ride. As soon, however, as I drew close enough to distinguish the scouts
I saw they were friends, and went on boldly.

Where was Coligny? They did not know; they had parted company with the
infantry some time previously. Leaving them, I proceeded to the main
body, and in passing a group of cavaliers, heard my name called by a
voice I recognized as Roger Braund's.

"Why are you wandering about here?" he asked.

"Faith," I laughed, "I might put that very same question to you! Where
are Coligny and the troops? I did not expect to meet with half an army."

"Say, rather, a third; we have not a gun, nor even a man to carry a
pike."

"But what does it mean?"

"Perhaps that I don't understand your mode of warfare. We have been
marching and countermarching for hours, with no other result as yet than
wearing out our animals; but I warrant the Prince has his reasons."

"If there is a man with brains in the enemy's council," said another
Englishman, "we shall rejoin our infantry only in the next world. We are
scarcely fifteen hundred strong, and I heard this morning that Anjou has
at least three thousand."

"Two to one," I remarked carelessly, "the Prince has fought against even
heavier odds. But----"