with in +Flanders. Now, I am going down to the barracks, and for the next two +or three hours you can amuse yourself by taking a look at Paris." + +It was not to the barracks that Hector made his way, but to The +Scottish Soldier. + +"I did not expect to see you so soon again, colonel. Your man +brought me word that I was not to come this morning, as you would +be engaged," the sergeant said when he entered. + +"Yes, but our talk was only postponed, sergeant; now I want you to +aid me in a matter that I have on hand." + +"What sort of matter is it?" + +"I want to find four good men to take into my service. The queen +has granted me an estate, as if a colonelcy was not an ample and +more than ample reward for discovering that ambuscade. It is the +fief of la Villar in Poitou, and the most absurd point of the +thing is that with it is a title, and I am now Colonel Campbell, +Baron de la Villar." + +"Well, well," the sergeant exclaimed; "you will be coming and telling +me next that you are going to marry a princess of the blood. Did +one ever hear of such things! However, Hector, lad, I congratulate +you with all my heart, and I am as glad as if it had been a bairn +of my own that had had your good fortune. Now, in what can I help +you about the four men? What sort of men do you want?" + +"I want four good men and true, sergeant, men that I can rely upon. +I shall want them to ride with me in the field as orderlies, for +I have been appointed to the command of an infantry regiment. Of +course, I should like young and active men, but that they should +be steady and accustomed to arms is still more important." + +"I know but few men outside the regiment," the sergeant said. "The +laddies like to have the place to themselves, and I don't encourage +others about; but if you can do with good men who have somewhat +passed their prime, but are still capable of service and handy +with their arms, I know just the men that will suit you. We had +a little bit of trouble in the regiment a week since; four of the +men -- Allan Macpherson, Jock Hunter, Donald Nicholl, and Sandy +Grahame -- came in after tattoo, and all a bit fu'. It was not here +they got it, though; I know better than to supply men with liquor +when it is time for them to be off to the barracks. Captain Muir, +who is the only dour carl in the regiment, happened to be on duty, +and he spoke a good deal more hardly to them than to my mind there +was any occasion, seeing that they are good soldiers and not in the +guardroom more often than others. They answered him more freely, no +doubt, than they would have done had they not been in their cups. + +"They were had up before the colonel the next morning. They had +all served their time, and having been greatly angered at their +treatment, they at once up and told the colonel that they would +take their discharges. The colonel would have pacified them, but +Captain Muir stood out strongly, and said that if such insolence +as theirs was allowed to go unpunished it would be a bad example +indeed for the regiment; so the colonel paid them up to the day +and gave them their papers. It has caused a lot of feeling in the +regiment, as you may guess, and the men all groaned and booed when +Muir came on parade the next day, and it was as much as the colonel +himself -- whom they all love as a father -- could do to silence +them. It is said that he spoke very sharply to Muir afterwards, +and that it is likely the captain will get transferred to another +regiment. However, that is too late for the men who have left. Their +comrades are going to get up a subscription to send them back to +Scotland, for you may be sure the hotheaded fools have not a bawbee +of their pay laid by." + +"I know them all, sergeant, and I should say they would be the +very men to suit me; they are all strong and hearty fellows, and +might have been good for another ten years campaigning if it had +not been for this business. Can you send for them?" + +"They will all be here in half an hour for their meal," the sergeant +said. "They are lodged upstairs, for you may be sure that they +would come to me; and even if I kept them for six months, I should +not have lost much when I reckon what they have spent here during +their service. I have no doubt they will jump at the offer; for +they were mere lads when they came over -- it was your father who +sent for them -- and I know that they reckon they will find none +of the old folk when they return home. And now what are your estates +like, lad?" + +"I know very little about them at present, beyond the fact that I +am bound by my feudal obligations to put fifty men in the field +when called upon to do so." + +"Then it must be a place of good size," the sergeant said. "And +you hold it direct from the crown?" + +Hector nodded. + +"That is good. When you hold from one of the great lords, you never +know whom you may be called upon to fight against -- it may be the +king, it may be his minister, it may be some other noble -- while +holding direct, you have only the king's enemies to fight against." + +"Or rather, MacIntosh, the chief minister's enemies; for, after +all, when a king signs a proclamation, it is usually a minister's +signature that ought to be attached to it." + +"Well, well, Master Hector, it makes little difference to us Scots +who it is that we fight for, it is no quarrel of ours. We have +taken service under the King of France; but when there are two +parties, and each claims to be in favour of the king, we have +simply to fight for whoever happens to have the king's signature. +If they both have it, then it is the general who commands our +division who gives us orders, and it matters nought to us whom he +takes his orders from." + +"At any rate, MacIntosh, it is not for soldiers to inquire too +deeply into these matters; if we did, we should have one half of +the regiment firing into the other." + +"So we should, lad, so we should; therefore we soldiers do wisely +in leaving the matter to our officers. If the colonel says 'Charge!' +we charge; if he says 'Dismount and take to your musketoons!' we +do so, without troubling our heads as to whether it is Germans or +Spaniards or Frenchmen whom we have to aim at. Ah, here come your +four men!" + +As the four troopers entered the cabaret and saw who was speaking +to MacIntosh they hesitated, and would have turned, but the sergeant +called out, "Attention! salute!" and they stood as motionless as +statues till Hector ordered them to stand easy. + +"I have been talking about you men to Sergeant MacIntosh, who tells +me that you have taken your discharge and the reason for your so +doing. I think that you acted hastily; however, that is your affair. +The matter that concerns me is this: -- I am appointed colonel of +an infantry regiment and I want four good men as orderlies. They +will be mounted, and I shall see that they draw rations when there +are any rations to be had; but they will be my troopers and not +soldiers of the regiment. I want good men, who can be relied upon +in any emergency; they will ride behind me in battle, act as scouts +if necessary, and they will receive double the pay of ordinary +troopers. In peacetime, or when the regiment is in winter quarters, +I shall pass my time either in Paris or on my estate in Poitou, +and they will of course accompany me. I may tell you that I am +now Baron de la Villar, but I should wish to be always addressed +as Colonel Campbell. I know you all of old, and that your only +failing is somewhat too great a love for the wine flask; that must +only be indulged in at times when you are not only off duty, but +when there is no possibility of your services being required. Now, +what do you think, men; will my service suit you?" + +"That it would, sir," burst from them simultaneously. + +"Of course, there will be some other advantages beyond that of +pay. When the time comes that you get beyond active service in +the field, I shall be able to provide you with easier posts at la +Villar, and there you will find a comfortable home in your old age, +if you prefer to stay with me rather than to return to Scotland." + +"No further word need be spoken, colonel," Allan Macpherson said; +"we are your men, and shall be proud to follow you, were there +no question of pay at all, but just our rations and a home to look +forward to when our arms get weak and eyes dim." + +"Then, men, if so say you all, the service begins from the present +time. You have your armour and headpieces, your doublets and +jackboots, so there is not much to buy. I have horses ready for +you. You have pistols." + +"Yes, we have all pistols and swords, colonel, but the musketoons +belonged to the regiment." + +"There will be no occasion for you to carry them. Get for yourselves +four long cloaks well lined and serviceable -- 'tis best that they +should be all of a colour, dark blue or gray -- and broad hats to +match the cloaks; have in each a small red feather. I would that +you should make a decent show, for we shall start in two hours +for Poitou. Here are twenty crowns. See that you have ammunition +for your pistols. Be at the Hotel Conde in two hours from the +present time. Your dinner here is ready for you, eat heartily, but +do not drink too deeply in honour of your new service. + +"Now, MacIntosh, I have a word or two further to speak to you." + +They went into an inner room. + +"Now, old friend, are you tired of this life of keeper of a cabaret? +because I shall want you down in Poitou. Your house was mine when +I sorely needed it, and mine shall be yours now. You are as yet +but fifty-five, and I take it that you can do a man's work still, +for you no longer suffer from that wound that disabled you ten +years ago. Now, I shall require someone to drill the fifty men who +will form my contingent, if all vassals of the king are called +upon to take the field. Of course they will not always be under +arms; most of them will be the sons of tenants, or substitutes +provided by them, and will only give two or three days' service a +month. It is probable, however, that half will be regular retainers +at the castle. I know nothing about the castle at present, or how +large it is, or whether it is defensible or not; still, it was spoken +of as a castle, and 'tis, I suppose, one to a certain degree. + +"At any rate, I desire that if I do put a troop in the field they +shall be as well drilled and as well equipped as are the Scottish +regiment of musketeers. I suppose that there must be an official +to act as my agent when I am away, and to act as castellan, but in +any case the captain of my troop will be in charge of all matters +connected with its defence. Now, old friend, the post is yours if +you like to take it. As a soldier, none can be better fitted for +the post than a sergeant of the Scottish regiment; as a man, there +is no one I could rely on better than you. Your duties would not +be heavy, your position an honourable one. The castle would be +your home as well as mine, and when I am there you would have the +four troopers to crack with." + +"Your offer is a most kind one," the sergeant said, "but I must +think it over in all lights before I answer. I should miss the +company of the lads, but already many of my old comrades are gone; +most are still in Paris earning with difficulty their bread, some +are under the sod, some have returned home. Every year the number +who rode with me lessens. They will be countrymen, but no longer +comrades. Certainly I have no thought of returning to Scotland, +the people are ower gude for me; besides, the country is all in a +stir and the folks are flying at each other's throats. I wudna go +back, not if they offered me a barony. Then, on the other hand, +I misdoubt me how I should feel among strangers -- I don't say +foreigners, for I have been so long here that as far as tongue +goes I am as much French as I am Scottish. Still, I would rather +be forming troopers in your service than drawing stoups of wine, +and the young soldiers do not regard me as the old ones did, and +grumble if I will draw them no more. Most of all, I should like to +be with you and in your service, and to know that I had a home in +my old age." + +"That you will have whenever you come to claim it, MacIntosh, whether +you accept my offer or not. However, I think that what you say is +best, and that it would be well for you to think the matter well +over and give me no answer until I return. I should be sorry indeed +if, after giving up your place here and going down to Poitou, you +should regret the exchange. Therefore, we will leave it so. And +now I must be going; we must postpone our chat over old times and +the regiment until I return." + +On returning to Conde's hotel Hector found Paolo awaiting him. + +"Paolo, you must go out and buy six horse cloths and five housings; +let them be fairly handsome. I have taken four old soldiers into +my service, and should wish their horse appointments to be fit for +troopers in one of the royal regiments, but without any insignia +or cognizance, say maroon with yellow braiding. I shall also want +four valises for the men, and bags for carrying forage. You can +wrap up the housings that came with the horses; they all bear +Enghien's cognizance, and this must be removed before we can use +them. The men can strap them behind their valises. Were there +pistols in the holsters?" + +"Yes, master, they were just as when you rode them." + +"It was a princely gift," Hector said, "for the horses are all +splendid animals. Have you packed up my things?" + +"Yes, master, they are all ready for placing on the sumpter horse. +I bought a dozen of good wine, thinking that you might need it on +the way, for some of these country auberges keep but poor stuff." + +"We are getting luxurious all at once," Hector laughed. "How about +my armour?" + +"That is also packed up. I thought that you would not care to ride +heavily accoutred." + +"Certainly not. Which of the horses do you take to be the best?" + +"Certainly the one you rode in upon is the best, master, but all +four are grand animals. The two I picked up on the battlefield +are fine animals also." + +"It does not make much matter which I ride now, Paolo; we shall have +the opportunity of seeing which has the most fire and endurance as +we ride along; and at any rate I shall keep Enghien's four horses +for my own riding, keeping two with me and leaving two behind at +the castle. I shall buy four strong and serviceable horses for +the troopers when I get my first rents, for in sooth my purse is +beginning to run very low." + +"Possibly, master, when you look in the armoire in your room you +may find something to replenish it. One of the cardinal's servants +brought a packet for you. I stowed it away and locked the door of +your room." + +"Well, there is no time to lose, Paolo, so see at once about the +matters that I have told you. Here is sufficient money to buy the +other goods." + +"Here is the key of the room, sir." + +Having seen Paolo hurry away, Hector went up to his room. In the +armoire he found the packet, which was a heavy one. Opening it, +he found a letter and a bag sealed with wax. The letter was from +the intendant general. It was directed, "A Monsieur le Baron de +la Villar." + +"It does not look as if it could be for me," Hector said, with a +merry laugh. Breaking the seal he found: + +By the order of Monseigneur Cardinal Mazarin, first minister of the +crown, I enclose the last half year's rents of the estates of la +Villar received by me from the royal intendant in charge of the +said estates three weeks since, to defray the necessary expenses +that must be incurred by you between the period of your taking +possession and, of receiving the next half yearly payment of rents. + +Enclosed with this was a formal permit, giving a month's leave of +absence to visit his estates, "To Colonel Campbell, Baron de la +Villar, commanding the Poitou regiment." + +"Very nice and thoughtful on the part of the cardinal," Hector +said, "and, moreover, very seasonable, for I was wondering how I +should pay the retainers at the castle and my four troopers until +the rents began to come in. By the time I had paid the usual fees +to the servants here, and the expenses of the journey to Poitou +and back, I should have been almost penniless, and should have +been obliged to borrow from someone on the strength of my coming +rents, which would have been a very bad beginning." + +After bidding farewell to Conde, and thanking him for his hospitality, +Hector started immediately the midday meal was concluded. His +cavalcade made a good show as he rode through the streets of Paris, +with the four orderlies behind him, splendidly mounted, followed +by Paolo leading another fine horse carrying baggage. The journey +was an uneventful one, and on arriving at the castle of Villar, +Hector was received by the royal intendant. It was still a place +of considerable strength, standing on the crest of a hill. It had +been kept in a good state of repair by the intendant, and could +offer a stout resistance to anything short of an army provided with +a powerful battering train. On making a tour of the estate Hector +found that here, as throughout France, an immense amount of distress +existed, owing to the crushing taxation rendered necessary by the +war; he made minute inquiries of the intendant of the circumstances +of the various tenants of the estate. + +The officer was about to return to Paris now that his commission +was ended, but as he had a son who had acted as his assistant, +Hector appointed him in his stead, charging him to press no one +unduly. He placed under his care the domestic arrangements of the +castle, retaining the servants who had been there under the royal +officer. There was only a permanent garrison of twelve men, but +this could be raised to a hundred were the tenants of the estates +driven to take refuge within the walls. The expenses of keeping +up the castle were not large. The rivers afforded an abundance +of fish, and the forests on the mountainsides sheltered an ample +supply of game. Considerable numbers of half wild sheep and two or +three herds of cattle grazed on the domain round the castle, and +there were eight good horses in the stables, besides a score of +others on the hills. Most of the holdings had vineyards, and were +bound to furnish a certain amount of wine to the castle, and as +the consumption had been small since the estate was confiscated, +the cellars were full. Hector told the steward that the command of +the castle itself would be taken by an officer whom he would send +down from Paris, who would have control in all matters save in the +management of the estate. + +Before leaving, he called all the tenants together and told them +that, seeing how heavily the royal taxes pressed upon them, he +should remit half their annual payments until better times came, +and also the fine of a year's rent which they would in the ordinary +course of things pay on the appointment of a new lord. The news +filled the poor people with delight. + +"I shall, however," he went on, "expect that you will render fully +and willingly the military service you are bound to give according +to the tenure of your holdings. In a short time my castellan will +arrive here; he will have instructions from me to make the service +as little onerous as possible, and that you shall each furnish +your quota of men at times when it may be most convenient for you. +I shall, however, expect fifteen men added to the strength of +the garrison. These can be changed every eight weeks. All the men +capable of bearing arms will come up for training one or two days +in each month. I trust that you will never be called upon to defend +the castle, but I would have it always kept in such a state that +were troubles to arise you could all, with your wives and families, +find refuge here and be able to defend yourselves against all +attacks. + +"Next winter I shall have the fortifications strengthened. I know +that you are bound to furnish horses and carts for so many days in +the year. I shall want this work performed, but you will be paid +both for your own work in building, and for your carts and horses; +and as it will be done at a time when there is little farm work on +hand, this will be a benefit to you, and the wages will be deducted +from the payments that you have to make." + +Loud cheers rose from the men, who were overjoyed on learning that +their new lord was inclined to deal so generously with them, and +especially that the fine, which many of them would have found it +impossible to pay, was to be altogether remitted. Having completed +all his arrangements Hector returned to Paris, mounting his men +on four of the horses he found in the stables, and leaving at the +castle two of those which Enghien had given him, and the two Paolo +had caught on the field of battle. He arrived on the evening of +the day before his leave expired, put up at the auberge of the +Pome d'Or, and early the next morning took his way to The Scottish +Soldier. + + + +CHAPTER XII: THE POITOU REGIMENT + + +"Well, MacIntosh," Hector said as he entered the cabaret, "have +you made up your mind? The castle is a strong one, and I mean to +make it stronger. The air is good and so is the wine, and I am +sure that you will find the duties pleasant. + +"If you go I think it would be as well that you should take a couple +of your old comrades -- you said there were many of them in Paris +-- with you, to act as your sergeants, drill the tenants, and see +that all goes on in order. It will be pleasant for you to have +two of your old friends with whom you can talk over past times." + +"I had decided to accept your offer, Hector; but certainly this +would have decided me had I not already made up my mind. That +was the one drawback, that I should be among strangers, but with +two of my old friends I should not feel lonely. There is Sholto +Macfarlane, he was in my troop. He lost a hand from his musket +bursting three years ago, and now makes his living by helping the +boatmen unload at the quays. Then there is Kenneth Munroe. He was +invalided after a bad attack of fever in Flanders, and now teaches +the broadsword exercise at a fencing master's place at St. Denis. +They would both jump at the offer if they only got free lodgings +and keep." + +"Then that is settled, MacIntosh. I am heartily glad of it. Now +the sooner you get down there the better." + +"Well, I can go at once. Sergeant Morrison is taking his discharge +at the end of the week. He is a married man with a helpful little +wife. I was telling him of the offer that you had made me, and he +asked me what I would take for the cabaret. It is a good business, +and having a wife he could manage it better than I can. I said +that if he had a fancy for it I would rather that he took it than +another; and he would do better than a Frenchman would, for the +lads would not care for the place unless it was kept by one of the +regiment. He asked me what were the profits. I told him. + +"'Then I am afraid that you would want a bigger sum than I could +pay, MacIntosh,' he said. 'I have been a saving man, especially +since I first thought of marrying, and I have laid by half my pay +for the last eight years; but that would not go far towards the +purchase of the place, for your profits in a year are as much as +my savings of eight years.' So I said to him, 'Well, we will get +the place valued. You will want half the money that you have saved +to stock it well, the other half you shall pay me down; and I will +give you five years to pay the rest, you paying me a tenth part +every half year.' + +"Well, sir, we struck a bargain on that. The place has been valued, +and on Saturday evening Morrison will come straight in and take it +over. He is a popular man in the regiment; and as he is only just +leaving it he is known to them all, while there are not above a +quarter of the men who knew me as a comrade in the old days." + +They then had a long talk over the sergeant's new duties, and Hector +gave him a plan of the new fortifications that he had drawn out, +together with full instructions how they were to be carried out. + +"The steward will arrange all about the tenants coming to work, and +the proportion of labour that each will have to give. As I have +told you, he will manage all details of that kind, look after +the indoor retainers, and see to the food. You will have entire +control of the garrison, of the tenants who will come to drill, and +of the works on the fortifications. You will find the steward a +very pleasant and agreeable young man. He will take his meals with +you. I have chosen a room for you, and you can have another near +it for your two sergeants. You can pay them at the same rate as +sergeants of the regiment receive, and I need hardly say that the +position will be a good deal better. As commander of the garrison +and castellan of the castle you will be called Captain MacIntosh, +and as such you will be named in my letter appointing you to the +post, and I propose that you shall receive the pay of captain." + +"The pay is immaterial, lad, I have been nigh twelve years here, +and have laid by enough to keep me comfortably all my life, and +as, so far as I can see, there will be nothing to spend down there, +I don't know what I should do with pay." + +"That is nonsense, MacIntosh. You must draw the pay, and spend it +as you like, or save it. You must remember that I may be killed +in the next battle I go into, and as I have no heirs the king will +give the fief to someone else. The newcomer might like myself have +some friend who he might appoint castellan." + +"It would make no difference," the other said. "In addition to what +I have saved I shall have the price of the cabaret." + +"That is not to the point, MacIntosh. The steward has instructions +to hand you your money monthly, while the garrison will be paid +weekly. If you choose to throw the money into the fosse, that +is your own business, mine is to see that my castellan is paid. +I am going over at noon today to St. Denis, where my regiment is +quartered, but will ride in on Saturday. You must buy three horses +for yourself and your sergeants; get good serviceable animals.. +I have told the steward to repay you their cost when you arrive +there; he has monies of mine in hand for all purposes." + +Hector then went round and had a chat with Colonel Maclvor, and +returned to the auberge, where the troopers and Paolo had the +horses already saddled. He mounted and rode with them to St. Denis, +putting up at an hotel. He found where the regiment of Poitou +were stationed and at once proceeded there on foot. Two or three +officers were chatting together in the barrack square, while some +sergeants were drilling the companies. + +He at once went up to them. "Gentlemen," he said, "I must introduce +myself to you. I am Colonel Campbell; I have the honour to command +the regiment. I shall be glad if you will order the officer's call +to be sounded and send orderlies off at once to the lodgings of +the officers and ask them to assemble. To whom have I the pleasure +of speaking?" + +The senior officer introduced himself and the others. Report had +told them that their new colonel was still a young man, and that +he had served with distinction under both Turenne and Enghien, +but they were not prepared for so young a commander as this. The +French regiments had, as a rule, two colonels, the one a veteran +soldier, who had won his way to the rank by long service and long +fighting, the other a young nobleman who had gained the post +solely by family influence, but possessed no knowledge whatever of +military matters, and who was never with the regiment except when +it went upon a campaign, and even then generally preferred the +pleasures of Paris to the hardships of war. Had Hector been appointed +to what was called the second no surprise would have been felt at +his youth, but that anyone should have gained the position of first +colonel at his age by sheer merit was astonishing indeed to them. +In twenty minutes the officers were all assembled and introduced +by the senior captain to Hector. + +"We will not begin business now," the latter said. "My leave of +absence does not terminate until tomorrow morning, and I think that +it is much more pleasant to talk over matters comfortably round a +table than it is to do so in a set manner. Therefore, gentlemen, +if you will all sup with me this evening at the Fleur de Lis, after +we have finished our meal we will talk over our wine. My opinion is +that officers of a regiment should be good comrades. The regiment +benefits by it, and everything goes on more smoothly and comfortably. +This is specially so in a newly raised regiment, where the officers +either are altogether new to military matters, or join from other +regiments, and have no previous knowledge of each other. In the +same way the men are all new to each other, and to their officers. +Unless there is perfect harmony among the officers, there cannot +be perfect harmony in the regiment. + +"If one officer looks after the comfort of his company, and treats +them as he should do, while another company is neglected and left +solely to the care of the sergeants, there will necessarily be envy +and ill feeling. The regiment will cease to be a unit. I may say, +gentlemen, that this is the dictum not of myself, but of Marshal +Turenne, who was my instructor in the art of war, and who followed +out the better system from the time that he was a boy of fourteen +until now. The result is that his regiment is the finest in +the service. It will be my aim and ambition to raise the Poitou +regiment as nearly as possible to the same condition, and I shall +rely upon your assistance and cooperation to bring this about. + +"Supper will be served at six. I have only just returned from the +country, and have heard no news. I suppose that no intimation has +been received as to what is our destination and whither we shall +march?" + +"None whatever, colonel," de Thiou, the senior captain, said. + +"All the better. I hope that they will give us a couple of months +to get into shape. There is but little time for drill and discipline +when we are once in the field." + +So saying he saluted the officers and returned to the hotel. + +"Who would have thought of seeing a mere lad placed at the head +of the regiment as colonel," one of the captains said. "I cannot +imagine how such a thing can have come about, for certainly he can +have no family influence. A newly raised regiment like ours wants +a bright man, one that all can look up to and respect." + +"I fancy that you will find that this young gentleman will be +respected," de Thiou said. "He is young and pleasant looking, and +whatever he is I should say that he is levelheaded, and that he has +an infinite fund of firmness and resolution. I should certainly +advise nobody to take advantage of his youth. I have seen more +service than any of you, and had my family possessed any influence +at court, I should have been a colonel by this time. Unless I +am greatly mistaken we shall find that we have a man, a good man, +and a strong one. Do you think that he could have won his way to +a regiment at the age of twenty unless there had been something +quite unusual? I was talking the other day with one of Gassion's +staff, who has come back until the wound that he got at Rocroi is +healed. He told me that Gassion -- and France has no better soldier +-- said publicly after the battle that the victory was largely +due to this young friend of ours, and that had it not been for +him things might have gone altogether differently; and he said that +Enghien, proud and ambitious as he is, frankly admitted the same +thing. Of course I can only go upon what I have seen of him, but from +what he said, and the manner in which he said it, I am convinced +that we could not get a better chief than this young colonel. I +believe that he will make it a comfortable regiment to be in, but +I also believe that those who oppose him will find that they make +a grievous mistake." + +The next day Hector took up in earnest the work of organizing the +regiment. In the first place he insisted that the officers should +learn their drill; then, that instead of handing over the practical +command of their companies to their sergeants, they should themselves +command them on the drill ground, look after the discipline and +comfort of the men in barracks, and become personally acquainted +with the character of every man under their command. Many of the +sergeants were inefficient; these were speedily deprived of their +rank, and men of good conduct and zeal appointed to their places. +The regard of the men was won by his insisting that the contractors +for their food should send in meat and bread and wine of the quality +that they had guaranteed to supply. + +Three officers were told off every day to examine the quality of +all food sent in; any reported as being bad was examined by Hector, +and if the complaint was well founded, was at once condemned. +Great attention was paid to the cooking, to the cleanliness of +the barrack rooms, and to many other details that had until then +been entirely neglected. There were at first some grumblers, +not only among the men, but among the officers as well; but the +extraordinary and rapid improvement in the efficiency of the regiment, +its appearance and condition, was such that these were not long +in recognizing that although the work was hard, no unnecessary +labour was imposed upon them, while, as their knowledge of drill +increased the work became easier and less irksome. All recognized +that by far the hardest worker in the regiment was the colonel +himself. Every morning for the first month he himself drilled the +officers in a courtyard that was not overlooked, and when they +all knew their work, sent them to take charge of their companies. +Until he considered the officers competent, he drilled the +companies by turn, and when drill was over, made a tour of every +room in the barracks, visited the kitchen, and conversed freely +with the men, listening to any complaints. + +At first the number of men brought up for drunkenness was large. +The first offence he always condoned, giving the offender a lecture +on the folly of his conduct and of the discredit that it brought +upon the regiment. For the second offence a man was confined to +barracks, and forced to wear his coat inside out even at drill. The +ridicule that the men had to suffer was worse than any punishment +inflicted upon them, and no case occurred of a third offence. +By turns the three officers of each company dined with him, and, +chatting with them as a friend, he not only gained their liking but +made himself acquainted with their individual characters. Turenne +came to Paris a short time after Hector assumed the command of +his regiment, and as soon as he heard of his arrival, the latter +called upon him. + +"I heard from the cardinal of your good fortune," the viscount said, +"and congratulate you heartily upon it. Mazarin was good enough +to say that the discovery of the Spaniards' ambush was the result +of my teaching, and indeed I feel somewhat proud of my pupil. I +am going to the Rhine, as perhaps you may have heard." + +"I hope to have the honour of serving under you with my regiment, +sir." + +"I shall be glad to have you, but I fear there is little chance of +it. I am to take the command of the Weimar troops. The death of +the duke has been a heavy blow to us, and it is thought that unless +I go down there -- I say it because I have served there and am +known by the Weimar troops -- that force will break up altogether. +From what I hear, I hardly think there is much chance of having any +French regiments with me, and those now being raised are likely +to be sent to fight under Enghien in Flanders. My position is, as +you know, a painful one, owing to Bouillon having gone to Italy +to take the command of the Pope's troops. I believe that is the +reason why Mazarin has withdrawn me from the command of our army +in Savoy. However, as a soldier I accept the work he has given +me, not allowing family matters to interfere in any way with it, +though it is my opinion that Bouillon has been very hardly treated +by the breaking of the engagements that were given him when he +surrendered Sedan to France." + +A week later Hector presented himself at the levee of Cardinal +Mazarin. + +"I was expecting to see you, baron. I received your note saying that +you had taken the command of your regiment, and would do yourself +the honour of presenting yourself as soon as you had put matters +in trim. Are you satisfied with your men and your officers?" + +"With both, your eminence, and trust that in two or three months' +time you will do us the honour of inspecting us." + +"And how did you find your barony?" + +"I was delighted with it. The castle is a strong one, and I am taking +steps to add to its strength; and I believe when it is finished +that it will be almost impregnable save by an army, and that well +commanded." + +"Then you think," the cardinal said with a smile, but with a certain +air of seriousness, "that you could offer me a safe asylum if I +needed one." + +"I trust that such an event may never occur, your eminence, but +if it should, my castle is at your disposal, and I will guarantee +that it will resist for three months, whoever might attack it." + +"One can never say," the cardinal said mournfully. "Oh, these nobles! +They are, as they have ever been, the curse of France. Each man +thinks only of himself and of increasing his domains. What France +may suffer matters nothing to them so that they are enriched. +Were one of them capable of ruling France I would gladly retire; +but who is there? Orleans, vain, empty headed, treacherous to his +friends, a man whose word is not to be relied upon. Conde, who +thinks only of enriching himself and adding to his possessions. +Beaufort, a roistering trooper. None of these men could maintain his +position for a moment. The whole country seethes with discontent +at the heavy taxation necessitated by the war; Paris, as is always +the case when there is trouble in the air, is restless and turbulent. +I have good friends, but they are insufficient to sustain me +against the intrigues of my enemies. The queen alone upholds me. +Truly, the burden is too great for one man to bear. + +"You will wonder why I am speaking thus to you, Colonel Campbell, +but it is of the greatest necessity that her majesty should know +upon whom she can rely absolutely in case of trouble. You, sir, being +altogether unconnected with any of the great families of France, +stand in a different position from that of the great majority +of officers of your rank. Look where I will, I see our regiments +officered by men connected by birth and family with one or other +of the men who are at present intriguing against us, and were they +ordered to take steps to arrest, for example, one of those persons +connected with them, they might, without openly refusing, give +such warning to them that they would be able to escape. Now, sir, +I ask you to tell me frankly whether, under all contingencies, +the queen can rely upon your services? I give you my word that +whatever your reply is, it shall in no way count against you. +There are cases in which it would doubtless be painful to you to +carry out such an order. You are a protege of Monsieur de Turenne. +Monsieur de Turenne is brother of the Duc de Bouillon, and, as I +know, you yourself were staying for some months in the castle of +Sedan, where you went to be cured of your wounds. Now, monsieur, +frankly, were you ordered to arrest the Duc de Bouillon, would +you carry it out without fear or favour?" + +"Certainly I would, your excellency; and should you give such an +order to Marshal Turenne he would do so himself. He is a soldier +of the queen before all things, and has taught me that my duty is +towards the sovereign who represents France, regardless of all +other considerations." + +The cardinal while speaking had watched the young soldier's face +scrutinizingly. Faithful as Turenne had always been to the crown, +even when his brother was in arms against it, Mazarin had still in +his heart some doubts as to his fidelity under all circumstances. +He could not but be conscious that faith had been absolutely broken +with Bouillon, and, accustomed to tortuous ways, he could scarce +imagine that Turenne would hold himself altogether above family +interest. He saw by the manner more than the words of Hector +that he was speaking from a profound conviction. In asking him the +question, he had been thinking more of Turenne's loyalty than of +the young colonel's. Having been four years in the closest connection +with the marshal, he could not but know his real sentiments, and +he felt sure that had Turenne expressed any anger at the treatment +his brother had received, he would have seen it in the young man's +face. The answer was a reassuring one. + +"Thank you, monsieur le baron; the musketeers and the Swiss guards we +know we can absolutely rely upon, and I shall be glad to be able +to inform the queen that she can place implicit faith in your regiment. +I need not impress upon you the necessity for our conversation +being regarded by you as absolutely confidential." + +Hector, thinking the matter over, had no great difficulty in the +end in arriving at the truth, namely, that his own loyalty was +a very secondary object of interest to the minister, and that his +real motive in thus apparently opening his mind to him had been, +not to gather his own sentiments, but to endeavour to ascertain +those of Turenne. From the talk among his officers he had already +learned that the general opinion was, that although the queen had +always entertained a most favourable opinion of Turenne, and had +herself nominated him as marshal and commander of the forces on the +Rhine, Mazarin had assented to the arrangement because he feared +that the army of Italy would probably follow its commander should +the latter take up the quarrel of his brother, while, on the +Rhine with but a few regiments, to all of whom he was a stranger, +under his command, he would be practically powerless, whatever his +sentiments might be with regard to Bouillon. + +In the middle of August Hector received an order from Mazarin to +take part with his regiment in a review which the queen intended +to hold at Versailles two days later. At this review the musketeers, +the Swiss guards, the Scottish regiment, and two regiments of +the line besides his own, the queen, the young king, Mazarin, and +most of the members of the court were present. The Poitou regiment +acquitted itself admirably, and its marching, and the steadiness +with which it went through its manoeuvres, were in such strong +contrast to that of the other two infantry regiments, which had +both been formed for some years, as to excite the surprise and +admiration of the spectators. After it was over a mounted officer +rode up to Hector and told him that the queen wished to speak to +him. Riding up, he dismounted, and advanced to the queen's pavilion. + +"Monsieur Campbell," the queen said graciously, "I wish to express +to you how well satisfied we are with the efficiency of your +regiment, and the admirable way in which it has gone through its +manoeuvres. Never have I seen these better performed; and this is +the more surprising as it has been but four months raised, and but +three months under your personal command. The cardinal has informed +me that he learns that this is due entirely to your personal +exertions, and the care that you have bestowed upon it. I wish +that all my officers showed the same zeal and diligence. In order +to mark my gratification at the conduct of the regiment, I have +requested monsieur le cardinal to order that two companies of your +regiment shall be quartered at the barracks now occupied by the +Scottish regiment, which is to march east tomorrow." + +Hector bowed deeply; and, immensely gratified at the praise that +his regiment had received, returned to his place at its head, +and marched back to St. Denis. On their arrival there he informed +his men of the gracious words the queen had been pleased to say +about the regiment, and the great honour bestowed upon them by +the quartering of two companies in Paris. The men broke into loud +cheering as he concluded. + +Hector then called the officers together. "Gentlemen," he said, "I +have to thank you for the admirable way in which you have seconded +my efforts, and by the aid of which the regiment has just gained +the high commendation of Her Majesty, within so very short a time +after it has been raised. I have been thinking the matter over +as I rode back, and I have decided that where all did so well, it +would be invidious to give to any the sole honour of being thus +quartered near the Louvre and furnishing guards, and to yourselves +the pleasure of being in Paris. Therefore, gentlemen, I shall send, +in the first place, the first and tenth companies. At the end of +two weeks the ninth company will take the place of the tenth; a +fortnight later, the second will take the place of the first, and +so in order, so that each company will in turn have its share in +this honourable service." + +There was a general murmur of satisfaction. The next morning a +formal order was received that two companies of the Poitou regiment +should march into Paris, and occupy a portion of the barracks which +the Scotch regiment had just vacated. + +Hector called up the two companies he had selected. + +"Now, men," he said, "you see the advantage that you have gained by +discipline and good conduct. I have no doubt that before granting +us the honour of forming a part of the garrison of Paris, the minister +has made inquiries respecting the conduct of the regiment here, +and has doubtless heard that it has been eminently satisfactory, +and that the authorities and inhabitants have no complaint, of +drunkenness or misconduct, against us. Of misconduct there have +been no cases, of drunkenness very few, and, indeed, for the past +month there has not been a single case among you. I trust that you +will remember that while in Paris the credit of the regiment is +in your hands, and that no single case of drunkenness or brawling +in the streets will take place. I feel confident that this will +be so, and I need hardly say that should there be an exception, the +punishment will be vastly more severe than any that has previously +been awarded, and I am sure that any offender will find, in the +contempt with which he will be regarded by his comrades, a still +more severe punishment than any that I can inflict." + +That evening Captain de Thiou and the other officers of the two +companies that were to march into Paris the next day dined with +Hector; and after dinner de Thiou rose and said: "Colonel, I have +been requested to express to you, on behalf of the whole of the +officers of the regiment, our deep gratitude for the honours that +our regiment has obtained. These you were good enough yesterday +to ascribe partly to us; but we feel that they are wholly due to +yourself. Although some of us were at first a little inclined to +think that the changes made by you in our work were unnecessary, +all now recognize fully how great has been the benefit, not only +to the regiment, but to ourselves. Duties which were at first +considered irksome are now regarded as pleasant. We feel that, +as you said would be the case, we have acquired the respect of the +men, and that it is upon us that they rely, and not upon their +sergeants. + +"Our own time passes more pleasantly from being fully occupied, and +from consciousness that we are doing our duty. As to the regiment +in general, the benefit has been enormous. The men seem pleased +with the interest shown in them, as much as with the comfort that +they now enjoy, and they in turn endeavour to satisfy us, both by +their attention to drill, by their bearing and manner, and by their +avoidance of giving any cause for complaint. All this, monsieur, +has been your work, and I am sure that we are all conscious of the +difference of the display we made in the park, and that which we +should have shown had it not been for the reforms which have been +introduced by you. We all trust that the day may not be far distant +when we shall be able to prove on the field of battle the same +efficiency that has won us credit upon the parade ground." + +"I thank you heartily, Captain de Thiou, for what you have been +good enough to say on your own behalf and that of the officers of +the regiment. I can only say that I have endeavoured to act up to +the teaching of Monsieur de Turenne, and I felt sure that although +my methods might at first seem irksome to some of you, their value +would gradually become appreciated. I am scarcely less pleased at +the decrease in drunkenness, and at the general improvement in +the men, than by the increase of discipline and efficiency." + +"Do you mean to come to Paris, colonel?" De Thiou asked presently. + +"No; I shall remain here. I shall ride in every day, but my +presence will be more necessary with the regiment than with only +two companies. You as senior officer will be responsible for the +general order of the detachment." + +Hector rode in the next day with his men, and after seeing them +comfortably lodged in barracks, returned to St. Denis. A week +later reports reached St. Denis of a strange scene at the court. +The haughty and insolent Duchess of Monthazon, who belonged to the +party of the Importants, had the impertinence to insult the queen +grossly in the gardens of the Tuileries. She had at once been disgraced +and ordered to retire to Rochfield, and the Duke of Beaufort and +his friends were furious at this exercise of Mazarin's authority. +The next day Hector received a message asking him to call at the +Hotel de Cleves, the cardinal's residence. On his presenting +himself, he was at once shown into Mazarin's private apartments. + +"Monsieur de Villar," Mazarin said, "I am sorely in need of friends. +You have heard of what has happened, and from the threats that he +has publicly uttered against myself I am convinced that Beaufort +will hesitate at nothing to bring about my ruin. I hear that you +are still with your regiment at St. Denis. I shall be glad if for +a time you will take up your abode at Paris, and will hold yourself +in readiness to be of service to me if there should be occasion. +Beaufort is capable of even attempting my life; he is very +unscrupulous, and will hesitate at nothing. I shall be glad if +you will take up your lodging within a short distance of this, so +that I can communicate with you instantly." + +"Certainly, your excellency; I will keep half a company always under +arms, so that at the shortest notice they will be in readiness to +act as you may direct. But surely, your excellency, you have the +queen's musketeers close at hand?" + +"The queen's musketeers are a body of gallant soldiers, but they +will take their orders only from the queen. They were strongly +anti-cardinalist in the late reign, and I do not suppose that they +are better affected towards myself than they were towards Richelieu. +If they heard that my hotel was attacked they would not move a +foot until they received orders from the queen to do so." + +"At any rate, you shall have no reason to complain of delay on our +part, your excellency, and I can assure you of my devotion." + +Hector at once went to an auberge but a few hundred yards from the +cardinal's residence. He thought it better to put up there than +to take lodgings, as he could then have his four mounted men with +him; and, riding to St. Denis, he returned the same night with +them. + +"A horse is always to be saddled," he said to them when they had +dismounted and his orderlies had come up to his room, "and one +of you by turns will always remain here armed and ready to mount +without an instant's delay. The others will put aside their +scarves; and one of you will always be at the cabaret nearest to +the Hotel de Vendome, the residence of the Duke of Beaufort, who +is a son of the Duc de Vendome. At times two of you can be there +so as to drink and play cards together, as the appearance of one +sitting too long might attract attention. Your object is to find +out from the conversation of the duke's guards and servants whether +they have any idea that anything unusual is going to take place. I +have reason to believe that there is a plot against the cardinal, +and I am much concerned in defeating it." + +When the four Scotch soldiers had retired, Hector said to Paolo: + +"Now, Paolo, I place more reliance upon your finding out anything +that is afloat than upon the soldiers. It is not likely that any +plans Beaufort may form will be communicated to his people until +the moment for action, and indeed it is probable that he will +rely solely upon his personal friends. Now I want you to disguise +yourself in any way you may think best, and watch Beaufort's hotel; +see who comes in and out, and if a messenger goes out follow him, +see the houses he calls at, and mark if those who dwell there repair +at once to the Hotel de Vendome. If you perceive that this is the +case let me know at once. See if you can get hold of half a dozen +street gamins, and employ them to watch the houses of all these +gentlemen, and especially that of Monsieur Id, captain of Beaufort's +guards, and of the two Messieurs de Campion and the Count de +Beaupuis, who are, I know, among the duke's most intimate friends. +There are scores of these street boys who for a few sous a day +would gladly undertake the work." + +"I will do that, master. You can take my word that by tomorrow at +noon the lodging of these four gentlemen will be strictly watched. +This is a business after my own heart." + +"In the first place, Paolo, take a note from me to the Hotel de +Cleves and wait for an answer." + +The note was a short one. It merely gave the name of the auberge +at which he had taken up his quarters, and added: + +If your eminence will be good enough to send me every morning a list +of any visits that you may intend to pay, or any journey that you +may make during the day, it would enable me to regulate my movements +accordingly in order to be always here and ready to carry out any +orders that you may send me from your hotel. + +The cardinal's reply was even more brief: + +It is well thought of. I shall go nowhere but to the Louvre tomorrow, +and shall probably be there the greater part of the day. Unless +you hear from me to the contrary, you need only remain in between +twelve and one. + +The next morning Paolo appeared dressed in ragged clothes. + +"What is that bundle of papers that you have got?" + +"They are lampoons on the cardinal. Nothing so natural as that I +should try and sell them in front of the Hotel de Vendome." + +"Nothing could be better, Paolo." + +"I have already picked up a dozen gamins, master, sharp little +beggars, who jumped at the idea of being set to watch people. +Between them everyone who goes in or comes out from the hotel will +be followed, and they will, in the first place, find out his name +and bring it to me, after that they will follow him wherever he +goes, and from time to time let me know what he is doing." + +Several days passed. The four gentlemen specially named, together +with several others, were frequently at the hotel. There was in +this, however, nothing suspicious, as Hector easily learned that +they were all vassals or close friends of the house of Vendome. +On the third day, however, he heard that at least a dozen of these +gentlemen met in twos or threes at various cabarets near the Duke +of Beaufort's, and spent the greater portion of their time there. +Hector at once procured dresses suitable for gentlemen of the +middle class for the troopers, and gave them instructions to spend +the greater portion of their time at the cabarets at which these +gentlemen stopped. Their reports were that they talked of indifferent +subjects, but that they were evidently waiting for someone, as +they invariably turned a glance at the door whenever a fresh comer +entered. + +The next day Hector received a note from the cardinal: + +I am just starting with the Duke of Orleans for Maisons, where I +shall dine with him. + +Two hours later the three troopers who had been out returned almost at +the same minute with the news that the persons they were watching +had all got up suddenly and gone out after a messenger wearing +the Beaufort cognizance had come in and spoken to them. And a few +minutes later Paolo arrived and said that the Duke of Beaufort had +gone with the Count of Beaupuis to the convent of the Capuchins, +and that several horses had been taken there. + +Hector thought the matter over. "Certainly," he said to himself, +"as the cardinal's note is dated at nine o'clock, he is now some +distance on his way. As soon as the duke received notice of his +having gone, he notified his friends. It can only be on his way +home that they will venture to attack him; but even if they have +that intention they will scarcely do so if the Duke of Orleans +returns with him, unless, indeed, the duke is himself in the plot, +and as none of Paolo's scouts have brought news of any communications +between Beaufort and Orleans, it is hardly likely that it is so. + +"Paolo, do you go down and watch the convent of the Capuchins. If +the Duke of Beaufort remains there with his friend -- and he may +doubtless be joined by others -- let me know if he rides away. If +he does so the attack may take place anywhere along the road; if +he remains, he will doubtless attack the cardinal as his carriage +passes. Should there be more than one entrance to the convent, +put boys to watch them, and bring you news should the party sally +out. I shall be at the barracks. It is there that you must bring +or send me word." + +The troopers were ordered to put on their military clothes and +saddle their horses, and a quarter of an hour later Hector rode +to the barracks, followed by them. + +"De Thiou," he said, "I want you and the other five officers to +have your horses ready at a moment's notice. I have some sort of +idea that there is a plot on foot against the cardinal, and I want +to take a hand in the matter. I fancy that with you and my five +troopers we shall be strong enough to disconcert the plotters." + +Two hours later he received a message from Paolo, saying that +the Duke of Beaufort and three other gentlemen were still at the +convent, but that most of the others had gone to the residence of +Henri de Campion in the Rue St. Honore. + +"They mean to attack him just at the end of the journey," Hector +said to himself, "and close to the Hotel de Vendome. Now it +only depends upon whether the Duke of Orleans stays at Maisons or +returns with the cardinal." + +He ordered the officers and troopers to mount, and with them took +his post on the road by which the cardinal would return. In half an +hour they saw his carriage approaching. They then moved forward. As +the carriage passed them Hector saluted, and saw to his satisfaction +that the Duke of Orleans was with the cardinal. After the carriage +had gone fifty yards Hector turned, and with his party followed +the carriage at that distance. When within a quarter of a mile +of the Rue St. Honore a horseman came along. He met the carriage, +and immediately it passed him turned and galloped back along the +road. Hector felt no doubt that he was placed there to warn the +conspirators to be in readiness if the Duke of Orleans was not in +the carriage, and that there would now be no attempt. However, +he closed up to within thirty yards. As they entered the Rue St. +Honore all was quiet there, and nothing happened until the cardinal +alighted at the Hotel de Cleves. As he did so he looked round, +and beckoned to Hector to follow him. + + + +CHAPTER XIII: THE BATTLES OF FREIBURG + + +The cardinal did not address Hector until he had entered his private +room, when he turned and said sharply, "What means this, colonel? +When I saw you and your officers on the road I felt sure that you +were not there for nothing, and still more sure when on alighting +I found you so closely following me." + +"I was convinced, cardinal, that there was a plot against your +life, and I believe that it was only because the Duke of Orleans +returned with you that it was not carried into effect." + +"And possibly because they saw your troop behind the carriage. Now +tell me your reason for supposing that I was in danger." + +Hector related the various steps that he had taken. + +"Your spies worked better for you than mine did for me," the +cardinal said. "That a dozen or so of Beaufort's friends were for +some reason or other spending their time at the Angel Inn and other +cabarets I was aware, but I have had no word of their proceedings +today. You have been better served, doubtless, because your plans +were better laid. I hardly think that they would have attacked me +when Orleans was with me, but there is no saying; for if Beaufort +has daring and insolence enough to attempt to slay the queen's +minister within a quarter of a mile of the Louvre, he would not +trouble greatly whether princes of the blood were in the carriage +or not, especially if he had some reason for believing that Orleans +would not regard the deed with very great disapproval. + +"However, whatever his intentions might be, it is clear that the +appearance of your party of twelve armed men decided the question. +We may regard it as certain that the news that I had such an escort +was carried to them by the man who galloped on ahead. I thank you, +sir, I thank you very heartily, not only for my sake, but for that +of France. I will ask you to go across to the Louvre; I will take +half a dozen armed servants with me, but there is little fear +that the attempt will be renewed today. They must be too much +disconcerted by the failure of their plot to make fresh arrangements +so speedily. I shall go first to the Louvre and inform her majesty +of what has taken place. You will remain here for half an hour, +and will then leave by the gate at the back of the house and make +a circuit, and enter the palace by the river gate. The musketeers +on guard will stop you, but I will give you a pass." And he wrote +a few lines on paper. "The queen's confidential servant, Laporte, +will be at the door to meet you, and will have instructions to +escort you by corridors where you will be unobserved, and so to +her majesty's private closet. Were you to accompany me, Beaufort +would soon hear of it, and would be shrewd enough to perceive that +your meeting with me was by no means a matter of chance." + +Hector followed out his instructions, and on presenting himself +at the palace was at once taken up to the queen's closet. Laporte +went in, and returning immediately requested him to enter. The queen +was walking up and down the room, her face flushed with indignation. + +"Her majesty would fain hear from your own lips, monsieur le baron, +the statement that you have made to me." + +The queen sat down and listened intently while Hector repeated the +story. + +"There can be no doubt about it, cardinal; this keeping of a number +of armed men within call for days, the summons to them to gather +in the Rue St. Honore, while he himself with others took up his +post at the convent of the Capuchins hard by, the moment his spies +had discovered that you had left for Maisons, could but have been +for one purpose. But they shall learn that although a woman, Anne +of Austria, Queen of France, is not to be deprived of her minister +and faithful friend without striking back in return. Monsieur de +Villar, you have rendered me a great service. Is there any boon +that you would ask of me? it is granted beforehand." + +"I thank your majesty most humbly," Hector said. "Already I have +received honours far beyond anything I deserve. I had the honour +when thanking your majesty, to hope some day to be able to give +proof that they were not unworthily bestowed, and still hope to +do so." + +"You have already shown yourself worthy," the queen said, "by the +manner in which you have in so short a time rendered the regiment +to which we appointed you so efficient. However, if there is at +present no boon that we can bestow, then remember that the Queen +of France holds herself your debtor, and that you have my royal +word that any boon that you may hereafter ask for, that is in my +power to grant, will be given you. Take this as a pledge of my +promise." And she took off a gold chain exquisitely worked, and +gave it him. He received it kneeling. "Now, sir, we will keep you +here no longer. I have much to say to his excellency. I trust +that you will present yourself at the levee this evening." + +"One thing more, colonel," Mazarin added; "I doubt not that some of +Beaufort's people will endeavour to find out how it was that you +came to be behind my carriage. If they do so you might carelessly +mention that you and your officers had ridden out in a party at +St. Germain, and that on your way back you chanced to fall in with +my carriage." + +At the barracks Hector called the officers together. "Gentlemen," +he said, "I have no doubt that your little ride today has somewhat +puzzled you. I am not at liberty to tell you the reason why I +requested you to ride with me; but it is very probable that you +may be asked the question, and I beg you all to remember that we +have been on a little party of pleasure to St. Germain, and having +dined there were on our way back when we overtook the carriage of +the cardinal; and seeing that he had the Duke of Orleans with him, +we reined back and followed him, deeming that it would not appear +respectful were we to gallop past the carriage. Please bear this +story in mind. Recall also that we dined at the Lion d'Or there, +that our dinner was a good one and that it was a sort of celebration +on my part of our two companies having the honour to be chosen for +duty in Paris. This is a matter upon which much depends; it is, in +fact, a matter of state; and you may well imagine that I should +not be recalling these events to your mind were it not that a good +deal depends upon it, and that I have received strict orders that +this little comedy shall be carried out. I know that I can rely +implicitly upon your discretion, and I have indeed answered for +you all. The story will be true in every respect. Instead of the +excursion having come off today it shall come off on the first day +I can arrange that we can be all off duty." + +That evening at the palace Hector was, as the cardinal predicted, +accosted by one of Beaufort's officers, to whom he had been +previously introduced. After talking on other subjects for a few +minutes, he said: + +"I saw you today, monsieur, riding with a party of your officers +along the Rue St. Honore. You did not notice me?" + +"I assure you that I did not, sir, or I should not have been so +rude as to pass without saluting you." Then he added with a laugh, +"We were riding slowly, too, for the cardinal's coach was in front +of us, and it would not have been good manners to have galloped +past him, especially as he had the Duke of Orleans with him." + +"Had you been far?" the other asked carelessly. + +"No great distance; a little party of pleasure with my officers to +eat a dinner together, to celebrate the honour we had received in +being brought into Paris. My officers have worked very hard, and +the matter served as a good excuse for giving them a little dinner." + +For the next day or two everything passed off quietly, but four of +the officers reported that when dining at a cabaret two or three +of the duke's officers had come in and entered into conversation +with them, and had brought up the subject of their riding in after +the cardinal. + +"You almost looked as if you were serving as a bodyguard to him," +one of them laughed. + +"I daresay we did," was the answer. "It was rather a nuisance; but +it would not have been courteous to have ridden past the carriage." +And he then repeated the story as had been arranged. + +Although the Duke of Beaufort had been told by some of his friends +that there were rumours abroad of a plot against Mazarin's life, +and that it would be best for him to leave Paris for a time, he +refused to do so, saying that even if it was discovered the cardinal +would not dare to lay hands on him. Moreover, the replies which +had been obtained from Hector and his officers convinced him that +their riding behind Mazarin's carriage was an accident. + +On the 2nd of September the duke presented himself at the Louvre as +usual. After speaking with him for a few minutes, the queen left +the room with Mazarin, and Guibaut, captain of the Guards, at once +came forward and arrested him. He was kept at the Louvre that +night, and next day was taken to the castle of Vincennes. Two +companies of Swiss guards marched first, followed by a royal carriage +containing the duke and Guibaut. The carriage was surrounded by +the royal musketeers. A body of light cavalry followed, and the +two companies of the Poitou regiment brought up the rear. Thus +the people of Paris were shown that the queen had both the will +and the power to punish, and the fickle population, who would the +day before have shouted in honour of Beaufort, were delighted at +seeing that the royal authority was once again paramount in Paris. +The other members of the party of Importants either fled or were +arrested. The Campions, Beaupuis, and others, succeeded in making +their escape from France. The Marquis of Chateauneuf, governor +of Touraine, was ordered back to his province. La Chatres, colonel +general, was dismissed from his post; the Duc de Vendome was +forced to leave France; and the ambitious Bishop of Beauvais and +several other prelates were commanded to return to their dioceses. +All the members of the Vendome family were exiled to the chateau +of Annette. Madame de Chevreuse, de Hautefort, and a large number +of other members of the party were ordered to leave Paris. Thus +the party of the Importants ceased to exist. + +The people of Paris seemed greatly pleased at what appeared to +them the end of the troubles, and they exclaimed that Richelieu +was not dead, but that he had simply changed his appearance, and had +become twenty years younger. Mazarin chose a number of soldiers +belonging to his own regiment, and several officers who belonged +to Richelieu's own guard. These were at all times to follow +him wherever he went. He selected a number of noblemen, all of +distinguished merit and influence, and created five of them dukes, +and thus secured to himself a party that would to some extent +balance the power of his adversaries. + +He also made an effort to bring about a union between the Duke of +Orleans and the Condes, but failed, owing to the enormous demands +that each put forward. Conde demanded the government of Languedoc +for himself, of Burgundy for Enghien, and Normandy for the Duc de +Longueville, and the entire domains of his late brother-in-law, +Henry of Montmorency. Orleans on his part demanded the province +of Champagne, the three bishoprics of Metz, Toul, and Verdun, and +the town and castle of Sedan. As these demands, if granted, would +have rendered the two families all powerful, Mazarin gave up the +attempt, and decided that the best plan to prevent troubles was to +let these dangerous families continue to be hostile to each other. + +As soon as he had finished his work of crushing the Importants, +Mazarin sent for Hector. + +"Now, Monsieur Campbell," he said, "I have breathing time. The +conspiracy among the nobles is for the time crushed, and now that +they see that the queen is determined to protect me, and that I +am not afraid of using the power committed to me, I hope that it +will be some time before they venture to conspire again. I have +further strengthened my position by granting honours to many +distinguished gentlemen who were well inclined towards me, and +on whose support in the future I shall be able to rely. Now it is +time that I should turn to the man who has probably saved my life, +and to whose evidence given before the queen I in no small degree +owe it that she resolved to suppress these insolent nobles. I have +not hurried in this matter, since, by your answer to the queen, it +was evident that you desired no change in your position, and that +the matter could wait. + +"Still, monsieur, her offer was to grant honours for services +rendered to the state. The matter of the service that you have +rendered to Cardinal Mazarin is still untouched. It is something so +new to me that anyone in France should be so perfectly contented +with his lot as to refuse such an offer as that made to you by the +queen, that I feel somewhat at a loss what to do. I can understand +that, young and ardent, increased rank would have no charm for +you. Were it otherwise I could bestow the highest rank upon you. I +am aware that your habits are simple, for I have made inquiries, +and that money in itself goes for little in your eyes; still, sir, +one who has the honour of being first minister of France, and who +is also a very rich man, cannot remain with a debt of gratitude +wholly uncancelled. I hear from my agent in Poitou that you have +voluntarily remitted the fine that your vassals would pay on the +occasion of a new lord taking possession, on account of the heavy +taxation that presses so sorely upon them. + +"I honour you, sir, for such a step, and have even mentioned it +to the queen as a proof of the goodness of your disposition, and +I feel sure that there is nothing that would please you better than +that I should grant the tenants of your estate an immunity from +all taxation; but this I cannot do. All private interests must give +way to the necessities of the state. I deplore the sufferings of +the cultivators of France, sufferings that have of late driven +many to take up arms. It is my duty to repress such risings; but I +have ordered the utmost leniency to be shown to these unfortunate +men, that the troops should not be quartered upon their inhabitants, +and that the officers shall see that there is no destruction +of houses and no damage to property; that would increase still +further their difficulty in paying the imposts, which I regret to +say press so sorely and unduly upon them. Tell me frankly what is +the greatest object of your ambition?" + +"I thank your excellency most heartily for your kind intentions +towards me, but any ambition that I may have had is already much +more than gratified. I have never for a moment thought of, or even +wished that I might some day become lord of a fair estate and a +noble of France. I had not ventured to hope that I might become +colonel of a regiment for another fifteen years. Both these things +have, thanks to the kind appreciation of her majesty and yourself +for a very simple act of duty, fallen to me. If I might ask a +boon, it would be that my regiment may be sent to join the force +of Marshal Turenne. So long as there was danger here I should not +have wished to be removed from a position where I might be of some +assistance, however slight, to the queen and yourself, but now +that all danger is at an end I should be glad to return to active +duty. I have endeavoured humbly to make Marshal Turenne my model. +He has but one thought and one desire -- namely, to do his duty +and to make the soldiers under his command contented and happy, but +I have no hope of ever emulating his great merits as a commander." + +"That request is easily granted," Mazarin said, and drawing a sheet +of paper towards him, he wrote: + +The regiment of Poitou will at once proceed to the Rhine, where it +will place itself under the orders of Marshal Turenne. + +He added his signature, and handed the paper to Hector. + +"That counts for nothing," he said. "You must remember that life +is short and, especially in the case of a minister of France, +uncertain. In your own case you might be disabled in the field and +unable to serve further. The advent of a party hostile to me in +power would doubtless be signalized by acts of vengeance against +those who have been friends, and estates change hands so frequently +in France that la Villar might well be confiscated. No man is +above the chances of fortune. I have agents in England, and have +this morning given an order to my intendant to place in the hands +of Monsieur Wilson, a well known citizen of London, a goldsmith, +the sum of fifty thousand crowns to stand in your name, and to be +payable to your order. Here is his address. It is but a small sum +for the saving of my life, but it will place you above the risk of +the contingencies of fortune in this country. I wish for no thanks," +he said, with a wave of his hand as Hector was about to speak. "I +have given more for the most trifling favours. I now bid you adieu, +and doubt not that I shall hear that you and your regiment have +greatly distinguished yourselves in the east, where hostilities +will in all probability shortly be commenced. You had better +present yourself at the levee this evening to make your adieus to +the queen." + +This Hector did, and early the next morning rode with his two +companies to St. Denis, where the news that the regiment was to +march towards the Rhine was received with great satisfaction. It +was now the middle of October, and when, after ten days' march, +the regiment reached Epernay, they heard that Turenne had withdrawn +his troops from the Rhine, where the Imperialists had already gone +into winter quarters, and had stationed them in the various towns +of Lorraine. His headquarters were at Nancy. Turenne greeted him +warmly upon his arrival. + +"Matters have been going on slowly since I saw you in Paris. I +have been too weak to fight the Bavarians, who fortunately were +too undecided to attack me. Could they but have made up their minds +to throw in their fortune with Austria, they might have overrun +all Lorraine, for aught I could have done to withstand them. The +troopers were without horses, the infantry almost without clothes, +and as the court was unable to send me any remittances I have been +forced to borrow money upon my own estates for the public service, +and have mounted five thousand horse and enrolled three thousand +foot and am still sustaining them. However, I hear from Mazarin +that he will in a week send off a large convoy of treasure, which +will be welcome indeed, for I am nearly at the end of my resources. +Some of my troops are quartered in the town, but the most part +are among the mountains, where they trouble the inhabitants less +and have small temptations towards rioting and excesses. Which +would you rather?" + +"I would much rather go into the country, marshal; my regiment is +in good condition now, but to stay in quarters in a town is bad +for discipline." + +"So be it. You might make your headquarters at the village of Saline; +there are no other troops within thirty miles of it. On arriving +there you will make inquiries as to the supplies to be obtained +within a circle of fifteen miles round. Fortunately I have a good +supply of tents, and any men for whom you cannot find quarters in +the villages can be placed under canvas. You can draw as much wine +as you require for three months' rations from the stores here, and +two months' rations of flour. I will direct the intendants to take +up carts for the transport of the supplies you take from here. +You will doubtless be able to buy meat up there, and I hope that +you will be able to obtain sufficient flour and wine to last you +till the end of the winter, for transport will be very difficult +when the snow is on the ground. Firewood your soldiers will, of +course, cut for themselves in the forests." + +The winter passed quietly. Hector managed to obtain quarters for +all his troops -- a village being allotted to each company. Before +they marched off to their various quarters, Hector urged the officers +to impress upon their men the advantage of behaving well to the +villagers. + +"Of course the presence of so many men will be of serious inconvenience +to them, but they will doubtless make the best of it if they find +that they are treated civilly and that their lodgers endeavour to +give as little trouble as possible. See that everything down to +the smallest article is paid for, and investigate every complaint, +and I will punish any offenders severely. I have inquired into the +average prices that sheep, fowls, pigs, goats, and other articles +fetch, and have made out a list for each company; the peasants will +be gainers by it, for they will be saved the journey down to the +towns. Let this be stuck up in a conspicuous place in each village. + +"The intendant will go round and make contracts for the supply of +meat, and will see whether it will be more advantageous to erect +ovens for the baking of bread in each village or to arrange to +buy it ready baked there, we supplying the flour; for the troops, +after being accustomed to good bread at St. Denis, will not be +content with the black bread upon which these poor people exist. I +shall pay a visit to each company in regular order, see that all +is going on well, try men who have misbehaved themselves, and listen +gladly to any suggestions that the respective captains may make +to me." + +The first company was quartered at Saline, and although the cold +was severe and the life rough the troops were well contented, and +Hector was glad to find that his instructions were carried out and +that excellent relations were maintained between the troops and +their hosts. + +Early in the spring Turenne collected a force of three regiments of +cavalry and two of infantry, and, passing the Rhine at Breisach, +fell suddenly upon a force of Imperialists in the Black Forest, +defeated them, and took three or four hundred prisoners, among +whom were many officers, the rest of them escaping to the army +commanded by Count Merci. In May the Bavarian army, numbering +eight thousand foot and seven thousand horse, marched to besiege +Freiburg, five leagues from Breisach, and Turenne followed with all +his force, which now numbered ten thousand men. He found, however, +that the Imperialists had occupied all the strong positions in the +neighbourhood of the town, and not caring to run the risk either +of defeat or great loss, and receiving information that the town +had already opened negotiations for surrender, he fell back some +five miles from the town, sending news to the court that his force +was insufficient to attack the Imperialists. Mazarin thereupon +sent orders to Enghien to set out at once for Germany. As soon as +he reached the Rhine and his army prepared to cross, Enghien, who +had been appointed generalissimo, rode forward with Marshal de +Gramont, who was in command of the army under him, to the camp of +Turenne. The meeting between Enghien and Turenne was most cordial. +Enghien had always felt the warmest admiration for the talents +of the older marshal, had been most intimate with him whenever he +was at court, and regarded him as his master in the art of war. +Turenne was free from the vice of jealousy; and as the armies of +France were almost always placed under the supreme if sometimes +nominal command of princes of the blood, it seemed nothing but +natural to him that Enghien should receive supreme authority. + +The characters of the two men were in complete contrast with each +other -- the one was ardent, passionate, prompt in action and +swift in execution; the other, though equally brave, was prudent +and careful, anxious above all things to accomplish his object +with the smallest possible loss of men, while Enghien risked the +lives of his soldiers as recklessly as his own. They always acted +together in the most perfect harmony, and their friendship remained +unimpaired even when in subsequent days they stood in arms against +each other. At the council Turenne was in favour of making a +circuit and taking up their post in the valley of St. Pierre, by +which they would intercept the Bavarians' communications and force +them by famine to issue out from their strong lines and fight in +the open, and urged that to attack a position so strongly fortified +would entail terrible loss, even if successful. + +Marshal de Gramont, and d'Erlac, governor of Breisach, were of the +same opinion. The Duc d'Enghien, however, was for attacking the +enemy in their intrenchments; the idea of starving out an enemy was +altogether repugnant to one of his impetuous disposition, and as +generalissimo he overruled the opinions of the others. He himself, +led by Turenne, reconnoitred the position of the enemy, and decided +that the one army, which was called the army of France, consisting +of six thousand foot and four thousand horse, commanded by Marshal +de Gramont, should attack the enemy's position in front and on +their right flank, and the other, called the army of Weimar, of +five thousand foot and as many horse, under Turenne, should move +round by a narrow pass and attack the enemy on the left flank. +Merci's army occupied an almost inaccessible hill whose summit +was strongly fortified, and it was against this that de Gramont's +army was to hurl itself. The entrance to the valley by which +Turenne was to fall upon their left flank was closed at its mouth +by very strong intrenchments, and it was behind this that the main +body of horse was posted. + +To gain his point of attack Turenne had to make a very wide circuit, +and started at break of day on the 3rd of August. It was arranged +that Enghien, who remained with de Gramont, should not attack until +three hours before sunset, in order to give Turenne time to attack +at the same hour. At the time agreed upon, Enghien sent forward +two battalions to begin the attack. The regiments of Conde and +Mazarin were to follow, while the duke held two others in reserve. +In order to get at the enemy the assailants were forced to climb +a very steep ascent, and cross a vineyard intersected by many walls +four feet high facing the terrace on which the vines grew. These +were occupied by the Bavarians, but the French attacked with such +vigour that the enemy were driven back. When, however, the latter +reached the great cheval-de-frise, formed by felled trees, in +front of the intrenchments, they could make no further progress, +so heavy was the fire maintained by the enemy. + +Enghien, seeing this, dismounted, placed himself at the head of +the regiment of Conde, and led them forward, while Marshal Gramont +and the officers did the same. Encouraged by this example, the +troops were filled with enthusiasm, and, following their leaders +unfalteringly, made their way through the cheval-de-frise, +and, pressing forward without a pause, obtained possession of the +intrenchments, driving the Bavarians into the woods behind. The +battle had lasted three hours, and had cost the Bavarians three +thousand men, while the French suffered at least equally. + +Turenne's force had been as hotly engaged. Merci, the best general +in the Austrian army, had foreseen that an attempt might be made +through the defile, and had posted strong bodies of infantry among +the trees on either side. + +As soon as Turenne entered the defile he was encountered by a heavy +fire from his unseen foes, who, falling back through the trees +as he advanced, continued to gain strength. Turenne had to fight +every foot of his way in order to dislodge the enemy, and it was +not until Enghien had brought the battle to a conclusion on his +side, that Turenne arrived and, forcing the intrenchments guarding +the mouth of the defile, found himself in contact with Merci, who +was now able to concentrate his whole force against him. The combat +was a furious one. The troops were engaged at but forty paces +apart, and sometimes had hand-to-hand encounters. Merci brought +the whole of his cavalry into play, but Turenne was unable to use +his, as they were behind his infantry and could not make their +way out through the mouth of the defile. + +For seven hours the battle raged in the darkness. After losing three +thousand men here, General Merci decided that his army would be +totally destroyed if Enghien should bring his troops down from the +hill at daybreak. Accordingly, leaving a body of musketeers to +hide the movement by their fire, he withdrew the rest of his army +and took up another strong position, partly on a height known as +the Black Mountain, covering the entrance of the valley of St. +Pierre and partly in the valley itself, thus covering his line of +retreat. Had the French been able to attack early the next morning +before the Bavarians had time to intrench themselves they might +have won an easy victory; but for the past twenty-four hours the +rain had been falling incessantly, Turenne's army had been marching +on the previous day, and had been fighting for seven hours, and +was incapable of further exertions, while that of Enghien was in +little better plight, having passed the night in the rain on the +ground it had won. + +After such hard fighting both commanders agreed that a twenty-four +hours' halt was absolutely necessary. The day could not be termed +one of rest, for there were thousands of wounded to be collected +and cared for, arms to be cleaned, for they had been rendered +useless by the rain, and provisions to be brought up from the rear. +Merci made the most of the time thus given him. The bottom of the +mountain towards the plain was fortified by several rows of felled +trees, and a portion of his infantry was posted between this point +and the town of Freiburg, which was but half a mile away. The +intrenchments that had been formed during the siege of the town +were occupied by them; and as their front was covered by the fire +of the guns from the fortress, as well as by that of the infantry +on the hill, he considered the position to be impregnable, and +therefore placed the main body of his army at the edge of the flat +top of the hill, a strong body behind a wood about halfway up the +slope, and his cavalry extended from that point to the walls of +the city. + +After reconnoitering the position, Enghien determined to make two +attacks, one on the trenches between the foot of the hill and the +town, and the other on the rows of felled trees at the foot of the +mountain. A false attack was to be made between the two points. +Turenne's force advanced nearly to the foot of the hill, the prince's +army followed him, and also took up its position. But just as the +attack was about to be made a great tumult was heard on the hill, +and Enghien and Turenne rode to a neighbouring height in order to +ascertain what was going on, leaving strict orders that no movement +was to be made until their return. Count d'Espenan, who commanded +the two advanced regiments of Enghien's army, however, ordered +a detachment to attack a redoubt which stood within the line of +attack, and Merci sent supports to its defenders. + +D'Espenan sent more troops on his side and the engagement became +serious. Suddenly the Imperialist artillery opened fire along the +whole of their line, and Enghien's troops, apparently taking this +for the signal of the beginning of the battle, moved forward +for the assault without order or leader. As they were broken and +confused by endeavouring to pass through the abattis of felled +trees, the Bavarians rushed out and drove them back with great +slaughter. Enghien and Turenne, galloping up in all haste, in vain +attempted to rally them. Officers and men alike were panic stricken. +The two generals then rode to Turenne's army and advanced against +the defence of trees. For a long time the battle raged without +any marked success on either side. Several times the French made +their way in to the intrenchments and were as often repulsed. Merci +ordered his cavalry to dismount, and led them into the fray, but, +darkness falling suddenly, the assailants ceased to attack, and +occupied for the night the ground on which the struggle had taken +place. The fight that day had cost them two thousand troops, +and the Bavarians twelve hundred, but as the latter had lost half +their infantry in the first day's fighting the French were still +superior in numbers. During the night Turenne had all the wounded +of both nationalities carried to Breisach. After giving the army +four days' rest, Enghien determined to resort to the tactics that +Turenne had from the first recommended, and, marching along the +plain, ascended the valley of Bloterthal and made for St. Pierre, +where he would cut the Bavarian line of retreat. As soon as Merci +saw the movement he gave orders for his army to fall back with all +haste, and although Turenne pressed hard on his rear he succeeded +in drawing his troops off, though, in order to do so, he was obliged +to abandon his baggage and cannon. Altogether he lost between eight +and nine thousand men, with their artillery and most of their +horses. The French loss was equally great, and though the battle +was claimed as a victory by them owing to the Bavarians having +finally fallen back, it was really a drawn one. + + + +CHAPTER XIV: JUST IN TIME + + +The regiment of Poitou had suffered heavily in the battles of +Freiburg. In the first advance Turenne had placed it in the rear +of his infantry. + +"I must have, Hector," he said, "a reserve upon which I can implicitly +rely; brought up at the right moment it might decide the fate of +a battle, if we are beaten it can allow the disorganized regiments +to pass, check the pursuit of the enemy, and retire in good order, +contesting every foot of the ground until the rest of the force +have emerged from the mouth of the defile and been enabled to form +up in sufficient order to withstand the effect of the enemy's +cavalry." + +The regiment, therefore, took no part in the work of clearing the +defile of the enemy's infantry, and for the first four hours of +the battle remained in the rear. Then Turenne ordered it to the +front, to take the place of the regiments which had already lost +half their strength, and were no longer capable of resisting the +continued assaults of the Imperialists. Turenne himself rode with +Hector at the head of the regiment. They pushed their way through +the hardly pressed troops in front, and when they faced the enemy +deployed and poured a terrible volley into their assailants, and +for the remaining three hours bore the whole brunt of the battle. +Standing four deep, their flanks resting upon the rising ground on +either side of the mouth of the pass, the two front lines alone +maintained their fire so long as infantry only pressed them, +the two lines behind being ordered by Hector not to fire a shot. +When, however, the Bavarian infantry drew aside and the cavalry +thundered down, the front lines fell back through those behind them, +and the latter received the cavalry with such terrible volleys of +musketry that they each time broke and fled. + +Turenne, after seeing the Poitou regiment take up its post, +occupied himself in reforming the remains of the other regiments, +and raising their spirits by warm words of commendation at the +manner in which they had fought, until assured that they in turn +could, if necessary, join the first line if it were forced to give +way. When he had done this he rejoined Hector, who had dismounted +and moved backwards and forwards among the men, seeing that the +gaps caused by the enemy's fire were constantly filled up, and +encouraging the soldiers with praise and exhortations. Turenne +sat upon his horse some paces behind the rear line. When he saw +the Bavarian infantry draw aside, and heard the roar of the cavalry +charge, his lips tightened, and he half turned his horse as if to +call up the regiments behind. When, however, he saw the lines that +had hitherto been in rear take up their place in front and stand +there quiet and immovable, the look of irresolution passed from +his face, and, after the Bavarian horse had fallen back, shattered +by their volleys, he pressed a pace or two forward and shouted, +"Regiment of Poitou, I thank you in the name of France; never saw +I a regiment fight more bravely or steadily!" + +The men responded with a loud cheer to this praise from one whom +all respected and loved. Turenne then rode up to Hector. + +"Splendidly done, Colonel Campbell! I had rather wondered why you +kept half your men idle in such a fight; I now understand why you +did so. Had all been firing, three-quarters of their muskets would +have been empty, and you would possibly have been overthrown. It +was a stroke of genius. I may have taught you many lessons in war, +but tonight you have given me one." + +Turenne remained with the regiment till the end of the fight, and +marked with approval the way in which each line fought by turns, +while the other remained behind them ready to receive the charges +of the cavalry. As soon as the Bavarians drew off he saw that all +the wounded were carried to the rear, where the surgeons rendered +what aid was possible, while the rest of the troops threw themselves +down to snatch a few hours' sleep. When, three hours later, +Enghien's troops came down from the hill they had won, Turenne's +force marched out from the defile. Turenne mounted his horse, and, +calling upon Hector to follow him, rode forward with his principal +officers to meet Enghien. + +"It has been a terrible battle, prince, and if your loss equals +mine the victory has indeed been won at a terrible cost." + +"Mine has been heavy, too," Enghien said, "but we have gained our +object." + +"Not wholly," Turenne replied, "for Merci has taken up a position +as strong as that from which we have driven him." + +"I wish that I could have lent you a hand in the fight," Enghien +said, "but the Bavarians had fallen back into the woods, and we +knew not whether they still held their ground there. In the rain and +darkness it would have been dangerous to have crossed the broken +ground with its woods and ravines, and the troops, after their +exertions and heavy marches, were incapable of such an effort. +Indeed, I had lost fully half my infantry, and the cavalry would +be useless for such work. You must indeed have been sorely pressed, +having Merci's whole force to contend with. Still, I had no doubt +even if you could not issue from the defile you would be able to +check the enemy." Then the generals in turn repeated the details +of the battles in which they had been engaged and the losses they +had suffered. + +Turenne then introduced his principal officers to Enghien, and when +he had done so called up Hector. + +"I need not introduce this officer to you, prince," he said. + +"No, indeed," Enghien replied, holding out his hand; "I have good +reason to recollect you, Colonel Campbell. You have heard, marshal, +what a good service he rendered me at Rocroi?" + +"He has rendered me one no less this night," Turenne said. "I never +saw a regiment stand more steadily than the one which he commands, +and which he has trained to what seems to me perfection. For the +last three hours that regiment alone bore the brunt of the battle, +although assailed alternately by infantry and cavalry, and thus +afforded time to reform the regiments that fought earlier in the +afternoon and to give me hope that even were the enemy to overcome +the resistance of his men, I could still be able to check their +further advance." + +He then told Enghien the manner in which Hector had arranged and +fought his troops. + +"A good device indeed," Enghien said warmly, "and methinks it +worthy of adoption whenever infantry have to meet other infantry +and cavalry, for the muskets take so long to reload that there +might not be half a dozen men ready to give fire when the cavalry +charge. Is that one of the many lessons that he tells me you have +given him?" + +"No, indeed; it has not, so far as I am aware, ever been tried +before. Parts of regiments are often held in reserve to reinforce +their comrades if necessary, but this method, whereby half the +regiment are able at a moment's notice to meet cavalry with their +muskets loaded, is methinks, entirely new, and in such cases as +the present very valuable." + +In the second day's fighting Turenne's army had taken but small +share, for during the retreat of the Bavarians the cavalry alone +had come into play. + +The Bavarians having retreated into Wurtemberg, a council of war +was held to decide in what manner the greatest advantage could +be gained during their absence. Most of the chief officers were in +favour of retaking Freiburg. Turenne was of a different opinion. +He represented that the siege would occupy a considerable time, +and that if successful they would, at the end of a campaign, have +simply retaken a town that was theirs when it began. They could +therefore point to no advantage gained by their efforts or by the +loss of so many men. He advised, therefore, that as the Bavarian +army was now sixty miles away, and could not very well return, +as it would need large reinforcements, fresh cannon, and baggage +wagons, they should take the opportunity of making themselves +masters of the whole course of the Rhine and even of the Palatinate. + +The Duc d'Enghien declared for this plan. Turenne went at once to +Breisach, and arranged for the transport, by boat down the Rhine, +of all the necessaries for the siege of Philippsburg. The army +started on the 16th of August, a part of Turenne's army being +detached to capture small towns and castles. On the 23rd of August +Philippsburg was invested by Turenne, Enghien's force arriving on +the following day. Philippsburg stood on the Rhine, which at this +point formed a sharp elbow, and the land being low, many morasses +surrounded the town, and the approach therefore was exceedingly +difficult. Eight hundred paces from the town stood a square fort, +which commanded the river, and was connected with the town by +a causeway. The town itself had seven bastions, round these ran +a very thick hedge, and the moat was wide and full of water. The +garrison was a weak one, not exceeding a thousand men, but they +had a hundred pieces of cannon and a large store of ammunition. + +Feeling that he could not hold a fort so far from the town, the +commander withdrew the garrison from it, and Turenne seized it, and +placed a strong force there. Enghien then threw up strong lines in +a semicircle round the town to protect the army in case any large +force of the enemy should endeavour to relieve it. This occupied +four days, and in the meantime the boats had arrived with cannon, +ammunition, and provisions. A bridge was thrown across the river +in twenty-four hours, and a force was sent over; this attacked and +captured Germersheim, and then marched to Spires, which at once +opened its gates on the 29th of August. In the meantime the siege +of Philippsburg was begun in earnest. The approaches could only be +carried on in one place, where the ground was sandy, and continued +so up to two of the bastions of the town. + +Turenne commanded the attack against the right bastion, de Gramont +that on the left. They first diverted a brook running through the +plain, and were enabled to use its channel as an approach, thus +advancing fifteen hundred paces nearer to the town. They then +formed an intrenchment that could be used by both columns, and +from this on the 1st of September they began to open their trenches +against their respective bastions. De Gramont's works were attacked +on the following day by a sortie; this, however, was driven back. +On the fifth night both columns made a lodgment on the counterscarp, +and their batteries opened fire. After some days' work they filled +up the ditch, and seeing that his force was too weak to oppose so +strong an attack, the commander surrendered on the 12th of September. + +Although Merci was advancing with an army, Enghien continued the +project that had been formed, and, remaining with his own troops +to protect Philippsburg, sent Turenne with all his horse and five +hundred foot to Worms, which threw open its gates. Oppenheim +surrendered without resistance, and he arrived in front of Mayence. +The garrison was very small, and upon the threat of Turenne that +he would attack it on all sides the citizens sent a deputation +offering to capitulate. Turenne sent word of this to Enghien, who +rode there at once, and received the surrender of the town. Bingen +capitulated; Landor, Mannheim, Neustadt, and several other places +were taken; and thus from Strasburg to a point near Coblenz, +the whole course of the Rhine, the Palatine, and all the country +between the Rhine and the Moselle fell into the hands of the +French. Enghien returned to pass the winter in Paris. The greater +part of the army was recalled, and Turenne was left with but a +few regiments to hold the newly acquired territory. + +"Do you wish for leave, Campbell?" Turenne asked Hector. "You had +but a few days in your new lordship, and have a right to spend at +least a portion of the winter there." + +"I thank you, marshal, but I have no idea of leaving you. You +have been good enough to say that you will fill up the gaps in my +regiment by embodying in it the remains of the regiment of Ardennes, +which will bring it up to nearly its former strength. I certainly +should not like to be away while the work of fusion is being carried +out. The new men must be divided equally among the companies, and +the officers so arranged that one of those now appointed shall be +attached to each company with two of my own. Then I must see that +all so work together as to arrive at the same standard as before. +I should have wished that if possible the captains of the Ardennes +regiment should be appointed to the new regiment that you are about +to form, and that the places of those who fell in action should +be filled from my list of lieutenants." + +"Certainly. You lost five captains, did you not?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"If you send me the names of the five senior lieutenants, I will +promote them at once." + +"Thank you, marshal; that will make all my lieutenants captains. +I lost five of them and three second lieutenants." + +"Then you will require thirteen more officers." He looked at a list. +"There are eight belonging to the Ardennes, the rest I will draw +from other regiments. There is little fear of their objecting to the +exchange, for your corps won such a reputation that all will be +glad to join it; I will send you back to Nancy. There are barracks +there, and no other troops; and as we are not likely to be disturbed +until the spring, you will have plenty of time to bring the regiment +up to its former mark." + +The winter, indeed, passed quietly. The officers were all greatly +pleased when they heard the arrangements Hector had made, by which +most of them obtained a step in rank instead of being, as they had +feared, passed over by officers belonging to the Ardennes regiment. +The battle of Freiburg had shown them the great advantage that had +been gained by the steadiness and discipline of their men. They +took up the work of drilling again with even more zeal than before, +and it was not long before the regiment was restored to its former +state of efficiency. The reason why he had sent the regiment back +from the Rhine was explained by Turenne to Hector before he started. + +"The orders from court were," he said, "that I was to retain only +the Weimar regiments, and I should have been obliged to send you +back with those of Enghien had I not represented to him that it +might be of the greatest importance to me to have even one good +French regiment within call. We talked it over at some length, +and he finally agreed to take upon himself the responsibility +of ordering that your regiment should not go beyond Nancy, upon +the ground that there were very few troops in Lorraine; and that +peasant risings had taken place there, as in other departments, +owing to the terrible distress caused by heavy taxation. He has +handed to me a paper authorizing you to take such steps as you may +think fit, as soon as you receive news of such risings, to aid the +civil authorities, if they should take place at any point within +reasonable reach. The regiments stationed at Metz will naturally +maintain order north of Pont-a-Mousson, while you will send +detachments to points south and east of Nancy. You will understand +that you are not to move troops on the strength of mere rumours, +but only when requests for aid are sent by local authorities." + +Indeed, during the winter of 1644-45, as in that preceding it, +troubles broke out in many parts of France, and in some the risings +of "the barefooted ones," as they were called, became for a time +very formidable. The rage of the unhappy peasantry was principally +directed, as during the Jacquerie, against the nobles, and any +chateaux were sacked and burned, all within killed, and terrible +excesses committed. + +In February serious outbreaks took place. A messenger arrived at +Nancy with an urgent appeal for help, and Hector took four companies +and marched with all speed to the disturbed district. As soon as +he reached it he broke up his force, despatching each company in a +different direction, his instructions being that any body of armed +peasants they might meet were to be dispersed, but, once beaten, +were not to be pursued and cut up, and that life was not to be +unnecessarily sacrificed. He himself, with one company, marched +towards Poissons. He was within a mile of the town when a mounted +man, bleeding from several wounds, rode up. + +"The chateau of Blenfoix has been attacked by two hundred peasants," +he said. "My lady and a dozen retainers are holding a tower, but +they cannot long resist; even now the place may have been captured. I +broke my way through, and, hearing that there were troops in this +direction, I have galloped at full speed to implore your aid." + +"How far is it?" + +"About ten miles." + +"You hear, de Mieville; bring the men on with all speed. I will +gallop forward with my troopers and do what I can. Do I go straight +along the road?" + +"Yes, sir, nine miles hence you will see the chateau on an eminence +a mile away to the right." + +Followed by his troopers and Paolo, Hector dashed off at full speed. +In three quarters of an hour, at a turn of the road, they caught +sight of the chateau. Flames were pouring through most of the +windows. + +"Now, lads," he said to the men, "we have got long odds to face, +but there is a lady to be rescued, and if any men can accomplish +it we will." + +The chateau was partly castellated, the new portion having been +built against what had formerly been a small castle. On its summit +a flag was still flying. Riding on at the top of their speed they +soon saw a number of men swarming round a gate which opened into +the older portion of the building. + +"Put your pistols in your belts, lads. Don't use them if you can +help it, but trust to your swords. Cut your way through that crowd. +Ride in at the gate, and dismount at the door leading up to the +turret. Then do you, Macpherson and Hunter, cover our rear while +we fight our way up the steps. Follow us as we go, and if you want +aid, shout and we will come down to you." + +On hearing the sound of the galloping hoofs the peasants for a +moment made a movement of retreat, but when they saw that the six +horsemen were alone, they began to gather courage, and again waved +their arms, which were mostly axes, or poles to which scythes or +billhooks were attached. Riding three abreast, the horsemen burst +in among them, hewing and hacking with their swords; and the crowd, +unable to resist the impetus of the charge, opened a way for them, +and in a moment they had passed through the gate. A group of men +round an open door that marked the position of the turret stairs, +scattered with cries of alarm as they galloped up. In a moment +they sprang from their horses and entered the doorway. The stairs +were narrow, and but one man could mount and use his weapons at +a time. They were, however, densely packed with men. + +Hector sprang up, closely followed by the others. The resistance +was feeble, for the height above the winding steps was but six +feet, and insufficient for the use of either axes or longer weapons. +Many of the peasants, astounded at seeing the armed men mounting +from below them, and wholly ignorant of their numbers, threw down +their weapons and cried for mercy. Hector contented himself with +pushing past them, and running his sword through any who showed +signs of resistance. One or two men armed with rough pikes made a +stand; these he shot, and pressed upwards until within some twenty +feet of the top, when the peasants, half maddened at finding +themselves caught, rushed down in a body. "Close up!" he shouted +to his followers. These pressed close up to him, but the weight +was too much for them, and they were borne by the rush backwards +down the stairs, when the peasants darted out through the door. +Hector had received several knife cuts on the shoulder and arms, +and would have suffered still more severely had not Paolo and Nicholl, +who were next to him, thrust their pistols over his shoulder and +shot his assailants, whose bodies, borne along by the pressure +from behind, protected him from the blows of those above them. + +"Are you hurt badly, master?" Paolo exclaimed as they stood breathless +for a moment at the bottom of the stairs. + +"No, I think not; my gorget saved my neck; I have four or five +cuts on the shoulders, but they are mere flesh wounds. Now let +us mount the stairs; the men must have made a stout defence indeed +to have held out so long." + +The upper part of the stairs was indeed almost blocked with dead +bodies. At the top of the stairs stood two men with axes, which +they lowered as soon as they saw Hector. + +"You have made a brave stand," he said, "in defence of your mistress." + +"You have arrived but just in time, monsieur, for we are the last +two left, and though we might have accounted for a few more, +another five minutes would have finished it." + +Stepping out on the platform at the top of the tower, Hector saw +a lady leaning against the battlements; she was deadly pale, but +her face still bore a look of calm determination. In her hands she +held a dagger; clinging to her was a girl of some fifteen years +of age. + +"Thank God, madam, that we have arrived in time!" Hector exclaimed. + +"Just in time, monsieur; we had given up all hope, when, as if +sent by God, we saw your little band appear riding towards us. +Even then I hardly ventured to hope; it seemed well nigh impossible +that six men should be able to clear a way through so many. Only +two of my faithful retainers still held the stairs, and it was but +too evident that these could not resist much longer; when one more +had fallen I had resolved to plunge this dagger into my daughter's +heart and then into my own. Death would have been a thousand times +preferable to falling into the hands of these wretches." + +"How long have you been beleaguered, madam?" + +"My men have been fighting for four hours. For upwards of three +hours they did well, for the peasants, being unable to use their +weapons, frequently drew back. Then they hit upon the device of +fastening a hook to the end of a pole, and, catching this round the +leg of one of the defenders, dragged him down, and then despatched +him with their knives. One by one four of my men were killed. For +the last half hour the two who remained stood back, one at each +side of the doorway, so that they could not be so entrapped, and +slew those who, mounting the stairs, tried to rush past them. +Both were sorely spent, and the end must have come soon had you +not appeared. Whom have I to thank for this unlooked for deliverance?" + +"I am Colonel Campbell, Baron de la Villar," Hector replied, "and +have the honour to command his majesty's regiment of Poitou." + +"Your name is not French," the lady said. + +"No, madam, I am a Scotchman." + +"Then," the lady said, speaking in English, "I must claim you as a +countryman, for I am Irish. My husband was an officer in the army +of the Duke of Lorraine; he was killed in a skirmish four years +ago, and a year later I married the Baron of Blenfoix, and was +again widowed at the battle of Freiburg, where my husband, who +had followed the fortunes of the Duke of Lorraine, his feudal lord, +fell fighting by the side of General Merci. This is my daughter +Norah. But I see that you are wounded," she went on as Hector bowed +to the young lady. + +"Not seriously, madam; but I feel somewhat faint from loss of blood, +and will remove my helmet. As it turned out," he went on somewhat +faintly, "it was unfortunate that I did not put on my body armour; +but I had not anticipated hard fighting, and preferred to ride +without it. Thanks for your offer, lady, but my men will see to +me, they are all of them pretty well accustomed to the bandaging +of wounds." + +He was now, indeed, almost too faint to stand, and Paolo and Nicholl +seated him against a battlement, and then proceeded to take off +his upper garments and examine his wounds. They were all at the +back of the shoulder, as his assailants, pressed closely against +him, were unable to strike him in front. The lady tore some strips +off her garment and assisted in bandaging the wound, being, as she +said, well accustomed to such matters. + +"Is all quiet on the stairs?" Hector inquired of the two men whom +he had placed on guard there. + +"Save for the sound of some groans all is still, colonel," Hunter +replied. "Methinks that after being withstood for four hours by +six retainers they are not likely to make a fresh attempt against +six well armed men. + +"What are they doing, Macpherson?" + +"They are gathered in front of the chateau, sir. A large number of +things were dragged out before the flames reached them, and at +present they seem to be quarrelling over the division of them. They +have got some barrels of wine out of the cellars and are making +free with them." + +"So much the better," Hector said. "The company will be up in half +an hour at latest, and will give them a lesson unless they move +away before that; and now that they have taken to drinking they +are not likely to do so." + +The bandaging of his wounds being now completed, Hector was assisted +to his feet. + +"I grieve, madam," he said, "that I did not arrive in time to +prevent the chateau being burned." + +"The loss is not mine; my husband's estates were confiscated when +he crossed into Germany with the duke, and were some ten months +ago granted to a Monsieur de Thours, a relative of the Prince +of Conde; but he sent me a courteous letter to say that as he +was serving with the Duc d'Enghien, I was welcome to continue to +occupy the chateau until the war was over, receiving the rents as +his chatelaine, paying the retainers, and keeping up the establishment, +and sending the surplus to his agents at Nancy. This I was glad +to do, for, indeed, had it not been for his kind offer my daughter +and I would scarcely have known whither to go, as my husband expended +his last crown in equipping a force for the service of the duke." + +At this moment Macpherson exclaimed: + +"I see the head of a company mounting the slope, colonel." + +"Yes, and there is Captain Mieville. Ah! he has halted the men, and +is riding forward alone to take in the situation. I hope that the +peasants won't catch sight of him." When Mieville reached a point +where he could obtain a view of the front of the chateau he checked +his horse, and after surveying the scene for a minute rode back +to the company. A movement was at once visible. + +"He is extending them on each side," Hector said. "That is good. +He is going to inclose the peasants, and as from the slope in the +ground they cannot see the troops until they are within a hundred +yards, he will catch them in a trap." + +The company moved round, in fact, until they had formed almost +a semicircle, then they advanced, closing in as they neared the +house. When they reached the spot where they could be seen by the +peasants a trumpet sounded and they ran in. The peasants, bewildered +at seeing the line of soldiers closing in around them, hesitated. +Some were already too drunk to rise from the ground on which they +had thrown themselves, the others caught up their arms and ran +together. Retreat was impossible, for behind them was the burning +house. Suddenly a stream of fire burst from the semicircle of +troops. Some thirty of the insurgents fell, the others threw down +their arms and fell upon their knees crying for mercy. The troops +were rushing forward to finish their work, when Hector shouted +"Halt!" + +"De Mieville," he said, as the officer rode up towards the tower, +"do not shed more blood. Thirty at least have fallen in their +attack on this turret, besides those who have been killed by your +fire. Take the rest, disarm them all, let the men cut some stout +switches and give every man twenty blows well laid on the back, +and then let them go. Before you do so, send a dozen of them to +clear the staircase and to draw some buckets of water from the +well and sluice the steps down. Paolo, do you run down and find a +vessel of some sort and a goblet or horn, and bring up some wine +from one of those barrels. The ladies sorely need something after +what they have gone through, and I myself shall be all the better +for it, for the loss of blood has given me a raging thirst." + +Paolo had no difficulty in carrying out the order. The rioters had +brought out several pails for holding the wine, a score of silver +cups and other vessels lay where they had been dropped when the +soldiers appeared, and the officer had placed two men on guard +over them. Paolo thoughtfully brought up a pail of water as well +as of wine. The ladies drank a little wine and water, while Hector +took a long draught, and made the two retainers who had fought so +stoutly, and his own men, do the same. In half an hour the staircase +was cleared and washed down, and the party then descended. The +baroness had told Hector that for the present at any rate she would +go to Nancy, and would report to the new lord's agents there what +had happened, and doubtless he would send a man to take charge of +the place. + +"These cups," she said, "were all the personal property of my +husband, and I am therefore free to take them. Many of them have +been in his family for a very long time. Their sale will enable me +to live until I can form some plans for the future." + +The several silver vessels were collected and wrapped up ready for +transport in some of the hangings that the rioters had torn down. +An outhouse adjoining the keep was cleared out and thickly spread +with rushes for the accommodation of the baroness and her daughter. +The troops had already had a very long march, and it was out +of the question that they could return to Nancy that night. Fires +were lighted in front of the house, and the soldiers prepared to +bivouac there. Three of the troopers were sent off with orders to +the captains of the other three companies to concentrate the next +morning at a village on the line that would be taken on their return +march. Some men were sent down to the little town of Blenfoix to +purchase bread and meat, together with torches and other necessaries. +At nightfall Hector posted sentinels, as he considered it quite +possible that the peasants would raise the country for some distance +round and try to take vengeance for the loss they had suffered. +When Paolo took some supper round to the two ladies, he returned +with a message that they hoped Colonel Campbell would join them +in their meal. + +"See that the sentries are on the alert, Mieville," he said as he +got up from the fire round which he and the three officers were +sitting; "you must remember that these poor fellows are desperate. +Of course you and I know that they can do themselves no good by +attacking castles and burning chateaux, but were we in their place +-- famished, despairing, and ignorant -- we should doubtless do the +same. And although, with men as well disciplined as ours, there +would be little chance of the peasants overpowering us, they +may trust in their numbers, and would believe that if they could +destroy us, the whole country might well rise and join them. +Should there be any sign of trouble, call me instantly." + +Two sentries had been placed at the door of the outhouse, and as +he entered Hector said, "Keep good watch, men, and if you hear +any noise that might betoken the approach of a body of men, warn +me at once." + +"I heard what you said to the sentries, Colonel Campbell; do you +think that there is any danger?" + +"No danger, I trust, madam, for I am convinced that we could beat +off any number. Still, I do think that there is a possibility of +our being attacked. The peasants know that we are but a company. +They may send to all the villages round and call on them to come +and revenge those who have been slain. The people of the hills are +strong fellows -- wood cutters, charcoal burners, and shepherds -- +and there can be no doubt that they suffer terribly from the enormous +taxation. I have seen it on my own estate in Poitou, and can make +every allowance for them. In many cases the amounts they are adjudged +to pay are absolutely greater than their whole income. They are +forced to live upon bread made of bran and sawdust, to eat acorns +and beechnuts; they are gaunt with hunger; they see their children +dying before their eyes. They know not how their sufferings arise, +they only know that they suffer, and in their despair they turn +like hungry wolves against all who are better off than themselves." + +"And your people, are they suffering as much as these, monsieur?" + +"Not quite so much, perhaps, but they are suffering. I have spent +but a fortnight on my estates, of which I have only been master +for a year." + +"And could you do nothing for them, monsieur?" the girl asked. + +"I did what I could, mademoiselle. I remitted half their rents, +which was in fact but a small thing, seeing that I knew positively +they could not have paid them. Still it was no doubt some alleviation +to know that the arrears were not being piled up against them. As +to the other half, I told my intendant not to press any whom he +thought could not pay, and that if he drew enough to pay his own +salary and the wages of the retainers I should be content -- for +my pay as colonel is ample for my own wants." + +"You are very young to be a colonel, Monsieur Campbell," the baroness +said. + +"Very young; but I have had singularly good fortune, and have been +happy enough to please both Marshal Turenne and the Duc d'Enghien." + +"And you have served under them both?" she said in surprise. + +"I have had that good fortune. I was with Turenne for nearly four +years in Italy, and fought under Enghien at Rocroi, and I may say +under both of them at Freiburg." + +"What is the name of your regiment, monsieur?" + +"The Poitou regiment." + +"Indeed!" she exclaimed. "Of course, we have heard all the particulars +of the battle; and it was said that General Merci would have beaten +Monsieur Turenne back had it not been for the Poitou regiment, +commanded by a Scottish colonel, and said to be the finest under +the command of the French generals. They say it stood for three +hours against the attacks of the whole Bavarian army." + +"We were in a strong position," Hector said quietly, "at the mouth +of a defile, so that no more than our own numbers could attack us +at once. However, l am proud of the conduct of my men; none could +have fought more steadily than they did." + +"My husband was killed in the battle against Enghien's army on the +hill. I am glad that it was not by your regiment, monsieur." + +"I am glad too, madam." + +"These wars are terrible, and we of Lorraine -- lying between +France and Germany -- suffer whichever wins. Fortunately we lie +at a distance from the roads that the armies follow, and therefore +have escaped the devastation caused all along the line of march. +Nevertheless we have the sadness of knowing that in the field +neighbours must fight against neighbours, and kinsmen against +kinsmen, for since the duke fled many of our nobles, seeing that +the country has now become part of France, have joined her, while +others, like my husband, followed the duke into Germany. However, +as an Irishwoman it matters little to me now which is the victor." + +"Do you think of returning home, madam?" + +"As to that, I have not yet made up my mind. The land there is as +distracted as is France by civil war. It is sixteen years since +I left Ireland with my husband, a few months after our marriage. I +was an orphan, and have no near relations to whom I can go, therefore +it matters little to me whether I live in France or Ireland, so +that I can see some way of earning my own living and that of my +daughter. With economy, the sale of the silver would suffice to +keep us for three or four years, and long before that I hope that +I shall be able in some way to earn my living." + +Hector sat silent for two or three minutes. "It seems to me, +madam," he said at last, "that it would be better that you should +not spend the proceeds of your silver before looking for a post. +I can offer you one at once, if you will accept it." + +"You, monsieur!" she exclaimed in surprise. + +"Yes, madam. It is bad for the vassals and tenants of a noble -- even +though a newly made one, and on an estate of moderate dimensions +-- when their lord is absent, and there is none to look after them +save an intendant, whose duty it is to collect as much rent as he +is able. Such is the position of my tenants. I am a soldier, and +must perforce be absent. What I need greatly is someone who will +fill my place in this respect. I have an old friend who is captain +of the garrison, and sees to all things in the household; I have +an intendant, I believe a worthy young man, who collects my rents +and looks to the feeding and needs of the servants and garrison; +but I need someone who would interest herself actively in the +condition of my tenants, who would be a friend to them in sickness, +would give aid from my purse to those who really need it, would +send food to the starving, and aid my intendant by advising him as +to who are worthy of relief and who are suffering from their own +idleness or thriftlessness -- who will, in short, act as I would +have my wife act had I one. + +"Now, madame la baronne if you will honour me by making my home +yours so long as I am away at the wars, which may last, for aught +I know, for years yet, you will be conferring a great favour upon +me. You will have your own suite of apartments, where your meals +will be served to you. You will have horses to ride. You will +relieve my intendant of the necessity of seeing that the servants +perform their duties, and give him more time to devote himself +to the business of the estate, and will in fact act as chatelaine, +save only in matters connected with the garrison in the defence +of the castle." + +"Your offer is kind in the extreme, Colonel Campbell, but I could +not accept it," she said. "You are only inventing such an office +in order to give a home to me and Norah." + +"I can assure you, madam, that the thought is not a new one to me +-- I have often wished that there was a lady in the castle. One +who would see after the wives and families of the vassals; and +I should feel myself under a real obligation to you if you would +fill the place. You see, madam, it would cost me nothing, for food +and drink there is in abundance. I have two splendid horses, given +me by the Duc d'Enghien, standing idle in their stalls. I shall +be happy in knowing that my tenants would be well looked after, and +shall be glad indeed that you and your daughter, my countrywomen, +should, for the present at any rate, have a home." + +The tears were streaming down the lady's face. + +"Accept, mother," the girl said, putting her hand on her shoulder. +"Surely God sent this gentleman to our rescue when we were very +near death. Why should we not accept this fresh kindness at his +hands?" + +Her mother looked up. "My daughter has chosen for me, Colonel +Campbell. I accept your offer with the deepest thankfulness. Were +I to refuse now, the time might come when I should be reduced to +such straits that for my daughter's sake I should bitterly regret +that I had refused your generous offer; therefore I accept it, +and thank you from the bottom of my heart." + +"I do not wish you to see it in that light," he said with a smile. +"At best it is but an arrangement for our mutual advantage, and +I, on my part, thank you and mademoiselle most heartily for falling +in with my wishes." + + + +CHAPTER XV: THE BATTLE OF MARIENTHAL + + +The decision had scarcely been made when one of the lieutenants ran +in. "Captain Mieville requests me to state that sounds have been +heard in the forest, and that he believes there is a large body of +men approaching." + +"Then, ladies, I must beg you to mount the stairs to the turret at +once. I will place six men on guard there. The main body I must +keep in front of the chateau, as that affords a protection to our +rear. Do not be alarmed. I do not think the place is likely to +be attacked; but should it be, the six men could hold it for any +time. As soon as I have beaten the main body I will at once attack +those who may be assailing the turret, though I hardly think that +they will do so, for they know that there is nothing to be obtained +that would in any way repay them for the loss that they would +suffer. They are marching here for the purpose of attacking us." + +He called to the two sentries. + +"See the ladies up the stairs to the turret, and take up your post +on the lower stairs. Four more men shall join you at once." + +He found that Mieville had already got all the men under arms, and +had ranged them between the bivouac fires and the still glowing +chateau. + +"Move your men along farther, Mieville. Let your left flank rest +on the angle of the old castle, then we shall not be made anxious +by another attack on the turret. Let the right flank rest upon +the chateau where the old castle joins it. We shall then be in +darkness, while the assailants, if they come from that side, will +have to cross the ground lit up by the glow from the ruins. Let +the centre of the line be some ten yards in front of the building; +let the line be two deep." + +As soon as this disposition was made he called down the six men, +as they were no longer required to defend the staircase. + +"Now, men," he said when all were formed up, "I need not admonish +soldiers who were so firm under the attack of the whole of the +Bavarian army of the necessity for steadiness. I have no doubt +that if we are attacked it will be in considerable force; but it +will be by half armed peasants, and there probably will not be a +gun among them. But even peasants, when worked up into a state of +excitement are not to be despised. My orders are: The front rank +shall continue firing until they are close at hand, and shall then +fix bayonets. Until this is done the second line are not to fire +a shot; but as soon as the front rank are ready to repel the enemy +with fixed bayonets, you will begin. Don't throw a shot away, but +continue loading and firing, as quickly as you can; and unless very +closely pressed, let no man empty his musket until his comrade on +the right has reloaded, so that there will always be some shots +in reserve. Should they rush on in spite of the fire, I shall give +the order, 'Empty your muskets and fix bayonets,' and we will then +charge them. Hunter, you and your three comrades and Paolo will +keep close to me, and if we find the men wavering at any point we +will go to their assistance. If, however, we charge, remember that +you six men I told off to guard the turret are at once to pass +through the gates and take up your post on the steps, for some of +them may slip in behind us and endeavour to rush up." + +The horses, that had been turned loose when Hector and the troopers +mounted the steps, had been seized by the peasants, and tied up to +some trees close by when the latter began to feast. They had been +recovered when the insurgents were scattered by Mieville's company +and had then been placed in the courtyard of the castle. As soon +as the alarm was given, Hector, the four troopers, and Paolo had +mounted. The three officers were also on horseback. + +"In case the company charges, Mieville," he said, "we nine mounted +men can cover the rear and charge any of the insurgents who try to +rush in and take them in the rear. I hope that we shall keep them +off with our musketry fire; but I don't disguise from myself that +if they fall upon us at close quarters we shall have to fight +hard. Ah, here they come!" + +Suddenly in the darkness from the other side of the chateau +a great crowd of men poured out, shouting and yelling furiously, +and brandishing their rough weapons, which shone blood red in the +glow of the fire in the ruins. Someone had evidently been placed +on the watch, and had told them where the troops had taken up their +post, for they came on without hesitation, bearing outwards until +they faced the centre of the line, at a distance of fifty yards; +then one of the men, who appeared to be the leader, shouted +an order, and they rushed impetuously forward. The front line at +once opened fire. Many of the peasants dropped, while the others +hesitated a little, and so gave the men who had first fired time to +reload; but, urged on by the shouts of their leaders, the peasants +again rushed forward. + +"Fire a volley, and then fix bayonets!" Hector shouted. The fifty +muskets flashed out, and as the peasants were but fifteen yards +away every shot told, and their front rank was completely swept +away. + +"Every other man in the second line fire!" Hector ordered, and +twenty-five shots added to the confusion among the peasants. The +slaughter, however, only had the effect of maddening the great +crowd, who numbered upwards of two thousand, and with a howl of +fury they rushed forward again. Hector waited until they almost +touched the row of bayonets, and then gave the order for the +remaining men to fire and all to fix bayonets. The instant this +was done he shouted "Charge!" for he saw that while standing quiet +his men were no match for the peasants, whose long poles with +the scythes at the end gave them great advantage over the shorter +weapons of the soldiers. With a cheer the latter threw themselves +upon their opponents, their close formation and more handy +weapons depriving their enemies of this advantage. Thrusting and +overthrowing all in front of them, the line burst its way through +the mob, the little party of cavalry charging furiously whenever +the peasants endeavoured to fall upon their rear, and the latter, +boldly as they fought against the infantry, shrank back before +the flashing swords and the weight of horses and riders. + +As soon as they had passed through the crowd Hector gave the order +for his troops to face about, and they again burst their way +through the mob that had closed in behind them. Four times was the +manoeuvre repeated, the resistance growing fainter each time, as +the peasants found themselves unable to withstand the charge of +the disciplined troops. When for the fifth time they reached the +gate of the castle the crowd no longer pressed upon their rear, +but stood hesitatingly some fifty yards away. Hector took advantage +of the pause, and ordered his men, who were panting from their +exertions, to load again. He formed them in single line now. + +"Don't fire a shot until I give the word," he said; "then pour in +your volley, fix bayonets instantly, and charge." + +Standing in the shade as they did, the movement of loading +was unobserved by the peasants, who, as they saw the line again +advancing, prepared to meet them, but gave a yell of surprise when +a terrible volley was poured into them at a distance of twenty +yards. Then, before they had recovered from their surprise, the +long line was upon them with levelled bayonets. Only a few stood +their ground. These were instantly overthrown. The rest, throwing +away their weapons, fled in all directions. + +"Thank God that is over!" Hector said, as he told the troops to halt +and reload. "If they had all been as courageous as their leader +they would have annihilated us, but each time we charged I observed +that a considerable number fell away on either flank, so that it +was not a solid mass through which we had to make our way. What +is our loss, Mieville?" + +"I rode along the line and counted the numbers. There are but +seventy-five on foot," he said, "and most of these have got more +or less severe wounds with their ugly weapons." + +"Let the ground over which we have passed be carefully searched," +he said, "and any of our men who show signs of life be carried in +front of the chateau." + +Twelve men were found to be living; their wounds were at once +attended to and bandaged. + +"I think most of them will do," Captain Mieville said. "They are +ugly looking gashes, but it is not like a bullet in the body." + +The men who had been killed were found in most cases to have been +slain outright from the blows of hatchets, which had in several +cases completely severed their heads. While the wounds of the +soldiers were being attended to, Hector went to the gate at which +the baroness and her daughter were now standing. + +"You are unhurt, I hope," the lady said as Hector approached. + +"I have two or three more wounds," he said, "but, like those I had +before, they are of little account." + +"It was a terrible fight," she said. "We watched it from the top +of the turret, and it seemed to us that you were lost each time +you plunged into the crowd, you were so few among such numbers. +Have you lost any men?" + +"We have only had thirteen killed outright," he said. "Twelve more +are very seriously wounded, but I think most of them will recover. +As to the rest of the company, I fancy that most of them will require +some bandaging. And now I shall recommend you and your daughter +to return to your shelter. I have no fear whatever of their coming +back again." + +"That we cannot do," she said firmly. "It is our duty to do what +we can to aid those who have fought so bravely." + +"The men are now attending to each other's wounds," Hector said. +"Every man in my regiment carries, by my orders, a couple of +bandages. We found them most useful at Freiburg, and many a life +was saved that would have been lost but for their use; but if +you insist upon doing anything, I would ask you to carry wine and +water round. The troopers will draw the water for you from the well +in the courtyard here." + +"That we will do willingly," she said. + +For the next two hours the ladies were busy at work, moving among +the men and supplying them with refreshments. Not until all their +wants were amply supplied did they retire. + +In the morning Hector said: "Now, Madame de Blenfoix, I have been +thinking the matter over, and consider that it would be a wholly +unnecessary journey and a loss of four days were you to travel to +Nancy with us. You are only ten days' journey from Poitou, and +I should advise you to start at once. My man, Paolo, and two of +the troopers will accompany you as an escort. Your road will lead +through Orleans, which will be almost halfway, and you will also +pass through Tours. At both these towns you can, if you will, stay +for a day to rest. I will ride down with you into Blenfoix, where +I shall be able to get paper and pens, and will write letters to +Captain MacIntosh and to my intendant explaining exactly the position +that you will occupy. One of the troopers will ride forward with +these from your last halting place before you arrive there, in order +that you may find everything prepared and be received properly on +your arrival. Do you both ride, or would you rather have a pillion's +place behind the troopers?" + +"We both ride," she said; "but I should prefer, on a journey like +this, that my daughter should ride behind me on a pillion. You are +altogether too good, Colonel Campbell. You are heaping kindnesses +upon us." + +"Not at all, madam. And now you will doubtless be glad to hear +that in searching round the place this morning, we have discovered +that two of your horses that had doubtless been turned loose by the +peasants have found their way back. No difficulty will therefore +arise on that score. The saddles are hanging from the beams in +the stable, so that everything is in readiness for your departure." + +A quarter of an hour later the whole party left the ruined chateau, +the troops taking their way to the point at which they had left +the road, while Hector with his four troopers and Paolo rode down +into Blenfoix with the ladies. Here the baroness purchased a few +necessaries for the journey while Hector was writing his letters. +Hunter and Macpherson were to form their escort, and were by turns +to lead the spare horse, which on alternate days was to carry +the double burden. Paolo carried the purse, which contained a sum +ample for the expenses of the journey. When all was ready the +adieus were said, and the baroness repeated the heartfelt thanks +of her daughter and herself for the kindness shown them. Paolo +took his place beside the ladies, the two troopers fell in behind, +and they started west, while Hector with the other two troopers +galloped off to overtake his company. + +At Joinville they found that de Thiou's company had just marched +in, but it was not until the next day that the other two returned. +All had met with scattered bodies of peasants, but these had +dispersed as soon as the troops were seen, and there had been no +actual fighting except with the parties Hector had met. The bodies +of the soldiers that had fallen were buried near the chateau. Those +of the peasants were left where they lay, and would doubtless be +carried off by their friends as soon as the latter knew that the +troops had left. The lesson had been a severe one indeed, upwards +of two hundred and eighty being killed in the two encounters. The +insurgents were completely disheartened by their loss, and during +the rest of the winter the aid of the troops was not again called +for. + +As soon as spring set in, the Poitou regiment marched to join the +marshal. The Bavarian army had been weakened by the withdrawal of +four thousand men to aid the Imperialists, who had been defeated +by the Swedes in Bohemia. Turenne, on hearing the news, at once +prepared to take advantage of it, crossed the Rhine on a bridge +of boats at Spires, and passed the Neckar, General Merci retiring +before him. Stuttgart opened its gates, and Turenne established +himself at Marienthal on the river Tauber. Merci, as he fell back, +had caused a rumour to be spread that he was making for the Danube. + +There was a great scarcity of forage in the country round Marienthal, +and the officers of the cavalry strongly urged upon Turenne that +they should divide and take up stations at various points where +they could obtain food for their animals, which were much exhausted +by their long and heavy marches. Turenne for some time resisted +their entreaties, but at last, seeing that the cavalry would +speedily be ruined unless they could obtain food, permitted this +course to be taken. Before allowing them to leave, however, he +sent parties of horse forward in various directions to discover +what the enemy were doing. These returned with the news that the +Bavarian army had broken up, and was fortifying itself in the towns +among which it had been divided. Turenne, however, was still +apprehensive. He kept his cannon and the greater part of the +infantry with him, and also General Rosen with a portion of his +horse, and refused to let the rest of the cavalry go farther than +three leagues from the army. He himself rode out with a regiment of +cavalry some ten miles beyond Marienthal, along the road by which +the Imperialists would advance were they to assemble to attack +him. + +At two o'clock the next morning a party he had sent to watch the +Bavarians brought in the news that Merci was advancing with all +his force. Rosen was ordered to hurry forward to the spot where +the advanced division was lying. Messengers were sent off in all +directions to recall the scattered cavalry, and having seen that +everything had been done to place affairs in a better position, +Turenne rode off with what troops he could gather to aid Rosen. +The latter had made a serious blunder. In front of the position +held by the advanced division was a large wood, through which +the Bavarians must pass. Instead of taking possession of this and +holding it until reinforcements came up, he fell back, drew up his +troops on the plain, and allowed the Bavarians to occupy the wood +without resistance. With the troops which arrived with him, the +marshal had now under him some three thousand infantry and seven +regiments of horse. He placed his infantry on his right with two +squadrons to support them; with the rest of his cavalry, he formed +his left wing. + +He himself took the command here. Rosen commanded on the right. +Merci, after passing through the wood, drew up his army in order +of battle and opened fire on the French. The artillery, however, +in no way shook their firmness, and seeing more troops in the +distance advancing to reinforce them, Merci began the battle by +an attack on a little wood on which the French right rested; while +at the same time Turenne charged the Bavarian right wing with his +cavalry, broke it up, and captured the cannon and twelve standards. +But while on this side the victory was almost won, on the other +side disaster had befallen the French. Their infantry, perceiving +that the Bavarians, who were advancing to attack them, were much +superior in force, were seized with a panic and scattered in all +directions. The left wing of the Bavarians advanced rapidly, and, +throwing themselves behind Turenne's wing, prepared to fall upon +him in the rear. + +Turenne ordered his cavalry to retire, and passing through the wood +found beyond it three regiments that had just arrived. These with +the fifteen hundred horse that had been with him in the battle placed +him in a position to make a vigorous defence, but the Bavarians +did not venture to attack him. He now sent an officer to rally +the scattered infantry, and gave orders that they should at once +retreat without a stop to Philippsburg, a distance of seventy miles. +He himself with his cavalry started for Hesse, whose landgravine +was in alliance with France. With two regiments he covered the +retreat, and so enabled the rest of the cavalry as they came up +from their distant quarters to cross the Tauber. This was a bold +and successful movement, for had he fallen back with his infantry +to Philippsburg the enemy would have possessed themselves of +all the towns he had captured, whereas they could not now advance +without exposing their line of communication to his attack. + +The Poitou regiment had, when Turenne advanced to Marienthal, been +left at a town some four leagues away. A messenger reached Hector +from Turenne with a note scribbled in pencil: -- + +We have been beaten. The infantry behaved shamefully, and are +hastening, a crowd of stragglers, towards Philippsburg. I shall +retire along the Tauber with the cavalry and make for Hesse, do +you march with all speed for that river. If as you approach the +river you hear that we have already passed, do you direct your +march to Hesse. I leave the choice of route to you, and you must +be guided by circumstances. At any rate you are unlikely to be +attacked except by cavalry, and these, if not in too great numbers, +you may be trusted to beat off. + +Ten minutes after the receipt of this order the regiment was on the +march. They arrived on the Tauber just in time, for a quarter of +an hour after they had piled arms, after a tremendous march, the +cavalry came along. They were in scattered parties, for the roads +were terribly bad, and they were obliged to break up and make +their way as best they could by mere tracks across the rocky and +hilly country. Turenne himself, when he arrived, had but twenty +horsemen with him. + +"I hardly expected you to be up in time, Campbell," he said, as he +dismounted. "Your men must have marched well indeed. As you see, +though unbeaten, for we on our side defeated the enemy's horse, +we are as much dispersed as if we had suffered a disaster. I am +trying to cover the retreat with two regiments of cavalry that +were not engaged in the battle. Half an hour since we charged and +drove back in confusion a party of Bavarian horse, but they formed +up again. The main body is ahead, but is as scattered as we are, +for besides the difficulty of keeping together on these horrible +roads, it is necessary that we should occupy every track by which +the enemy's horse could move, or they might get in front of us and +play havoc with us. + +"You will have to march all night, and I should advise you to break +up your command into half companies, with orders to each to attach +themselves as far as possible to such parties of my two regiments +of cavalry as they may come across. We shall not proceed at any +great pace, as we must give time for the troops ahead of us to +get clear. The horses are utterly worn out, being half starved and +fatigued with their march. So far we know not whether the whole +of the Bavarian cavalry is behind us, but it is probable that one +of their two divisions is pursuing the infantry. I wish you had +been there with them. In the first place your example would have +prevented their breaking, and in the second you could have covered +their retreat. As it is, I fear that but few of the three thousand +who were with me will reach Philippsburg. I shall be glad if you +yourself will remain near me. If your regiment were going to keep +together I would not take you from them, but being broken up +into fragments, you could exercise no supervision over them in the +darkness." + +Hector at once called the officers together, and gave them the +necessary orders. "You understand," he said, "that your main object +is not so much to save yourselves, though that is most important, +but to enable the cavalry to beat back the Bavarian horse." + +It was a terrible march; both horse and foot made their way along +with difficulty through the darkness. Men and horses were alike +fatigued, and the cavalry for the most part dismounted and led +their animals along. There were several sharp fights with bodies +of the enemy, who, ignorant of the line by which the French were +retreating, feared to press the rearguard too close, lest they +should find them in very superior numbers. Once, when they passed +a lane running down to the river, Turenne -- who had taken every +opportunity of making his way across the line of retreat and +seeing how all was going on -- said to Hector, "Will you ride up +here, Campbell, and cheer up any parties you may come across. Tell +them that all is going on well, and that by morning we shall find +that the enemy have given up the pursuit, and shall be able to halt +and take a few hours' rest, and give battle should the enemy come +up in force. Their horses must be as fatigued as ours, for they +must have been marching for eight or ten hours since the morning." + +Hector had only Paolo now with him, having appointed the four +troopers to go with different parties of the infantry, and to act +as orderlies to their captains. He rode rapidly up the lane, and +presently heard the cavalry passing across it. + +"There is one party, Paolo," he said, urging his horse into a gallop. +In two or three minutes he came up with the column of horse. + +"Where is your officer?" he asked, drawing rein as he reached them. + +"Seize him!" a voice cried in German, and before he and Paolo could +turn their horses half a dozen troopers were upon them. + +"I surrender," he cried in German, seeing that resistance was +impossible. + +"Who are you, monsieur?" an officer demanded. + +"I am colonel of the Poitou regiment of infantry," he said. "This +man is my lackey." + +"Where are your cavalry, sir?" + +"That I cannot tell you exactly, seeing that no one knows. I +thought that you formed part of our rearguard." + +"How comes it that you, an infantry officer, were there? We heard +that there were no infantry with them." + +"We joined them just before nightfall, and were at once divided up +among the various regiments of horse." + +"I must inform our colonel of that. Come along with me," and they +pushed past the troopers until they arrived at the head of the +column, when the officer reported to the colonel. + +"Donner Blitzen!" the latter exclaimed, "it is well that we learned +this news, for we should have fared very ill if we had come upon +horse and foot together. The Poitou regiment! That is the one that +we heard beat back our charges so often at Freiburg, and they say +the best regiment in the French service. It is no use our going +farther; we might well fall into an ambush, and in these lanes they +could shoot us down helplessly. We will move on quietly until we +get to a place where there is space enough for us to dismount and +bivouac. We could not have gone many more miles, for if we did we +should be a regiment without horses tomorrow morning." + +They proceeded very slowly and cautiously until, when they came +upon an open tract of ground, the colonel ordered them to dismount +and sound the trumpets. His regiment, like those of Turenne, had +been broken up, and he had but half a squadron with him. In an +hour the whole regiment was assembled; a few fires were lighted, +but most of the men threw themselves down by their horses and at +once went off to sleep. The colonel and his officers sat down at +one of the fires, where Hector was requested to join them. + +"I suppose that your regiment took no part in the battle?" + +"No, sir; we were some way from Marienthal, and I received orders +only after the day was lost, to join Marshal Turenne and his +cavalry on the Tauber. We arrived on the river just at sunset, +having marched ten leagues in eight hours. I regret bitterly that +my regiment was not on the field, for assuredly they would not +have given way. Had they stood, the rest of the infantry would have +stood." + +"And in that case you would now be the pursuers," the colonel broke +in, "for Turenne completely shattered our right wing. Well, sir, +it is the fortune of war, and we at least have the honour of having +given your marshal a defeat. He is a grand general, but we caught +him napping today." + +"It was not his fault, sir. General Rosen and his officers insisted +so strongly that unless they were allowed to move off in search +of forage, the whole army would be disabled by the loss of their +horses by hunger, that he was almost forced to comply with their +request." + +"But, even so, he made a mistake," the colonel said. "If instead +of marching to meet us in front of Marienthal he had fallen back +directly he had the news of our coming, he could have been joined +by all his detached troops before we came up with him." + +"He said as much to me tonight," Hector replied; "but even the +greatest generals are liable to make a mistake sometimes. And, +indeed, had General Rosen with the advanced division held the wood +in front of them, instead of retiring on to the plain, they should +have been able to keep you at bay until all our troops came up." + +''Undoubtedly that was a terrible blunder on his part," the colonel +said, "and he rather than Turenne is to blame. And now, sir, may +I ask how is it that you, who cannot be more than twenty, come to +be a colonel, and in command of a regiment?" + +"I have been five years an officer, and was fortunate on two occasions +to obtain the approval, once of Monsieur de Turenne, and once of +the Duc d'Enghien." + +"I congratulate you, sir. It is seldom indeed that so young an +officer has opportunities of distinguishing himself. I myself +had seen well nigh thirty years service before I came to command +a regiment. And now, sir, will you give me your parole not to +attempt to escape?" + +"Certainly, sir," Hector replied promptly. He knew that should he +refuse four or five troopers would be set to watch him, and even +if he evaded these, which was well nigh impossible, he might be +recaptured on the following morning, as detachments of the Bavarian +horse would be sure to be pressing hard upon Turenne's troops. +The pursuit was indeed taken up again during the night, but Turenne +succeeded in keeping his pursuers at bay, and reaching the frontiers +of Hesse. There he found the infantry and cavalry who had not been +engaged already assembled, for they had received orders to march +instantly to that spot. He had now with him some four thousand +horse and two thousand foot, and was joined by six thousand troops +from Hesse and four thousand Swedes. He was thus soon in a position +to advance with a much stronger force than that which he commanded +before the battle of Marienthal. + +The Bavarian cavalry that had followed him rejoined General Merci +at Kirchheim. Hector was with Paolo taken to that place, and upon +his refusal to continue his parole, was confined in a prison there, +Paolo being allowed at his request to remain with him. He had had +an interview with General Merci, who had treated him with much +courtesy; for there were Scotch and Irish officers serving in the +Imperial army as well as in that of France, and they were held in +high esteem for their courage and daring. + +The battle of Marienthal was fought on the 2nd of May, and it +was late in July before any fresh movements took place. Turenne +would willingly have advanced with his army, but his movements were +arrested by a peremptory order from Paris, sent on receipt of the +news of the defeat, that he was not to take the offensive until +joined by Enghien, who had with him a force of eight thousand men. He +therefore marched to join the reinforcements, and the two armies +met at Spires on the 2nd of July. As before, Enghien was in supreme +command, with de Gramont as his lieutenant general. Long conferences +took place between these generals: Turenne, General Geis, who +commanded the Hessians, and Konigsmark, who commanded the Swedes. +The Bavarians were known to be very strongly posted, and to have +been reinforced by four thousand Imperialists under the command +of General Geis. + +There was much difference of opinion between them as to the best +course to be pursued, but Enghien, who was always in favour of +great battles, finally determined so to place the army that the +enemy would be forced to come out and fight. He therefore marched +to Venecher, captured Wimpfen, and threw a bridge across the river, +whereupon General Merci fell back twenty leagues into Franconia. As +soon as they had passed the river an occurrence took place that +threatened to overthrow all the plans of the campaign. Some hasty +words spoken by Enghien so angered the Generals Geis and Konigsmark +that they determined to retire at once with the Swedes and Hessians. +Turenne was requested by Enghien to endeavour to arrange matters, +and by his kind and gentle manner succeeded in conciliating Geis, +who consented to remain with the Hessians. Konigsmark, however, +as hot tempered as Enghien himself, refused to do so, and with his +whole force retired to Bremen, in Lower Saxony. + +The French and Hessians marched towards the Tauber, captured +Rothenburg and other towns, and thereby obtained a large quantity +of provisions and stores; and hearing that the Bavarians were +advancing to Nordlingen, marched in all haste to give them battle +there. + + + +CHAPTER XVI: AN ESCAPE + + +After being confined for a week in the prison at Kirchheim Hector +was sent with a number of other prisoners to Ingolstadt. Here he +was confined in the castle, a separate room being allotted to him +in recognition of his rank, and Paolo was, at his request, allowed +to remain with him. + +"I cannot but think, master, that we should have done better if +you had given your parole not to try to escape. In that case we +might have had comfortable quarters in the town instead of this +somewhat bare chamber. If there had been a chance of escape it +would have been different, but seeing the strength of the castle, +methinks there is no prospect whatever of our being able to get +out." + +"That remains to be seen, Paolo. I fancy there is always a chance +of escape if one does but hit upon the right way. At present we +know nothing of the castle or the vigilance of the guard, and no +doubt it will take us some little time to find these matters out. +The first thing we require is patience. No doubt they will allow +me out to take exercise, and like enough, if I give my word that +you will return every day at a certain hour, they will allow you +to go in to the town, seeing that you can scarcely be called a +prisoner, having no military rank or position, but being in their +eyes only a lackey. If they will do that it will be a great step +gained, for you will be able to bring in anything that we may +require. However, I will not ask that you should be permitted to +go in and out for some little time. + +"Lose no opportunity of making yourself friendly with some of the +soldiers, and if the chance should occur, be useful to any of the +officers. The commandant is evidently disposed to be civil, and says +that he will grant me any indulgence in his power short of passing +the gates of the castle. I have no doubt that when the campaign +is over and the army has gone into winter quarters Turenne will +offer to exchange some prisoners of the same rank for me. But I +have no wish to be cooped up here when perhaps a great battle may +be fought. As far as I can see, the difficulty will not be so +much in getting out of the castle, but out of the town itself, for +this is one of the most strongly fortified places in the empire. +One reason why I want you to go into the town is that you may be +able to obtain shelter there for us should we find, as I expect +we shall, that it is impossible for us to escape from the citadel +and town at the same attempt." + +The place was indeed so strong that but a careless watch was kept +over the prisoners in the castle. The soldiers were confined to +their quarters save that they were allowed for an hour a day to +take exercise in the courtyard, a company of troops being kept +under arms while they were out; but the officers were free at all +times to wander about. Hector was soon on friendly terms with many +of the officers of the garrison, as in his case there was none of +the hostile feeling with which the French officers were regarded. +His youth, and the singularity of his having so soon attained +the rank of colonel, also predisposed them in his favour. It was +evident that this young soldier of fortune, unsupported by powerful +family interest, must have distinguished himself in an altogether +exceptional manner to have obtained the command of one of the best +regiments of France. + +Paolo was as popular among the sergeants and men as his master was +with the officers. As an Italian, and as Hector's lackey, he was +not regarded as a prisoner of war; and by his unfailing good humour, +his readiness to enter into any fun that might be going on, or to +lend a hand in cleaning accoutrements or completing a job that a +soldier had left unfinished when his turn came for duty, he became +quite a popular character. The colonel who commanded frequently +walked with Hector in the courtyard, sent him dishes from his own +table, and more than once invited him to dine with him. As he was +very curious to learn how his young prisoner had so early attained +his rank, Hector one evening gave him a sketch of his career, from +the time when Turenne gave him his commission to that at which he +was taken prisoner, omitting only the incident of the attempt to +assassinate Mazarin. + +"You have certainly been fortunate," he said, "but it is equally +certain that you have deserved it. The fact that, in addition to +your military duties, you have learned Italian and German, besides +transforming a newly raised regiment into one of the best in the +French service, shows how assiduous you have been in your work. +I trust that when the campaign is over you may be exchanged, and +I think it is foolish of you not to give me your parole, for you +must know well that you have no chance of escape from here." + +"They say everything comes to those who wait, colonel," Hector +laughed, "and if I see a chance I shall certainly avail myself of +it. Even if no such chance comes I shall still be a gainer by not +giving my parole. I am exceedingly comfortable as it is, and can +wish for nothing better. The one drawback is that I have nothing +to do, except perhaps to improve my German, and it would be just +the same if I were living in the town. But if I were on my parole +I should lose the amusement of planning methods for escape, which +I do unceasingly; but up till now, I may tell you in confidence, +I am as far from having hit upon a plan as I was when I entered. +By the way, colonel, although it is clear that I cannot be allowed +to go outside the castle gate, I should be glad if my lackey +could be given leave to do so. He is not a soldier, neither is he +a Frenchman, and can scarce be counted as a prisoner of war. He +is a willing and cheerful fellow, and would enjoy a run in the +city much more than I should. Besides, occasionally I may want a +book or some other little thing which I cannot get here." + +"Such as a file, a rope, or a disguise, Colonel Campbell," the +commandant laughed. + +"I am not thinking of that at present," Hector said smiling. "Besides, +you can give orders that he can always be strictly searched when +he comes in." + +The colonel shook his head. "I will tell you what I will do," he +said; "I will let him have a pass to go in and out at will, if +you will give me a promise, on your honour as a soldier, that he +shall not bring in anything that can be used by you for facilitating +your escape. I would much rather trust to your word than to any +search the soldiers might make as your man comes in." + +"Thank you, colonel," Hector said cheerfully, though at heart he +felt considerably disappointed. "I give you my word of honour that +he shall bring in nothing that may aid me in making my escape, and +I am much obliged to you for letting him have the run of the town." + +The colonel at once wrote a pass authorizing Paolo Monti, lackey +to Colonel Campbell, to enter and leave the castle at all times +when the gates were open. + +Paolo laughed when Hector told him the conditions on which the pass +was granted. + +"The commandant is a shrewd fellow, master, but he is not quite +shrewd enough; he forgot that though I may bring in nothing myself +I may be able to arrange with someone else to bring something in." + +"That flashed through my mind at once, Paolo; but at present neither +file, rope, nor disguise would be of any use. However, they may +be so later. The first thing for you to do when you get this pass +will be to make yourself master of the plan of the town and the +fortifications, and see if there is any place where you think an +escape is possible. But even when you find one, and you think that +it might be managed, you must afterwards find a place where I can +be hidden for a time, at any rate for a few hours. You see, were +I to go out in disguise I must do so in broad daylight, for my +supper is served almost directly after the gates are closed; and +were I missing there would be a search for me at once, the sentries +on the wall would all be warned, and it would be impossible to get +past them. If I could get out two or three hours before the gates +are closed at nine o'clock I might, as soon as it became dark, +attempt to get over the walls before the alarm was given, or +I might possibly go out in the same disguise that I left here in, +through the city gate and across the bridge." + +"I see that, sir, and it seems to me that this would be easier +than trying to find a hiding place for you in the town. However, +I will set my wits to work. I have been able to think of nothing +in here; but one's eyes always help one's wits, and if I were in +the town I might see something that would give me an idea how the +matter might be set about." + +Day after day Paolo went into the town, always returning discouraged. + +"I must be growing a downright numbskull," he said one evening in +disgust; "I have been three weeks at it and no single idea has +come to me." + +"You need not be discouraged at that, Paolo; it's not such a simple +thing to plan an escape from a fortress like this as it was to +get into the citadel at Turin, where we also had the advantage of +starting with disguises. I can no more think of a disguise in which +I can pass the gates than you can. I am a good deal too tall to +pass as a woman. My face is perfectly well known to every soldier +in the castle, and even if we hit upon a disguise it would be very +difficult to get it brought in. It struck me today that if I am to +get out it must be in some vehicle that has come in with supplies." + +"That is a great idea, master; if I had not been a thick headed +fool I should have thought of that before. But at the same time +it will not be easy to manage." + +"I quite see that, Paolo; even if the driver were bought over it +would be difficult indeed to manage to get into the cart with so +many soldiers standing about." + +Paolo shook his head. + +"Yes, I don't see that that could be managed at all, master." + +He stood thinking a minute. + +"I have it!" he exclaimed joyfully. "You know, sir, sometimes a +train of waggons containing faggots, or flour, or other things, +comes in late. Those that are unloaded before the gate is closed go +out at once; the others are unloaded that evening, but the empty +carts have to remain in the castle till morning, as the great gates +are never opened between sunset and sunrise, though officers come +in by the postern. Now, if you could manage during the night to +slip into one of the waggons, say one that has brought in flour, +you might be so covered over by the empty sacks they take out, +that no one would dream anyone was hidden there." + +"Capital, Paolo! It is evident that your head is not so thick as +you thought it was just now. Yes, I have noticed that as a rule if +eight or ten waggons came in together, the full sacks are carried +in, and the same number of empty ones are placed in one of the +carts, being counted as they are put in. Certainly I could hide +myself easily enough if you were there to assist in arranging the +sacks as regularly as before over me. As I do not generally get +up until eight o'clock, and my first meal is not brought to me till +nine, I might be on my way two hours before it was discovered that +I was missing. How would you manage?" + +"I would get a countryman's suit, master, would go out soon after +the gates were open, find some quiet spot where I should have +hidden the clothes the day before, and slip them on over my own. +Then I would join the carts as they came along. They don't generally +begin to harness the horses up till the gates are open, so that +I should get a quarter of an hour's start of them, and I should +go out with them without question, as it would be thought that +I belonged to the party. I should pay for some beer at the first +cabaret we come to, and make signs that I wanted a lift in a waggon. +I must, of course, pretend to be deaf and dumb, as, although I +have picked up a little German since we came into these parts, I +could not possibly pass as a countryman." + +"It would be better still, Paolo, for you to put a blister on +to your cheek, then before you join them put a great lump of tow +into your mouth, so as to swell your cheek out almost to bursting +point, and then tie a bandage round your face; you could then by +pointing to it make out that you had so terrible a swelling that +you were unable to talk." + +"That would be better certainly, master, indeed, it would be a +capital plan. Of course I should get into the waggon in which you +were, and gradually shift the sacks so that you could crawl out. +When we smuggled you in we would try and put in with you a couple +of brace of pistols, and if we were armed with them the carters +would not venture to interfere with us. Of course, master, I should +have to get a disguise for you. We could never be tramping across +the country with you dressed as a French officer." + +"Get something that I could put over the clothes I wear. A long +frock, some loose breeches, and rough cloth to wrap round the legs +below them, and of course a pair of countryman's shoes. The best +plan would be for you to stand treat again at a cabaret a few miles +out of the town, get them all in there, then I could slip out of +the waggon and throw the sacks back into their place. Of course +you would choose some spot where the cabaret either stands alone +or is at the end of a village, so that there may be no one standing +by, and I could, when I got down, walk quietly back along the +road. You can make signs to them that you live hard by, and would +leave them there; then if there should be any suspicion that I +had escaped in the waggons, and a troop of cavalry were sent in +pursuit, the men would be all able to declare that they had seen +nothing of me, and so could give no clue whatever that would set +them on our track. + +"Well, it is quite settled that we will try that way, but it may +be some time before the opportunity occurs. However, you may as +well get the two disguises and the two brace of pistols, and stow +them away somewhere where they are not likely to be found." + +"There are plenty of places where one can do that, master; there is +a row of old trees inside the fortifications, and I warrant that +if I cannot find one with a hollow large enough to stow them away +in, I can hide them in the branches with small chance of their +ever being seen." + +Another month passed. Paolo made a point of occasionally going out +soon after the gates were open, saying casually that his master +had a fancy for a bottle of better wine with his breakfast, or that +he was going to get some eggs to make an omelette for him. Hector +was in no particular hurry, for the news had come that Turenne +with his own troops and those of Hesse had, with the Swedes, marched +away for the Rhine. It was rumoured that they would be joined by +another army, for in no other way could the Imperialists account +for Turenne having retired when he had a force at least equal to +any that Merci could set in the field against him. Hector saw that +at any rate there was no chance of a great battle being fought just +then, and felt, therefore, no impatience to be off. Two or three +times carts with faggots had been unloaded after the gates were +closed, but as they took nothing out, it was impossible for him to +conceal himself in them. + +At last, to his satisfaction, a number of waggons of flour came +in late one afternoon, and he determined to carry his plan into +execution that night. The storehouses were not in the great court, +but in a smaller one off it. Beyond two soldiers at the gate +and a sentry at the commandant's door, no guards were kept in the +courtyards, though a few sentries were placed upon the walls. Hector +had his supper as usual, and Paolo brought in the news that eight +of the waggons had not been unloaded in time to go out. A fatigue +party of soldiers were now completing the work, which would be +finished about nine o'clock. Taking off their boots a little after +that hour they went quietly downstairs, then put them on again +and boldly crossed the courtyard, for the night was so dark that +there was no fear of their figures being perceived. + +As they entered the inner yard they again took off their boots +and walked up to the carts. In two of these the carters were fast +asleep. They passed on quietly, feeling in each cart for the sacks, +and were delighted to find that they were all placed in the one +farthest up the yard, which would therefore be the last to go out. +They were tidily piled in lines side by side at the forward end of +the waggon. They cautiously removed the sacks of the middle lines; +Hector lay down feet foremost, and Paolo laid the sacks regularly +over him till they reached the level of the others. Half a dozen +were doubled and packed neatly in at the end, so as to conceal +his head and prevent its being noticed that any had been taken out. +The rest were distributed evenly, so that the sacks were all as +level as before, and no one would have suspected that they had been +disturbed. + +Paolo then returned to Hector's room. As the double sacks closing +the orifice at his head had not been packed very tightly, enough +air entered for Hector to breathe. He increased the opening somewhat +by pressing one of the sacks a little aside, but left it so that +he could readily pull it into its position in the morning. As +soon as Paolo reached the room he applied a blistering plaster to +his cheek and kept it on till he could no longer bear the pain, +then he threw himself down on his pallet. But neither he nor his +master slept much, Hector being kept awake by the heat and discomfort +of his position, and Paolo by the smarting of his cheek. As soon +as it was light the latter rose, and sat impatiently waiting for +the time when the gates would open. Looking into the courtyard, +he could see the troops coming out from their quarters and moving +about, then the gates opened, and, tying a bandage over his cheek, +he went down and crossed the yard. + +"You are out early," the sergeant of the guard remarked. + +He nodded. "I am nigh mad with pain," he said, pointing to his +cheek, "and I am going to get some salve from an apothecary." + +"You seem to be bad indeed," the sergeant said commiseratingly, +"'tis a terrible inflammation." + +Paolo went down to the spot where he had hidden the bundles in the +hollow of a tree. It was an unfrequented place, and slipping his +disguise over his clothes, after putting the pistols in his belt, +he took the second bundle and returned to a street through which +waggons leaving the castle must pass. A few minutes later he saw +them coming along. He had already stuffed his cheek full of tow, +and several people, struck with the raw and swollen appearance of +his face, had compassionately asked him what was the matter. He +had simply shaken his head, opened his lips, and pointed to his +clenched teeth, signifying that he could not speak. He fell in +with the waggons as they came along and passed through the gate +without question. When a short distance away from the town he made +signs to the driver of the last waggon, that if he would give him +a lift in the cart he would pay for some drink. The carter nodded +and told him to climb up. After they had gone four miles from the +town, they came to a wayside inn. + +"Now is the time, master, they are all going in to get some drink. +There is no one about." + +The waggons all stopped there, for there had been no opportunity +for the drivers to obtain refreshments as they passed through the +town. All therefore sauntered into the inn, their salutations to +the host showing that they were accustomed to stop there. Paolo +followed them i n, and putting down the money for a large jug of +beer, handed it to the carter, and, shaking him by the hand, made +a motion that he was going no farther. Then he went back to the +end waggon. Hector had already pushed out the bags in front of him +and had with great difficulty crawled out. + +"It is all right, master, we have a good ten minutes; there is no +one about, but you had better keep below the waggon rails until +you have got your disguise on." + +A couple of minutes sufficed for this, then Hector leapt to the +ground, while Paolo replaced the sacks in their position; and then +together they hurried across some twenty yards of broken ground +and entered a wood. + +"That was a capitally managed business, Paolo. Now we have to find +our way across country. We cannot keep by the river, for it turns +away to the south, and would take us far from the point we want +to reach. At any rate, for a day or two we must travel at night, +after that I think we can venture boldly along -- for it is not +likely that the news that a prisoner has escaped will travel very +far -- although no doubt a strict search will be kept up for a day +or two. I think that for today we had better make our way north, +keeping in the woods as much as possible; they are less likely to +search for us in that direction than to the west." + +They found that the forest was fully two leagues across, and agreed +that it was unlikely in the extreme that any attempt would be +made to search so extensive an area, where two men could anywhere +conceal themselves. Paolo had on the previous afternoon placed a +couple of loaves and some cold meat in the bundles, and they now +sat down by a little stream and ate a hearty meal, then, crawling +into a thick growth of underwood, they lay down to sleep and did +not awaken until the sun was setting. + +"There must be some country tracks through this forest, Paolo. We +cannot do better than keep along the edge of the stream until we +come to one and then follow it. It is sure, sooner or later, to +take us to some small hamlet, and I can go into a cabaret and get +a couple of flasks of wine and buy enough bread to last us until +tomorrow, and perhaps a sausage, they are not likely to have +any other meat in a place of that sort. My German is good enough +to pass muster, and even if it sounds strange to their ears, they +will merely suppose that I have come from a different part of the +country, for the dialects differ greatly from each other." + +As soon as it became quite dark they found it impossible to follow +the rough ground, and after one or two falls had to stop. Hector +said, "This won't do, we shall twist an ankle or break a bone if +we go on." + +"Shall we light a fire, master? I have brought flint and steel with +me, for I knew that we should want it." + +"No, it is better to run no risks; there may be a road near for +aught we know, and if anyone passing saw a fire among the trees, +he might come to see who had made it." + +"Not he, master; there are too many robbers about, deserters from +their army, or men who have been ruined by the war. You may be +sure that if any belated villager had the courage to go through +this forest by night he would, on seeing a fire, hurry on as fast +as his legs would carry him." + +"Well, no doubt you are right, Paolo; and though the night is warm +enough the air is damp under this thick covering of leaves, and +it will certainly be more cheerful. We will go a short distance +among the trees before we light it." + +Feeling their way -- for it was pitch dark in the forest -- they +went on until Hector stumbled over a fallen trunk. + +"This is the best place for a halt," he said, "for here is wood +ready to hand. This tree has been lying here for years, I can feel +that it is quite rotten." + +Paolo set to work -- took a handful or two of the crumbling wood, +broke it up into dust, then struck a spark on to the tinder, +touched it with a slow match and inserted this into the little pile +of wood; a minute's blowing and the flames sprang up. He drew +out the slow match and putting his foot upon it placed it in his +wallet, then he broke off some more wood and soon had a blazing +fire. + +"We have enough food left for supper, master, and if I spit some +of this cold meat on the ramrod of one of my pistols and hold it +over the fire it will be all the more tasty. I wish we had those +flasks of wine that you were speaking of. It seems to me that +after sleeping for some ten hours we shall find it hard to go off +again for some time, even though neither of us got any sleep last +night. How furious the governor will be when he finds that you +have escaped!" + +"He is a good fellow," Hector said, "and save that he will be annoyed +-- because he will be blamed for my escape -- I do not think he +will be sorry that I have got off. I left a note for him on the table +saying that I was about to make my escape, but that on my honour +I had not obtained anything that would aid me, by your assistance, +and that you had never brought anything into the castle save what +you showed on entering to the guards. I should not like him to think +for a moment that I had broken my promise and taken advantage of +his kindness. How does your face feel?" + +"It is mightily sore, but it does not smart as it did at first. +I can tell you that I was very glad when I was able to slip that +great lump of tow out of my mouth as soon as I entered the forest." + +"I don't think in future that you need use so large a wad, Paolo; +half that size will be ample; and of course you need only slip +it into your mouth when we are going through a village, or meet +a party likely to question us. As to your cheek, it will be days +before that fiery mark disappears." + +They talked until nearly midnight, and then lay down and slept till +four, by which time day had broken, for it was now the first week +in July. After walking for half an hour along the edge of the wood, +they came to a track issuing out of it. This they followed, and +in about two hours saw a village in front of them. + +"I will go in and buy the things that we want, Paolo, and do you +make a circuit round it. If the news has reached them of our escape +they will have been told to look for two men; and the entry of a +single countryman will excite no suspicion, for of course no one +will know what disguise we have chosen. + +"Do not be anxious if I do not come along for half an hour. It will +be more natural that I should call for bread and cheese and beer +and eat them there; then I can say carelessly that I may as well +take some with me to eat later on." + +"You are early!" the owner of the cabaret said as Hector entered. + +"I ought to have been earlier," he replied in a grumbling voice; +"but it was so late before I reached the other side of the forest, +that instead of passing through it I thought it best to wait till +daybreak, for it would be desperately dark under the trees, and +sometimes there are pretty rough fellows to be met with there; so +I slept in a shed until an hour before daybreak and then started, +and I lost no time in getting through it, I can tell you. What +can you give me now?" + +"The usual thing," the man said, shrugging his shoulders. "Bread +and beer and black sausage." + +"It might be worse," Hector said as he seated himself. The food +was soon placed before him. He ate a hearty meal. + +"I have a long way to go," he said when he had finished, "and as +I am blessed with a good appetite it will not be long before I am +hungry again. I suppose there is no one in the village that sells +bread and sausage, so if you will let me I will buy a whole one +from you and a couple of loaves." + +"I will sell them to you willingly enough; but you will come to +another village three miles on." + +"I sha'n't be hungry enough by that time," Hector laughed. "Besides, +I like to choose my own place and time and sit down by the wayside +and eat my meal. One need never go very far without coming upon +a stream; and though I like beer better than water, I can put up +with it when there is nothing stronger to be had." + +"Nothing but bread and sausage again, Paolo," Hector said as he +joined his comrade a quarter of a mile beyond the village. + +"And good enough too for a hungry man. I have often longed for such +a meal in the days before you took me, in spite of all warning." + +"And we have often done no better since, Paolo, when we have been +on the march. Will you start on it now, or wait until we get to +a stream?" + +"I will hold on for a bit, master. This black bread is so hard that +it needs a lot of washing down." + +Making several detours to avoid villages, they walked all day, and +towards evening came upon a main road running west. + +"Unless I am mistaken in the line that I have taken, this must be +the road through Eichstadt. I can see some towers ahead, and I +have no doubt that they are those of the town. There is a bridge +there across the Altmuhl. The river makes a loop at this point, and +the road cuts across it to the northwest to Gunzenhausen, where +there is another bridge. From there the road runs to Hall. Thence +we can cross the Neckar, either at Heilbronn or Neckarsulm, and we +are then in our own country, and but a short distance from either +Spires or Philippsburg, where we shall be likely enough to meet +Turenne advancing again, or shall at any rate learn where he is. +We will lie up now and not cross the bridge until it gets dusk." + +"I wish we had swords, master." + +"Yes, but they would not suit our disguises. But when we get +into the town I will buy two woodmen's axes and a couple of the +long knives that all the peasants here carry. I fancy from what I +heard when we were at Hall with Turenne that the country between +Eichstadt and there is for the most part a great forest, and there +are rough hills to pass before we get to Hall. It will be just as +well to have some weapons that we can use with effect if we should +come upon any bands of robbers." + +"Quite so, master. A good axe is as good as a sword in a rough sort +of fight; but is there not some way we can travel so as to avoid +this great forest that you speak of?" + +"Not without making a great detour, and that through a country +where there will be bodies of Merci's troops quartered everywhere." + +"Very well, master. Then I think that the risk will be less with the +robbers, especially as we have not apparently much worth stealing +upon us." + +"Not only apparently, but really, Paolo. Fortunately my purse was +pretty well filled when we were taken prisoners; but we spent a +good deal at Ingoldstadt, principally in buying articles we could +have done without, but which we got in order to give an excuse +for your going into the town, and in these disguises and pistols. +However, we shall not, I hope, require much more outlay; and after +getting axes and knives we shall have enough to pay for our food, +such as it is, for some time. However, there is certainly nothing +in our pockets to tempt robbers." + +"No, master; but if they searched you they would notice your +clothes. They would show at once that you are a person of quality; +and although, as you left your scarf behind you, they might not know +that you are an officer, they would see that there was a mystery +about you." + +"That is true, and I think that perhaps it would be as well if both +of us were to take off our own clothes when we get beyond the town +tonight, and go on only in those you got for us. When we rejoin +our friends we can get money and replace them." + +"I have money with me, master," Paolo said. "I have had no occasion +to spend aught for a long time, and have changed my wages as you +paid them into gold, and have forty pistoles sewn up in the waistbelt +of my breeches. I heard you say that it was always a good thing +to carry a certain amount about with one in case of being taken +prisoner or laid up wounded." + +"It was a wise precaution, Paolo; but just at the present moment +I would rather that you did not have it about you. However, I do +not suppose we shall be interfered with. You may as well continue +to wear your breeches under those you have outside, but leave your +doublet when I change. After all, if you were to be searched the +pistoles would show that we are not what we seem, unless we could +make up some plausible tale as to how we came possessed of them." + +"Oh, we could manage that easily enough, master! There are other +ways of getting pistoles than by earning them." + +Thus chatting they had crossed the bridge and were now entering +Eichstadt. Going to a quiet cabaret they ate a hearty meal, and +Hector afterwards bought the axes and knives, and they left the +town just before the gates were closed. They had walked some miles +when a thunderstorm, which had for some time been threatening, +broke over them. + +"We must get some shelter if we can," Hector said. "I see a light +on ahead. Let us push on and take refuge before we are wet to the +skin." + +On reaching the house they saw that it was a wayside inn. + +"We are in luck, Paolo," Hector said as he lifted the latch. + +The door, however, was fastened, and on his knocking a voice asked, +"Who is there at this time of night?" + +"Travellers," Hector replied. "Come, open the door quickly or we +shall be wet to the skin!" and he emphasized his words by kicking +at the door. It was, however, a minute or two before it was opened, +and Hector, who was becoming furious at this delay, had just taken +his axe from his belt and was about to break the door in when it +opened, and a man with a torch in one hand and a sword in the other +stood on the threshold. + + + +CHAPTER XVII: A ROBBER'S DEN + + + +"What mean you by knocking thus furiously?" the landlord of the +little inn asked angrily. + +"What mean you by keeping your door shut in the face of travellers +on such a night as this?" Hector replied, even more loudly. "Are +honest men to be kept waiting in the rain while you are taking no +steps to let them in?" + +"How could I tell that you are honest men?" the landlord retorted. + +"Because if we had not been honest men we should long before this +have battered your door down, as indeed I was just going to do +when you opened it." + +"Well, come in," the landlord said with an evil smile. "Maybe you +would have done better to have passed on." + +He showed them into the taproom, where two or three rough men were +sitting. + +"What did these fellows mean by knocking so loudly?" one of them +asked angrily. + +"It means," Hector replied, "that travellers have a right to claim +shelter of an inn; and indeed, inn or no inn, no one would refuse +shelter to travellers on such a night as this is going to be." And +his words were emphasized by a crash of thunder overhead. + +"You crow pretty loud, young fellow," the man growled. + +"I speak loud because I have right on my side. I desire to quarrel +with no man; but one need indeed be a saint to keep one's temper +when one is kept standing outside a door with the rain coming +down in great drops, and threatening in another minute to come in +bucketfuls. It is all the worse when, as you see, one has a sick +comrade with one." + +The man spoke in a low voice to the three others seated at the +table with him. "May I ask whither you were journeying when thus +caught in the storm?" he asked in a more civil tone than he had +hitherto used. + +"Certainly you may. We were in haste to get on to Gunzenhausen by +morning, as a friend of ours has work ready for us there. We did +not expect this storm when we left Eichstadt just before the gates +closed, and as the nights are short we thought we would push +straight through." + +"You are woodmen, I see." + +"Ay, woodmen and charcoal burners." + +"You are not from this part, at least, judging from your tongue." + +"Nor, I fancy, are you," Hector replied. + +"No," the other said. "In times like these every one is liable +to be driven from home either because the troops of one army or +another have plundered and destroyed everything, or perhaps because +he has been forced into the ranks." + +"That is just our case, and you will understand that in times like +these, as you say, no one cares to answer questions on the part +of strangers. But we have no particular cause of concealment. We +have both been in the army, and, as you see, have left it, and have +our reasons for wishing to travel at night, when there is no chance +of falling in with troops whose officers might ask inconvenient +questions. As, thanks to our host and you, we are nearly wet through, +we will thank him to get ready as quick as may be two flagons of +hot beer, and if he has got a couple of eggs to beat up in each +of them, so much the better." + +The landlord left the room, and a minute or two later the man who +had spoken to Hector got up and went out. + +"These men are up to no good," Hector whispered to Paolo as they +sat down on a bench at a table some little distance from that at +which the other men were seated. "I am sorry now that I asked for +the liquor, it was necessary to order something. I should not be +surprised if they drug it. Do you put yours to your lips, and +then groan as if it hurt you too much to try to swallow, and leave +it standing in front of you. I will pretend to drink mine, and +will manage to pour it away on the floor. Presently do you lean +forward on to the table and appear to fall asleep. As I am in +the corner, I will lean back and seem to go off also. Unless I am +greatly mistaken this is a regular thieves' den. Keep one hand on +the butt of a pistol. We will both keep awake for a time, and if +nothing comes of it we will then watch by turns. It is clear that +they suspect that we are not what we seem." + +The men at the other table were talking together in low voices, +and, listening intently, Hector could hear a murmur of voices in +the room behind him. + +"There were more than two voices there," he whispered presently to +Paolo. The latter nodded, for he too had been listening. Presently +the landlord returned with the two flagons of hot beer, which were +set down on the table before them. The room was lighted only by +a torch stuck in a cresset on the wall, and Hector had purposely +seated himself as far from this as possible. Paolo took up his mug, +raised it to his lips, and then set it down again with a sudden +cry. + +"I am afraid that you will not be able to take it," Hector said +aloud. + +"What is the matter with your comrade?" the landlord asked. + +"He has a terrible abscess in his jaw, and is unable to speak or +to swallow." + +The landlord took the torch from its place and walked over and looked +at Paolo's cheek. "There is no mistake about that," he said. "It +is indeed a terrible swelling, and the cheek looks almost raw." + +"He has put liniments on it," Hector said, "but they seem to have +done him harm rather than good. However, he is not so bad as he +was, and I hope that the abscess will break ere long." + +The landlord fastened the torch up again, and said in a low tone +to the other men: "There is no doubt about his face being bad." +As he turned away from the table he stood between Hector and the +other men, and the former seized the opportunity of pouring the +contents of his mug against the wall by his knee, knowing that as +the floor was of earth it would soak it up at once. From time to +time he lifted the mug to his lips, until he apparently drained +it. Then half closing his eyes he leant up against the corner. +Paolo had already laid his head down on the table, and after a +time both breathed heavily and regularly. Half an hour later one of +the men rose noiselessly and left the room. Two or three minutes +afterwards he returned with the host, the man who had gone out +before, and two others. + +"Seven against two," Hector thought to himself. "However, we shall +have the advantage of a surprise." He touched Paolo with his foot +to assure himself that he had not really gone off to sleep, but +the responsive movement showed that he also was on his guard. The +man who had first left the room and one of the others drew their +long knives and stepped quietly forward, while the others, also +with bared weapons, prepared to support them if necessary. Hector +waited until the two leaders were close, then he exclaimed sharply, +"Now!" at the same moment throwing forward his hand with the pistol. +Two reports rang out at the same moment, and the men pitched +heavily forward. A yell of surprise and fury broke from the others, +but ere they could step over their fallen comrades, Hector and +his companion stood erect with their second pistols in their right +hands and their axes ready for action in their left. + +Hector's second shot took effect on the landlord, Paolo's apparently +missed, for the other four rushed forward. Hector dashed the table +aside, and he and Paolo, poising their heavy axes, rushed forward +to meet their assailants. + +"Mind the beams," Hector shouted, as with a sweeping side blow he +clove in the head of one opponent. But the warning came too late. +Paolo struck a downward blow, the axe caught the low beams of the +ceiling, and it flew from his hand. His opponent sprang upon him. +Paolo caught the man's right wrist as he struck at him with his +knife, and drew his own from his girdle. His assailant threw his +other arm round him, and, grappling, they fell on to the ground. +Hector could do nothing to assist him, for the other two men were +trying to circle round him, keeping beyond the swing of his axe but +watching for an opportunity to spring upon him. Keeping his back +against the wall he made feints against them. Presently one of the +men passed between him and the two antagonists struggling on the +ground. Suddenly they rolled over and over, coming in contact +with him from behind and almost throwing him over. Before he could +recover from the shock Hector's axe struck him below the ear. + +The other man would have turned and made for the door, but Hector +knew that it was important that he should not escape and carry +the news to others of his party, who might be in the forest. He +therefore sprang after him, and before the wretch could open the +door struck him between the shoulders with his long knife. As he +did so Paolo sprung up with a shout. + +"Thank God that you are alive, Paolo! I was afraid that he might +have killed you." + +"No, no, master. I had him by the wrist too firmly for that, and +my knife did its work almost directly. But with those two fellows +hovering round I should have been at their mercy had I tried to get +on my feet. So I kept on struggling until I saw my opportunity, +and then as that fellow's back was turned I rolled over against +him, and so gave you the chance that you were waiting for. Well, +master, it has been a sharp business." + +"It has indeed. Now the first thing is to see if there is anyone +else in the house, and the next to look about for some clothes for +you to put on, for those you wear are covered with blood. Then we +must be off, and put as many miles between us and this place before +morning as we can." + +A brief search showed that the place was empty, save for the dead +in the taproom. An old doublet belonging to the landlord was +found hanging up in the loft where he slept. Taking off his outer +garments, Paolo put this on. + +"It is lucky I kept my breeches on under the others," he said, "for +I certainly could not have gone into a town with these stained +things on. I suppose there is some money hidden somewhere, but we +have not time to look. You may be sure that many a traveller has +been murdered here." + +"I quite agree with you, but we have certainly no time to spare to +hunt for it. Let us be off at once." + +Reloading their pistols and carefully wiping their axes they went +out by a door at the back of the house, for neither cared to re-enter +the scene of the slaughter. Before doing so, however, they took a +long draught from the landlord's beer barrel, to make up for the +drink of which they had deprived themselves. The storm had passed, +and the stars were shining brightly. They met nobody on their way +until within two or three miles of Gunzenhausen; it was found +that the haft of Paolo's axe was deeply stained with blood; and he +threw it away on issuing from the wood, as it did not accord well +with his present attire, which was rather that of a discharged +soldier or a worker in cities than of a countryman. Soon after +eight o'clock they approached the town. They were now greatly +fatigued, for they had done two long days' marches without any +sleep between them, and turning off from the road they made their +way to a little clump of trees, and there threw themselves down +in the shade and slept until late in the afternoon. + +"I think that after our experience of last night, Paolo," Hector +said, as they walked towards the town, "we had better wait until +we can join some party going to Hall before we leave this place. +From what I hear, the road is a great deal more infested with +bands of lawless men than that along which we have come." + +"Then, master, I think we had certainly better wait, for I don't +want anything worse than we had yesterday." + +They went to a small inn, had supper, and then lay down on some +straw in an outhouse and slept soundly until morning. Then they +breakfasted, and as there was no one else in the room Paolo was +able to eat freely. Presently the landlord came in, and Hector +entered into conversation with him. + +"We want to go on to Hall," he said. "We have friends there, and +we are obliged to leave home because we should be taken for the +army." + +"Well, I don't think that you will find yourself better off at Hall +than here. They are catching up every ablebodied young fellow and +putting him into the ranks, and as you both look strong and active, +except for your comrade's face, you are both likely to be seized +as soon as you enter Hall, especially if you have no papers to +show." + +"We are not thinking of entering Hall, landlord. Our friends live +a few miles away, and they will hide us till the army moves away +from these parts." + +"That will be before long, thank the saints! There is news that a +great French army marched from Spires three days ago, and there is +like to be a great fight before long; and if the French are beaten +Merci will chase them back to the Rhine, recapture all the towns +that they have taken, and perhaps enter Alsace." + +"Which way do they say that the French are marching?" + +"They took the road to Weisloch. Some think that they will come +through Wimpfen, and then by Weinsberg here, unless Merci bars the +way. Others again think that they will make their way down through +Stuttgart. Five hundred men march from here tomorrow to Hall, +whence they go on to Heilbronn to strengthen the garrison there. +All the waggons in the town and country round have been fetched +in to carry their stores and baggage and a convoy of ammunition. +I should say that you could not do better than go on with the +waggons. No one is likely to ask you any questions, for it will be +thought that you are drivers." + +"Thank you very much," Hector said; "that would certainly be a +capital plan. We were afraid of going through the forests alone." + +"Yes, and you were right. They are full of marauders. A party +of troopers arrived here from Eichstadt yesterday evening. They +stopped to get a drink at a cabaret in the forest, and on entering +found seven men lying dead, and no one living to say how they got +there. That some, if not all, were robbers was evident from the +fact that, on the bodies being searched, articles evidently plundered +from travellers were found upon all of them. An examination was +made of the house, and considerable quantities of plunder found +hidden. Searching in the forest behind, several mounds of earth, +evidently graves, were discovered. The landlord himself was among +the killed, for one of the troopers, who had before stopped at +the house, recognized him. It was supposed that the brigands were +killed by some other party with whom they had quarrelled. Three +of them were shot and two killed by tremendous blows from an axe, +and as neither pistols nor axes were found in the room it is clear +that those within had been killed by some other band." + +The next morning, when the column started, Hector and Paolo fell in +among the carts, and rendered good service on the road by helping +to move them when the wheels of the waggons stuck fast at spots +where the road crossed marshy valleys. So bad was the journey +that it occupied two days. Then the waggons were parked outside +the walls of Hall, a guard being placed round them to prevent +desertion. The troops slept inside the town. At daybreak the next +morning their march was arrested by an officer riding out from the +town, saying that news had arrived on the previous evening that +the French were marching upon Heilbronn, that General Merci was +concentrating his army there to oppose the passage of the river, +and that the troops were to push on with all speed, leaving +their baggage train at Hall. Hector at once decided that, with the +Bavarian army gathering in front, it would be madness to endeavour +to push on, and that indeed it would be far better to fall back +until the direction of the French march was fully determined, when +they could make a detour and come down upon their flank without +having to pass through the Bavarian army. He did not, however, care +about remaining in Hall, which might be occupied by the Bavarians +if they fell back, and they therefore, after entering the town +with the waggons, purchased a store of provisions, and, going out +again, established themselves in a small farmhouse, whose occupants +had deserted it and fled into the town upon hearing that the French +were but some thirty miles distant. + +Every day Hector went into the place to gather news, and learned +that Wimpfen had been captured by the French by a sudden assault, +and that they had crossed the Neckar. On returning he at once +started with Paolo, but on approaching the Neckar learned that the +French had marched on to Rothenburg. They fell in, however, with +a detachment which had been left on the Neckar. Hector found among +them several officers to whom he was known, and, borrowing Paolo's +money, fitted himself and follower out again, bought a couple of +horses that had been captured from the Bavarians, who had, he learned, +retired to Franconia, and set out to join the army. Rothenburg +had been, he found out on his arrival, captured in a few hours, +and the main body of the French had marched to Dinkelsbuhl, and +there he came up with them. He had learned from the party on the +Neckar of the defection of Konigsmark and the Swedes, and that +Conde and Turenne's united army did not exceed twenty thousand +men, and, as he knew, that of Merci was at least equal to it in +strength. His first question on entering the camp was as to the +quarters of his own regiment, and he at once rode there. As soon +as he was recognized the men ran to him, cheering wildly, and so +great was the tumult that Turenne himself, whose headquarters were +but a short distance away, rode to the spot to enquire the cause +of the tumult. When he saw Hector surrounded by his cheering soldiers +he passed through the crowd, and, reaching him, shook him warmly +by the hand. + +"I had hoped that we might have made an exchange for you during the +winter, colonel, but I had not thought it possible that I should +see you again before that time; for in the first place, we captured +no prisoners in this campaign, but, on the contrary, have had many +of our own officers taken; and in the second place, we have been +too busy ever since Marienthal to enter into negotiations. You have, +I suppose, given them the slip, you and that varlet of yours, for +I see him over there." + +"Yes, marshal; we had no very great difficulty in getting away. I +have been very well treated, and until I heard that you were again +taking the offensive, I had no reason to fret over my imprisonment." + +"Well, you have joined us just in time, for at any moment we may +fight a great battle. When you have leisure this evening come over +to my tent. I shall be glad to hear how you managed to escape, and +any news you have gained as to Merci's force and intentions." + +As soon as the marshal had ridden off, his officers pressed round +him, but before speaking to them individually Hector said a few +words to the men, thanking them for the greeting they had given +him, and saying that he was glad indeed to be back among them. +Then he talked for a time to the officers, two or three of whom, +after saying a few words apart to Captain de Thiou, had hurried +away. Half an hour later de Thiou said: + +"I have no doubt that you will be glad of supper, colonel. Ours +is just prepared, and we hope that you will join us." + +"I am hungry, de Thiou, now I come to think of it, for except a +crust of bread this morning I have not touched anything today." + +"It is fortunate that we are better off than usual," de Thiou said. +"We had the luck to buy a pig from one of Weimar's troopers. The +cavalry get the best of it, for though there are orders against +pillaging, there is no doubt that a good deal of it goes on; +and, marching as we have been, there is no one to see that orders +are strictly carried out. However, we have benefited by it this +afternoon." + +Accompanying de Thiou, Hector was surprised to find that at a short +distance in front of the spot where the regiment was bivouacked +a large arbour had been erected. + +"I did not notice this as I rode in," he said. + +"It was not even thought of then, colonel; it was begun a few minutes +after you rode up, and the men have worked right willingly, and +fortunately there was a copse hard by. I may say that it was the +men's own idea. I had given orders that a table should be made of +any materials that came to hand, and one of the men started the +idea of building an arbour over it, and as many hands make quick +work it has, as you see, been constructed in little over half an +hour." + +As the evening was warm the front of the arbour had been left open. +Inside, a rough table had been constructed of empty casks, planks +taken from the bottom of the waggons, and a couple of doors from +cottages near, while powder barrels served as seats. + +"Now, colonel, will you take the head of the table?" de Thiou said. + +"Certainly not, de Thiou. I am your guest upon this occasion, so +do you take that place, and I will sit upon your right hand." + +"I only wish that we could have given you a dinner like those you +so often gave us at St. Denis." + +"I shall enjoy it as much as if it were a royal feast," Hector said, +seating himself; "for indeed since I escaped from Ingoldstadt some +ten days ago I have been living on black bread, sausage, and cheese." + +The meal was a joyous one, for at the assault of Rothenburg +on the previous day several barrels of wine had been captured by +the soldiers of the regiment. These had been bought from them by +the officers, who had feared that some of the men might drink to +excess, and so damage the reputation which the regiment had obtained +for sobriety and discipline. One of these had been broached, and +this and the pork afforded an excellent supper even though the +bread was of the worst possible quality. When the meal was over, +de Thiou stood up and proposed the health of the colonel, and +congratulated him most warmly upon his escape from the enemy, +expressing the extreme satisfaction of all the men as well as +officers at his return. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm, and +Hector briefly returned thanks. Then, in accordance with the general +request, he related the particulars of his escape from Ingoldstadt +and of his journey. Paolo, who had been waiting behind his master's +chair, came in for warm praise for the share he had taken in the +matter. + +"I certainly did not think when I first, against the advice of +everyone, took Paolo as my lackey five years ago, that he would +turn out so valuable a servant as he has done," Hector said as de +Thiou handed a goblet of wine to the man. "He has been more than +a servant, he has taken part in all my adventures, and truly I +regard him as my friend. Indeed, gentlemen, had it not been for +him I certainly should not be here tonight, for my own money gave +out altogether at Hall, and I had to borrow from his store the +means of buying clothes and horses." + +"By the way, colonel," de Thiou said, "from the day that you were +captured I have drawn your pay for you, knowing that if it fell +into arrear you would have had hard work in getting it, so that I +have now three months of your money in the regimental chest." + +"Thank you, de Thiou, it will be very welcome; though Paolo would +not have been a very hard creditor." + +At eight o'clock the party broke up, and Hector walked across to +Turenne's quarters. The latter had just returned from a consultation +with the other generals. + +"We shall open our trenches here tonight; the place is of some +importance, as it is on the direct road to Nordlingen, and it is +as well not to leave it behind us. This, however, we shall do, if +news comes that Merci is marching to give us battle before that +city, which we expect he will do. The Imperialists will like to +fight there, for it was the scene of their great victory over the +Duke of Weimar and the Swedes." + +"We must hope that we shall reverse matters this time, marshal." + +"We must hope so," the latter said gravely; "if we fight on a fair +field I have no misgivings whatever. But Merci always takes up +strong positions and entrenches himself, and Enghien is so anxious +to fight that he will do so at a disadvantage rather than wait +until we can meet them on even terms. You know what happened at +Freiburg, where we lost some nine thousand men and gained no great +advantage; while if we had moved round and threatened their line +of retreat the enemy must have fallen back at once, we should have +obtained our object without the loss of a man, and might possibly +have fallen upon Merci in his retreat, and well nigh annihilated +his army. Do not think, Campbell, that I am for a moment underestimating +Enghien's genius. It is extraordinary, and in the hour of battle +he is superb, not only from his extreme personal bravery, but +from the quickness with which he grasps every point, seizes upon +the spot where a blow can be best delivered, and snatches victory, +where another would see only defeat before him. But he is reckless +of life so long as he carries his point, and rather than lose a day +in turning the enemy's position and so forcing him to relinquish +it, will sacrifice whole regiments by marching straight against +the most formidable entrenchments. Had he but patience in addition +to his own splendid qualities, I think he would be the greatest +military genius the world has ever seen. And now let me hear what +happened to you after you left my side that night after Marienthal." + +Hector again related his adventures. Turenne laughed at the account +of his escape, hidden under the flour bags. + +"It was a good scheme," he said; "and it was well that you had that +lackey of yours with you, for I do not think that you could ever +have managed it unaided." + +"I am sure I could not, marshal; it was entirely his suggestion, and +he arranged all the details splendidly. He was equally valuable in +another way afterwards;" and he described the fight in the cabaret. + +"That was more dangerous than taking part in a pitched battle; seven +against two are heavy odds indeed, though you had the advantage +of weapons. The fellow has a ready wit to think of rolling against +the man who was waiting for a chance of running in and stabbing +you; he would have made his fortune somehow even if he had not had +the good luck to fall in with you. In some respects you resemble +each other; you both have enterprise, quickness, and daring, +but he lacks your studious habits, your determination to master +everything connected with your profession, and your ability to turn +your knowledge to account. He would have made a good soldier, an +excellent leader of an irregular corps, but he would never have +gained distinction. Well, I am very glad to have had a quiet talk +with you; it takes one out of one's worries and anxieties. By +the way, I had a letter from Mazarin; it reached me while I was +at Spires. He said he was sorry to hear that you had been taken +prisoner, and requested me to make an exchange for you as soon as +possible, even if I had to give a general officer for you, for he +was very deeply your debtor, and had the highest esteem for you. +What have you been doing to make him your debtor? You never mentioned +anything of the sort to me." + +"The matter was to some degree a state one, marshal, or I should +have told you of it; but as it took place nearly a year ago, and +the circumstances are altogether changed, I can mention them to +you in confidence -- for even now, were it known, it might make +me some powerful enemies." He then related how it was that he had +thwarted the attempt on Mazarin's life. + +"That was a piece of singular good fortune," Turenne said. "Mazarin +is a staunch friend and a bitter enemy. I owe him no goodwill, +for he has behaved shamefully to de Bouillon, refusing to hand to +him the estates for which he exchanged his principality of Sedan; +but I do not permit myself to allow family interests to weigh with +me against my duties to France. Truly, as you say, it were well to +hide your share in a business that sent De Beaufort and a score +of others to prison, and a dozen members of powerful families into +exile; it might well cause you serious trouble were it known. You +did well to keep the matter to yourself, and you did specially +well to refuse to accept any personal honour, for had you done so +Mazarin's enemies would at once have connected that fact with the +discovery of the plot." + +On returning to his regiment, Hector found that an order had come +just after he left, for four companies to march down under the +guidance of an engineer officer to begin work on the trenches. De +Thiou, knowing that he had gone to the marshal's, had gone down +with the four leading companies. The other infantry regiments had +furnished similar contingents, showing that the siege was to be +pushed forward with all haste. + +"Enghien does not allow the grass to grow under his feet," Captain +Mieville said. "We stormed Wimpfen a few hours after our arrival +before it; we carried Rothenburg in a single night, and I expect +that by tomorrow evening we shall be masters of this place." + +In the morning four more companies went down to relieve those who +had been at work all night, and these had made great progress +when, in the afternoon, the news came that Merci was marching with +all his strength towards Nordlingen. Trumpets at once sounded to +recall the troops from the trenches, a meal was hastily cooked, +and at sunset the army marched for Nordlingen. All night they pushed +on through the forest, and just as the leading squadrons emerged +from it on to the plain, Merci's forces were seen issuing out +from the forest facing them. Both armies at once formed in order +of battle. + +Enghien, anxious to attack, rode forward with Turenne, de Gramont, +and Geis to reconnoitre the ground. It was found that between +the armies there was a small river, with great pools and swamps +on either side, and that the only approaches were by narrow and +winding paths where two horsemen could scarcely ride abreast. Even +Enghien felt that it would be madness to venture upon an attack. +His artillery opened fire, that of the Bavarians replied, and the +cannonade was continued till nightfall, inflicting a certain amount +of loss on either side but in no way altering the position. Seeing +that a battle could not be brought on here, Enghien marched two +hours before daybreak for Nordlingen. At nine the army came down +on to the great plain in front of that town, but he found that +Merci had been beforehand with him, and had already taken up a +strong position two leagues away, and between him and the city, and +that his troops were already at work throwing up intrenchments. +The prince ordered all the baggage to be left behind, and at once +marched against the enemy. At four o'clock they were facing each +other. Merci had, as usual, chosen his position with great judgment. +In the middle of the plain rose two little hills about a thousand +yards apart. On the hill on his left stood the castle of Allersheim, +and here Merci's left wing, under General John de Werth, was posted; +while at Weinberg his right, commanded by General Gleen, took up +its station. The main body of the army, under Merci himself, lay +behind a village a couple of hundred yards beyond the hills, and +at the head of the passage between them. He had his cavalry on +his two wings, his infantry in the centre, and had thrown forward +some regiments to hold the village. On the two hills he had planted +his cannon, sheltered by intrenchments, and in a position to sweep +the entrance to the valley. + +His army consisted of between fourteen and fifteen thousand men, +that of Enghien of seventeen thousand. After examining the position +a council of war was held. Turenne was strongly against attacking +the enemy in a position of such strength, but Enghien as usual +overruled his opinion. Turenne then urged that the cavalry on the +wings should not charge up the hills and attack the positions held +there until the enemy's centre had been defeated, and his advice +in this respect was taken. The generals then separated and rode to +their respective commands. De Gramont commanded the right wing, +consisting of all the French cavalry, and having as a second line +a reserve consisting of four battalions of infantry and six squadrons +of horse commanded by Chevalier de Chabot. Turenne commanded +the left, which consisted of his own army, with twelve squadrons +of Weimar's cavalry, with the Hessian army -- six battalions and +six squadrons -- as a second line. The centre, consisting of ten +battalions and five squadrons of horse, was commanded by Count de +Marsin. Enghien took no special command, preferring to remain free +to go where his presence was most needed. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII: NORDLINGEN + + +It was five o'clock in the afternoon when all the arrangements for +the attack were completed. But as on the 3rd of August the evening +is long, it was judged that there would be sufficient daylight to +carry out the battle. The French began with a cannonade against +the village, and this was replied to by the guns on the two hills. +Not only did the position of the latter give them great superiority, +but much time was lost by the French in being obliged to move +forward their guns as the army advanced, a slow and tedious process +in days when cannon were very heavy and cumbrous. Seeing that +they were losing time and suffering more loss than they inflicted, +Enghien gave the order to the infantry of the centre to advance. + +They went forward with great speed and eagerness, for they were +burning to retrieve their cowardly conduct at Marienthal. They +carried the intrenchments Merci had thrown up at the mouth of +the pass, and, heedless of the firing of the guns, rushed at the +village. Here, however, they were received by so heavy a fire of +musketry from the infantry posted there, who had loopholed all the +walls and houses, that they came to a stop, and, being shot down +in great numbers, turned and fled. The Count de Marsin was himself +dangerously wounded. The Duc d'Enghien sent the Marquis de la Moussaie +forward with a reinforcement of several regiments, but these, too, +fell back before the Imperialists' fire. The Duc d'Enghien then +rallied the infantry, added to them all those not yet engaged, and +himself led them to the charge. Merci on his part brought forward +his main body to the village. + +The battle was now a desperate one. Enghien seemed to lead a charmed +life. He was ever where the fight was hottest, encouraging the +soldiers and setting them an example. His clothes were shot through +in many places. Two horses were killed under him, and he received +a contusion in the thigh. Merci on his part showed equal valour +and intrepidity; but he was less fortunate, for he was struck by a +musketball and killed. The news of his fall excited his soldiers +to fury, and, hurling themselves on their assailants they cut the +greater part of the infantry to pieces. + +The French on the right had done no better, for the Bavarian cavalry +charged them with such impetuosity that although they fought +sturdily they were broken and routed. De Gramont did all that a +leader could do to check their flight and lead them back to the +battle; and when he saw that he was powerless to do this he put +himself at the head of two regiments that had not yet been engaged, +received the Bavarian horse with a heavy volley, and leading his +troopers to the charge, broke into them, but advancing too far +was surrounded and taken prisoner. John de Werth then fell on the +reserve, broke them, penetrated the baggage, which was plundered, +and then pursued the fugitives far away from the field of battle. +Had he, instead of allowing his troops and himself to be carried +away by their ardour, brought them round and attacked the French +left in the rear, the Imperialist victory would have been complete. + +Here for a time the conflict was doubtful. Turenne, in spite of the +fire of the Imperialist artillery, led his troops in good order up +the hill of Weinberg. His horse was shot under him and his cuirass +was struck, but not pierced, by a musketball. On gaining the top +of the hill a terrible fight took place between the Weimar and +Hessian troops on one side, and the Austrians and Bavarians on +the other. The former showed valour in strong contrast with the +conduct of their French allies; and after repeated volleys had been +exchanged infantry and cavalry rushed upon each other and fought +with bayonet and sword. At last the first line of Imperialists +gave way, but General Gleen brought up the second line and threw +Turenne's first line into disorder, although they still maintained +their ground. At this moment Conde, seeing that his centre was +destroyed and his right utterly dispersed, came up and joined +Turenne, and placing himself at the head of the Hessians, who formed +the second line, brought them forward. The enemy's squadrons were +broken, and the infantry defeated. The guns were then turned upon +the Imperialists on the slope of the hill leading down to the +village, and when they were shaken by the fire Turenne's squadron +charged down upon them and completed their defeat. General Gleen +was taken prisoner, and Turenne's troops, descending the hill, took +the village in flank. + +Had the defenders here fought with the same courage that they had +previously evinced, they would have given time to John de Werth +to return, and the fate of the battle would have been doubtful, but +they were seized with unreasoning panic, and at once surrendered. +The night had long since closed in, and so far as the fighting had +gone the battle might be considered a drawn one. The French right +and centre were utterly routed, but their left had captured one +of the keys of the position and the village behind it. Had John de +Werth, when he returned from the pursuit, shown himself an able +general, rallied the Imperialists and sent them to recapture the +village, and with his victorious cavalry made a circuit of the +Weinberg and fallen upon Turenne's rear, the Imperialist success +would have been as complete and striking as that which they had +won on nearly the same ground over the Swedes; but although an +impetuous leader of cavalry, he had no military genius, and on +returning after dark, and hearing that the Weinberg was lost and +the village captured, he drew off from the field. + +He was joined by the Imperialist infantry, and when the morning +broke Turenne's division stood victors on the field. A number of +officers, many standards, and all the cannon of the enemy fell into +their hands. Of the French infantry not more than fifteen hundred +were rallied after the battle, and of the allied army Turenne's +German troops, although they had suffered severely, alone remained +intact. John de Werth retreated with the remains of the Imperialist +force to Donauworth, and crossed to the other side of the Danube, +although his force was still superior to that of Turenne, for the +loss suffered by the French and Turenne's German troops was very +much greater than that of the Imperialists. Enghien, in his despatch +announcing the victory, acknowledged in his letter to the queen +that it was due to the valour and honour of Turenne. + +Nordlingen and Dinkelsbuhl opened their gates to the victors. Enghien +fell ill and was forced to return to France, leaving Turenne in +command. De Gramont was exchanged for Gleen, and he and Turenne +took counsel as to the course that had best be pursued. John de +Werth had already recrossed the Danube, and the French generals +fell back to Hall, where they remained for twelve days to refresh +the troops, provisions being plentiful in the neighbourhood. + +But their position was daily becoming more untenable. The Duke of +Bavaria, greatly alarmed by the result of the battle of Nordlingen, +wrote to the emperor that unless Austria largely increased her force +in the field he should retire from the contest, of which he had +hitherto borne the brunt, and make terms with the French. The emperor, +who had just brought a war with Hungary to a close, despatched the +Archduke Leopold, his son, with a great body of horse, and he soon +effected a junction with Gleen and John de Werth, and together +they pushed forward at the utmost speed to surprise the French. As +soon as Turenne received news of the movement he and de Gramont +agreed that an instant retreat must be made, seeing that their +force was less than half that which was advancing to attack them. +The baggage was abandoned, and as there was no bridge available +the army crossed the Neckar by swimming, each cavalryman taking +one of the infantry behind him. They continued their retreat until +they arrived at Philippsburg. Here Turenne with the whole of his +army took up his position, covered by the guns of the fortress, +while Gramont passed the river with the remains of Enghien's army +and all the cavalry. + +The Imperialists, after examining Turenne's position, came to the +conclusion that it could not be attacked, and, marching away, +besieged and captured all the towns taken by the French in their +advance. Thus beyond the empty honour of a nominal victory at +Nordlingen, the campaign under Enghien and Turenne ended, without +any solid advantage whatever being gained by the French. + +The Poitou regiment, which was the only French battalion in the +army of Turenne, had been placed with the Hessians in the second +line. It had fought with distinguished bravery on the crest of the +Weinberg, and had publicly been thanked by Enghien, who had on +the day of the battle ridden by the side of Hector at their head +when they fell upon the Imperialists. They had suffered but a small +number of casualties, for the enemy were already shaken before +they charged, and had, after receiving a shattering volley, broken +and fled as the regiment charged with fixed bayonets. Turenne +was always anxious to impress upon Hector the lessons that were +to be learned from each action, and while they were encamped round +Hall he went over the events of the campaign with him on a map. + +"You see," he said, "that what I said to you on the evening before +we marched from Dinkelsbuhl has been completely justified. Instead +of manoeuvring so as to fight in the open, we dashed ourselves +against this strong position, with the inevitable consequences, +two-thirds of our army were routed, and the infantry of the centre +and right all but annihilated; and although by hard fighting we on +the left gained an advantage, it was only the impetuous folly of +John de Werth that saved us from destruction. Now, you see, we are +in no position to fight another battle. A victory won in one's own +country is decisive for a considerable time, but a victory in an +enemy's country, unless it involves his disastrous defeat and the +utter breakup of his army, is practically without value. We can +receive no reinforcements, for none can reach us from France in +less than a couple of months; the enemy, on the other hand, have +rapidly filled up their ranks, and have received, or are about to +receive, large reinforcements, and as soon as they advance we must +retreat in all haste, sacrifice all the advantages we have gained, +and shall be lucky if we can maintain a footing on this side of +the Rhine. + +"Five or six thousand lives have been thrown away and nothing +whatever gained. Now, you see, had we instead of knocking our +heads against the enemy's position, manoeuvred to place ourselves +between him and the Danube, he must have retreated without fighting +a battle, for he was inferior to us in numbers, and we should have +been able to go into winter quarters in Nordlingen and possibly +lay siege to Eichstadt. A genius may win a battle, Campbell, +but genius, if accompanied by impetuosity and a thirst for great +victories, will very seldom win a campaign. I love as well as admire +Enghien; he is chivalrous and generous, he has great military +genius; possibly with age his impetuosity may be tempered with +discretion, but at present, although a brilliant leader, he is not +the general that I would choose to serve under in a long campaign." + +When Weimar's cavalry crossed the Rhine with de Gramont they broke +into mutiny, declaring that they were raised to fight in Germany +and would not fight in France. Turenne crossed and endeavoured +to get them to return to their duty, recalling to them how nobly +they had fought under him, and appealing to them in the strongest +way not to desert him now. A portion of them gave in to his entreaties, +but the rest rode away to effect a junction with the Swedish army, +and he was therefore deprived of a considerable portion of the +force that had been the mainstay of his little army. Upon the other +hand, the Archduke Leopold marched away to Bohemia to oppose the +Swedes, who had gained several successes in that direction. Turenne, +however, determined to carry out one more enterprise before the +winter set in, and to reinstate the Elector of Treves, who had been +deprived of his dominions for twelve years, in consequence of his +having entered into an alliance with France. In order to effect +this he marched in the first week in November with a small force +of infantry and his cavalry to the Moselle, a distance of forty +leagues. + +He was joined by some of Enghien's troops from Metz, and on the +14th of November he invested Treves. The Imperialists were unable +to gather a force of sufficient strength to relieve the town, which +was, therefore, after a short resistance, forced to capitulate. +The small garrisons from other towns in the elector's dominions +were speedily driven out and the elector restored to his possessions, +a result doubly gratifying, since his restoration produced a +widespread effect among the German princes who had thrown in their +lot with France, while the material advantage was no less, as it +closed a door through which the Imperialists, when in sufficient +force, could at any time pour their troops into France. This brought +the campaign of 1645 to a close. Turenne was called to Paris, +where he received the honours that were due to him for the skill +and bravery by which, with altogether insufficient forces -- raised, +equipped and paid to a large extent from his private purse -- he +had for two years guarded the Rhine frontier from invasion by the +united forces of Bavaria and Austria. Hector's regiment had been +left at Philippsburg when Turenne marched away; but the marshal +told him that there was no occasion whatever for him to remain +with it during the winter. He thought indeed that it would be +advantageous that he should pay a short visit to Paris, present +himself to Mazarin, and then go down and see how matters fared with +the estate, to which he had paid but a flying visit. He therefore +set out without delay, Turenne entrusting him with some despatches +to the cardinal. + +"They are of no great importance," he said, "but it is always well +for an officer returning to Paris to carry despatches with him. It +shows that he has the hearty approval of his commander in leaving +his post for a while, and that he has distinguished himself in +a special degree to be thus selected. I have several times in my +despatches had occasion to speak of the excellent service rendered +by your regiment, and it will ensure you a good reception at court. +Besides, Mazarin is evidently disposed to regard you with special +favour, and an occasional visit keeps that feeling alive, whereas +it naturally cools down after a prolonged absence. Therefore in +every respect it is as well that you should show yourself in Paris +for a short time before going down to Poitou, where I hear there +have been some troublesome risings of the peasantry. The province, +being broken and hilly for the most part, offers considerable +advantages to irregular forces, who move unencumbered with baggage, +and against whom cavalry cannot well act. I do not know that any of +these troubles have occurred in the neighbourhood of your estate, +but you would naturally wish to see for yourself how matters are +going on." + +"It seems more than two years since we left here, master," Paolo +said, as they rode into Paris. + +"It does indeed. It is more than six years now since I first rode +away with Turenne, and a month later you entered my service. We +have gone through a good deal together since those days, Paolo." + +"Yes, indeed, sir. It was a fortunate day for me when my brother +took me to your quarters." + +"It has been quite as fortunate for me, Paolo. I doubt whether I +should ever have proposed undertaking to carry Turenne's message +into the citadel of Turin had I not felt that I could rely upon +you as my companion in the business, and it was that which gave +me my first step. Since then you have always been by my side, and +have more than once saved my life." + +On reaching Mazarin's hotel Hector found that he was at the Louvre, +and immediately went there, and as bearer of despatches from the +army was at once introduced to the minister's apartment. + +"Come with me at once to the queen's closet," the cardinal said as +he entered. "She has just sent for me, and her majesty, being at +once a woman and a queen, does not like being kept waiting. She +always wishes to receive the first news from the army, therefore +I can venture to take you with me without asking her permission. + +"I have brought Monsieur de Villar to your majesty," he said as +he entered the queen's apartment. "He has just reached Paris with +despatches from the Viscount Turenne. He has only this instant +arrived, and I thought I might venture to bring him at once to +you." + +"'Tis a long time since we have seen you, monsieur," the queen +said graciously, "but we have heard of you from the marshal's +despatches, and were glad to see that your regiment bore itself +as well in the field of battle as in the park of Versailles. What +news do you bring? Nothing of importance, I hope, for there can +hardly be good news when the marshal has so scanty a force with +which to guard the frontier." + +"The Viscount de Turenne is too zealous in your service, madam, +to remain idle, however small his force. He started suddenly the +day I left with his cavalry and a small body of infantry to march +to Treves, with two or three regiments he has persuaded the +Duc d'Enghien to send him from Metz with some guns, and he hoped +to capture the city and clear the electorate of the enemy before +they can receive strong reinforcements, seeing that they are all +scattered in their winter quarters." + +"A bold stroke indeed, cardinal," the queen said, much gratified. +"It has touched our honour that the elector should so long have +suffered for his fidelity to France; and, moreover, its possession +in his hands will relieve us of much anxiety and give us the +Moselle as a barrier against the incursions of the enemy in that +corner of our dominions. He is indefatigable, this good viscount, +cardinal; and he is not one of those who look for great rewards +for every service. He has indeed carried on the war largely on his +own resources, which has been of no slight advantage to us, seeing +that our exchequer is but too often strained to meet demands from +other quarters. If he succeeds in this enterprise, you must write +in our name and bid him come hither to receive our thanks in +person, and to rest for a while from his labours in our service. + +"You have changed somewhat, Monsieur de Villar, since we last saw +you. The ladies of the court called you then the little colonel +-- not because of your size, for you already overtopped the greater +portion of our courtiers, but from your age. Now you look all over +a soldier, and a weatherbeaten one." + +Hector had indeed aged during the past two years. He was now nearly +two-and-twenty, his moustache had grown, and, as was the custom +of the time, he wore a small imperial. The habit of command had +given to his face an expression of decision and resolution unusual +at his age, and a life spent in the open air, and for the most part +sleeping without cover, had bronzed his skin, and had counteracted +the youthful appearance caused by his fair complexion. + +"'Tis but some three months since we heard of you as a prisoner, +having been captured while with your regiment covering the retreat +after the unfortunate battle of Marienthal. The cardinal told me +that he had written to the field marshal to try and arrange an +exchange for you if possible. We had not heard that he had done so +when the Duc d'Enghien's report of the battle of Nordlingen spoke +of you as doing good service with your regiment there. I suppose +Turenne, in the press of business, omitted to say that you had been +exchanged." + +"I was not exchanged, madam. I succeeded in effecting my escape +from the fortress of Ingoldstadt." + +"You seem born to have adventures, monsieur," the queen said. "We +heard before of your regiment performing prodigies of valour at +Freiburg, and of withstanding Merci's whole army, foot and horse, +for three hours. Last winter the governor of Lorraine reported +that you and a company of your regiment from Nancy had defeated a +great body of insurgent peasants, and had rescued Madame de Blenfoix +and her daughter from massacre at their hands. There is no officer +under the rank of general whose name has been so frequently brought +under our notice. You intend to make some stay in Paris, I hope?" + +"I shall do myself the honour later on, your majesty; but I hear +that there are peasant troubles down in Poitou, and as I only paid +a visit of a few days there, when your majesty had the goodness +to present the fief to me, I am anxious to know how matters are +going on, and to see that my castle is secure from attack by the +insurgents." + +"Your excuse is a good one. It would be well if more possessors of +estates would spend their time in endeavouring to alleviate the +condition of their people, instead of wasting their time and money +in Paris." + +"Monsieur de Villar took steps in that direction, your majesty, +before leaving for the war; for my agents, who keep me informed +of most things that take place, acquainted me with the fact that +Monsieur de Villar entirely remitted the usual fines on taking +possession, and reduced the annual payment of his tenants by one +half until times should mend." + +"A noble example!" the queen said warmly. "I would that we could +afford to do the same through all the royal domains. It is a +pleasure to us to know that one at least of our fiefs has been so +worthily bestowed. Well, sir, I shall see you at the court this +evening." + +Hector bowed and withdrew. His first step was to go to the clothing +establishment most frequented by men of good family. "I have to +attend at the court this evening. I have just returned from the +army, and have but the clothes that I stand up in. Have you any +garments that will fit me suitable for such an occasion?" + +"Of shoulder cloaks I have great store in silks, satins, and velvets +of all shades and colours. There is no difficulty about doublets, +for of these I always keep a large stock in hand; and although you +are a bigger man than the majority of my customers, I think that +I can suit you. Tight pantaloons are chiefly worn by those who +affect the latest fashion, but it would be impossible for me to +make these at such short notice. As you are a military man this +matters little, for these chiefly affect loose breeches trimmed +at the bottom with rich lace, stockings of silk, and shoes with +rosettes. Such breeches I could promise you in three hours, for +they require but little making. The stockings of all shades I have +in stock, also shoes. These would need but rosettes of the colour +to suit the dress, to be added to them." + +"I put myself in your hands," Hector said. "I wish for a handsome +dress, and yet one which shall in no way be foppish, but shall +be suitable to my station. I am Baron de la Villar, colonel of the +Poitou regiment of infantry." + +"Do you incline to silk, velvet, or satin? I should say a velvet +cloak and satin tunic and breeches would suit you best with your +fair hair. I should choose for the cloak a crimson or violet, and +for the doublet and breeches a yellow. If you would prefer a blue +cloak I should say a white satin doublet and breeches would become +you." + +Hector shook his head. "No, I should prefer the first mixture. I +care not whether the cloak is crimson or violet." + +"I think violet, monsieur, and rosettes of the same colour on your +shoes. It were best, I think, that the stockings should match the +doublet. You will, of course, have a pointed lace collar for your +cloak, and at the bottom of your breeches and at your wrists to +match. I think, sir, that a large collar and gold embroidery would +go best with the costume." + +Hector nodded. "I leave it entirely to you, Master Poitrou, so +that everything is ready in time for me to wear them. I also want +a travelling suit of good fashion -- I leave the matter of colour +to you -- and also a suit for wearing here in Paris." + +The cloak and doublets were speedily chosen, as M. Poitrou had +several of the colour and material in stock. Hector was then +measured for the breeches, which were of the fashion now known as +knickerbockers, but somewhat looser. He then chose a violet cap +with a yellow feather to match the court dress, a court sword, +high riding boots, and loose turned-over boots used for walking, +but left all other matters to the tailor. + +"When your man brings the things to me at the auberge Pome d'Or I +will pay him at once," he said. He was indeed well supplied with +funds, for as he passed through Nancy he had drawn the sums standing +to his credit from an agent there, to whom he had, as occasion +offered, transmitted the greater portion of his pay, and also +the balance of the sum that had been paid him when he first took +possession of his estate, after paying for the various expenses +he had incurred in St. Denis and in Paris. Monsieur Poitrou was +faithful to his promise, and although free from vanity, Hector +could not but perceive, after he had donned his court suit, that +he made a good figure. Such, indeed, was the opinion of not a few +of the ladies of the court as he entered the great reception room. + +He had now adopted the general fashion, and wore his hair in ringlets +hanging down on to the collar. His fair complexion contrasted +strongly with the much darker one of the majority of the courtiers, +and this, as well as his height and erect soldierly bearing, rendered +him a conspicuous object among them. The queen and cardinal both +honoured him with marked attention; but what pleased him most +during the evening was the hearty greeting that he received from +Colonel Maclvor, of whom he had seen but little during the campaign, +as the Scottish regiment formed part of Enghien's command, and was +not present at the battle of Nordlingen, being left in garrison +at Metz when the duke marched to join Turenne. Mazarin himself +presented him to many of the ladies of the court, thereby showing +that he wished him to be regarded as a particular friend of his; +and Hector, having gained much in self possession since he had last +appeared there, was able to make himself more agreeable to them +than before, to bandy compliments, and adapt himself to the general +atmosphere of the court. The cardinal sent for him again the next +morning. + +"The news is bad from Poitou, Colonel Campbell, and I think that it +would be well that you should proceed there at once. So we will +release you from further attendance, and you can make up for it by +giving us a longer time on your return." + +Hector, however, tarried two days longer in Paris, by which time +he had received all the clothes that he had ordered. Early on the +morning of the third day he mounted and rode away with Paolo and +three of his troopers. Hunter had been left behind at Philippsburg +for the cure of a wound that he had received at Nordlingen. Hector +was mounted on one of the horses that Enghien had given him; the +other was in the hands of the Imperialists. They traveled fast, and +met with no adventure until they arrived at Poitou, where Hector +learned that in the western part of the province the peasants had +almost everywhere risen, had defeated the royal troops who had +marched against them from La Rochelle and Nantes, and had captured +and burnt any chateaux, slaying all persons of the better class +who fell into their hands. + +As he neared his own estate, learning that the tenants there had so +far not joined the rising, but that several bodies of insurgents +were in the neighbourhood, he rode still more rapidly forward. +Signs of the trouble were everywhere apparent. In the villages +only women were to be seen; there was no sign of life or movement +in the fields; and he passed two chateaux which were now but empty +shells. As soon as he had crossed into his own estates he found +the houses entirely deserted; no man, woman, nor child was to be +seen; no animals grazed in the fields, and the little stacks of +hay and straw had been carried away. + +"It is evident," he said to Paolo, "that MacIntosh has called all +the tenantry into the chateau; had they joined the insurgents the +women and children would still be here." + +As they ascended the steep hill on whose brow the chateau stood, +he could make out that there were a number of men posted upon the +walls. + +"He is evidently determined that he will not be caught napping, +Paolo, and all the peasants of Poitou could not take the place +unless they were well provided with cannon." + +The chateau, indeed, still retained the characteristics of a castle. +The site had evidently been selected with a sole eye to defence; +the hill on which it stood fell abruptly away on three sides, and +could hardly be attacked except in front. Here a plateau extended +some three or four hundred yards long and upwards of a hundred +yards across. A wall with flanking turrets had been a sufficient +defence on the other three sides, but here there was a strong +tower on each flank, and also on each side of the central gate. The +walls inclosed a space of some two acres, in the centre of which +stood the castle. This had been to some extent modernized -- +windows having taken the place of loopholes in the upper floors, +while those looking into the inner courtyard extended to the +ground. The point where the road reached the plateau was some three +hundred yards from the gateway, and as Hector galloped towards +the walls it was evident that he was recognized, for shouts were +raised by the men on guard and the drawbridge over the fosse -- +cut in the solid rock along the foot of the wall -- was lowered. + +As he rode across it the gate swung open and MacIntosh ran out to +meet him. + +"Is all well, old friend?" Hector asked as he sprang from his horse +and clasped the sergeant's hand. + +"All is well so far, colonel; still, I am glad indeed that you have +returned, for at any moment trouble may begin. We hear that the +peasants mean to attack us. I hardly think they will venture to +do so, but I have no doubt they will play havoc on the estate and +burn every house, because the tenants, instead of joining them, +have come up here to aid in the defence. It was a good day indeed +when madam and her daughter came here, they have made themselves +so loved by the tenants that they would do anything for them. Ah, +if all the ladies of France had been as good to their people as +they have been, we should not have these troubles on hand! Here +they come to welcome you." + +Hector hurried across the outer court, where two lines of palings +had been erected, forming a passage from one gate to the other, +and keeping back the animals that crowded the enclosure. + +"Welcome back, welcome back, Colonel Campbell!" the baroness said +as she came up with both hands extended, and her words were echoed +by her daughter. In the year that had elapsed since they started +under the charge of Paolo both had changed. The look of care and +anxiety, which had been heightened by the terrible events of the +two previous days, had passed from the elder lady's face, and had +been succeeded by one of contentment and happiness. + +Norah showed an even greater change; she had now attained her full +height, her figure had filled out, and she stood on the threshold +of womanhood and bid fair to attain a high degree of beauty of the +type characteristic of her nationality. Her hair was dark, her +eyes gray, her expression changing rapidly from grave to gay, the +latter movement generally predominating. + +"I need hardly ask, madam," Hector said as they entered the chateau, +"whether you have been comfortable here, for your face shows that +you have at least been contented with your lot as chatelaine." + +"I have been more than contented, I have been very happy, Monsieur +Campbell. It has been a pleasant task indeed to be your almoner, +and to be able to carry comfort to those in distress, sympathy +and aid to those in suffering. Within the castle, nothing could +be more pleasant than our position. Captain MacIntosh has been +unwearied in his efforts to make us comfortable, and your steward +has in all cases been willing to aid me with money and counsel when +I asked for them. The proof that your goodness has been appreciated +by the tenants is that every one of them without exception has +refused to join the insurgents, and has forsaken his home in order +to come up and aid in the defence of the castle." + +"That is indeed gratifying, madam; but methinks their action is due +rather to the kindness of yourself and Mademoiselle Norah, than +to the gifts they receive." + +"I do not choose to be called Mademoiselle Norah," the girl said, +tossing her head. "I am Irish on both sides, and have not a drop +of French blood in my veins. To strangers I am Miss Norah O'More; +to you, and to any I may love, I am plain Norah." + +"I don't think that you can be that to anyone, Norah." + +"Now I don't like that, Colonel Campbell. That may do at the court +of Louis XIV, but not at the chateau of la Villar, and if you +are going to pay compliments I shall be stiff and unpleasant, and +shall insist upon being addressed as Miss Norah O'More." + +"As I did not mean to compliment you, for I spoke but the truth, +I shall not accept the penalty. Now," he went on, "unromantic as +it may sound, I own that I am hungry, and I am sure that my four +followers are also, for we have ridden far and fast, and have not +stopped, save to bait our horses and snatch a mouthful while they +ate, since daybreak. In truth the news we received made me sorely +anxious, though I felt sure that MacIntosh could hold the chateau +against any attack that was likely to be made on it." + + + +CHAPTER XIX: THE PEASANTS' REVOLT + + +After eating a meal Hector had a talk aside with MacIntosh. + +"Do you really think that these varlets will venture to attack us?" + +"I do indeed," the old sergeant said. "They have taken several +places as strong as this by sudden assault. They are desperate, +and, as I hear, fight like demons, regardless as to how many fall. +As far as stout arms go we are well supplied, for there are at +least a hundred men capable of bearing arms, and all have had more +or less drill since I have been here. Unfortunately, however, our +wall pieces are old and scarce fit for service, several of them +will, I feel sure, burst at the first discharge." + +"But they have no artillery at all, MacIntosh?" + +"I am sorry to say that they have, sir, and a good amount of it. +They captured ten field pieces when they defeated the troops, and +have obtained a score of others from the chateaux that they have +taken. They have only to plant them three or four hundred yards +away at the end of the plateau, and they would easily batter down +the gates, and might even in time effect a breach in the walls." + +"That is serious indeed, MacIntosh. Is there any other way in which +they can attack us save in front?" + +"I think not. I was careful to examine the face of the precipice +when I first took command here, and wherever it seemed to me that +an active man could climb up I had portions of the rock blown up, +and have so scarped the face that I do not think it is scalable +by human foot. But there is nothing to prevent their crossing the +fosse on a dark night, and so stealing along and making an attack +on all sides of the house." + +"Then our first care must be to prevent this, MacIntosh, by building +walls along by the fosse from the corner towers to the edge of +the plateau. The distance is very short, not more than eight or +ten yards at the outside. We have, I see, any number of horses +and not a few carts. Let the tenants be set to work at once, and, +going down the road into the ravine below, fill their carts with +blocks of stone and haul them up here. Let active boys be sent out +in all directions as scouts to bring in word when the insurgents +are approaching; and at the same time let twenty well armed men +of the garrison go down with the carts, so as to give confidence +to the tenants and cover their retreat up the road if the insurgents +should suddenly make their appearance. Let some of the men take +billhooks and axes down with them, and cut poles. These must be +sharpened, and as the walls are built, fixed among the stones so as +to make a cheval-de-frise. At the same time let half a dozen stout +ladders be constructed, so that the defenders of these walls may, +if unable to hold them, make their retreat up to the battlements. +I wish now that I had ordered a strong bastion to be thrown up so +as to cover the gate from an attack by artillery, but it did not +seem likely that we should be besieged by any force having guns, +and I let the matter remain until the tenants should be better off +and we could spend our money on such work. However, it is too late +now to think of that. I suppose there is a portcullis to the gate?" + +"Yes, and I got it in good working order when I first came here; +but the cannon would speedily shatter that, as well as the bridge +drawn up in front of it and the gate behind it." + +"Then as I have no doubt that there are plenty of flour sacks, we +must fill these with earth and pack them between the bridge and +the portcullis, and fasten the bridge in its place with any chains +that may be available, so that it will keep erect. The earth packing, +however much it may be battered, will protect the portcullis of +the gate for some time against their fire." + +"It is a good idea if we have time to carry it out, colonel. We +have still four or five hours' daylight, and as I think that this +is of even greater importance than the side walls, we will set the +tenants to work at once, and it will save time if they take down +the sacks, of which, as you say, we have an abundance." + +A few minutes later a dozen active boys left the castle, and +scattered to various points on the hills around, so as to command +a view over a considerable extent of country. Soon after, some +thirty carts went down the road accompanied by a number of men +with shovels, and twenty of the garrison commanded by one of the +old soldiers. All returned loaded with sacks of earth; these were +taken into the castle, when the portcullis was lowered and the +drawbridge across the fosse raised. An opening was left on the top +to allow the sacks to be lowered into the space between the bridge +and the portcullis. A score of men with ropes went on to the wall +above and lowered them behind the drawbridge, where five or six men +stowed them away. As soon as it became dark torches were lighted, +and by ten o'clock a solid mass of sacks filled with earth were +packed in the space between the portcullis and the drawbridge. + +The night passed off quietly, the horses and carts remaining +beyond the fosse. Planks had been placed across one end of this, +and the horses and carts taken over. The horses were picketed round +the castle, a supply of forage being placed there for their use, +while the carts were packed closely by the fosse, so as to form +an obstacle to any of the assailants who might try to pass. At +daybreak they were again run across the planks, the horses brought +round and harnessed, the scouts being sent out as on the day before. +All day the work went on, and by nightfall two walls twenty feet +long and eight feet high, bristling with pointed staves, were +erected. They stood some twenty feet back from the edge of the +fosse, and extended from the wall to the verge of the precipice. +The carts and horses had, before the walls were built, been taken +round to the back of the castle, where the plateau extended some +fifty yards beyond the defences. Evening was just coming on when +the boys came in, two of them bringing a report that a great crowd +of men could be seen approaching from the west. + +MacIntosh, with thirty men, were at once lowered down from the +battlements, and took up their places in an intrenchment which +had been during the day thrown up at the point where the road came +up to the plateau, while a score of the tenants assembled at the +edge of the cliff, where great piles of blocks of stone had been +collected in readiness to throw down. Lighted torches were placed +at intervals along the road, and three or four great cressets, +holding balls of tow soaked in turpentine and oil, were set up on +the edge of the plateau; these were to be lighted when the peasants +attempted to mount the hill. + +An hour passed, and then a flame sprang up from a house and outbuildings +in the valley, lighting up the ground around and showing that a +great crowd was gathered on the road there. + +"How many should you say there were, MacIntosh?" + +"I should put them at four or five thousand." + +"Yes, they are certainly not short of four thousand. What wild +looking figures! They are just the same in appearance as those +who attacked Madame de Blenfoix's chateau. See, they are lighting +torches, and I expect they mean to make an attack at once. Their +guns are with that group in the rear of the others; at any rate +they will not be of any use in assisting them to make their way +up this road. They are evidently working themselves up to a state +of madness. There are half a dozen fellows addressing them from +various points." + +The men who had been brought down to guard the intrenchments +at the head of the road were all armed with muskets, and carried +in addition long pikes. Presently a roar of shouts and yells was +heard, and then there was a rush on the part of the crowd towards +the foot of the long ascent. + +Hector moved to the place where the tenants were posted. + +"Do not hurl a single stone down until I give you the word, nor +light the cressets; the torches they carry will be quite sufficient +for us to make them out, and the attack will be all the more +successful if it comes as a surprise." + +Then he returned to the breastwork. The men here had been posted by +MacIntosh eight abreast. When the head of the column of insurgents +were halfway up the hill they opened a scattered fire; they had +armed themselves with the muskets they had taken from the troops. + +"Their guns will be of little use to them, for few of them can +ever have had firearms in their hands before; do not fire a shot, +MacIntosh, until I give the order. It is clear that someone must +have told them that we have thrown up this intrenchment today, or +they would not have wasted their ammunition." + +Not a shot was fired until the leaders of the peasants were within +forty yards. Up to this time no torches had been shown in the +intrenchments, but now these were suddenly brought forward, and +Hector, in his helmet and body armour, mounted on to the breastwork. +The head of the column paused on seeing a row of levelled muskets +and three rows of pikes forming a hedge of steel. + +"My men," Hector shouted in a loud clear voice, "halt, I beseech you, +before harm comes to you! I know that you have sore grievances, I +know that you and your wives and families are well nigh famishing, but +how do you think that you will better your condition by assaulting +castles and burning down chateaux? You are but preparing labour +for yourselves and heaping up fresh imposts on your own heads, for +it is you who will have to rebuild them, it is you who will have +to pay for the damage that you have done. At any rate, none can +say that you have cause for enmity against me and mine, for I have +done all in my power to mitigate the sufferings of my people, and +the proof is that not one of them has joined you. The taxes that +press so heavily upon you are not the work of your feudal lords, +they are caused by the necessity for defending France against the +assaults of foreign enemies, and were every noble in the land slain +it would still be necessary that these taxes should be collected, +unless France is to be overrun by the Spaniards and Austrians. +I would fain abstain from spilling one drop of your blood, but I +must defend myself if you attack me, and I warn you that, numerous +as you are, you will not succeed in capturing my castle. I am a +soldier of France, and as I have shed my blood in defending her +against her enemies, so if you persist I shall not hesitate in +shedding yours in my own defence. I implore you to disperse to your +homes; even if you gain successes for a time, it would but draw +down vengeance upon you." + +The assailants had paused when he commenced to speak, and those +in front had listened to his words, but those behind, not knowing +what was going on, continued to shout and to press up the hill. As +he finished speaking there was a yell of defiance, and the column +rushed forward. + +"Aim low," Hector shouted as he leapt down among his men, "fire!" +Eight muskets flashed out. "Second line, fire! Now handle your +pikes, the rear lines will reserve their fire." + +Although ten or twelve of the leading rank of the insurgents +had fallen, there was no pause among the others, and they rushed +forward to the hedge of pikes. + +"Take charge here, MacIntosh; I will run and get the stones at +work." In half a minute he stood by the side of the tenants. + +"Heave then down!" he said. He had chosen a spot where the rock +rose perpendicularly above the road. "Drop them over," he said, +"so that they may fall straight. The biggest you must roll over +with your levers, but work them to the edge and let them topple +over; don't thrust them out or they will bound over the road. Now!" + +Twenty rocks were dropped down together. Even above the din of +shouting the crash as they fell below was heard, followed instantly +by yells and cries. + +"Move farther on and give them another shower," Hector said; and +again the rocks fell on the crowded causeway. The first volley had +caused a pause -- numbers had been crushed, many of the stones as +they rolled down the road had carried confusion to those below; +the second volley completed their discomfiture. Appalled by a +discharge against which they had no shelter and which was wholly +unexpected, those near whom the stones had fallen turned, and in +their panic swept those below them on the road down into the valley, +many being overthrown and trampled to death. Ignorant of what was +going on behind them, the crowd above the spot where the stones +had fallen were still pressing upward, those in front hewing with +their scythes and axes at the pikeheads. + +Hector ran back there. "The two rear ranks will now fire!" he said. + +The men dropped their pikes, and two volleys of musketry were poured +into the insurgents. Those of the front line were swept away by +the fire, and for a moment the whole recoiled. + +"Now, men," Hector shouted, "cross the breastwork and sweep them +away with your pikes!" + +With a cheer the men leapt over the embankment. There was room for +ten abreast, and in a treble line with levelled spears they bore +down upon the rebels. The charge was irresistible. A few of the +leaders of the peasants threw themselves on to the spears and +died there, the others strove, but in vain, to fly. Their comrades +behind, ignorant of what was going on, still pressed up, and it +was not until the screams and shouts of those in front, and the +pressure downwards, brought the column to a stand and then bore +it backward, that they learned that the defenders had taken the +offensive, and were sweeping all before them. Then a panic arose, +and the peasants rushed down the road, the tenants above saluting +them as they passed with another volley of rocks. Halfway down +the hill Hector halted his men, and led them up to the intrenchment +again over a road encumbered with dead bodies. + +"I think that will do," he said. "After the tale those who have +got down safely will have to tell, we may be sure they will do +nothing until morning, and it may well be that they may think it +advisable to be off to attack some other place not so strongly +defended. However, we will presently beat them up, and if possible +capture their cannon, and without them they could not hope to take +any fortified house well defended." + +For a time there was a prodigious din in the valley, sounds of men +shouting and quarrelling, of others trying in vain to make their +voices heard, and to address the excited peasants. In an hour it +quieted down, and by midnight all was still. Hector had been busy +with his preparations. + +"How many horses have we?" he asked. + +"Well nigh a hundred, colonel." + +"That is more than enough. Now, MacIntosh, do you and the men here +go down the road and pitch the bodies over; we should never get +the horses over them." + +Then he went to where the tenants were still waiting. "Now, my +lads," he said, "I want a big gap made in one of these walls we +built today, wide enough for a horse to pass through it, and strong +planks laid across the fosse." Then he ascended the ladder up to +the battlements. He found the baroness and her daughter standing +over the gateway. + +"Is all over?" they asked, as he came up to them. + +"Yes, for the present. We have beaten them handsomely, and without +the loss of a single man." + +"Will they attack again in the morning, do you think?" + +"I feel sure that they will not do so. You see, they relied upon +their cannon for taking the chateau, and they find they are useless. +I am going to make a sortie before daybreak, for I want to capture +those cannon. So long as they hold them they will continue their +work, and they may not always meet with so stout a resistance. +The loss of their cannon will dishearten them, as well as lessen +their power for evil. I shall take every man who can carry arms, +and leave ten at the breastwork to defend it; but there is no +chance whatever of their attempting to come up here while we are +attacking them, so you need have no fear." + +"We shall not be afraid, Colonel Campbell, our confidence in you is +absolute; but do you not think that you are running a great risk +in attacking a force some forty times as large as your own?" + +"One cannot call it a force, it is simply a mob, and a mob that +has suffered a terrible repulse, and the loss of three or four +hundred men tonight. We shall take them by surprise. I am going to +mount all the tenants. MacIntosh tells me that they have all been +drilled as cavalry as well as infantry. He, with the twenty men +of the regular garrison on foot and ten of the tenants, will make +straight for the guns. I shall be with the horsemen, and as soon +as we have scattered the mob, we will harness the horses to the guns +and bring them up here, so that I shall strengthen the castle as +well as weaken the peasants." + +The tenants were all informed of what was going to be done. + +"It will be to your benefit as well as ours," he said, "for you +may be sure that in the morning, if they give up the idea of again +attacking us, they will scatter all over the estates and sack and +burn every house, whereas if we succeed in dispersing them, no +small portion of them will at once scatter to their homes, and the +rest will take care not to come near this neighbourhood again." + +At twelve o'clock MacIntosh sent a man to say that the road down +was clear, and that three hundred and twenty dead bodies had been +thrown over. At three o'clock in the morning the horses, round +whose hoofs pieces of sacking had been tied, were led across the +fosse. One of MacIntosh's sergeants was put in charge of the ten +men who were to remain at the intrenchment, the castle being left +entirely in the hands of the women and boys. The mounted tenants +were eighty in number, all carrying long spears and swords. The +torches had long since burnt out, and each man leading his horse +went noiselessly down the road, MacIntosh with the footmen leading +the way. They halted at the bottom of the road. There was no sound +from the spot where the insurgents were lying a couple of hundred +yards down the valley, fatigued by a very long march on the +previous day, and the exertion of dragging the cannon, for only a +few of these were horsed. Presently the day began to break, but +not until it became light enough to see perfectly, did Hector give +the order to mount, and leaping into the saddle prepared to lead +them. + +The mounted men had been divided into four bands of twenty each. +Paolo and the three troopers each took the command of a party. +Hector's orders were: "Keep together until the peasants are in full +flight, then separate in pursuit. The movement must be put down +or the whole province will be ruined, therefore give no quarter, +and pursue until your horses are tired, then return here. Now, +MacIntosh, do you advance straight upon the guns; it is probable +that they are all loaded, therefore carry them with a rush. The +moment we see you engaged we will charge." + +The horsemen were in single line, extending from side to side of +the valley. Hector kept his eye upon MacIntosh's party. They were +close to the guns before any of the sleepers awoke. Then there +was a sudden shout, and numbers of the men rushed to the cannon. +MacIntosh was there as soon as they were, and pouring in a volley +rushed upon the guns. At the same moment Hector gave the word to +charge, and with levelled spears the horsemen rode down into the +midst of the crowd. Appalled by this sudden attack, which was wholly +unexpected, the resistance was but slight. Many of the peasants +at once threw away their arms and fled. Those who resisted were +speared or overthrown by the horses. As the valley widened the four +troops separated a little, each cutting a way for itself through +the peasants. It was no longer a fight; and a wild panic seized +upon the whole of the insurgents. Some rushed straight down the +valley, others ran up the opposite hillside; but the slope here +was gradual, and the horsemen were able to pursue. + +"Paolo, take your troop up the hill. Let the others keep straight +down the valley." And, heading these, Hector galloped on, shouting +to MacIntosh to harness what teams there were to some of the guns +and take them up to the top of the road, and then bring the horses +back for some more. + +For two hours the pursuit continued. Occasionally a group of +peasants gathered together and tried to stem the tide, but these +were speedily overcome, the long spears bearing them down without +their being able to strike a blow at the riders, and at the end +of that time the insurgents were scattered over a wide extent of +country, all flying for their lives. Hector now ordered trumpets to +sound; he was soon joined by the other troops, and at a leisurely +pace they rode back to their starting point. Not more than half +the guns had as yet been taken up, for MacIntosh had found it +necessary to put double teams to them in order to drag them up the +steep road. The mounted men had all brought ropes with them, and, +dismounting, eight yoked their horses to each gun, and in an hour +the whole were brought up to the plateau, the drawbridge was lowered, +the sacks of earth cleared away, and the portcullis raised, the +gates thrown open, and the garrison filed into the courtyard, +greeted by cries of welcome from the women. + +"I think that we have crushed the insurrection in this part of +Poitou," Hector said to Madame de Blenfoix. "We have certainly +killed six or seven hundred of them, and I am sure that the remainder +will never rally. We will rest today, and tomorrow morning we will +set to work to complete the defences of the chateau, so that it +may be held by a comparatively small number of men." + +The joy of the women was extreme when they found that not a single +man had fallen, though a few had received gashes more or less +severe. The next morning the whole of the men and boys set to work +under Hector's directions. The intrenchment at the top of the road +was greatly strengthened, an opening through which a cart could +pass being left in the middle. + +A gun was placed on each side of this, and twenty sacks of earth +laid down by the side of the opening, so that this in the course +of a few minutes could be closed, and a gun placed close by run +into position between the other two. The greater part of the men, +however, were employed in raising a mound of stones and earth in +front of the gateway, so as to cover this from the fire of any guns +which, after the outward intrenchment had been stormed, might be +brought up on to the plateau. The women, and even the children, +assisted in the work by carrying earth, while men, with the horses +and carts, brought stones up from the valley. + +It took a fortnight's hard work before the outwork was completed. +It was twenty feet high, triangular in form, and solid in +construction. Many of the tenants were accustomed to stonework; +and while the rest of the bastion was constructed of rough stones +mixed with earth, a parapet four feet thick, of roughly dressed +stones, was carried along on the crest of the two outward sides. +Four guns were mounted here; the rest of the cannon were placed on +the outer wall instead of the honeycombed guns before in position, +and the castle was thus prepared to stand a regular siege. + +Hector remained for a week after the work was completed, paid the +tenants liberally for the services they had rendered, and dismissed +them to their homes, for the terrible blow that had been inflicted +upon them had so cowed the peasants that order had been completely +restored in that part of Poitou. Then, after taking an affectionate +adieu of Madame de Blenfoix and her daughter, he rode back to Paris, +where he remained for two months. + +At the end of that time, being heartily tired of the frivolity +and intrigues, and disgusted at the immorality of the court, he +obtained leave from Mazarin to rejoin his regiment, as the campaign +might be expected to open shortly again. The cardinal had warmly +congratulated him upon the suppression of the insurrection in +Poitou, of which he had received full details from his agents long +before Hector reached Paris. + +"I have always exhorted the officers and the troops engaged in +putting down these risings to spill no more blood than is absolutely +necessary. But it needed a great lesson, such as you have given +them. Otherwise, as soon as the troops were withdrawn the peasants +would rise again." + +Turenne had also been in Paris, and had strongly represented +to Mazarin the necessity for the armies of France and Sweden in +Germany acting together, since while they were acting separately, +and at great distances apart, the Austrians and Bavarians could unite +and crush the one, while the other could offer it no assistance. +It was owing to this that the conquests made by the troop of France +and Weimar had been repeatedly wrested from them. The cardinal +listened to his advice, and determined to bring about a union between +the two armies of the confederation. In the meantime a conference +was going on at Munster between the representatives of the various +conflicting powers, but each put forward such exorbitant demands +that no progress was made. + +The Duke of Bavaria, indignant at the small support that Austria +had given him, was playing off France against the latter power. +Mazarin was persuaded that he was only waiting for an opportunity +to desert the Imperialist cause, and therefore ordered Turenne not +to cross the Rhine, as the duke had promised that he would remain +neutral unless the French advanced into Germany, when the feelings +of his subjects might force him to take the field again on the +side of Austria. + +Turenne was therefore ordered to besiege Luxembourg. The marshal, +however, had no belief in the Bavarian promises, and on arriving +on the Rhine early in April, and seeing that were he to march with +his army away to Luxembourg the cause of France and Germany would +be lost, he continued to make various excuses for not moving, +until the Duke of Bavaria, having obtained many concessions from +Austria, threw off the mask, and marching with his army joined +that of the emperor in Franconia. Thus the whole Imperial forces +were posted between the French and the Swedes. + +Turenne saw that his only hope of success would be to effect a +juncture with the Swedes, and wrote to the cardinal to that effect; +then, without waiting for an answer, he set his army in motion. +A tremendous circuit had to be made. He forded the Moselle six +leagues above Coblenz, the bridges over the Rhine being all in +possession of the enemy, marched up into Holland, and obtained +permission from the king to cross at Wesel, which he reached after +fourteen days' march. Crossing the Rhine on the 15th of July he +marched through the country of La Mark, and through Westphalia, +and on the 10th of August joined the Swedes under General Wrangel, +who had received news of his coming, and had intrenched himself +so strongly that the enemy, who had arrived before him, did not +venture to attack him. The enemy now fell back at once and encamped +near Freiburg. Their army was superior in force to that of the +allies, they having fourteen thousand horse and ten thousand foot, +while the allies had but ten thousand horse and seven thousand +foot. The allies had, however, sixty pieces of cannon against fifty +of the Imperialists. The allies advanced to Freiburg and offered +battle, but the Archduke Leopold, who commanded the Imperialists, +declined to come out of the great intrenchments he had thrown up +round his camp. + +Turenne then marched towards the Maine, and, halting ten leagues +from Mayence, sent for the infantry, of which he had left a portion +there, to join him. The whole force of the allies was now united, +and took many towns. As, however, they were still inferior in +force to the Imperialists, Turenne refused to weaken himself by +placing garrisons in these places, contenting himself with blowing +up the fortifications of some and carrying off the principal +inhabitants of others as hostages. The Imperialist army still +remained inactive, and Turenne was able therefore to turn his +attention to Bavaria. Crossing the Rhine at Donauwurth he besieged +Augsburg and Rain. The latter place was captured, but the former, +being reinforced by fifteen hundred men, held out stoutly, and it +was necessary to open trenches and proceed in regular form against +it. The Duke of Bavaria, greatly alarmed at this invasion +of his dominions, sent off message after message to the emperor, +complaining of the manner in which the Imperial army remained +inactive, leaving the allies to employ their whole force against +him. He threatened that unless the army advanced at once to his +assistance he would make terms with France. Imperative orders +were thereupon sent to the archduke to move against the French. +The allies fell back, as his force was greatly superior to theirs, +and the archduke took up a strong position, intending to force the +allies to retire into Franconia as soon as the country round them +was exhausted. + +Turenne and Wrangel divined his purpose, and although it was now +the beginning of November and snow was on the ground, they marched +against him. On arriving near his camp they found that it was +strongly fortified, and could be attacked only by passing behind +great marshes and defiles. Changing their intentions, they left +two thousand horse in front of his camp, making believe that they +intended to attack him, then marched with all haste to the Lech +and advanced against Landsberg, which they took by assault. In +the city were the principal magazines of the Imperialist army, and +the allies, finding sufficient provisions there to last for six +months, encamped round the city and decided to winter there unless +attacked, in the meantime sending out bodies of cavalry, which +levied contributions up to the very gates of Munich. Leopold, thus +deprived of his magazines, retired with the Austrian contingent, +and the Bavarians returned home. + +The Duke of Bavaria, finding that his whole dominions would be +captured unless he made terms, therefore opened negotiations, and +on the 14th of March, 1646, peace was signed, the terms being that +he should separate himself entirely from the empire and deliver +five of his fortresses to the allies, who would thus, should he +again break his word, have means of access into his dominions. The +allied forces were now in a condition to march upon Vienna. They +had during the winter plundered a large portion of Bavaria; they +and their horses had recovered from their fatigue, and their force +now amounted to fourteen thousand foot and twenty thousand horse. +At this moment, when the Imperialists believed that all was lost, +for without the assistance of Bavaria they could put no army in +the field that could hope to make head against the allies, Mazarin +interposed and saved Austria from destruction. + +The Catholic powers had long been privately urging upon him the +danger that would arise should Austria be crushed. The Swedes would +acquire very large accessions of territory, the Protestant German +princes, their allies, would similarly benefit, and Protestantism +would become the dominant religion in Germany. Such would, indeed, +have undoubtedly been the case had the allies marched to Vienna +and dictated terms of peace there. An order was therefore sent to +Turenne to march with his army to Flanders, where the Spaniards +were gaining great advantages, as Enghien, now become Prince of +Conde by the death of his father, had been sent into Catalonia +with the greater portion of his army. Turenne, foreseeing that his +German regiments would refuse to march to Flanders, leaving their +own country open to invasion and plunder by the Imperialists, +warmly opposed the plan, and sent messenger after messenger to +the cardinal urging him to countermand the order. The friends of +Bavaria and the Catholic princes urged strongly upon the queen +that the continuance of the war would utterly destroy the Catholic +religion in Germany, and that the Swedes alone would reap advantage +from the fall of the house of Austria. Moved by their arguments +and those of Mazarin to the same effect, she supported the latter, +and peremptory orders were sent to Turenne to march to Flanders, +where matters were going from bad to worse. Turenne obeyed them, +captured on his march towards the Rhine several towns and fortresses, +destroying their fortifications so that they would not be able to +oppose him if he returned to Germany. But on arriving on the Rhine +his anticipations of trouble were fulfilled. General Rosen, +whose blunder had been the cause of the disaster at Marienthal, +and who had since his return from captivity persistently worked +in opposition to Turenne, fomented discontent among the troops of +Weimar, and directly they crossed the Rhine they absolutely refused +to advance. They had just cause for complaint; they had fought with +distinguished valour, and they alone had saved the French army from +suffering crushing defeat at Nordlingen; their pay was six months +in arrear, and the proposal now that they should leave their own +country and fight in Flanders was naturally most repugnant to them. +They at once marched away towards Strasburg. Turenne followed them +with three thousand infantry, four French regiments of horse, and +the only one of the Weimar cavalry that had remained faithful to +him, and came up just as they were about to recross the Rhine. + +Partly by entreaties, partly by showing his confidence in them, +by putting himself wholly in their power, the marshal induced +a portion of the Weimar cavalry to return to their duty. General +Rosen, who was to a large extent responsible for the mutiny, was +arrested and imprisoned at Philippsburg, the rest of the mutineers +rode away with the loss of a portion of their number, and joined +the Swedes. After this the order for Turenne to march to Flanders +was countermanded. + +The war languished for a few months, the Imperialists were defeated +after a hard fought cavalry battle by Turenne and the Swedes, and +the country was overrun by the latter, whose horsemen raided almost +up to Innsbruck. But all parties were growing weary of the conflict, +which had now lasted thirty years. It had inflicted incredible +suffering upon all who were concerned in it, and had produced no +important results whatever, except that it had prevented the entire +crushing out of Protestantism in Germany, and the peace conference +for the first time began to work in earnest. + +At last, after Bavaria had been wasted from end to end, and the +duke driven into exile, peace was concluded, the emperor yielding +every point demanded by France, as he saw plainly enough that unless +he did so Turenne's army would be at the gates of Vienna at the +commencement of the next campaign, and in October, 1648, hostilities +ceased. Turenne went to Munster and acted as the French negotiator +in arranging the peace, to which his genius, steadfast determination, +and the expenditure of his own means, by which he had kept the +army on foot, had so largely contributed. + + + +CHAPTER XX: AN OLD SCORE + + +Hector was not present with the army during the last three campaigns +of the war. He had joined Turenne in April, 1646, and shared in +the general disappointment when the order was received that the +army was not to cross the Rhine, because Bavaria had promised to +remain neutral if it did not do so. + +"I cannot think," the marshal said to him a day or two after +he received the order -- for he had always maintained the same +pleasant relations with Hector that had subsisted between them in +Italy, and placed the most entire confidence in the discretion of +the young colonel -- "how Mazarin can allow Bavaria to hoodwink +him. Indeed, I cannot believe that he is really deceived; he must +know that that crafty old fox the duke is not to be relied upon in +any way, and that he is merely trying to save time. 'Tis hard indeed +to see us powerless to move, now that the season for campaigning +is just opening, and when by advancing we could cut the Bavarians +off from Austria. As to besieging Luxembourg, it would be but a +waste of time, for before we could open a trench we should hear +that the duke has again declared against us, and we should have +to hurry back with all speed." + +It was, indeed, but a fortnight later that the news came that the +Bavarians were on the move to join the Imperialists, and a fortnight +later it was known that the two armies had effected their junction. +Turenne at once collected his troops from the towns and villages +where they were placed, and marched to Mayence. + +"I am going to send you to Paris, Campbell," he said on the evening +of their arrival there. "All is lost if the enemy, now united, +throw themselves upon the Swedes, and I have resolved to take upon +myself the responsibility of marching round through Holland and +joining Wrangel. There is, of course, risk in such an expedition, +and the cardinal may object very strongly to my undertaking such +a movement, especially as it will leave the frontier of France +virtually unguarded, but I have no fear that evil consequences will +arise. The enemy will not hear of my march until ten days after +I have started, and even then they will probably suppose that we +have gone to Flanders. By the time they find out what my intentions +are, it will be too late for them to take advantage of my absence. + +"Even then they would have to storm Philippsburg or some other +strong place before they could cross the Rhine, and before they +could do that Wrangel and I would be at their heels. Moreover, as +they would know that, instead of pursuing them, we might, after +effecting a junction, make straight for Vienna, and that no army +could be got together to oppose us, I consider that the movement +is a perfectly safe one. Now, I am going to send you to Mazarin +with my despatch telling him of my intention. I am choosing you +for the purpose, because you will be able to explain and enforce +the reasons that I have given him. He has a high opinion of you, +and will listen to you when perhaps he would not pay any regard to +Rosen or any other of these Weimar officers I might send. Remember +that there is no occasion for extreme hurry," and he smiled. "Of +course it is necessary that you should travel with a certain amount +of speed, but do not founder your horse. Every day is of value +to me, and if I am once well on my way north Mazarin could hardly +recall me. + +"Say that you take five days to get to Paris, by that time I should be +north of Cologne, and a courier from Mazarin can hardly overtake +me until I am in Holland, I should then feel justified in disregarding +the order, seeing that I should by pushing on effect a junction +with the Swedes quite as quickly as I could return here. Of course +it would be too late for you to overtake me, and I shall give you +a written order to remain in Paris until I am again so near the +Rhine that you can join your regiment. I consider that it will be +an advantage to have you near the cardinal, as, knowing my intentions +and methods as you do, you would be able to so explain matters to +him that he will understand the reasons for my various movements." + +"Very well marshal, I am ready to start as soon as you hand me the +despatch." + +"I will do that tomorrow morning, and you will then be able to tell +Mazarin that we were just setting out when you left us." + +"As it will be some time before I shall rejoin my regiment, may +I ask you to appoint Captain de Thiou as second colonel? He has +now served as senior captain of the regiment for three years. He +aided me heartily and cordially in organizing it. He has seconded +me throughout in a manner of which I cannot speak too highly, and +distinguished himself greatly at Freiburg, and on every occasion +in which we have been in contact with the enemy. I think it very +desirable that there should be an officer of rank superior to the +others while I am away; and both for the sake of the regiment, and +as a reward for the merit and conduct of Captain de Thiou himself, +I should be very glad were he promoted and should feel that the +regiment would in no way deteriorate during my absence." + +"Certainly, Campbell, I will carry out your recommendation. He +has fairly earned his promotion, and as you say, it is better in +your absence that the regiment should be led by an officer of rank +above the others, and not by a captain having but a very slight +seniority to some of them. Doubtless you will be saying goodbye +to the officers tonight. I authorize you to inform de Thiou that +he will be placed in orders tomorrow morning as second colonel of +the regiment." + +"I did not think that we were likely to be back in Paris before +next winter, master," Paolo said rather discontentedly when Hector +told him that they were to start early next morning. + +"Nor did I, Paolo, and I should very much rather have remained with +the regiment; but as the marshal is good enough to consider that +my presence there may be of advantage to him, I have of course +nothing to say against it." + +There was great regret among the officers when they heard that their +colonel was not going to lead them, but all were pleased that de +Thiou, who was a general favourite, had obtained promotion. That +officer was at once surprised and gratified at the news, for it +was not often that men without strong family interest rose to the +rank of colonel. + +"I know that this is your doing," he said gratefully. "I never +expected to get above my present rank, and I am sure that I should +never have done so had it not been for you." + +"You thoroughly deserve it, de Thiou, for it was by your support +that I was enabled, when I first joined, to introduce reforms, +and get the officers to take upon themselves more work and +responsibilities, and thus make the regiment what it is. I hope +I shall rejoin before the end of the campaign. This may be the +last, for now that they have begun the peace conference at Munster, +something must surely come of it sooner or later, for all parties +must be thoroughly sick of this long and terrible war, which has +ruined Germany and impoverished France, and from which neither +party, after nigh thirty years of fighting, has gained any material +advantage. At any rate it will be a great satisfaction to me to know +that the regiment is in your hands. I know that during the time +that I have been away this winter things have gone on satisfactorily; +but it is clearly impossible for an officer to keep a regiment +well in hand when, as in your case, your appointment was only a +day or two earlier than that of some of the others. You are likely +to have some stiff marching now, for only one other infantry +regiment besides ours will accompany the cavalry, the rest will +remain here until they get an opportunity of rejoining. Of course +I shall take Paolo and my four mounted troopers back with me to +Paris. I may probably send them on to la Villar, as it is not likely +that I shall need them at court." + +On the evening of the fifth day after leaving Mayence Hector arrived +in Paris, and alighted at the cardinal's hotel. + +"So you are again a bearer of despatches, Monsieur Campbell," the +cardinal said, as Hector entered his apartment. "They need be +important, or the marshal would hardly have sent you with them." + +"They are, as you will see, important, your eminence, but I am sent +rather to explain further than the marshal could do in a letter +his reasons for the step that he has taken. As you have learned +long before this, the Duke of Bavaria has proved false to his +promises. He has effected a junction with the Imperialist army, +and the marshal has news that both are marching against the Swedes, +who are in no strength to show fight against so great a force." + +The cardinal opened the despatch, and read it in silence. + +"'Tis a grave step for the marshal to have taken without orders," +he said, frowning; "and do you mean to say that he has already +started on this expedition?" + +"The troops had fallen into their ranks when I started, and by +this time they must be well on their way towards Holland. There +was no time, sir, for the marshal to await a reply to the despatch. +The matter was most urgent, every day was of importance, for if +the Swedes fell back, as they might do, before the archduke, the +latter would be able to overrun all northern Germany, to capture +the towns of the Protestant princes, break up their confederation, +and compel them to give in their submission; for Turenne with his +small force would be powerless to interfere with their operations, +even if by pressing after them with all speed he arrived within +striking distance." + +"And think you that he will reach Wrangel in time?" + +"He hopes so, sir. He sent off a messenger before starting, with +orders to buy fresh horses at all cost at each halting place, to +carry the news as quickly as possible to Wrangel that he was on +his way to join him, and imploring him to intrench himself in some +strong position until he should come up. + +"How long hence will that be?" + +"The march will be pressed forward with all speed, your eminence, +with such delays only as may be needed to keep the horses in such +a state that they may be ready for fighting as soon as they join the +Swedes. He hopes to be there in a month from the day of starting." + +"And in the meantime," Mazarin said, "France is open to invasion. +He says, indeed, that the Imperialists would hardly venture to +march hitherward, as thereby they in turn would leave it open to +him and the Swedes to march into the heart of Austria." + +"Assuredly that is so, sir. The archduke will hardly get news that +Marshal Turenne has moved until he has been some ten or twelve +days on his march, and even when he hears it he will not know in +what direction he has gone, but may think it likely that he either +intends to seize Luxembourg or to reinforce your army in Flanders. +By the time they discover his true object he will be within a week's +march of the Swedes, possibly less than that. It will be too late +for them then to think of marching to the Rhine. If they consider +themselves strong enough to fight the marshal and the Swedes together, +they will do so at once; if they fear to give battle, still more +would they fear to be attacked by him when entering a country where +they would have him in their rear, and be hemmed in between him +and the Rhine, not to speak of the risk of leaving Austria open to +invasion, should he, instead of pursuing them, direct his march +thither. If I might presume to judge, I should say that the expedition +that the marshal has undertaken is at once worthy of his military +genius, and will at the same time do far more to ensure the safety +of the Rhine provinces than he could do were he to remain there +with his small army until the Imperialists, having chased the +Swedes out of the country and reduced northern Germany, turned +their whole forces against him." + +"I see, Monsieur Campbell," the cardinal said, turning the subject, +"that you have been five days coming here from Mayence. It is +a very different rate of speed to that at which you traveled from +Rocroi." + +"It is so, your eminence; but on that occasion the Duc d'Enghien +had placed relays of his best horses all along the road, so that +we were enabled to travel without making a halt." + +"And moreover, my dear colonel," Mazarin said, "Turenne, far +from urging you to haste, was desirous of getting so far before +he received my answer as to render it impossible for me to recall +him." + +"I cannot think that your eminence would do that. It is a grand +enterprise, and almost without precedent in point both of daring +and in the great advantages to be gained from it." + +"And Turenne thought that by sending you, you would be able to assist +him in persuading me to regard it favourably. Well, well, it is +certainly too late to recall him now. He has taken the responsibility +upon himself, and must stand or fall by the result. And now in the +first place are you going to hurry back again or are you going to +remain here?" + +"My regiment is one of those that he has taken with him, sir, and +as I could not hope to overtake him he has requested me to remain +here until I receive orders from him." + +"We shall be gainers so far," the cardinal said cordially, "and I +am sure that from your knowledge of the country and of Turenne's +methods your advice upon military matters will be of great service +to us. I must now go and report to the queen this sudden change +in the situation, and if she disapproves of it I shall tell her +that if she will but listen to you, you will convert her to the +view that this escapade of the marshal's is all for the best, and +seems likely indeed to retrieve the position that has been caused +by the treachery of Bavaria." + +During his stay in Paris Hector soon found that intrigue was more +rampant than ever. The Duke of Beaufort and others who had been +implicated in the plot on Mazarin's life had been pardoned and had +returned to Paris, and as the lesson that had been given them had +taught them prudence, they were now openly on good terms with the +court. They were secretly, however, intriguing with the parliament +of Paris, which was now bitterly opposed to Mazarin, had refused +to register some of his decrees, and had even forced him to dismiss +his superintendent of finance, an Italian named Emeri. The latter +had imposed taxes at his will to satisfy his extravagance and +avarice, had raised the octroi duty, made the sale of firewood +a monopoly, and in various ways had incurred the indignation and +hatred of the Parisians. + +Mazarin's own greed had been in no slight degree the cause of his +unpopularity; he who had come to France a penniless priest was +now the owner of great estates. It was even said that much of the +money that should have been devoted to the needs of the army had +been privately sent into Italy by him, and throughout the country +it was felt to be scandalous that while the deepest distress was +universal on account of the weight of taxation, these two Italians +should be piling up wealth for themselves. But, avaricious as he +was, the cardinal was lavish in his expenditure among his friends +and adherents; honours, titles, dignities, and estates were freely +bestowed upon them, and he did not hesitate to pay any sum that +would gain him the support of those whose aid he deemed to be +essential. Madame de Chevreuse was again at court, and was, as +she had always been, the centre of the intrigues that were going +on. One evening she made a sign for Hector to take a place by her +side. She had taken a fancy to the young Scottish colonel on the +evening when he had been first introduced to her, and was always +gracious to him now. + +"Monsieur le baron," she said in a low tone, "do you think that +the air of Paris agrees with you as well as that of the army?" + +He felt from the manner in which she spoke, that she meant more +than she said. + +"So far, madam, it has not disagreed with me," he said; "and even +did it do so I should not be able to leave it, as I have orders +to remain here." + +"By the way, monsieur," she said, changing the subject of conversation, +"it is whispered that that party of pleasure to which you took +the officers of your regiment at St. Germain did not come off, at +least none of the landlords of the hotels there can recall any +such gathering, and it is even said that your falling in with the +carriage of the Duke of Orleans was not altogether an accident. I +only mention the reports; of course, it was a matter of no moment +whether your party dined at St. Germain or at Sevres. But sometimes +misapprehensions of this kind lead to trouble, especially when +they happen a few days before serious events. I like you, Colonel +Campbell, and that is why I have mentioned this; you understand +me, I have no doubt;" and, turning to a gentleman who had at that +moment approached her, she entered into a lively conversation +with him, and Hector rose, and with the words, "Thank you, madam," +bowed, and moved away. + +It was easy to understand her meaning. Beaufort and the conspirators +whose plan he had thwarted, and who had suffered imprisonment and +exile thereby, had in some way discovered that it was to him that +they owed their failure and disgrace. At the moment his explanation +and that of his officers had deceived them, but doubtless someone +whose connection with the plot was unsuspected had instituted +inquiries, found that the party he had spoken of had not taken +place, and had at once come to the conclusion that he had in some +way discovered their intentions, had really ridden out with his +officers to furnish a guard to Mazarin, and had afterwards acquainted +him with what he had discovered. Doubtless, as Madame de Chevreuse +had warned him, the air of Paris was at present dangerously +unwholesome for him. He had been the means of bringing disgrace +and punishment upon the Duc de Vendome and the Duke of Beaufort, +two of the most powerful nobles in France, and a host of their +friends. + +It was probable that they only recently assured themselves that +it was he who had thwarted their plans; had it been otherwise he +would scarcely have escaped their vengeance the last time that he +was in Paris. Now, from what Madame de Chevreuse had said, he had +no doubt whatever that some plot would be made against his life. +He might thwart one such attempt, but others would follow. He +resolved to lay the matter before the cardinal and take his advice. +Accordingly he waited until he was leaving; several gentlemen of +his suite accompanied him, and at the entrance to the Louvre the +men of the cardinal's guard fell in on either side. When they +reached Mazarin's hotel Hector moved up to him. + +"Can I have a few words with you, your eminence?" + +"Certainly, Colonel Campbell; I never retire to bed till long past +midnight. It is something serious, I see," he said quickly as they +entered his apartment, where a number of candles were burning, and +he obtained a full view of Hector's face. "Another plot?" + +"Not against your eminence; it is a matter which concerns myself +only. I have been warned tonight that my share in the last affair +has been discovered, that inquiries have been made at St. Germain, +and that the various innkeepers have declared that no party +of officers dined there that morning, and that it was therefore +concluded that our presence behind your carriage was not accidental. +They no doubt guessed that it was I who discovered the plot, in +consequence of which so many were arrested and exiled. I have been +distinctly warned that the air of Paris is unwholesome for me." + +"Who warned you?" the cardinal said abruptly. + +"It would not be fair of me to mention the name, but it is at any +rate one who is of Beaufort's party." + +"Ah!" the cardinal said sharply, "I noticed you sitting for a few +minutes by Madame de Chevreuse. Never mind, I will respect your +confidence. I can well understand, after what you have said, that +there is great danger here, and it is a danger from which it is well +nigh impossible to protect you, unless you take up your residence +here and never stir abroad. Nor do I know that you would be safer +with the army; an assassin's knife can reach a man as easily in a +camp as in a city, and with perhaps less risk of detection. Neither +Beaufort nor Vendome are men to forget or forgive an injury, and +they have scores of fellows who would for a few crowns murder anyone +they indicated, and of gentlemen of higher rank who, although not +assassins, would willingly engage you in a duel, especially those +who suffered in the plot that you discovered. Frankly, what do +you think yourself?" + +"I might retire to la Villar, cardinal. I should be safe there in +my own castle." + +"So long as you did not leave it; but a man with a musket in ambush +behind a hedge might cut your career short. It is probable enough +that you are watched, and in that case I should doubt whether you +would ever get to la Villar, nor do I think that if you left for +the Rhine you would get halfway. Now you see, Monsieur Campbell, +that your cause is mine, and that your safety touches me as if it +were my own, for it was in my service that you incurred the danger. +I must think the matter over. In the meantime I beg of you to sleep +here tonight. I will send word to your servant that you will not +return. I could of course send a guard with you to your hotel, +but some of the servants there may have been bribed to murder you +as you slept. I can look after myself; I seldom leave the house +except to go to the Louvre, and I never go even that short distance +without a guard, but it is much more difficult to protect you." + +"I have my own bodyguard, your excellency -- four stout Scotch +soldiers and my lackey, Paolo, who is a good swordsman also; and +as it does not seem to me that I should be safer elsewhere than +here, I shall at any rate stay for a time. I should imagine that +the warning was a general one. They have just found out that I +had a hand in thwarting their plot against you, and I dare say used +threats; but the threats of angry men come very often to nothing; +and at any rate, I do not choose that they should obtain the +satisfaction of driving me from Paris against my will." + +The cardinal shook his head. "You see, monsieur, that Beaufort is +a man who hesitates at nothing. A scrupulous person would hardly +endeavour to slay a cardinal, who is also the minister of France, +in the streets of Paris in broad daylight. He is capable of burning +down the Pome d'Or, and all within it, in order to obtain revenge +on you. I feel very uneasy about you. However, sleep may bring +counsel, and we will talk it over again in the morning." + +"Have you thought of anything, Monsieur Campbell?" Mazarin asked +when they met in the morning. + +"I have not, sir, save to go on trusting to my own sword and my +followers." + +"I can think of nothing," the cardinal said, "save to send an order +to Turenne for two companies of your regiment to march hither, +where, on their arrival, you will receive orders to proceed with +them to your castle of la Villar, and to use them in the king's +service in repressing all troubles that may occur in Poitou. What +say you to that?" + +"I would not deprive her majesty of two hundred of her best soldiers +to guard me from what may not be after all a very real danger. +My own conclusions, after thinking it over this morning, are that +I will remain here for a time, trusting to my friends and my own +sword. If a serious attempt is made on my life I could then consider +whether it would be best to withdraw myself, and if so, whither to +go; but I will not run away merely on a vague hint that my life +is in danger. I have faced death in battle many times, and this +danger can hardly be considered as more serious. I imagine that in +the first case some of the duke's followers will force me into a +duel, before proceeding to try assassination, and although doubtless +he has some good blades among his friends, I do not think that I +need to feel uneasy on that score. I was always practising with my +sword as a boy. Since I have been in the army I have spent a good +deal of my time, when in winter quarters, in such practice with +my own officers, and with any maitres d'armes in the towns where +I have been, and while in Italy had the opportunity of learning +much, for there are fine fencers there." + +"So be it, then," Mazarin said. "But if matters go to extremes, +remember that I consider myself responsible for you. I believe +that you saved my life, and although there are many things that +men say against me, none have ever charged me with ingratitude. If +I can protect you in no other way I shall have you arrested, sent +to the frontier, that is to say, to the sea frontier, and put on +board ship and sent to England or Scotland, as you choose, with +a chest containing a sum that will suffice to purchase any estate +you may choose there. + +"I am in earnest," he went on as Hector was about to answer. "It +is for my own sake as much as yours; when my friends are attacked +I am attacked, and I am doubly bound in your case. It needs but a +stroke of my pen to make you a duke and lord of half a province; +and if I cannot do that here, because you would still be within +reach of your enemies, I can, as far as the estates go, do it for +you abroad. Do not fail to let me know each day if anything new +takes place." + +Hector felt that there was no more to say, and bowing, left +the cardinal's presence and went out. Paolo and Macpherson were +waiting outside. + +"The cardinal's messenger, who brought the news last night that you +would not return, master," the former said when he saw by Hector's +look of surprise that he had not expected to see him there, "said +also that I and one of your men had best be here at eight this +morning and wait until you came out." + +"I did not know that he had sent such a message, Paolo, but I will +when we get to the hotel tell you why he sent it." + +The street was somewhat crowded, and Hector had gone but a short +distance when he saw three gentlemen, who he knew to be intimates +of the Duke of Beaufort, coming in the other direction. One of them +was Monsieur de Beauvais, who said in a loud tone to his companions +just as Hector was passing: + +"That is the Scotchman whom the cardinal employs to do his dirty +business." + +Hector faced round at once. "At any rate, Monsieur de Beauvais, +the Scotchman in question is not employed by the cardinal as an +assassin, which is an even more dishonourable post." + +De Beauvais turned white with anger. "Behind the Luxembourg in an +hour's time, Monsieur de Villar." + +"I shall be there," Hector said coldly. He paused a minute, after +the three gentlemen, with the customary salute, walked on. He +did not like to go to the Hotel Mazarin lest the cardinal should +obtain news of what was going to take place, so he waited in the +neighbourhood, knowing that some of Mazarin's personal friends would +be sure to arrive about this hour. Presently he saw a colonel who, +like himself, was spending the winter in Paris, and who frequently +attended the cardinal's levees. + +"Colonel de Serres, as a fellow soldier I have a service to ask of +you." + +"I am entirely at your disposal, Monsieur Campbell." + +"I have just had a quarrel forced upon me by Monsieur de Beauvais, +and I have to meet him in fifty minutes' time at the back of the +Luxembourg. As he was in company with two gentlemen, the Comte de +Marplat and Monsieur de Vipont, I shall be glad if you would kindly +act as my second, and if you can find another officer who would +do so, I shall be glad of his services also." + +"I shall be glad to support you, Monsieur Campbell, and can lay +my hand on another second at once, for here comes my friend and +yours, Monsieur Emile de Chavigny, who will, like myself, be charmed +to be concerned in any affair against the duke's friends." + +De Chavigny, whom Hector had seen at the court on the previous day +for the first time since they had parted in Italy, agreed at once +to Hector's request. + +"De Beauvais has the reputation of being a good swordsman, Campbell," +he said as they walked together towards the Luxembourg, Paolo and +his companion having now returned to the inn at his master's order; +"but I should say that he will want all his skill now. You were by +far the best swordsman among us when you left us suddenly in the +south, and doubtless since then your skill will not have fallen +off." + +"No, I know a good deal more than I knew then, Chavigny. There were +few days when we were in winter quarters that I had not an hour's +work in the fencing school with the officers of my regiment, and +whenever I heard that there was a professor of the art I have never +failed to frequent his salon and to learn his favourite strokes." + +"That is all right, then. We need have no fear whatever as to the +result." + +They reached the point fixed upon a minute or two before the clock +struck, and just as it chimed de Beauvais and his friends made +their appearance. The seconds exchanged a few words and selected a +piece of ground for the encounter, the principals at once removed +their doublets and faced each other. + +"This is a duel a la mort," de Beauvais said in a loud voice. + +"For that I am quite prepared," Hector said quietly; "but you are +likely to find, Monsieur de Beauvais, that it is not so easy a +thing to kill the colonel of one of her majesty's regiments as it +is to stab a churchman in his carriage." + +De Beauvais at once took up his position, and, without the parade +of courtesy that usually preceded an encounter, fell furiously upon +Hector. The latter did not give way a step. With a wrist of iron he +put aside half a dozen thrusts, and then lunging, ran de Beauvais +through the body, his sword hilt striking against his adversary's +chest. + +De Beauvais' two seconds ran forward as their principal fell. "He +is dead," one said as they knelt over him. Then rising he addressed +Hector: "Monsieur le Colonel Campbell," he said, "I claim satisfaction +at your hands, for I take it that your words applied to me as well +as to de Beauvais, though addressed only to him." + +"You may take it so," Hector replied coldly, "for you were also at +that house in the Rue St. Honore on that occasion you know of." + +Hector's two seconds endeavoured to interpose, but he said: "Gentlemen, +I must ask you to let the matter go on. This is no ordinary duel. +These gentlemen, with whom I have no personal animosity, have +picked a quarrel with me at the request of one higher in rank +than themselves, and are simply his agents. I had no hesitation +in killing the first of them, but as Monsieur de Vipont wishes an +encounter with me in spite of what he has seen I will give him +one, but will content myself with a less severe lesson than that +I have given Monsieur de Beauvais. Now, sir, I am at your service." + +De Vipont, knowing now how dangerous an opponent he was meeting, +fought cautiously. Hector, however, was anxious to finish the matter +before they were interrupted, and therefore took the offensive, +and after two passes ran his antagonist through the shoulder. + +"Now, Monsieur le Comte, do you desire a turn?" he said carelessly. + +The count was pale, but he answered steadily, "I claim it by the +same right as Monsieur de Vipont." + +"Agreed," Hector said; and as soon as the count had removed his +upper garments they engaged. + +The swords had scarcely clashed when the count's weapon was wrenched +from his hand and sent flying for a distance of twenty paces. + +"That is enough," Colonel de Serres said, stepping forward; "you +have done what you thought to be your duty, Monsieur le Comte, +but it needs very different blades from those of yourself and your +companions to stand before Colonel Campbell. He had you at his +mercy, and had a right to take your life if he chose; but as he +refrained from doing that when you had your sword in your hand, he +certainly will not do so now. Messieurs, we wish you good morning." + +"And you may mention," Hector added, "to this person of high rank, +that I shall be happy to accommodate as many of the gentlemen of +his following as choose to take the matter up." + +"He will send no more to you, Campbell," Chavigny said as they +moved off, leaving the count, whose valet now ran up, to obtain +a vehicle and carry his dead and wounded comrades away. + +"No, I fancy not; he will try other means now. The war has only +begun. Men like Lei, Brillet, and the Campions are not the sort +of men who would act as bravos, even for the Duke of Beaufort, and +I do not think that he would even venture to propose it to them. +It will be meaner instruments that he will employ next time. +However, I shall of course go straight to the cardinal and acquaint +him with what has happened. I doubt not but that he will lay the +matter before the queen, and then that Beaufort will hear of it; +but, passionate and revengeful as he is, I think that he will not +be turned from his purpose, even if he knows that he may be forced +to retire to his estates, or even leave the country till the matter +blows over." + + + +CHAPTER XXI: THE DUKE'S REVENGE + +The cardinal listened gravely to Hector's account of the duel, and +of the circumstances that gave rise to it. + +"I will go at once to the Louvre and appeal to her majesty," he +said; "you know how warmly she spoke to you on the day when you +saved my life. Still, I fear that the sternest reproof, or even +an order to retire to his estates, would not turn him from his +purpose." + +"I am sure of it, your eminence; still, as I have proved victor in +the first battle in the campaign I will bide a second." + +"Mind that you do not get stabbed in the back, colonel." + +"I will beware of that, sir; whenever I walk the streets in future +Paolo shall keep a pace behind me, and I warrant that he will +protect me from any attempt of that sort." + +"At any rate remain here until I return from the Louvre." + +In an hour Mazarin returned. "The duke has been beforehand with +us," he said. "When I told the queen of what had happened, and +why this quarrel had been fastened upon you, she sent at once for +the duke, and drew out an order, which I signed, for him to retire +at once to his estates; but the royal messenger returned with +the news that he had half an hour before ridden away to visit his +father at Vendome. A courier will start at once with the order, +but I doubt whether he will be found there. It is probable that +he has gone to one of his own estates, and it may be some time +before we find out where he is. However, it is something that he +has gone." + +On his return to the inn Hector told Paolo what had taken place. + +"It is a pity that you did not kill them all, master." + +"Not at all, Paolo; had I done so every one of their friends would +have been set against me. Both these men are of good families, +and will doubtless report that I had their lives at my mercy and +spared them, and after that no gentleman of reputation would take +the matter up. I shall have to be very careful in future, but now +that the duke has gone there is not likely to be any further trouble +just at present." + +Paolo shook his head. "Nay, master, I think the danger all the +greater. In the first place, we do not know that he has gone. I +think it far more likely that he is hiding in the house of one of +his friends. He has pretended to leave because he was sure the +cardinal would take the matter up, and in order that, if he is +absent from Paris when any harm befell you, it could not be brought +home to him. I do not suppose that next time he will employ any +of his own people. He is most popular among the mob of Paris, who +call him the King of the Markets, and he will have no difficulty +in getting as many daggers as he wishes from the scum of the +faubourgs. It would be difficult in the extreme to prove that he +had aught to do with it, for you may be sure that he would really +go down into the country with all speed the moment the deed was +done. + +"In future, master, you must not go out without having me close +behind you; as for the others, I would put them in ordinary citizen +garb, and let them follow some twenty yards behind, so as to be in +readiness to run up at once. They could carry swords openly, and +have their pistols hidden under their doublets." + +"It might be as well, at any rate for the present. If, as you think, +Beaufort is hidden in Paris, it is certain he will lose no time." + +Paolo nodded. "I will get the men disguises at once. They had better +be different; Macpherson can be dressed as a soldier, Nicholl as +a burgher, and Sandy Grahame and Hunter as rough mechanics. They, +of course, could not carry swords, but might take heavy cudgels. +They would not walk together, or seem to have any knowledge of +each other. Sandy might be ten paces behind you, Nicholl twenty, +and the others thirty, or where the street is wide they could keep +abreast of you on the other side. Are you going to the Louvre this +evening?" + +"Yes, the cardinal said that the queen wished that I should appear +there. I would much rather have stayed away, as doubtless the affair +behind the Luxembourg will be generally known by this evening, and +I shall feel my position a very unpleasant one, though I imagine +that the queen intends, by her countenance of me, to show that I +have not fallen into disgrace for duelling." + +Such was indeed the case. All eyes were turned upon Hector when he +entered the royal saloon. Many of Mazarin's friends came up and +shook hands with him warmly, while the adherents of Beaufort and +Vendome stood aloof from him with angry faces. Presently the door +opened, and the queen, closely followed by Mazarin and a train of +ladies and gentlemen, entered. + +As she passed Hector she stopped. "Monsieur le Baron de la Villar," +she said in clear tones, which were heard all over the apartment, +"much as I object to duelling, and determined as I am to enforce +the edicts against it, I feel that in the encounter this morning +you were in no way to blame, and that it was forced upon you. It +is scandalous that one who has so bravely shed his blood and risked +his life in defence of France should be assailed in the capital, +and for what reason? Because he proved faithful to the queen and +her minister. You have punished the chief of the aggressors, and +I shall know how to punish those who stood behind him;" and with +a gracious bow in response to his deep reverence she moved on. + +The little speech created a deep sensation among the courtiers. +That the queen herself should so publicly give her countenance to +this young Scottish gentleman, and should -- for no one doubted to +whom she alluded -- even threaten one of the most powerful nobles +in the land, showed how strongly she felt. No one, with the +exception of half a dozen persons, understood her allusion to the +service that he had rendered to her and the cardinal, but all felt +that it must be something altogether exceptional. Many of the nobles +who belonged neither to the party of Beaufort nor the cardinal +came up and congratulated him. + +He received these signs of the impression that the queens' words +had conferred upon him quietly. + +"I am very sorry for what has occurred," he said. "I have killed +many in battle, but this is the first time that I have killed +anyone in a private quarrel. It was not one of my seeking, but I +am none the less sorry." + +As he passed near Madame de Chevreuse, she made a gesture to him +to come to her. "You did not accept my warning," she said sadly. +"Remember, a storm is not past because the first flash of lightning +does not strike." + +"I am well aware of that, madam; I thank you for your warning, but +I am bound here by my duties as a tree is bound to the earth by +its roots, and neither can move at will to escape a storm passing +overhead." + +"Should I hear of any fresh danger, Monsieur Campbell," she said +in a low voice, "I will have you informed of it, but it is more +probable that I shall not know. Were it a state secret I should +surely hear of it, but in a matter like this none save those +concerned would be likely to know of it until it was over. Be +always on your guard night and day, you cannot tell when the bolt +may fall;" and she motioned to him to pass on again. As before, +Hector accompanied the cardinal as far as his hotel, then he went +towards his own lodgings, Paolo, with his hand on his dagger, +keeping a pace behind him, while the four troopers followed one +by one at a distance. The streets were almost deserted until, just +as they approached the inn, a number of rough men rushed out from +side alleys and doorways. Hector had just time to throw himself +with his back to a house and draw his sword. Paolo's knife had +levelled the first man who approached, and then drawing his sword +he took his place by the side of his master. The ruffians stood +round, each anxious to be the first to strike, and yet fearful +of meeting the sword that had, as they had heard, mastered three +gentlemen. + +"Run in at him, fools!" a man in a cloak, with his hat pulled down +over his eyes, and keeping in the rear of the others, shouted. + +Before his orders could be carried out there was a sudden movement, +and four men burst through them and joined Hector. The assailants +hesitated. + +But again the man behind shouted: "Cowards, there are but six of +them, and you are five-and-twenty, are you such curs that you are +afraid to attack when you are nigh five to one?" + +Then, with a hoarse yell the crowd rushed forward. One was struck +down by a heavy cudgel, three fell on the pavement, and another +one tottered back disabled, but others took their places, and for +a time the little band were hardly pressed. The four Scotchmen +fought stoutly, but although fair swordsmen they gained no great +advantage over their opponents until they betook them to their +pistols, when several of their assailants fell, but not without +inflicting wounds. Paolo also fought well, and brought three to +the ground. Hector, however, took the offensive, and before his +swift blade, with its deadly thrust, those opposed to him fell +back as one after another dropped dead. + +"Down with him! down with him!" the voice shouted; "are ye men thus +to give way before a single blade?" + +"And are you a man," Hector shouted back, "to set on others to +fight when you dare not fight yourself? Whoever you are, you are +a coward!" + +With a fierce oath the man pushed his way through those in front +of him and drew his sword. He threw back his cloak to obtain the +full use of his sword arm, and the rich gold braiding of his doublet +confirmed the opinion Hector had already formed as to his identity. + +"That is better, my lord duke; it is at least more honourable to +fight in your own quarrels than to employ a band of assassins to +do your work." + +With a roar of fury Beaufort rushed upon him. He was a good swordsman, +and personally brave, but his rage neutralized his skill, and after +parrying two or three of his lunges Hector repeated the thrust with +which he had that morning disabled de Vipont, and ran his assailant +through the shoulder. He fell back with a curse. + +"Kill him! kill him!" he shouted. But at that moment there was +a cry, "The watch! the watch!" Four of the fellows caught up the +wounded man and carried him off, some of the others skirmishing +with the watch to hinder their advance. + +"To the inn!" Hector cried to his men, "leave the matter to the +watch." + +And sheathing their weapons they ran on to the door of the hotel +and obtained entry there before the watch came up. As soon as they +had passed Hector said, "Come with me, Paolo, and see the cardinal; +there is no fear of any renewal of the attack now. + +"Do you know who it was I wounded, Paolo?" he asked as they hurried +along. + +"No, master, I was too busy myself to look round." + +"It was Beaufort himself; I ran him through, low down in the +shoulder." + +Paolo uttered an exclamation of dismay. + +"It cannot be helped now," Hector went on, "but there will be no +living in Paris or even in France after this!" + +Mazarin had not retired to bed when they reached his hotel. + +"What now, monsieur?" he asked. + +"We have had our second battle, your eminence, and it has been a +serious one. We were attacked by five-and-twenty ruffians; we slew +some ten of them. Then their leader, who had been keeping in the +rear shouting to them, seeing that his men were not likely to +get the best of us, pushed through them and himself attacked me. +I wounded him somewhat seriously, at least the thrust was just below +the shoulder; and when I tell you that it was Beaufort himself +you will see that the matter is serious indeed." + +"It could not be worse," the cardinal said gravely; "you will have +the whole of the adherents of the house of Vendome banded against +you, and even your bravery could not long triumph over such odds. +France is no longer a place for you. Neither the queen's protection +nor mine would avail you aught." + +He took two or three turns up the room. + +"In the first place, Monsieur Campbell, I will buy your fief back +from you; there are plenty who would gladly purchase it, or I can +bestow it, as it was bestowed upon you, upon someone who has served +the crown well. I will send the price to the banker who already +holds money of yours in his keeping. I should advise you to mount +tonight and ride for the seacoast. Tomorrow would be too late." + +He opened a cabinet. + +"Here are a thousand crowns for your present expenses. Which road +will you take? I should advise you not to go to Calais; that is +the line on which, as soon as it is known that you have gone, they +will pursue you, and even did they not overtake you on the way +they might reach Calais before you could obtain a ship for England, +for at present there is but little trade between the countries, +and that not openly." + +"I will make for Nantes, your eminence; there I can be joined by +friends from my chateau." + +A slight smile passed over the cardinal's face. + +"'Tis no time for jesting," he said; "but in truth I had intended +to find a rich heiress for you. But when I heard that two ladies +were staying at the castle I laid the project aside; and 'tis as +well that I did so, for, were you married to a princess, your life +would not be safe in France. Farewell, Monsieur Campbell, I have +not so many friends that I can afford to lose so true and stout a +one, especially one upon whom misfortunes have come through his +good services to myself. I will send a messenger to the governor of +Nantes with orders that he shall in every way forward your wishes +as to your departure, as it is with my consent and approval that +you are sailing for England. Your devotion has brought you into the +gravest peril, and now it forces you to relinquish your profession, +in which you have so greatly distinguished yourself. Truly, my +friendship for you is genuine, and it cuts me to the heart that, +although I could uphold you against the most powerful nobles +in open enmity, I can do naught to save you from assassination. +I trust some day that I may see you again, but, should it not be +so, remember that I shall always feel myself your debtor; and should +you have friends for whom you may ask my protection be sure that +I will for your sake do all in my power for them." + +There was no doubting the real emotion with which Mazarin spoke. + +"There is one thing that I forgot," the latter said; "here is a +pass for you to leave the gates at once. You had better go out by +the north, so that they may think that you have ridden to Calais, +and then take a wide detour and ride for Nantes." + +Hector returned to the hotel. + +"We must mount at once," he said to the troopers; "my enemies have +failed twice, but they might not fail the third time, and by +tomorrow morning it is certain that the hotel will be watched. I +have a pass to issue out through the gate at once." + +While he had been away the troopers had bandaged each other's wounds, +and had packed their valises, for they thought it probable after +what had happened that their master would be obliged to fly. + +As the horses were being saddled and brought out Hector saw the +innkeeper and paid him his bill. + +"Monsieur," he said, "I am going away on business of the cardinal's, +and he desires that none shall know that I have left; therefore +I pray you keep the matter secret as long as you can. It may be +reasonably supposed that after the fray in which we have just been +engaged, we might well keep our beds for a day or two." + +Going out in the courtyard, he gave a couple of crowns to the +hostler. + +"You are like to be asked tomorrow if we are still here," he said. +"Give such answers as to lead them to believe that our horses are +still in the stalls." + +They mounted and rode rapidly through the streets to the northern +gate, which was immediately, upon Hector's handing the guard the +cardinal's pass, opened to them. To the surprise of the men, he +turned off after riding a few miles. + +"Are you not going to make for Calais, master?" + +"No, I am bound for Poitou. We will cross the Seine by the bridge +of boats at Nantes, ride down through Dreux and Le Mans. There we +will separate. I shall follow the Sarthe, strike the Loire at Angers, +and then go on to Nantes. You will cross the Loire at Tours, and +then make for la Villar. I shall take you, Macpherson and Hunter, +with me. Paolo will ride with the other two, and will be the bearer +of letters from me." + +Daylight was breaking when they crossed the bridge of boats. Hector +halted a mile from the river, keeping Paolo with him, and telling +the others to pass at intervals of a quarter of an hour apart. + +"You will go first, Macpherson. You will ride south for an hour, +and then wait till the rest of us join you. It is like enough +that as soon as they find out that we have left they will send men +off in all directions to find out which way we followed, though +doubtless the chief pursuit will be directed towards Calais. I am +afraid that it will not be very long before they find we have left +the hotel, for the landlord, however well he may wish us, will +not dare mislead any person of consequence that Beaufort may send." + +They had, however, a much longer start than Hector expected, for +early the next morning ten of the cardinal's guards appeared at the +hotel. The officer in command of them told the innkeeper that, in +consequence of the tumult before his doors, in which, as he heard, +some of those lodging there had been concerned, he had orders +to post his men round the house, and to allow no one to enter or +leave under any pretence whatever until the cardinal himself had +examined into the affair. These orders were delivered in a loud +voice before the servants of the inn, but the officer privately +assured the innkeeper afterwards that he would be well paid for +his loss of custom, and that it was probable that the guard would +be removed in a day or two. Thus Beaufort's emissaries were not +able to obtain news of what was passing within, and did nothing +until past noon, when it occurred to them that the cardinal had +taken this strange step of closing the inn in order to prevent +its being known that Hector and his followers had left Paris. + +Men were at once sent off to the different gates of the city, and +one of these returning with the news that the north gate had been +opened at one o'clock in the morning and that six men bearing a +pass from the cardinal had ridden out, a party of twenty horsemen +started out in pursuit, while others were ordered to ride by all +the different routes to Poitou, in case, as was likely enough, +Hector had ridden to his castle. The fugitive, however, and his +followers were all well mounted, and had fourteen hours' start. +They separated at Le Mans. Hector here wrote a long letter to the +Baronne de Blenfoix, and a shorter one to MacIntosh. The latter he +told only that his fief had again reverted to the crown, and gave +instructions that the steward should be ordered to return, from +the moneys he had in hand, three months' rent to every tenant, to +hand the balance to MacIntosh himself, and to hold possession of +the chateau and estate until he received orders from the cardinal +himself. + +MacIntosh was then, with Paolo, two troopers, and his own two +sergeants, to escort the baroness and her daughter to Nantes, +if she decided to go there. All arrangements were to be completed +within twelve hours of Paolo's arrival there. To the baroness he +related briefly what had passed. + +"Therefore, as you see," he said, "there is no course open for me +but to fly for England or Ireland, where I intend to settle. I +trust, madam, that you and your daughter will accompany me. Putting +aside my respect and, I may say, my affection for yourself, you will +have understood from what I said to you when last at la Villar, +that I hope some day to make your daughter Norah my wife, if I should +be so fortunate as to obtain her affections. How this may be I +cannot say, but at any rate I trust that you will return to England, +and as I have ample funds you may be assured that my first care +will be to provide for your future." + +On arriving at Nantes Hector at once rode to the governor, and +presented the cardinal's letter to him. + +"You may be assured, Colonel Campbell, that I shall carry out his +eminence's instructions," he said, after perusing the cardinal's +letter. "I will send an officer down to the port with you to aid you +in obtaining passage, should there be a ship leaving for England, +or to take up a ship for your service." + +"I would rather the latter," Hector said. "I may have ladies with +me, and so should wish to have plenty of accommodation." + +"I am also instructed," the governor said, "to close the gate, in +case any party, followers of the Dukes of Vendome or Beaufort, or +of any families connected with them, arrive before you leave, and +to grant them no admittance until a messenger from the mouth of +the river informs me that you are fairly out at sea." + +"I am indeed obliged to his eminence for that order, sir; he did +not mention to me that he was giving it, but it will certainly +save me from much anxiety." + +As Hector was not disposed to haggle about terms, he had no difficulty +in hiring a vessel to carry them across the Channel. Twenty-four +hours after his arrival the party from the chateau rode in, and +but half an hour later fifty horsemen wearing the cognizance of +Vendome galloped up to the gate. They were headed by four or five +gentlemen, one of whom demanded angrily why the gates were shut. + +"They are closed by order of the governor," the officer in charge +replied. + +"Tell the governor that the Count d'Erlon, with a party of gentlemen, +retainers of the Duke of Vendome, are here, and demand instant +admittance." + +Twenty minutes later the governor himself arrived at the gate. "I +am sorry, gentlemen," he said, "that I am compelled to keep the +gates closed. I have an order from Cardinal Mazarin to that effect, +and that, coming from the first minister of France, I dare not +disregard even if the duke himself were with you. It would cost me +my place, and possibly gain me a cell in the Bastille; and, grieved +as I am to refuse admittance to such honourable gentlemen, still +I must do so." + +"And for how long is this monstrous edict to remain in force?" the +leader of the party asked. + +"That I am unable to say precisely, but I believe that I can open +them tomorrow morning." + +"You see, we were right, count," another of the horsemen said. "The +description of the man who rode along here with two attendants +tallies with that of this Scot, and doubtless this order was +brought by him from Mazarin to enable him to get either by water +away abroad or to his chateau of la Villar." + +"Well, gentlemen, at any rate we have done our best, and though we +must have slain the fellow if we had overtaken him, I cannot say +that I am altogether grieved that he has escaped. His name is well +known to everyone. He did brave service to France under Turenne +and Conde. We learned from the messenger who brought the letter +from Beaufort that he killed de Beauvais in fair fight, wounded de +Vipont, and disarmed the Comte de Marplat, that at night he and +five of his followers, though attacked by some thirty ruffians +from the faubourgs under Beaufort himself, killed twelve of them +outright, and that he himself seriously wounded the duke. Well, +there is nothing for us but to ride back to the village we last +passed through and wait there until tomorrow." + +So saying, he mounted his horse and galloped off with his party. + +"Who could have thought when we parted last, Colonel Campbell, that +we should meet again under such greatly changed circumstances!" +Madame de Blenfoix exclaimed as Hector met the party as they alighted +before the principal inn of Nantes. + +"It is a change, indeed," he replied; "so great that I myself +can hardly realize it, and am not sure whether I am sorry or the +reverse at what has taken place." + +"I am very glad to hear you say so, as I feared that it would be +a terrible blow to you to give up the army." + +"I have hardly had time to think of it," he said, "I have had so +much else to occupy my thoughts. Now, I pray you, enter the inn +for a few minutes; I have warned them to get a meal ready to be +served at the shortest notice, for I am anxious that no time shall +be lost; everything is ready for our embarkation." + +"Had we not best go aboard at once?" she said. "Your enemies might +arrive at any moment by what Paolo tells us." + +"The matter is not so pressing as I thought, madam, for the cardinal +sent orders to the governor that he is not to open the gates to +any armed party of friends of Beaufort or Vendome until I am fairly +at sea." + +He went with the ladies to a private room he had secured. + +"I must leave you for a few minutes," he said, "while I have a talk +with MacIntosh and the others." + +"Well, old friend," he said as he went out to where the little +party of Scotchmen were standing in a group, "what are your plans +and wishes? 'Tis a pity now that I persuaded you to leave Paris +and go down to la Villar, but I did it for the best. I thought of +you much as I rode hither." + +"Do not trouble about me, colonel, I am by no means sorry at the +change. I was getting tired of the cabaret, and should soon have +given it up even had you not come to offer me the wardenship of your +chateau. I have chatted matters over with my two friends, and we +have not yet agreed whether to return to Scotland or to remain in +France. At any rate we shall go to Paris first; my money is there +all in good keeping, together with the two years' payment for the +cabaret. Are you thinking of going to Scotland yourself, colonel?" + +"Certainly not to Scotland, I have no friends there, and from all +that I have heard the people are so hard and bigoted, so full of +their religious differences, that I should feel sorely out of place +with them. + +"Well, MacIntosh, as soon as I am settled in England I will have a +letter conveyed to you in some way at the address of The Scottish +Soldier. Wherever I am, there will be a home always open to you, +and glad indeed I shall be to have you near me. My four troopers +are going to accompany me. I have talked the matter over with +them, and have promised that I will find a house with a small farm +for them on any estate I may purchase, where they can do such +an amount of work as pleases them, or that they can remain in my +service on the present conditions. You can make the same offer in +my name to your two comrades. After all, things are not so settled +across the water that I can dispense with old friends on whom I can +rely. Paolo, of course, goes with me, and will be my right hand." + +"I will think it all over, Hector, and maybe one of these days +I and the other two may knock at your door. It is hard if seven +old fellow soldiers could not end their days happily and quietly +together." + +As soon as the meal had been eaten Hector went to say goodbye to the +governor, and heard how Vendome's men had been refused entrance. +After thanking him for the courtesy that he had shown him, he +returned to the inn. As the party would require horses on landing, +and there was plenty of room on board the vessel that he had engaged, +Hector shipped the three horses that Conde had given him, and four +others for the use of his men, and after a hearty farewell to +MacIntosh on his part and that of the ladies, they went on board, +and a few minutes later the sails were set and the vessel started +down the river. The wind was favourable, and they made a fast +voyage down to the sea. Before they reached the mouth of the river, +however, Hector had ascertained to his satisfaction that Norah +O'More returned the feeling that he felt for her. + +"I have loved you," she said, "from the moment when you came to us +as our saviour from death on the summit of the turret; and though +as time went on I did not venture to think that you, who had so +fair a future before you, would ever think of the girl who with +her mother you had so nobly entertained and treated, I should +never have loved any other man to the end of my life." + +The voyage was without incident, and five days after leaving Nantes +they arrived at Plymouth. Here Hector hired a house, and when the +ladies were comfortably settled he left them in charge of Paolo +and two of the men, and rode to London accompanied by the others. +Here he called upon the banker whose address Mazarin had given +him, and on sending in his name was shown into the room in which +private business was transacted. + +"You have certain moneys of mine in your hands, Mr. Wilson?" + +"I have had fifty thousand crowns for the past three years and have +put them out on good security, so that the sum stands at present +in my books at sixty-four thousand crowns. Three days ago I received +from Cardinal Mazarin bills to the amount of one hundred and fifty +thousand crowns, being, he said, due to you for the surrender of +the fief of la Villar, and for other services rendered to him. The +cardinal is a good paymaster," he added with a slight smile at +seeing Hector's surprise at the news, "but it was plain from his +letter to me that he considered that the value of your services +was greatly in excess of the sum, large as it is, that he sent, +especially as they had brought great misfortunes upon you, and had +forced you to abandon France, and give up your profession, in +which, he said, your prospects of gaining the highest rank were +of the brightest. Now, sir, if there are any services that I can +render you I am at your disposal. You will naturally wish to invest +your money in some way, and, though I say it myself, I know of no +one who could lay it out to better advantage." + +"You may help me assuredly," Hector said, "for I am an entire +stranger in England. I wish to purchase an estate, but have no +idea how to set about it, while, doubtless, you are acquainted with +many such domains at present for sale. I may say that I will on no +account purchase an estate which has been confiscated by parliament +on account of its owner being loyal to the crown. Charles II may, +and I believe will, return and mount the throne, and these estates +will then beyond doubt be restored to their former owners, therefore +I will have nought to do with such property." + +"You could not choose a better time for laying out your money in +land," the banker said. "Great numbers of the nobles and gentlemen +of England have been killed or are in exile; many, again, who still +hold their land are well nigh ruined by the moneys they spent in +the king's service, and would gladly sell now could they obtain +anything like a fair value for their estates. I know of a score at +least of such properties which are so deeply mortgaged that the +owners can scarce afford to live in their own homes, and would gladly +take a sum that would suffice to pay off the mortgage and give +them the wherewithal to live upon, either abroad or in Virginia, +to which colony many loyal gentlemen have already gone to settle. +If you will call tomorrow I will give you a list of such estates, +with their size, the amount of their revenues, and the price at +which their owners would, I know, be glad to sell, for I and some +of my friends have been approached by them with that view." + +Hector spent the next three weeks in visiting eight of the estates +that seemed suitable and were all situated in counties near London. +Finally he settled upon one in Berkshire, which was of considerable +size and with a stately house in a fair position. This he purchased, +and then, returning to Plymouth, his marriage with Norah was +celebrated there, and he, with his wife and Madame de Blenfoix and +his five followers, rode down into Berkshire and took possession +of the estate, with which all were delighted. The troopers, instead +of accepting the house he offered them, preferred to remain in his +service, and Paolo was installed as majordomo of the household. +Six months later MacIntosh and his two comrades came over. + +The former declined Hector's offer to take up his abode at the +house. + +"No, colonel, I have an abundance for myself and my two comrades, +and would rather be near you, where we can live in our own fashion, +and give trouble to no one." + +"Well, if you will not come here, MacIntosh, there is a house a +quarter of a mile away which will, I think, suit you well. It is +not a large place, but is a comfortable one, and has been used as +the house of the steward of the estate. As I shall be my own steward +it is vacant, and will, I think, suit you well. It is furnished, +so that you and your comrades can move in when you like, though +the longer you stay with us the better we shall be pleased." + +A fortnight later MacIntosh and his comrades moved in, and there, +when not occupied with their duties, one or other of the troopers +was generally to be found. Hector often dropped in, and one day +laughingly said that the house ought to be renamed The Scottish +Soldier. + +Until the Restoration Hector kept aloof from London, but when +Charles II mounted the throne of his fathers he went up, and was +presented at court by one of the many English gentlemen whom he +had known in France, where they had sought refuge with the queen +when the royal cause was lost in England. He did not, however, +repeat the visit very often. He was perfectly happy in his country +life, and never once regretted the chain of events that had forced +him to give up his life of adventure and excitement and to settle +down peacefully in England. + + + +THE END + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, WON BY THE SWORD *** + +This file should be named wbtsd10.txt or wbtsd10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, wbtsd11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, wbtsd10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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