Edmond, there is no disgrace in being beaten by twice our number. Jarnac
is not the only field of battle in France."




CHAPTER IX

A Glorious Victory


The steady courage and resolute will of our great leader raised the
spirits of every soldier under his command; the disaster at Jarnac
became more and more a dream; the retreat to Niort was conducted without
the least disorder or confusion. Every one trusted Coligny, and felt
that under his rule all would go well.

And, as far as human skill and foresight could prevail, the Admiral
deserved our confidence. All through the day, and far into the night, he
toiled, and never grew weary; at one time inspecting his troops, at
another strengthening his defences; now endeavouring to form some useful
alliance, again writing cheerful letters and putting heart into the more
timid of our friends.

We had another leader, too, who, though she did not lead us into battle
was worth many a troop of horse to the Cause. I shall never forget the
day when Joan of Albret, the great-hearted Queen of Navarre, came riding
into our camp at Niort, bringing her son, Henry of Beam, and her nephew
Henry, the son of the murdered Condé. True and steadfast in the hour of
our defeat--more steadfast even than some of those who would ride