ran troops, being five thousand more than
the force under Enghien. Gassion, who as Enghien's lieutenant had the
control of the movements, so arranged the marches that, while steadily
approaching Rocroi, the marshal believed that he intended to force the
Spaniards to fall back, rather by menacing their line of communications
than by advancing directly against them.

After the first day Gassion invited Hector to ride with him, an
invitation which he gladly accepted, for the conversation of his younger
companions turned chiefly upon court intrigues and love affairs in
Paris, and on people of whose very names he was wholly ignorant. Riding
with Gassion across from one road to another along which the army was
advancing, he was able to see much of the movements of bodies of troops
through a country wholly different from that with which he was familiar.
He saw how careful the general was to maintain communication between the
heads of the different columns, especially as he approached the enemy.

"De Malo ought," he said, "to have utilized such a country as this for
checking our advance. In these woods he might have so placed his men as
to annihilate one column before another could come to its assistance. I
can only suppose that he relies so absolutely upon his numbers, and
the valour and discipline of his soldiers, that he prefers to fight a
pitched battle, where a complete success would open the road to Paris,
and thus lay France at his feet and bring the war to a conclusion at one
stroke."

CHAPTER VIII: ROCROI

Gassion conducted the movements of the army so adroitly that he had
brought it to within almost striking distance of the Spanish divisions
before Marshal l'Hopital perceived the fact that it was so placed that
a battle was almost inevitable. He besought Enghien to fall back while
there was yet time, pointing out the orders that had been given that a
battle was not to be hazarded, and the terrible misfortunes that would
fall upon France in case of defeat. Enghien, however, was deaf to his
advice, and refused to acknowledge his authority.

Turenne, under similar circumstances, would have drawn off and
forced the enemy to raise the siege by threatening their line of
communications; but Turenne thought nothing of personal glory, and
fought only for France. Enghien, on the other hand, throughout his
career was animated by personal motives, and cared nothing for the
general welfare of France. Turenne was wholly