ced it in my hands,
saying, "Here is the token of my promise. Should the day ever come when
you ask in vain anything that I can grant, let all men call Henry of
Bearn ingrate and traitor to his plighted word. I call you, my Lord
Admiral, and you, gentlemen, to witness."

I tried to say something in reply, but the words were choked in my
throat; not one would come. But a still higher honour was in
store for me. The Admiral--the great and good leader whom we all
worshipped--removing my sword, buckled on the prince's gift with his own
hands.

"I rejoice," said he speaking slowly as was his wont, "that the son of
the hero who died for the Cause at St. Jean d'Angely should thus add
honour to his father's name."

I managed to stammer out a few words, and then my comrades crowded
around, cheering me with generous enthusiasm. And, when the prince had
gone, I had the further happiness of conducting the Admiral to our tent,
and of hearing the words of praise he spoke to Felix, who would gladly
have died a thousand deaths to have secured such honour.

I said nothing to him that day of the prince's gracious gift--he had
already had as much excitement as he could bear--but Jacques, of course,
had heard of it, and the trusty fellow showed as much pride as if he
himself had received a patent of nobility. Roger Braund, too, came to
congratulate me, and his pleasure was so genuine that it made mine the
greater. Altogether I think that day after the battle of Arnay-le-Duc
was the most wonderful of my life.

The defeat of Marshal Cosse was so complete that we met with no further
opposition, but pushed on to Chatillon, the sleepy little town which had
the honour of being the birth-place of our noble chief. Having to attend
on the Admiral, I left my wounded comrade in the care of Jacques, who
made him as comfortable as possible in one of the wagons, and waited
upon him day and night. Whenever opportunity offered I rode back to see
him, and each time found to my delight that he was progressing
favourably.

At last we reached the town and rode along the main street through
groups of cheering citizens to the castle, a strong and massive fortress
with ample accommodation for thousands of persons. It stood in the midst
of a vast enclosure, surrounded by a deep and wide fosse; and the thick
walls, as Roger remarked, appeared capable of withstanding the assaults
of a well-equipped army.

Inside the enclosure were large gardens and handsom