Once again the thundering cheers pealed forth, and had Monseigneur but
met us that day, I warrant he would not have carried a hundred men with
him from the field.

"Your Henry of Beam is a gallant youngster, Edmond," remarked Roger
Braund that evening; "I would he had been with us at Jarnac!"

"That might have prevented his being here now!"

"True! On the other hand, his presence might have saved the day.
However, he will have an opportunity of showing his mettle. Do we move
soon?"

"We are waiting for a body of German foot-soldiers, and for the troops
from Languedoc. Directly they arrive, I believe we break camp."

"The sooner the better," said he; "we shall rust out by staying here."

Most of the troops, indeed, had begun to weary of inaction, and when, on
the arrival of our reinforcements, Coligny determined to offer battle
once more, the whole camp received the news with satisfaction. A great
grief had befallen our leader. His brother, the kindly genial Sieur
Andelot, whom all men loved, had broken down under the terrible strain,
and died at Saintes. It was a terrible blow, but the Admiral sternly
repressed his sorrow, counting no sacrifice too great for the success of
the Cause.

We marched out from the camp at Niort, twenty-five thousand strong, all
in good spirits, and all placing the most implicit trust in our gallant
leader. The dead Condé's troops were especially eager for the fray, and