aimed 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