body, and in passing a group of cavaliers, heard my name called by a
voice I recognized as Roger Braund's.

"Why are you wandering about here?" he asked.

"Faith," I laughed, "I might put that very same question to you! Where
are Coligny and the troops? I did not expect to meet with half an army."

"Say, rather, a third; we have not a gun, nor even a man to carry a
pike."

"But what does it mean?"

"Perhaps that I don't understand your mode of warfare. We have been
marching and countermarching for hours, with no other result as yet than
wearing out our animals; but I warrant the Prince has his reasons."

"If there is a man with brains in the enemy's council," said another
Englishman, "we shall rejoin our infantry only in the next world. We are
scarcely fifteen hundred strong, and I heard this morning that Anjou has
at least three thousand."

"Two to one," I remarked carelessly, "the Prince has fought against even
heavier odds. But----"

"Mount, mount, messieurs; Anjou is advancing!"

The scouts came galloping in with their warning; the cry was repeated on
all sides; men running to their horses mounted hurriedly; officers
shouted commands; in an instant all was activity.

"You showed little wisdom in stumbling on us to-day," said Roger. "You
would have been better off with your own leader."

"At least I make one more!"

"Yes," he replied, "and a pity too. But come along, you will ride with
us, and I promise we will not disgrace you. A fair field for a charge,
Edward!" addressing one of his comrades.

"I would rather it were a pitched battle," replied the other; "with our
numbers we can do no more than ride them down."

"The Prince! The Prince!" cried one, and presently Conde came riding
along our ranks. He had opened his helmet; his face was full of high
resolve, his eyes flashed fire.

"Gentlemen!" he exclaimed, "here is the chance for which we have waited.
Let us begin the campaign with a victory, and we shall finish it the
sooner."

We greeted his words with a cheer; the English shouted "Hurrah!" which
sounded strangely in our ears, and every one gripped his sword firmly.
For, in spite of cheers, and of brave looks, a desperate enterprise lay
before us. Monseigneur's troops were at least twice as numerous as ours,
and his men were seasoned soldiers.

But Conde gave us little time for reflection. "Forward! Forward!" We
rose in our stirrups, and with a ringing cheer dashed at the foe. Like a
wall o