tonight," Hector replied; "but even the greatest
generals are liable to make a mistake sometimes. And, indeed, had
General Rosen with the advanced division held the wood in front of them,
instead of retiring on to the plain, they should have been able to keep
you at bay until all our troops came up."

"Undoubtedly that was a terrible blunder on his part," the colonel
said, "and he rather than Turenne is to blame. And now, sir, may I
ask how is it that you, who cannot be more than twenty, come to be a
colonel, and in command of a regiment?"

"I have been five years an officer, and was fortunate on two occasions
to obtain the approval, once of Monsieur de Turenne, and once of the Duc
d'Enghien."

"I congratulate you, sir. It is seldom indeed that so young an officer
has opportunities of distinguishing himself. I myself had seen well nigh
thirty years service before I came to command a regiment. And now, sir,
will you give me your parole not to attempt to escape?"

"Certainly, sir," Hector replied promptly. He knew that should he refuse
four or five troopers would be set to watch him, and even if he evaded
these, which was well nigh impossible, he might be recaptured on the
following morning, as detachments of the Bavarian horse would be sure to
be pressing hard upon Turenne's troops. The pursuit was indeed taken up
again during the night, but Turenne succeeded in keeping his pursuers
at bay, and reaching the frontiers of Hesse. There he found the infantry
and cavalry who had not been engaged already assembled, for they had
received orders to march instantly to that spot. He had now with him
some four thousand horse and two thousand foot, and was joined by six
thousand troops from Hesse and four thousand Swedes. He was thus soon
in a position to advance with a much stronger force than that which he
commanded before the battle of Marienthal.

The Bavarian cavalry that had followed him rejoined General Merci at
Kirchheim. Hector was with Paolo taken to that place, and upon his
refusal to continue his parole, was confined in a prison there, Paolo
being allowed at his request to remain with him. He had had an interview
with General Merci, who had treated him with much courtesy; for there
were Scotch and Irish officers serving in the Imperial army as well as
in that of France, and they were held in high esteem for their courage
and daring.

The battle of Marienthal was fought on the 2nd of May, and it was late
in July b