ur. The carnage was fearful, and I longed for
darkness to put an end to the hideous slaughter.

At the end of the afternoon he gathered his forces together for one
supreme effort. Horse and foot, they swung along as blithely as if the
battle were only beginning. I looked round on our diminished ranks, and
wondered if we had strength to withstand another onset.

"'Tis their last try!" exclaimed Felix cheerfully; "if they fail now
they will break, and the victory is ours. Half an hour will see the
finish; one side must give way."

One side! But which?

On they came, wave after wave, like the waters of an irresistible sea.
We waited in painful silence, broken suddenly by the Admiral's voice,
"Stand firm, soldiers, stand firm. The end is at hand!"

On they came, bugles blowing, flags flying, horses prancing; the dying
sun lighting up the bared swords and pike heads, the steel caps and
breastplates. On they came, a goodly and gallant band of well-trained
warriors.

"Stand firm, soldiers, stand firm!" Well in front, serene and confident,
full of proud courage and high resolve, there was our glorious leader,
the best and bravest man in the two armies.

With a roar of cheering and a hurricane rush the foe dashed forward.
They struck us in front, they swirled tumultuously around our flanks,
driving us back and cheering lustily, "For the King!" The fate of the
day hung trembling in the balance, but Henry of Bearn on the one flank,
and Conde on the other, rallied their troops, while in the centre the
stout old Admiral plunged yet again into the fray.

[Illustration: "With a roar of cheering and a hurricane rush the foe
dashed forward."]

"Forward! Forward!" we shouted. "On them! They are giving way!" and
Felix, snatching a flag from a wounded man, charged with reckless
abandon into the very midst of the foe.

"The flag!" I cried, "follow the flag!" Straight ahead of us it went,
now waving triumphantly aloft, now drooping, now swaying again, and
high above the din of strife sounded my comrade's voice, crying, "For
the Admiral! For the Faith! Forward! Forward!"

The daring hazardous exploit sent a wave of fire through every man. We
flung off our fatigue as if it were a cloak, dealing our blows as
vigorously as though the battle were but newly joined. And as we toiled
on, following the flag, a great shout of victory arose on our right.
Henry of Bearn had thrust back his assailants; they were running fast,
and his horsem