is to ride south and to report yourself to Turenne.
He will, I doubt not, either take you into his own service, or give
you such strong recommendations that you will have no difficulty in
obtaining a post with some officer of distinction should you wish to
continue with the army. Now, I am going along our line of outposts, and
I intend to reconnoitre the ground between us and the enemy. That is
what Turenne would be doing were he in command here."

"I will go with you, master; when it comes to reconnoitering, methinks
that I am as good as another. I can run like a hare, and though a
bullet would go faster, I am quite sure that none of these heavily armed
Spaniards would have a chance of catching me."

"I intended to take you with me, Paolo. We shall need as much care and
caution here as we did in getting into the citadel of Turin."

"I think, master, that it would be well for you to leave your armour
behind you. It will be of small avail if you fall into the midst of a
band of Spanish spearmen, while it would be a sore hindrance in passing
through these woods, and the lighter you are accoutred the better."

"That is so, and I will take your advice. I will give it into the charge
of the horse guard. I will, of course, take my sword and pistols, and
you may as well take yours."

"I like a knife better than a sword, master, but I will take the both. I
think it would be as well for you to lay aside your helmet also, for the
light from one of these watchfires might glint upon it and catch the eye
of a Spaniard."

"You are right, Paolo; have you got the hat?"

"Yes, sir, it is here with your valises."

"That is certainly more comfortable," Hector said as he put it on. "Now,
you had better carry the things across to that fire where the prince's
staff are sitting. There is no fear of anyone interfering with them
there."

As soon as this had been done they started, picking their way carefully
through numbers of sleeping men, and stopping once or twice to exchange
a word with the groups still gathered round the fires. First they passed
along the whole line of outposts, answering the challenges by the words,
"Officer of the prince's staff on duty." They found the sentries fairly
vigilant, for with so powerful an enemy within striking distance every
soldier felt that the occasion was one for unusual watchfulness. At
each post Hector questioned the sentinels closely as to whether they
had heard any sounds indicating the m