laughing and jesting as they prepared to mount.

"Where is the prince?" Gassion asked.

"There he lies under his cloak, general. He is still fast asleep. It
is evident that the thought of the coming battle does not weigh heavily
upon him. I acknowledge that I have not closed an eye; I do not think
that any of us have done so."

So sound, indeed, was the prince's sleep that Gassion had to shake him
almost roughly to rouse him.

As soon, however, as his eyes opened he leapt to his feet. "I have had a
wonderful night," he laughed; "never have I slept more soundly on a down
bed than on this hard ground, which, however, as I find, makes my bones
ache wonderfully. Well, it is a fine day for a battle. What is your
news, Gassion?"

"It is important, monseigneur. Captain Campbell has spent the night in
reconnoitering on his own account, and has discovered that a thousand
Spanish musketeers are lying in ambush in the copse in the hollow."

"Is that so?" the duke said shortly. "Well, Captain Campbell, you have
rendered us a vital service indeed, and one that I shall not forget.
However, now we are forewarned, we shall know how to deal with them.
If I should fall, Gassion, and you should survive, see that Captain
Campbell's service is duly represented. Now, to horse, gentlemen!"

The morning sun rose on the 20th of May on a brilliant scene. The two
armies were disposed along slightly elevated ridges, between which lay
the hollow with its brushwood and copses. Enghien commanded the cavalry
on the right wing, with Gassion as second in command. In place of his
helmet the prince wore a hat with large white plumes, remembering,
perhaps, how Henri of Navarre's white plumes had served as a rallying
point. Marshal l'Hopital commanded the cavalry on the French left, Baron
d'Espenan commanded the infantry in the centre, and Baron Sirot the
reserves. The right of the Spanish army was composed of the German
horse led by de Malo, the Walloons on the left were under the Duke of
Albuquerque, while in the centre were the veteran Spanish infantry under
the command of General Fuentes, who had often led them to victory. He
was too old and infirm to mount a horse, but lay in a litter in the
midst of his hitherto unconquerable infantry.

All being ready on both sides, the trumpet sounded, and simultaneously
the cavalry of both armies moved forward. Enghien moved farther to
the right, and then dashing down the slopes led his cavalry along the
b