us aright, for his own sake. He is quick enough to
calculate the chances."

Occasionally one or other of us cantered forward and rode a short
distance by his side, while Jacques watched him constantly with the eyes
of a hawk. But the fellow who was keen enough to understand that
treachery would result in his own death, whatever else happened, led us
very carefully across country and right away from the beaten tracks
until about three o'clock in the morning, when he came to a halt on the
top of a wooded hill.

"Very softly!" he whispered, "we are in the rear of the army, but there
may be some sentries at hand. When day breaks we shall see the camp
almost at our feet."

I bade Jacques lead the animals deeper into the wood, lest they should
attract attention; then Felix and I lay down with the guide between us.

"So far, Philippe, you have served us well," whispered my comrade. "You
will pocket those crowns yet!"

"Hush, monsieur; a single sound may cost us our lives."

This was true, so we lay silent, watching for the breaking of dawn.
Little by little the night haze cleared away; the light broke through
the clouds; the sun rose, lighting up first the distant hills, and
presently revealing the secret of the plain beneath. The bugles sounded;
men came from their tents, rubbing their eyes still burdened with sleep,
and before long all the camp was astir.

"Guns!" said Felix; "how many do you make, Edmond?"

"Six," I replied, after a careful survey.

"I can count six, too," he said. "According to our spies the marshal had
no guns."

I nudged our guide, saying, "What is the number of the troops down
there?"

"Fifteen thousand infantry, and six thousand horsemen, monsieur," he
answered promptly.

"It may be so," I said, "but we shall be better able to judge when they
are ready to march."

For two hours we lay flat on the ground, with our eyes fixed on the
camp, never changing our position, and speaking hardly a word. We
watched the cavalry feed and groom the animals, and saw the troops sit
down to breakfast. Then a body of horsemen, about fifty or sixty in
number, rode out from the camp in the direction of Arnay-le-Duc.

[Illustration: "For two hours we lay flat on the ground, with our eyes
fixed on the camp."]

After a while the troops fell in, and a number of richly-dressed
officers rode along the lines, as if to inspect them.

"Jacques," I said softly, for all this time he had remained with the
animals