ning air.

"Muffled to the nose in a well furred rocquelaure, with my wig tied to
keep the snow from its curls, and my hat flapped over my face, I rode as
fast as the deep snow would permit, and passing the rear of the column
where, moody and disarmed, the two poor French volunteers were riding
under care of an escort, I spurred to the Baron who rode in front near
the kettle drums, and delivered my order; as I did so, recalling with
sadness the anxious and wistful glance given me by the prisoners as I
passed them.

"Wandenberg, who had no more shape than a huge hogshead, received the
dispatch with a growl of satisfaction. He would have bowed, but his neck
was too short. I cannot but laugh when I remember his strange aspect. In
form he looked nearly as broad as he was long, being nearly eight feet
in girth, and completely enveloped in a rough blue rocquelaure, which
imparted to his figure the roundness of a ball. His face, reddened by
skiedam and the frost, was glowing like crimson, while the broad beaver
hat that overshadowed it, and the feathers with which the beaver was
edged, were incrusted with the snow that was rapidly forming a pyramid
on its crown, imparting to his whole aspect a drollery at which I could
have laughed heartily, had not his well-known acuteness and ferocity
awed me into a becoming gravity of demeanor; and delivering my dispatch
with a tolerably good grace, I reined back my horse to await any reply
he might be pleased to send the Duke.

"His dull Dutch eyes glared with sudden anger and triumph, as he folded
the document, and surveyed the manacled prisoners. Thereafter he seized
his speaking trumpet, and thundered out--

"'Ruyters--halt! form open column of troops, trot!'

"It was done as rapidly as heavily armed Dutchmen on fat slow horses
knee deep among snow could perform it, and then wheeling them into line,
he gave the orders--

"'Forward the flanks--form circle--sling musquetoons!--trumpeters ride
to the centre and dismount.'

"By these unexpected manoeuvres, I suddenly found myself inclosed in a
hollow circle of the Dutch horsemen, and thus, as it were, compelled to
become a spectator of the scene that ensued, though I had his Grace of
Marlborough's urgent orders to rejoin him without delay on the road to
Aire."

"'And--and you saw--'

"Such a specimen of discipline as neither the devil nor De Martinet ever
dreamed of; but thoroughly Dutch I warrant you.

"I have said it was inte