udge whether the spots are
well chosen for the purpose."

CHAPTER III: THE FIRST BATTLE

During the three days that were spent in reconnoitering the country
Hector Campbell learnt more than he would have done in as many years
under ordinary circumstances. Turenne took the greatest pains to point
out to him how the nature of the ground could be taken advantage of, how
flanks could be protected against attack by comparatively small bodies,
occupying positions from which they could be with difficulty expelled;
how important was the action of guns, especially when so placed as to
be able to sweep the ground across which an enemy must advance in any
endeavour to turn the position of an army. Turenne, on his part, took
pleasure in instructing a pupil who was at once so eager to learn, and
who showed himself so apt in profiting by his teaching.

"You see," he said, "I am concerned rather in defensive positions at
present than in seeing how we could best turn an enemy barring our
advance. Although the greater portion of the dominions of the duchess
has fallen into the hands of the enemy, she is fortunate in that the few
places that remain are those that at once enable her to make a defence
with comparatively small forces; and at the same time, it is possible
for her to receive aid from France, or, if absolutely necessary, for her
to fall back across the Alps. Susa, her headquarters, lying at the mouth
of the valley up which the road over Mount Cenis finds its way, at once
guards the pass and keeps open communication with France.

"It is, as it were, the handle of a fan, and can be approached by three
main roads only,--those to Turin, Carignano, and Chivasso. Unfortunately
Turin is in the enemy's hands, but as the duchess's troops still hold
the citadel, an advance could not very well be made until that has
fallen. Chivasso and Carignano are safe from any sudden attack. There
are other minor roads, but so long as these towns are in our hands
and held by strong garrisons, an enemy advancing by any of these roads
towards Susa would be liable to have their communications cut, and their
convoys captured by parties from these fortresses. It has long been a
fixed idea in military operations that an army cannot advance as long
as a town near the line of route is held by the enemy. That idea is an
erroneous one, and several times upon the Rhine we have gained successes
by neglecting this rule and disregarding the towns, content