d him. It was supposed that the brigands
were killed by some other party with whom they had quarrelled. Three of
them were shot and two killed by tremendous blows from an axe, and as
neither pistols nor axes were found in the room it is clear that those
within had been killed by some other band."

The next morning, when the column started, Hector and Paolo fell in
among the carts, and rendered good service on the road by helping to
move them when the wheels of the waggons stuck fast at spots where the
road crossed marshy valleys. So bad was the journey that it occupied two
days. Then the waggons were parked outside the walls of Hall, a guard
being placed round them to prevent desertion. The troops slept inside
the town. At daybreak the next morning their march was arrested by an
officer riding out from the town, saying that news had arrived on the
previous evening that the French were marching upon Heilbronn, that
General Merci was concentrating his army there to oppose the passage of
the river, and that the troops were to push on with all speed, leaving
their baggage train at Hall. Hector at once decided that, with the
Bavarian army gathering in front, it would be madness to endeavour to
push on, and that indeed it would be far better to fall back until the
direction of the French march was fully determined, when they could make
a detour and come down upon their flank without having to pass through
the Bavarian army. He did not, however, care about remaining in Hall,
which might be occupied by the Bavarians if they fell back, and they
therefore, after entering the town with the waggons, purchased a store
of provisions, and, going out again, established themselves in a small
farmhouse, whose occupants had deserted it and fled into the town upon
hearing that the French were but some thirty miles distant.

Every day Hector went into the place to gather news, and learned that
Wimpfen had been captured by the French by a sudden assault, and that
they had crossed the Neckar. On returning he at once started with Paolo,
but on approaching the Neckar learned that the French had marched on to
Rothenburg. They fell in, however, with a detachment which had been left
on the Neckar. Hector found among them several officers to whom he was
known, and, borrowing Paolo's money, fitted himself and follower
out again, bought a couple of horses that had been captured from the
Bavarians, who had, he learned, retired to Franconia, and set ou