an appearance until this work
was done, and then showed a very pale and gloomy countenance. I took no
heed of him, however, and with the first streak of daylight we started
in single file and at a snail's pace up the valley, the peasant, whom I
placed in Maignan's charge, going before to guide us, and M. d'Agen and
I riding in the rear. By the time the sun rose and warmed our chilled
and shivering frames we were over the worst of the ground, and were able
to advance at some speed along a track cut through a dense forest of
oak-trees.

Though we had now risen out of the valley, the close-set trunks and the
undergrowth round them prevented our seeing in any direction. For a mile
or more we rode on blindly, and presently started on finding ourselves
on the brow of a hill, looking down into a valley, the nearer end of
which was clothed in woods, while the farther widened into green sloping
pastures. From the midst of these a hill or mount rose sharply up,
until it ended in walls of grey stone scarce to be distinguished at that
distance from the native rock on which they stood.

'See!' cried our guide. 'There is the castle!'

Bidding the men dismount in haste, that the chance of our being seen by
the enemy--which was not great--might be farther lessened, I began to
inspect the position at leisure; my first feeling while doing so being
one of thankfulness that I had not attempted a night attack, which
must inevitably have miscarried, possibly with loss to ourselves, and
certainly with the result of informing the enemy of our presence. The
castle, of which we had a tolerable view, was long and narrow in shape,
consisting of two towers connected by walls, The nearer tower, through
which lay the entrance, was roofless, and in every way seemed to be more
ruinous than the inner one, which appeared to be perfect in both its
stories. This defect notwithstanding, the place was so strong that my
heart sank lower the longer I looked; and a glance at Maignan's face
assured me that his experience was also at fault. For M. d'Agen, I
clearly saw, when I turned to him, that he had never until this moment
realised what we had to expect, but, regarding our pursuit in the light
of a hunting-party, had looked to see it end in like easy fashion. His
blank, surprised face, as he stood eyeing the stout grey walls, said as
much as this.

'Arnidieu!' Maignan muttered, 'give me ten men, and I would hold it
against a hundred!'

'Tut, man, There