"I think I know about them all, sir, both in Holland and on the
Rhine, and have seen plans of the battles. Of course this is not
at all like La Motte, which was on the top of a high rock, so that
when Turenne was ordered to attack with his regiment after the
general's son had failed, he had to pass not only through a heavy
fire, but through the huge stones that the enemy hurled down. It
was grand; and he did well at all the other sieges. Then, again,
there was Saverne. See how he fought there, and stormed the place
when even the Swedes, who are good soldiers, had failed. I think
he is going to be the greatest of our captains."

"Turenne is only a learner in the art of war," the other said
gravely.

"I think he has learnt more than any of the rest," the boy said
boldly; "and all the soldiers love him more than any of the other
generals, for he takes such care of them, and does not treat them
as if they were dirt under his feet, only meant to obey orders,
and go and get killed when told."

"You have heard him very much over praised," the officer said
quietly. "I think that he does his best; but he is a young man
yet, not older than I am. His advance has been due to fortune rather
than to his own merits."

"I don't think so," the boy said sturdily. "Do you think that he
would be a lieutenant general at twenty-eight, and that all the
soldiers would speak of him as they do, if it were only fortune?
Look how he captured Landrecies and Solre, and drove the Austrians
back from Maubeurge, and aided the Duke of Weimar to thrash