across the causeway, they would have us
completely at their mercy.

As if of the same opinion Turenne ordered us to retire, and we fell
back slowly, while the hostile cavalry halted to gather strength for
the spring. Then came the order to increase the pace, and our men
sullenly obeyed. They did not like retreating, even to escape from
death. Raoul looked puzzled, and from time to time I noticed him
glance back over his shoulder.

Suddenly a whisper of "Here they come!" ran through the ranks; our pace
grew faster, and soon we were flying like timid hares before a pack of
dogs.

Conde's cavalry made a splendid show. Squadron after squadron, fifteen
or twenty in number, advanced with pennons flying and banners waving in
the breeze. The sun shone on the steel-tipped lances, and the bared
swords flashed like a forest of steel. Nearer and nearer thundered the
horses: their hoofs rang hard on the causeway, and I expected every
moment to hear the roar of our artillery. But every gun was dumb; not
one opened its mouth, and not a single musket shot came from the
shelter of the thick wood.

What did it all mean? I did not know; in the excitement, did not even
guess; it was enough that Turenne with his handful of troopers was
flying before Conde's host. Still we maintained our order, and though
riding fast rode together, every man preserving his proper place and
distance. Suddenly there came an order from the Marshal, and like a
flash we turned with our horses' heads facing the exulting enemy.

"Charge!" shouted a voice, and without break or pause we thundered
back, waving our swords and yelling, "_Vive le Roi!_"

It seemed a mad thing to do, but Turenne was with us, and Turenne was
worth an army. Conde's troopers tried to gather themselves against the
shock, but, confident of victory, they were riding in loose order, and
we gave them no time to close their ranks. Crash! We went into them
like a thunderbolt, and the bravest rebel there could not stand against
the furious onslaught.

Turenne fought like an ordinary trooper, and as for Raoul, he outshone
himself. I tried hard to keep up with him, but he outpaced me and
every horseman in his squadron.

"_Vive le Roi!_" he shouted, and "_Vive le Roi!_" answered back his
toiling troopers.

Once I lost sight of him in the press and feared he had gone down, but
the next instant I heard his battle-cry again, and there he was, amidst
a throng of foes on the very