you with me, Captain Barclay. You will not be long
before you are at work, for the affair is just beginning. I have
just got news that there has been some sharp fighting, today, at
Beaurre la Rolande."

"With what results, sir?" Colonel Tempe asked.

"We gained a great deal of ground, in the morning," General Chanzy
said; "but they brought up reinforcements, and no material
advantage is claimed.

"And now," the general went on, "as to quarters, you must shift for
yourselves. Beds are out of the question; but you will find some
empty rooms upstairs and, fortunately, there is a little straw in
the stable. The outhouses are extensive, and you will be able to
get your horses under shelter. I should advise you to see about
them, at once. In an hour we shall have something to eat. I cannot
call it dining.

"Captain Barclay, will you kindly see to these matters? I shall be
glad to go through this map, at once, with Colonel Tempe."

Ralph at once obeyed the order, much pleased with his new
commander. General Chanzy was a man to inspire confidence in all
those who served under his orders. He was a young man, for a
general; but was very bald, and had a quiet and thoughtful air
which made him look older than he was. He was a man of few words;
and had a sharp, steady look which seemed to master, at once, the
important points of anything that was said to him. When he smiled,
the whole of his face seemed to light up.

"Just the man to serve under," Ralph thought to himself. "Cool,
self possessed, and with an eye that will see a weak point in a
moment.

"Is my orderly still at the door?" he asked a soldier in the
passage.

"Yes, sir; two orderlies, with the four horses."

"Can you get me a light of any sort?" Ralph asked. "I want to go
round to the stables, and get the horses somewhere in shelter."

"I will get you a lantern, sir," the man said. "But I fear that you
will find the place all crowded; but of course, you can turn some
of them out."

The orderly accompanied Ralph, with a lantern, across the yard; Tim
and Colonel Tempe's orderly following. Round the yard were many
cavalry horses, tied to pegs; driven in close by the wall of the
stables, so as to give them some little shelter from the intense
cold. The poor animals stood, side touching side, for warmth.

The orderly opened the door of one of the stables; and Ralph
entered, and looked round by the light of the lantern. The horses
were ranged together in the