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