let us pray to Him for strength to bear our loss."

I stayed with them for four days, being I believe of some comfort in
that sorrowful time, and then my mother herself suggested that I should
return to my duty.

"You belong to the Cause, my son," she said, "and not to us. It is a
heavy trial to let you go, but your father would have wished it. Perhaps
the good God, in His mercy, may guard you through all dangers, and we
may meet again. But, if not, we are in' His hands. Tell Felix we thank
him for his kind message."

"Roger, too, will grieve for our loss," I said. "He admired my father
greatly."

The Englishmen had accompanied the Admiral, so that Roger had left
Rochelle when the news arrived.

Early on the morning fixed for my departure I wished my mother and
sister good-bye, and returned to the hotel. Coligny was still at
Saintes, and I waited for a letter that the commandant had requested me
to deliver to him. I had gone into the courtyard to see about my horse
when a man, riding in, exclaimed, "Oh, I am in time, monsieur; I feared
you had gone."

"Jacques!" I cried with delight, "surely you have taken a long while to
travel from Montcontour to Rochelle! And yet you have a good beast!"

"As good an animal as ever carried saddle!" said Jacques, eyeing his
horse complacently; "but then I have not owned it long."