ith
you, for although we have beaten the Catholics well, the tenants do
not forget that they are homeless; and will, I am sure, gladly
follow up the blow."

"Then so it shall be," the Admiral said. "A hundred and fifty of
the gentlemen who came with me shall ride with your troop. The rest
of us will march with your tenants.

"I think we are capable of doing that, even after our ride,
gentlemen?"

There was a chorus of assent from those standing round, and De la
Noue added:

"After supper, Admiral?"

"Certainly after supper," Coligny assented, with a smile. "Another
hour will make no difference. You may be sure they will not be
moving before daylight. If we start from here at three, we shall be
in ample time."

Philip at once went out, and ordered the attendants and men-at-arms
to lie down for two hours, as the Admiral was going to lead them to
attack the Catholics at their halting place--news which was
received with grim satisfaction. In the meantime, Francois gave a
detailed account of the events of the siege; and the Admiral
insisted upon going, at once, to inspect by torchlight the novel
manner in which the two posterns had been blocked up.

"Nothing could have been better, De Laville," he said. "Your
English cousin is, indeed, full of resources. Better material than
this, for blocking up a narrow gateway, could hardly be contrived.
Fire, as it was proved, was of no avail against it, for it would be
impossible to dislodge the carcasses by main force; and even if
they had cannon, the balls would not have penetrated this thickness
of flesh, which must have been torn to pieces before it yielded.
The idea of covering the carcasses at the gates with their own raw
hides was an equally happy one.

"Upon my word, De la Noue, I do not think that, if you or I had
been in command here, we could have done better than these two
young fellows."

At three o'clock all was ready for a start. De la Noue took the
command of the two hundred horsemen. The Admiral declined to ride,
and placed himself at the head of the column of infantry, which was
three hundred strong; thirty of the original defenders having been
either killed or disabled, and twenty being left as a guard at the
chateau.

The surprise of the Catholics was complete. Three hundred were
killed. Two hundred, including their commander, De Brissac, and
thirty other gentlemen, were made prisoners. The remaining six
hundred escaped in the darkness; their arms, a