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For The Admiral by W.J. Marx
page 44 of 340 (12%)
rallying-place."

"'Tis a long journey, and with the women and children a dangerous one!"
I remarked. "We can be ambushed at a thousand places on the road."

"Then," said he gaily, "there are a thousand chances of a fight. My dear
Edmond--we seem such good friends that I cannot call you Le Blanc--do
not look so gloomy. To us of the Admiral's house a brush with the enemy
is as natural as breaking one's fast. They know the Coligny battle-cry
by now, I assure you."

"I am not thinking of ourselves, but of the women and children."

"Ah," said he brightly, "that gives us a chance of gaining greater
glory."

The sun was always shining and the sky always blue for Felix Bellièvre,
and if there were any clouds, he failed to see them. He and I rode in
the rear of the cavalcade, with the Sieur Andelot, Coligny's brother,
and a number of cavaliers belonging to his household. The weather,
fortunately, was dry, but the sun beat down fiercely, and at times we
were half-choked by the dust that rose from beneath our feet.

As Felix had foretold, we struck westward, travelling at a steady pace,
and seeing no sign of the king's troops till shortly before reaching the
Loire, near Sancerre. Then the few cavaliers forming the extreme rear
came riding hurriedly with the information that a large body of the
enemy was pushing on at a tremendous pace with the object of overtaking
us.

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