discovered that two of
your horses that had doubtless been turned loose by the peasants have
found their way back. No difficulty will therefore arise on that score.
The saddles are hanging from the beams in the stable, so that everything
is in readiness for your departure."

A quarter of an hour later the whole party left the ruined chateau, the
troops taking their way to the point at which they had left the road,
while Hector with his four troopers and Paolo rode down into Blenfoix
with the ladies. Here the baroness purchased a few necessaries for the
journey while Hector was writing his letters. Hunter and Macpherson were
to form their escort, and were by turns to lead the spare horse, which
on alternate days was to carry the double burden. Paolo carried the
purse, which contained a sum ample for the expenses of the journey.
When all was ready the adieus were said, and the baroness repeated the
heartfelt thanks of her daughter and herself for the kindness shown
them. Paolo took his place beside the ladies, the two troopers fell in
behind, and they started west, while Hector with the other two troopers
galloped off to overtake his company.

At Joinville they found that de Thiou's company had just marched in, but
it was not until the next day that the other two returned. All had met
with scattered bodies of peasants, but these had dispersed as soon as
the troops were seen, and there had been no actual fighting except with
the parties Hector had met. The bodies of the soldiers that had fallen
were buried near the chateau. Those of the peasants were left where they
lay, and would doubtless be carried off by their friends as soon as the
latter knew that the troops had left. The lesson had been a severe
one indeed, upwards of two hundred and eighty being killed in the two
encounters. The insurgents were completely disheartened by their loss,
and during the rest of the winter the aid of the troops was not again
called for.

As soon as spring set in, the Poitou regiment marched to join the
marshal. The Bavarian army had been weakened by the withdrawal of four
thousand men to aid the Imperialists, who had been defeated by the
Swedes in Bohemia. Turenne, on hearing the news, at once prepared to
take advantage of it, crossed the Rhine on a bridge of boats at Spires,
and passed the Neckar, General Merci retiring before him. Stuttgart
opened its gates, and Turenne established himself at Marienthal on the
river Tauber. Merci, a