sed 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 sa