as soon as I could lay
my hand on my sword I led them through the doorway with a cheer, hoping
to be able to enter the farther tower with the enemy. But the latter had
taken the alarm too early and too thoroughly. The court was empty. We
were barely in time to see the last man dart up a flight of outside
stairs, which led to the first story, and disappear, closing a heavy
door behind him. I rushed to the foot of the steps and would have
ascended also, hoping against hope to find the door unsecured; but a
shot which was fired through a loop hole and narrowly missed my head,
and another which brought down one of my men, made me pause. Discerning
all the advantage to be on Bruhl's side, since he could shoot us down
from his cover, I cried a retreat; the issue of the matter leaving
us masters of the entrance-tower, while they retained the inner and
stronger tower, the narrow court between the two being neutral ground
unsafe for either party.

Two of their men had fled outwards and were gone, and two lay dead;
while the loss on our side was confined to the man who was shot, and
Fanchette, who had received a blow on the head in the MELEE, and was
found, when we retreated, lying sick and dazed against the wall.

It surprised me much, when I came to think upon it, that I had seen
nothing of Bruhl, though the skirmish had lasted two or three minutes
from the first outcry, and been attended by an abundance of noise. Of
Fresnoy, too, I now remembered that I had caught a glimpse only. These
two facts seemed so strange that I was beginning to augur the worst,
though I scarcely know why, when my spirits were marvellously raised and
my fears relieved by a thing which Maignan, who was the first to notice
it, pointed out to me. This was the appearance at an upper window of a
white 'kerchief, which was waved several times towards us. The window
was little more than an arrow-slit, and so narrow and high besides
that it was impossible to see who gave the signal; but my experience of
mademoiselle's coolness and resource left me in no doubt on the point.
With high hopes and a lighter heart than I had worn for some time I
bestirred myself to take every precaution, and began by bidding Maignan
select two men and ride round the hill, to make sure that the enemy had
no way of retreat open to him.

CHAPTER XXIX. PESTILENCE AND FAMINE.

While Maignan was away about this business I despatched two men to catch
our horses, which were running