In a moment I heard the cry repeated by the
lips of Lydford; and then from the whole of my
little troop—cheerily it rang and high—“France!
France for Mazarin!”

While the echoes were yet lingering in the air,
D'Erlach stood beside me; and D'Harcourt, following
slowly, held in check the pursuers with his
single blade! They were both true! The former
raised his bugle to his mouth, and wound a long,
sharp blast.

“Unterwald!” he shouted, “Unterwald and Uri
for the king and Mazarin!”

The effect was like the application of a linstock
to the ordnance, that was before but a dark and
silent tube, useless, and void of terror! With a
wild yell, the Switzers rushed to their arms—
torches were waved aloft—the brandished partisans
flashed in the ruddy glare—the discordant
horns of the wild mountaineers blended their notes
with the tumult! Muskets were discharged, startling
the echoes of many a midnight hill; and ever
and anon the war-cry pealed—“France! France
and Switzerland for Mazarin!”

Our success was perfect; of twelve thousand
who were encamped around us, there were not as
many hundreds faithful to the Fronde, or even wavering
in their allegiance. The blow had been

[figure description] Page 098.[end figure description]

stricken while the metal was at the hottest to receive
its impression; and the result was a total and
bloodless victory!

For a moment, indeed, I feared that the fierce
passions of the men, stimulated almost to phrensy
by the added excitement of liquor, would have
defied control. There was a rush to the quarters
of Turenne, accompanied by oaths and execrations,
blended with the wildest threats of vengeance!
Torches had been hurled to and fro, and half a
dozen tents were already in a light blaze; but the
officers opposed themselves undauntedly to the
torrent—striking at the mutineers with the shafts
of their halberts, and menacing them with the
broad blades. D'Erlach, well seconded by his huge
lieutenant, hurried through the ranks, exhorting—
threatening—and screaming at the soldiers in his
Teutonic jargon. D'Harcourt brought up his steadier
and more phlegmatic men of Weimar, and,
throwing them between the Switzers and the burning
tents, extinguished the flames briefly and effectually.
Still I saw, at a glance, that D'Erlach had
but partially succeeded, and I ran forward, forgetful
for the moment of De Chateaufort—dead or
alive I scarce knew whether—to lend him my assistance.
At the very moment when we had
brought the fellows to reason, and convinced them

[figure description] Page 099.[end figure description]

that there were no enemies on whom to waste their
ardour, a distant shout arose from the pavilion of
the maréchal, followed by a dozen pistol-shots, and
the quick clash of steel!

“D'Erlach,” I shouted, “cut down, or shoot the
dog who quits the ranks—I go to save Turenne!”
And I darted rapidly forward, followed by old
Lydford, and a dozen of my troopers, who had resumed
their arms on the first outbreaking of the
mutiny, and had since done good service in seconding
their officers. Not a man of the Switzers
moved; their wonted discipline was restored; and
the violence, into which their passions had so suddenly
been stimulated, subsided, almost as rapidly
as it had commenced, into their usual grave and
self-restrained demeanour.

It was but a moment ere I reached the tent of
the maréchal, yet was I scarce in time; another
second, and the career of the great captain had
been ended in a base broil, and the fair escutcheon
of my fathers had received a blot, that not the
blood of ten pitched battles conquered could have
erased.

Turenne, with the gentlemen who had fled to him
after their vain attempt at our arrest, had stood to
his arms, and fought with the resolution of a man
who well knew that he must die or conquer.

[figure description] Page 100.[end figure description]

Several of their assailants lay dead, or in the agony
of death, beneath their feet, while hitherto their
skill or fortune had preserved them from injury.
It was not possible, however, that such could be the
case much longer. A dozen Alsatian arquebusiers
were in the very act of blowing their matches for
the purpose of giving them a volley—which must
have proved fatal—when I rushed before them with
my little party, and beat up their levelled pieces.
One, bolder than the rest, drew his trigger, but it
was in vain—for with the whole force of my arm I
struck him in the face with my steel-plated gauntlet;
the blood gushed from eyes, ears, and mouth;
he fell stunned and senseless to the earth; and the
bullet whizzed harmlessly over the head of the gallant
gentleman for whom it was intended. Another
of the mutineers I seized by the collar, and whirling
him forcibly around, flung him into the hands of a
couple of my troopers, bidding them be answerable
for him with their lives, as I destined him for the gibbet
on the morrow, as a mutineer and an assassin.

“Finish your work, sir!” said Turenne, when he
recognised me, speaking as calmly as though he
were issuing orders to his own followers—“finish
your noble work! it is begun bravely; and murder
will well execute what treason has so admirably
planned.”

[figure description] Page 101.[end figure description]

“I regret, though I cannot remove, your misconceptions
of me,” I replied, compelling myself to be
cool and unmoved, though I felt the hot blood rushing
in torrents to my brow; “but I should vainly
consume the time, which is most needful, were I to
argue with you now! Suffice it—not for the wealth
of a universe, not for a monarch's title, would I
see one hair untimely severed from your head.
Get you to horse, sir, if you would not peril that
life to no purpose which I dare prophesy will, ere
long, be needed by your country! Get you to horse,
you and your friends, and not a sword shall be
raised to let or hinder you! You have done all that
man may do; you cannot retrieve matters, although,
by the sacrifice of yourself and of these brave gentlemen,
you can convert a check into a ruin that
will be irreparable. I, whom you deem your enemy,
I do beseech you, on my knee, to mount and
ride—it lists not whither! Quick! quick, my
lord! Up to this moment I have been successful.
Heaven only knows what fate the next may bring
to me or you!”

“I will to horse,” he said, after a short pause—
“I will; ay, and I will be grateful, if not just—and
deem your conduct less atrocious than it seems to-night.”
He turned towards his comrades in defeat—
“Come, gentlemen,” he said, “this officer of

[figure description] Page 102.[end figure description]

Mazarin is in the right, and we must profit by his
interference—for which, I trow, his saintly employer
will return him but scant thanks!—To
horse! to horse!”

I had given Lydford his directions as we hurried
to the spot, and he had obeyed them with his
wonted alacrity. As Turenne spoke, some six or
seven chargers were led forward. Myself—I held
his stirrup as he mounted, and, with my hand upon
his rein, led him along the ranks he had so lately
deemed his own, till he had passed the outposts of
the camp! “God speed you, sir, and send you—
if it may be so—reason to doubt the justice of that
ill opinion you may well have formed of Harry
Mornington!” I spoke with an air of earnest yet
proud humility, uncovering my head in respect to
the character and talents of him I addressed, and
was but little astonished at his reply.

“By Heaven! it were base in me to hold it, had I
formed such an opinion as you mention. Henceforth
I will think of you as of one—”

“Think of me not at all,” I interrupted him—
“think of me not all, unless you can think of me
nobly! Ride now, my lord, ride for your life!”

CHAPTER XVII.

[figure description] Page 103.[end figure description]

On the morning which succeeded the revolt of
the Switzers, and the consequent flight of Turenne,
I despatched, according to promise, old Martin
to the minister and prince, with advices of the
happy result of my mission, accompanied by most
pressing requisitions for cavalry, an arm of which
we were entirely destitute, while, for the species
of warfare in which we were about to engage, it
was as entirely indispensable. I doubted not that the
mutiny of the army would already be widely spread
throughout the country, and that, in consequence,
there would be but little fear of interruption or
peril to my messenger; I therefore took a bold step,
and furnished him, on my own responsibility, with

[figure description] Page 104.[end figure description]

powers to press whatever horses might be necessary
for his rapid progress into service as a royal
courier. In acting thus, however, I was instigated
mainly by my knowledge of the extreme discretion
of my agent, and by my anxiety to receive the
succour which was so highly important to all my
future views.

After preparing the papers, and seeing my messenger
depart on his journey, I passed to the quarters
of the Comte d'Harcourt; who had, by virtue
of the commissions brought by myself, assumed
the chief command after the flight of Turenne and
his staff. On entering the pavilion, in which, on
the preceding night, I had found myself in so different
a presence, I heard a loud and earnest conversation
between the commander-in-chief and D'Erlach,
who was, besides myself, the only general
officer with the army, and of consequence third in
command.

The latter immediately addressed me—

“I am right glad to see you, General Mornington—
right glad to see you! We were debating,
even now, on the propriety of our first movements;
and, I regret to say, there is a difference of opinion
already between the commander and myself. I
flatter myself, however, that we shall be able to

[figure description] Page 105.[end figure description]

convince him of the inexpediency of laying siege
to Cambrai!”

“Of laying siege to Cambrai!” I exclaimed, in
unfeigned consternation; “surely, Monsieur le
Comte, surely such cannot be your intention!”

“Such is my determination, notwithstanding!”
he replied, with a strong emphasis, and somewhat
of a sneer; “may I inquire in what respect it
seems not good to your wisdom?”

“For fifty reasons!—Good!” I exclaimed; “it
will be ruin, utter, irretrievable ruin! Here we are—
here at Landernât—with some twelve thousand
infantry, but not three troops of cavalry to cover
our retreat, if such be needful!”

“Retreat!” he replied, quickly—“who speaks of
retreat?”

“It will be well if we have not to do it, much more
speak of it,” I replied, coolly; “but I pray you let
not my words offend you. Look here, monsiegneur,”
I continued, pointing to a map which lay
before me on the table; “here, at Rheims, scarce
thirty leagues distant from Cambrai, lies the archduke,
twenty thousand strong—all Spanish veterans;
and here, at Valenciennes, the Duke of
Lorraine, with a force not much inferior to our
own. The archduke, when he shall hear of our success,
dare not advance on Paris unsupported,

[figure description] Page 106.[end figure description]

leaving us on his rear—he must fall back! If he effect
a junction with Lorraine, believe me, we are lost;
if we sit down before Cambrai, he must effect a
junction! Now, on the other hand, if we advance
at once on him of Lorraine, I pledge my life, we
can—if not defeat—at least drive him across the
frontier. The country hates the Spaniard; Lorraine
disposed of, the peasantry will rise en masse;
we may recruit ten thousand men; and then, if we
be fortunate, the archduke may find his march to
Rheims far easier than his retreat shall be! Thus
shall you gain yourself great glory, and deliver the
king and country from a most fatal scourge!”

“All this is vastly good, sir,” he answered, stubbornly—
“vastly good; but I am advised that we
can hardly cope with Lorraine in the field—once
within the walls of Cambrai, we can hold it till we
receive such reinforcements—”

“Reinforcements!” I interrupted him; “whence
look you, in the name of Heaven, for reinforcements?
Condé and Orleans are hard set, even
now, to cope with Elbœuf and the generals; they
cannot send a man, barring, perchance, a corps of
cavalry, which will be here before we can open
our trenches, much less take such a town as Cambrai!”

“Nevertheless, such is my pleasure! we shall

[figure description] Page 107.[end figure description]

besiege Cambrai. I have not the command of
twice six thousand men to learn the art of war of
any Englishman.”

“Pray God you may not have to look to an
Englishman to save you from destruction!” I answered,
coolly, and turning on my heel left the
tent.

It was, in truth, too much to be endured. There
was a field of glory open to us, such as we could
hardly have failed to reap gloriously; there was
wellnigh a certainty of my discovering the prison-house,
and compelling the release of my lost bride;
yet all was marred by the invincible obstinacy of
the old dotard who commanded us. Still was
there nothing to be done; I had but fifty men at
my own bidding; and although D'Erlach and his
Switzers—a stout and veteran band of some four
thousand musketeers and pikemen—would have
joined me had it come to an open rupture, I dared
not venture to supersede my commanding officer,
without more evident proofs of cowardice or incapacity.
Nor, indeed, had I been disposed to do so,
could I by any means have succeeded, as the
troops of Weimar were more numerous, and entirely
devoted to D'Harcourt—who, though slow
in judgment, and not capable of extended views,
was a soldier in the field, and a popular leader with

[figure description] Page 108.[end figure description]

his soldiery. I therefore determined to remain
with the army, though assuming no command, save
of my own immediate followers, until the arrival
of the regiments from St. Germains. The three
following days were consumed in moving the
army from its position at Landrecy to the neighbourhood
of Cambrai; and it was in the course of
these that I discovered, greatly to my annoyance,
that De Chateaufort was not, as I had imagined,
slain by my hand, but had actually effected his
escape while I was rescuing Turenne, and fled
alone in the direction of Maubeuge or Valenciennes.
On the fourth day the men were set to
work at opening trenches; on the sixth, the first
parallel was completed, and on the morning of the
seventh our batteries began to play upon the town,
but at a distance which rendered it evident to me
that weeks must elapse before the works of the
enemy could be carried, even if the town should
not in the mean time be relieved by the archduke.
As I had fully resolved that I would take no steps
whatever in measures so desperately foolish as
those in which we were now engaged, I absented
myself almost entirely from head-quarters, merely
reporting myself at stated periods, and occupying
my time in patrolling, and in reconnoitring the country
in the direction of Rheims, from which I was

[figure description] Page 109.[end figure description]

hourly in expectation of the arrival of the Spaniards.
Nor was I disappointed; for on the evening
of the tenth day from the seduction of Turenne's
forces—during which little or no progress
had been made in breaching the walls of Cambrai—
being myself scouting with twenty men as far
as the village of Le Cateau, an intelligent soldier,
whom I had sent out several days before to ride
in the direction of Lâon, and strive to gain some
information of the archduke's movements, came up
with the intelligence that he had seen the vanguard
of the Spaniards in full march on the preceding
day, within six miles of Vervins; and that they
could not be farther from us at that present time
than nine or ten leagues distance.

With all the speed of man and horse I hurried
to the lines before Cambrai, conveying the intelligence
of an event which, if foreseen, might easily
have been averted, but which I now feared would
be wellnigh fatal. It was, however, with a feeling
almost of rapture that I perceived, on approaching
our encampment, that the three regiments of cavalry
which Condé promised me had already arrived!
With such celerity had Lydford executed
his commission—having performed the distance of
nearly sixty leagues, by means of relays, in two
days and a single night. On opening the letters

[figure description] Page 110.[end figure description]

which he handed to me from the prince—I did so
previous to my interview with D'Harcourt—I
found yet further cause for gratification, inasmuch
as I was thereby appointed to an independent command
of a division, to be constituted of my own
cavalry, D'Erlach's Swiss infantry, and a brigade
of field artillery. I at once rode to the quarters
of the general-in-chief, displayed my commissions,
and required him to give directions to the troops
designated to place themselves at my disposal.
He did so, although reluctantly—and I readily perceived
that I had gained a deadly enemy; but for
this I cared little.

“May I inquire, sir,” he said, as he surrendered
the documents to my charge—“may I inquire
how you propose to employ these troops at present?”

“It is my intention, my lord, to withdraw them,
as speedily as may be, from the trenches.”

“By Heaven,” he cried, “you dare not!—to
what end?—you dare not do it!”

“You little know the man to whom you speak,”
I answered, still with perfect courtesy, “that you
should suppose there to exist the thing he dares
not!—but pass for that! I shall withdraw them
from the trenches to cover you, if possible, from
the archduke, who is advancing at this moment,

[figure description] Page 111.[end figure description]

and who sleeps to-night some leagues on this side
Vervins!”

“It is impossible!” he replied, stubbornly, and
stamping his foot violently on the ground.

“It may be so, but it nevertheless is true! and
I go to repel or check his van, if it be possible! I
have already so contrived that he shall intercept a
letter written to the Duke of Lorraine—to the end
that it should fall into his hands—as though he had
joined our faction, and were on the march to join
us. This, and a demonstration on our part, may
cause the Spaniard to avoid an action, and to hurry
towards Ypres or St. Venant; and if he do so, I
trust your lordship will co-operate with me in
crushing Lorraine at once, before he shall discover
his mistake.”

“I do not believe it, sir; I shall not draw off my
men, nor raise the siege, till I shall see the archduke's
van.”

“Then will you never raise it!” And I left the
tent hastily—well aware, however, that he would
be compelled, ere long, to come fully into my plans.
Taking D'Erlach into my counsel, I immediately
drew off my own division, and occupied a strong
position with my infantry and guns to the north of
the road from Landrecy to Cambrai, by which, I
was well aware, that the archduke must advance.

[figure description] Page 112.[end figure description]

I kept my cavalry well on my right flank, so as
to preserve a communication with the Weimarian
soldiery under D'Harcourt, as being pretty confident
that I should be able to cover his flank, and
so enable him to take ground in the rear of my
position, as though for the purpose of communicating
with Lorraine, concerning whom, I felt sure
that the Spaniards were in doubt. All the livelong
night I never left my saddle; but, till the gray
dawn was at hand, I heard nothing to justify my
apprehension! Just after the second cock-crow I
heard a distant rumbling sound—it was the groaning
of the artillery-cart; a few moments later the
shrill notes of a distant trumpet reached my ear;
and, ere long, the clash of armour, the trampling of
horses, and all the varied confusion of a march.
On the first alarm, I got my men, who were
sleeping on their arms, into line; drawing them
up on the ground which, as I knew, afforded us
the only hope of safety. In the mean time I sent
out scouts to reconnoitre the enemy, and others to
warn D'Harcourt of the close vicinity of the Spanish
army; and to entreat him to draw off his troops
from the trenches as steadily as might be, and to fall
steadily into my rear, as a reserve. The former
soon returned, with intelligence that the archduke
was advancing in three columns, parallel to the

[figure description] Page 113.[end figure description]

high-road of Andernât; that he had been apparently
ignorant of our precise situation, and had
halted, on discovering that my position completely
commanded his line of march.

D'Harcourt had sat down before Cambrai on the
north-eastern side; the road, which was deep and
hollow, though the country was for the most part
level, actually intersecting his lines, so that the
advance of the Spaniards, if unchecked, must
have entirely cut him off on the south-east. The
heavy batteries of the town, which, by-the-way,
had been admirably well served, were on the north-west,
and a deep and unfordable stream on the
south. My little army was drawn out on a succession
of gentle heights—the only elevations of land
for several miles' distance—sloping evenly, though
somewhat steeply, down to the causeway, at every
point save one, where the hills were rugged and
abrupt, covered with a thick growth of thorny
shrubs, and having a branch of the same stream
which I have mentioned above wheeling close beneath
their cliffs. This was the end, or cape, of
the eminences towards the east, and consequently
nearest to the Spaniard, and would have been in
itself a sufficient covering to my left wing; but I had
strengthened it yet further by a slight field-work,
masked by the coppice, and mounting a few light

[figure description] Page 114.[end figure description]

guns; while my principal batteries were on my
front, so disposed as to sweep the whole road and
meadows beyond them, quite down to the river-bank.

In about an hour it had become so light that I
could see the archduke's van, chiefly composed of
his celebrated black Walloons. The artillery and
pikemen had not yet come up; and they had halted
to await them, under the protection of the orchards
and enclosures of a nameless hamlet on the line of
the high-road.

I did not, it is true, feel much apprehension on
my own score, for I knew my position to be
such, that it could hardly be carried by any superiority
of force. The country on my left flank
and rear was broken and swampy, and, indeed,
almost impassable for guns; so that it was difficult,
if not impossible, to turn me. My only fear at this
time arose from the obstinacy of D'Harcourt, who
had as yet shown no symptoms of evacuating his
trenches. So strong, however, was my conviction
of the utter madness of fighting a pitched battle
against the archduke, under the walls of a hostile
garrison, and within some ten leagues of another
army, that I believe I should have stood by inactive,
and suffered him to be crushed without

[figure description] Page 115.[end figure description]

moving from my heights, had he persisted in his
folly.

As it became fully daylight, I had, however, the
satisfaction of seeing the old count ride out with
his staff, and with a score or two of light horsemen,
to make a reconnoissance in front; while a
slight battery was in progress of erection, mounted
with six heavy battering cannon, so placed that it
must enfilade the road, and, with the aid of my
cross-fire, render it perfectly defensible. At the
same time, though his batteries were still playing
against the town, I could see by the bustle in the
lines that he was preparing to abandon them. As
he reached the front of my disposition, I galloped
down to join him, and, without adverting in the least
to any disagreement which might have occurred
previously, rode forward with him in person.

“You were right, sir, and I was wrong,” he
growled out sulkily as we met; “we must abandon
the siege; but we can hold these dogs of Spain
at disadvantage till I may extricate my men and
guns.”

“Spike your battering-guns, my lord, if it be
needful. The Spaniard thinks of nothing but securing
his retreat to his own frontiers; and as we
shall offer him no opposition, I hold it certain that
he will avoid us on our show of preparation. The

[figure description] Page 116.[end figure description]

moment he shall have passed Cambrai in the direction
of the north, we will, if it so please you, fall
upon Lorraine by forced marches, and cut him
off by surprise. He is weakly posted near Valenciennes,
and that, too, with scarcely eight thousand
men. He conquered, and the archduke fled, the
cities must at once surrender; and we shall need
no heavier guns than our field ordnance.”

“Well! sir, well! we shall see. Ha! the archduke
is moving!”

And so indeed he was. A heavy column was
filing down into the meadows, shunning the road
with the evident intention of avoiding our cross-fire,
and forming to assail our front. In doing this,
however, they had overlooked the batteries on my
flank, or widely miscalculated their range. I saw
at a glance that they would be raked by their fire,
if they advanced a single quarter of a mile
farther.

“Now is our time!” I cried; “if you, Monsieur
D'Harcourt, will fall back to the intrenchments, and,
evacuating them with all speed, occupy the ground
on my right flank and rear, I will draw down a
regiment of cavalry by yon ravine, and charge
these Walloon dogs, when disordered by an unexpected
fire!”

He answered not, but rode away hastily, and I

[figure description] Page 117.[end figure description]

saw by his countenance that he would profit by
my suggestion. I galloped back to my own lines.

“D'Erlach,” I cried, “send six more field-pieces
to the left flank redoubt, and quickly! These
Spaniards march so slowly they will reach it
time enough an they use diligence!” Before the
words were well uttered the artillerymen were in
motion. “De Charmi, wheel your regiment down
by the deep ravine; mask it, if possible, behind
yon coppice, and when you see an opening,
charge on the flank of those black swine. But
beware, sir, of involving your men, or of losing your
retreat; one brisk charge and no more! Away!
My signal shall be a single trumpet from the redoubt.
Then charge; do them what hurt you
may, but take no prisoners; spike their guns and
fall back at once!”

He nodded intelligence with a bright eye, and
rode away briskly to execute my orders. I galloped
onward to the bastion, and getting a regiment
of arquebusiers under arms, awaited the result.
Before I gave the word to my artillerymen to fire,
I swept the country with my glass, and lingered
for a moment to gaze on D'Harcourt's movements.
He had taken my advice. His troops were filing off
leisurely, and without interruption from the town.
Three regiments had already gained the upland.

[figure description] Page 118.[end figure description]

I gave the word; and some eighteen guns
belched forth their volumes of white smoke, with
a roar that carried dismay to the hearts of the
Spaniards. They had been heavily loaded with
small bullets, and the havoc they produced was
fearful. So rapid was the service of my men,
that the guns raked them four times in less than
fifteen minutes!

“Let the smoke lift, that we may see them—
hold your next fire!” and with an eager eye I
scanned the enemy. They were cut to atoms;
but still pressing onward, though in much disorder.
They were within a hundred paces of De Charmi,
whom they had not discovered.

“Now, trumpet!” and a single blast rose shrilly
and almost painfully upon the ear; it was answered,
and, with a shout, De Charmi wheeled into
line upon the trot, charged, and cut his way like a
thunderbolt right through the Walloon column!

“Brave, brave De Charmi!” I shouted, as though
he could hear my orders at a mile's distance;
“back! back! wheel to the left, and give it them
again!”

Even as I spoke, the manœuvre was performed.
So completely had he cut his way through them,
that his regiment was actually between the pike-men
and the enemy's position. But, wheeling

[figure description] Page 119.[end figure description]

promptly, ere they had recovered from the confusion
of his first charge, he rushed upon their left
flank, as he had before fallen on their right, and
again cut his way through them, and without material
loss. As he retreated on a hand-gallop, the
battery gave them a fresh salute, and when the
smoke cleared off, we saw them straggling back,
as best they might, to their main body,—their
colours lost, their cannon spiked, broken, overturned,
and the earth cumbered far and wide with
the dead and dying.

That day the archduke made no farther movement.
At night he lighted his fires and planted his
pickets along the front of the hamlet, before alluded
to; but, ere his fires had burned low, or the moon
had sunk the breadth of her own disk below the
horizon, I caught the sound of a suppressed bustle—
a guarded motion—in his lines. Without the
slightest tumult I got my own men under arms,
and sent an express to D'Harcourt to give him
notice of the alarm; yet, though I listened with
my whole soul, I caught no repetition of the
sounds. The morning broke clearly—and the
lines were deserted; while, from the commanding
height on which I stood, I could see the baffled
army winding away through the causeway of

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Ypres, which it had gained by a well-executed
countermarch during the hours of darkness.

It was with feelings the most agreeable that I
witnessed the rapid departure of the enemy, who,
it was evident, was still in apprehension of our
pressing on his rear, and interfering with his retreat.
All day long we held our position, sending
forth scouts in every direction to ascertain that the
flight of the Spaniard was as complete as real;
and at a late hour of the night they returned to a
man, bearing the glad tidings that not a straggler
was to be seen throughout the country, save those
who yet lay in front of our position, cold, stiff, and
lifeless,—all their wars ended for ever,—all their
hostility cut short by the omnipotent hand of
death.

Fortunate was it for me, and for the prosecution
of the plans which I had devised, that, in the bustle
of his removal from the trenches, the count had
been compelled to spike the greater part of his
battering train, thereby rendering it impracticable
to renew the interrupted siege. Fortunate it was,
I say, inasmuch as I am wellnigh convinced that
the obstinacy of the commander-in-chief would
have prompted him again to sit down before Cambrai,
notwithstanding the danger of a second surprise,
had it been possible to do so. Being

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satisfied, however, that he could not by any earthly
means accomplish this, I chose rather to await his
orders, which I was certain must tend to an advance
against the duke, than to suggest any movements
myself; which, I was no less certain, he
would disapprove, however excellent, or likely to
be crowned with success.

Accordingly, on the day following the archduke's
flight, I was summoned to a council of war, the
result of which was a determination to fall upon
the army of Lorraine, by a succession of forced
marches; a determination started in this instance
by the count, and, of course, warmly seconded by
myself and Major-general D'Erlach.

It would be useless, and moreover tedious, to
enter into details of the manner in which this
movement was executed; suffice it, that in somewhat
less than a week we found ourselves in the
presence of eight thousand men, under the command
of Lorraine, encamped along the eastern
side of a rich valley, at about four miles' distance
from the town of Valenciennes.

Resisting my arguments in favour of a sudden
and impetuous onslaught of all our forces, which,
our coming up at this time being wholly unexpected,
could hardly have failed of success, D'Harcourt
proceeded at once to fortify his encampment

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on the heights forming the western boundary of
the same valley. This he did skilfully enough;
but I saw with pain that it was his intention to
resort to the old-fashioned style of protracting
operations, and moving, as it were, foot by foot—a
style of warfare which was even then becoming
obsolete, as it has since been utterly forgotten, except
in the presence of a superior force.

I fully believe that at this time the dearest wish
of the commander was to see me fall in some of
the skirmishes which were daily taking place on
the outposts, and in which, as leader of the cavalry,
I was necessarily much exposed. In one of
these fierce little struggles I was, indeed, so nearly
entrapped by my old foe De Chateaufort, that
nothing but my good fortune and his folly saved
me. I had charged down upon a small party of
horse, convoying some forage or provisions, had
taken the latter, and, pursuing the former with
rather too much of impetuosity, was driving them
directly into an ambuscade of infantry, which had
been designed to cut me off. Nothing, indeed,
could have rescued me from destruction, but the
inveterate and over-active malice of De Chateaufort,
who, at the full distance of a hundred paces,
and before the body of my men were in point-blank
shot of arquebuse, rose from his cover, and,

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firing at me with deliberate aim, disclosed the position
of his ambush; thus enabling me to bring off
my troopers without receiving the smallest injury,
beyond a dint in my cuirass from the bullet, which
was nearly spent when it struck me.

CHAPTER XVIII.

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After the second attempt on my life, devised
and frustrated as I have related it above, the two
armies remained inactive for several days. During
this time I more than once observed a movement,
which I had at first some difficulty in comprehending,
in front of Lorraine's position. On his extreme
left lay a large tract of forest land, running
back for many miles, so dense of underwood, and
so swampy of soil, as to be an admirable cover to
his flank. In advance of his lines the continuous
woods broke off into clumps of straggling trees,
with here and there a marshy spot, or open glade
of velvet turf. In one of these glades or grassy
meadows—for they were large enough to merit
that title—I had discovered some days before a

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large building of gray stone, surrounded by a
courtyard, wall, and fosse; I had supposed it the
chateau of some proprietor, deserted by the owner,
and perhaps occupied as a depôt or hospital by
the enemy. To this building I observed that a
small party of horsemen were in the constant
habit of resorting early in the morning, or late in
the evening, while the shadows lay long and heavy
on the forest, and the gray light of the gloaming
was insufficient to penetrate its deep recesses.
Gradually, for want of better occupation, I began
to watch the recurrence of these visits, to wonder
what they could portend, and finally to determine
on the discovery of their object. This, with the
aid of a powerful glass, and an advanced place of
observation, I soon accomplished. The leader of
the party was De Chateaufort. A ray of hope
shot into my bosom. The building was evidently
of monastic form; the thin smoke curling from its
chimneys, and the unshuttered casements, proved,
to a closer inspection, that it was not deserted;
although I could not account for the absence
of the matin or vesper chimes, which I was certain
had not reached my ears. Was it possible
that this then was the prison-house of Isabel, and
that I had been for a week's space within a cannon-shot
of her abode and knew it not?

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“But I will know it!” I muttered to myself,
“and that, too, right speedily. Lydford—what
ho! saddle me Bayard, and detail a score of
troopers—I go to reconnoitre on the outposts; and
hark ye! let them carry their petronels; last time
we were wellnigh expended for the want of
them.”

Evening was already closing rapidly around
when I put my foot in the stirrup, yet it wanted a
full hour of the time when he should pay his next
accustomed visit. Cautiously I wheeled my men
around the verge of the camp, and, gaining the
cover of some fields of tall yellow mustard,
through which ran a deep sandy lane, rode towards
the building on a smart trot, secure that my
motions could not be discovered from the camp of
the enemy, and little fearful of interruption from
their foragers, whom we had so often and so invariably
beaten that they hardly dared show themselves
against us, except in the proportion of three
to one. As I rode along the lane, I suddenly observed
that the hound Hector had accompanied
the horses, and was trotting lazily along by my
stirrup. I almost hailed the trivial accident as an
omen!

“How comes it, Martin Lydford,” I cried, “that
you unchained the dog? We may have fighting,

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and I would not for my life the faithful brute were
injured.”

“Injured!” he replied, with a smile, “he will be
a right stout and a cunning soldier who shall hurt
old Hector! But, in truth, the beast was so uneasy
as I was saddling Bayard, and whined so
piteously as I led him out caparisoned, that I could
not resist his dumb language. So I deemed it
slight wrong to loose his collar; but if you think
otherwise, I can return with him even now.”

“It matters not—it matters not, good Martin,”
I replied; “and see, here is the convent; a most
defensible tenement, by St. George! We will on,
and reconnoitre it more closely.”

Twice I rode around the walls, without discovering
any human being. Some casements of
the main building were open, but even these were
strongly secured by bars of crossed iron; while
in the outer walls—which were not, however,
above seven or eight feet in height—there was no
opening save a single massive gateway in the front,
bolted and barred with jealous care, and a small
postern leading into a walled orchard and thence
into the forest on the rear. At both these gates I
thundered for a time in vain; but was at last answered
by the croaking voice of an aged female,
the porteress of the Carmelite nunnery, for such I

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speedily learned was the establishment. She dared
not, she said, and would not, draw a bolt, while
armies were contending in their peaceful fields;
the superior could not be seen; they had no novices
within the walls; and when I spoke of prisoners,
she uttered an exclamation of disgust, and
I could obtain no further answer. By forcing my
horse alongside the wall, and standing erect on the
saddle, I was enabled to overlook the court; but
I gained nothing by the survey, and was compelled
to abandon my search for the present almost in
despair. I was, however, determined that, as I
might not again find so apt a chance, I would reconnoitre
the forest up to the enemy's flank; for it
struck me that by occupying the court and orchard
of the nunnery with a body of musketeers, and, if
needs were, with a few falconets and culverins,
and by passing a column of attack through the
woodlands, the position of the duke might be
turned. As I cantered round for the last time to
the rear of the building, I thought—in passing a
large turret, which projected at an angle of the
building nearly to the outer wall—I thought I heard
a whisper; but, though I raised my eyes quick as
the lightning, I could only see a lattice pulled hastily
together, and hear a smothered cry and a slight
bustle within. My suspicions at once returned in

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all their force. I felt a conviction, amounting
almost to a certainty, that Isabel was within those
gloomy walls; still I could do nothing. I resolved,
however, that for the moment I would proceed
according to my previous intention, and, if possible,
occupy the nunnery on the morrow, as if for
some military end, thus hoping to gain evidence
which might enable me to act promptly and with
decision.

With this intent I galloped forward for a space;
till, finding that the woodlands continued open up
to the very lines of the enemy, I determined on
withdrawing for the moment, that I might strike
securely on the morrow. It was now almost dark,
and, without perceiving it, I had come within the
range of the enemy's pickets. If I had been in
leading of a sufficient force, I might at once have
beat up the duke's head-quarters; but now there
was nothing for it but to decamp immediately, and
with every precaution against alarm. All, however,
would not do. As we passed the last outpost,
at a hundred paces distant, a charger snorted and
neighed; the sentry challenged, fired his arquebuse,
and ran in. With the speed of light the alarm
spread; but my resolution was taken on the moment—
to charge, and capture or kill, the whole of
the picket which had discovere us, and to retreat

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before assistance could arrive. This I did, not
wantonly—for I have ever deemed it a grievous
sin to shed one drop of blood, even in the fiercest
strife, that is not absolutely necessary to victory—
but to prevent, if possible, the number and the
nature of our force from being ascertained.

It was done in an instant. We cut down two or
three, captured the rest, before they could untether
and mount their horses—for they were cavalry—
and, compelling them to accompany us at the gallop,
were soon beyond the reach of pursuit or discovery;
though, for an hour after I had reached
my own quarters, I could perceive, by the rolling
of the drums, the wild sounds of the bugles, and
the occasional shots of the sentinels at whatever
object their fears might construe into an enemy,
that the encampment of the duke was fully on the
alert.

It was unlucky, most unlucky, that we had been
discovered. For, although our numbers and the
direction of our attack were still unknown, the
enemy could not be ignorant that we had been
within their very lines, and that we had penetrated
them under covert of the forest, which I now
shrewdly feared they would occupy with the early
daylight. In this, however, I resolved to be beforehand
with them; and having communicated to

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D'Harcourt that I had discovered a pass by which
I was confident of turning the enemy's left flank,
I received immediate orders to march at daybreak
with my whole division, for that purpose, with a
promise that he would himself second me by a reconnoissance
en masse, and, if opportunity should
offer, by a direct attack on the front of the duke's
position. Having made all the arrangements which
were deemed necessary, I returned, somewhat
fatigued, and exceedingly anxious and excited, to
my tent.

Scarcely had I entered it, when I saw, by the
faint light of the lamp suspended from the tent-poles,
that the old hound—whose manner I had
observed during the whole evening to be peculiar,
although I had neither felt the inclination nor had
the leisure to seek for the cause—was bearing
something in his mouth with unwonted care. As
I threw myself on the pallet-bed, which was my
only resting-place, he stalked up to me with that
singular demeanour by which a sagacious dog will
often indicate his consciousness of bearing an important
trust, reared himself on his hinder-legs, and
placing his forefeet on my knee, dropped into my
lap a glove. It was of chamois leather wrought
with arabesques of silver—it was the glove of
Isabel! My first idea was that he had found the

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same which had been given me by Le Vasseur,
and which I had since preserved with the most
jealous care. I sprang from the couch, snatched
up the small valise which served me at once for
garde robe and escritoire, unlocked its most secret
compartment, and there lay the other. They were
then a pair—the dog must have received his charge
during that very night.

My heart throbbed so fiercely, that I could hear
its beating. I seized the newly-gained token of
her presence; the mouth was secured by a silken
thread; it contained something bulky—a note—a
brief but all-sufficient note!—

“Harry”—it ran thus—“once more, my own,
own Harry!

“The time hath come!—the time—when you
may, when you must rescue me! I have learned
his more than fiendish wickedness. I have learned,
from his own lips, that he has broken the condition
on which alone I hold my voluntary oath to be
binding. He has again compassed your assassination.
Thanks be to the Almighty, that he succeeded
not in his fell purpose!

“Therefore—I am here! here, in the nunnery of
the Carmelites, scarce three miles distant from your
station—a guarded prisoner! Thrice have I seen

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you at a distance, when you, perhaps, thought not
of Isabel; but no, no, I believe it not—'tis the
mere waywardness of love and sorrow—I believe
it not, that you ever have forgotten, ever will
forget!

“I know not whether I may find means to convey
this to your hands; but I trust that He, who
hath thus far preserved, will now deliver. When
you receive this—be it at the banquet of your
monarch, or at the altar of your God—leave either,
and leave all, for THE TIME is come! Concealment
is at an end. Their names are known to you—
why should I longer affect secrecy. From one that
never hath deceived or failed me, I have it, that
the old duke—my savage kinsman—hath gone to
his account. De Chateaufort is now Penthiêvre.
Base, treacherous, malignant, desperately wicked
as he is, he yet lacks the craft that ever winged
the arrows of his father's hate, unerringly, and to
the mark! I say it once again—the time is come,
when you may strike and win! And oh—oh, my
beloved!—make no long tarrying; to-day is our
own, but who knows what may be the burden of
to-morrow.