or hours discussing the probabilities of the battle.
Hector, remembering the manner in which Turenne exercised the
most ceaseless vigilance, and nightly inspected all the outposts,
endeavouring to ascertain the plans and positions of the enemy, had, as
night closed in, requested Gassion's permission to go the rounds.

"Certainly, if it so pleases you, Captain Campbell. The watchword
tonight is 'Conde', but I will in addition give you a pass enjoining all
officers to allow you to go where you please, you being on the staff of
the prince. I shall go round myself later on, for de Malo may intend a
night attack, by which he would certainly gain advantages. His troops
are fresh, while ours are weary. He has had every opportunity of
studying the ground, while it is all new to us. Still, I hardly think
that he will move till morning. Enterprise is not the strong point of
the Spaniards, they love to fight in solid bodies, and hitherto their
infantry have never been broken by cavalry. At night they would lose
the advantage of their steadiness of formation. It is clear, by his
willingness to allow us to pass the defile and take up this position,
that de Malo is absolutely certain of victory and will wait, for
daylight would permit him to make his expected victory a complete one,
while at night great numbers of our army would be able to make their
escape through the woods."

Hector returned to the spot where his horses were picketed with those
of Enghien's staff. He found Paolo lying down under a tree where he
had been ordered to take up his post, so that Hector could find him if
required.

"Are you asleep, Paolo?"

"No, master; I have been thinking about the battle tomorrow, and where I
had best bestow myself."

"As to that, Paolo, I should say that you had better keep with the
prince's servants here. You will, of course, have your horse saddled and
be ready to ride on the instant. If we are victorious there will be no
occasion for you to move, but if you see that we are beaten, my orders
are that you are not to think of waiting for me. I must keep with the
others. Doubtless the cavalry would cover the retreat, and it would be
a serious inconvenience for me to have to come here to look after you,
therefore as soon as you see that the day has gone against us mount and
ride. You can wait at our halting place of last night until you see the
prince's party come along. If I am alive I shall be with them; if not,
my advice to you