he
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 fou