ith victory; but after his most glorious triumph he did not
look more noble than on that memorable day at Niort. He was, as I have
said, a splendid horseman, and he managed his fiery charger with
exquisite grace and ease. His eyes, usually so sweet, were bright and
burning; the hot blood reddened his clear brown skin.

"Soldiers!" he exclaimed--and I would you could have heard the music of
his voice--"your cause is mine. I swear to defend our religion, and to
persevere until death or victory has restored us the liberty for which
we fight."

Once again the thundering cheers pealed forth, and had Monseigneur but
met us that day, I warrant he would not have carried a hundred men with
him from the field.

"Your Henry of Beam is a gallant youngster, Edmond," remarked Roger
Braund that evening; "I would he had been with us at Jarnac!"

"That might have prevented his being here now!"

"True! On the other hand, his presence might have saved the day.
However, he will have an opportunity of showing his mettle. Do we move
soon?"

"We are waiting for a body of German foot-soldiers, and for the troops
from Languedoc. Directly they arrive, I believe we break camp."

"The sooner the better," said he; "we shall rust out by staying here."

Most of the troops, indeed, had begun to weary of inaction, and when, on
the arrival of our reinforcements, Coligny determined to offer battle
once more, the whole camp received the news with satisfaction. A great
grief had befallen our leader. His brother, the kindly genial Sieur
Andelot, whom all men loved, had broken down under the terrible strain,
and died at Saintes. It was a terrible blow, but the Admiral sternly
repressed his sorrow, counting no sacrifice too great for the success of
the Cause.

We marched out from the camp at Niort, twenty-five thousand strong, all
in good spirits, and all placing the most implicit trust in our gallant
leader. The dead Conde's troops were especially eager for the fray, and
as they mounted and rode off, the words "Remember Jarnac!" passed from
man to man. It was a watchword that boded ill for their opponents.

From day to day our scouts brought in word of the royal forces. They
outnumbered us by several thousands, but that did not damp our ardour;
in spite of Jarnac, we felt that we were marching to victory.

We had advanced within two days' distance of the city of Limoges, when
our scouts galloped in with the information that they had encountered a