CHAPTER VII.
It was night when we reached the outposts of the Prince de Condé's camp, and we were stopped by a small body of soldiers, who demanded the sign, which, of course, we could not give. Our errand was soon explained, however, and we were led on into the camp, which was not entrenched, nor, indeed, defended in any other way. It presented a gay, mixed scene, where little regularity of any kind existed, except in the lines of the tents, which resembled long streets when once one had passed the skirts of the camp, where plenty of disorder was going on. My followers and horses were left at the second guard, while I and the merchants were led on foot through the canvass streets and squares to the spot where the tent of the Prince de Condé was pitched. Though certainly not a very convenient dwelling, It was divided into two chambers, if not three, and we were detained in the outer one while the prince was informed of our arrival.
The pride of arms and birth made me imagine that I should be called to his presence immediately, though we found he was at supper; but I was much disappointed, for the merchants were much more important people at that moment in the eyes of the prince than any small leader like myself, and they were ushered in immediately, while I remained without, talking with one of the prince's attendants, who remained sitting with me, as if in the antechamber.
The conference of the Protestant leader with the merchants seemed interminably long, and the occasional laughter and merriment that I heard made me think that the conversation was protracted after all real business was over. At length, however, they came out, and I was summoned into the presence of the prince, while Martin Vern, in passing, said, "We will wait for you here."
I found the prince still seated at supper, with a man considerably older than himself, though yet in the prime of life. Condé's countenance was remarkably handsome; far more so, indeed, than his figure; and there was in his eyes that sort of sparkling impetuosity which well indicated the character of the man. He received me with a smiling countenance, and made me take a seat near him, saying,
"It is always pleasant, Monsieur de Cerons, to receive new friends and companions, but still more pleasant to receive one who bears back to our camp an illustrious name, which has been too long banished from the roll of arms. I take it for granted I speak to the son of that Monsieur de Cerons who, just twenty years ago, distinguished himself in the attack upon the forts at Boulogne, and, to the regret of the whole army, fell upon the occasion. I grieve to say that I knew little of him, for that was my first campaign, and I was not worthy of the notice of so distinguished a soldier; but my friend, Monsieur d'Andelot here, was his companion in many a well-fought field."
"I was indeed, young gentleman," said D'Andelot; "and, I must say, a better soldier or a braver man never existed. You are very like him, and, I trust, are as like him in character as you are in person."
"It is with the hope of proving that I am so, sir, that I come here," I replied; and, judging it more respectful to the distinguished officers with whom I was speaking to say as little as possible, I ceased there.
"I doubt not that you will completely fill his place among us," replied the prince, after a moment's thought. "Indeed, Monsieur de Cerons, we have every reason to believe so, from the account these good merchants have given us of your conduct on the road. You do not know what an obligation you have laid upon us by bringing them safely hither; for, on my faith and honour, I think, without their help, we should not have been able to carry on the campaign: for, though very one here fights for good-will, yet men must have food, and cannons and arquebuses are poor contrivances without powder and shot. These merchants tell us you have a troop with you, Monsieur de Cerons?"
I now evidently saw that it was the design of the prince to give me notice, in a quiet, passing manner, that I was to expect no pay for my services, and, at the same time, to ascertain with what views and purposes I came.
"My troop is not a large one, my lord," I replied; "at present it comprises but ten men. They are all, however, stout men-at-arms, and have some experience; and I hope to increase my troop to double that number. It is fit, my lord, however, that I should tell you that my father left nothing but his sword; and it is needful to myself that I should raise myself by arms, and to my men that I should be enabled to maintain them by the sword."
"Ay," replied the prince, "I understand--make the horse feed the horse. But it is somewhat difficult to know what to do. We cannot and must not drive away such bands as yours, especially when led by such a gentleman as yourself. As little can we expect them to range themselves under any regular leader, when we have no pay whatever to give them; and yet it is absolutely necessary that both I myself and Monsieur de Coligny should put a stop to everything like indiscriminate plunder. Were we not to do so, we should soon have the whole country rising upon us."
"I am not one, my lord," I replied, "to wish that it should be otherwise. All I wish is, that, in order to keep my men together, I may have, as it were, a detached command of my own people under your highness's commission, in order that, by fair war against the enemy in arms, I may be enabled to maintain my troop and advance myself. Neither the threshold of the cottage nor the hearth of the citizen shall ever be invaded by my people. I only want permission to attack the enemy whenever I can find occasion, and to cut off from him, as my legitimate prize, whatever I can meet with."
"That is soon granted," replied the Prince de Condé, "if we understand each other rightly. But what is that in your hand, Monsieur de Cerons? It seems a letter."
"I had forgotten it, my lord," I said; "it is one addressed to your highness on my behalf, I believe."
The prince took it and read it, and then turning with a smile to D'Andelot, he said, "We shall have Stuart with us in less than ten days; and he does more service, you know, than any ten besides. Now, Monsieur de Cerons. My friend Stuart here has explained all your plans more clearly than yourself; and, indeed, it is not always so easy to explain one's self as to let another do it. I fear very much, however, that you have attached yourself to the wrong side of the question, as far as obtaining wealth, at least, is concerned. You shall have, however, what seamen, I believe, call a roving commission; and on the following terms, remember. During all marches, countermarches, and on general service, you shall have the opportunity allowed you, as far as possible, of doing as you please. At other times, such as the eve of a general battle, the assault of a town, or any similar operation, you shall render yourself into the camp on due notice given you. In short, any special order given to you by me or by the Admiral de Coligny you shall obey as strictly as any other soldier; but, at the times when you are without any such orders, you shall not be called to account for anything you do at your own hand; with these provisos, that you shall neither commit, nor suffer to be committed by your people, any outrage upon, or pillage of, the peasantry of the country, that you shall neither exact contributions from villages, hamlets, or places friendly or unarmed, nor permit any plunder in towns taken by capitulation; and, in fact, shall only wage honourable war against enemies with arms in their hands. Nor shall you receive money called pati, or sufferance, from any persons whatsoever. On these conditions, all prizes whatsoever captured by yourself shall be at your own disposal, without claim or intervention from any persons whatsoever. This is all that can be done for you, and, if it suits you, it shall be done."
"It suits me perfectly, my lord," I replied; "I require nothing more; and, as far as in me lies, will never be absent from my post when my services may be wanted."
Some farther conversation ensued between the prince, D'Andelot, and myself, in which a great many other matters were settled with regard to my lodging in the camp, &c.; and, sending for his secretary, the Prince de Condé gave orders for the commission to be drawn up, which was immediately done, giving me authority to raise a company of fifty men, and imbodying all the stipulations contained above.
As soon as I had received it I rose to depart; but D'Andelot, after whispering for a moment to the prince, said, "It always gives an officer great honour, Monsieur de Cerons, to begin his career in any new service with some brilliant exploit. Now we propose to-morrow to attack the breach at Angoulême, which has been made by our batteries yesterday and to-day. Now the leading of this assault has been given to Monsieur de Genissac; but we have no doubt that he will suffer you to be his companion, if you choose to mount the breach among the first along with your men. The breach is in the wall of what is called the Park; but we will send Genissac to you in the course of to-morrow morning. You will be supported by the regiment of Monsieur de Corbouson; and you are to remember to obey promptly the orders you receive from that quarter."
It may well be supposed that, eager as I was to distinguish myself, I caught at the offer without hesitation. In this instance I had not the slightest fears in regard to my own inexperience, for I knew that I had nothing to do but to fight with courage and determination; and, having ascertained the hour the assault was likely to take place, I retired to seek the quarters assigned to me, which were in one of the little suburbs, as I had informed the prince that I had yet no tents with me.
In the anteroom I found the worthy merchants, and with them returned to the spot where I had left my men. As we went, Martin Vern informed me that he was to return to Bordeaux early on the following morning, and asked if he could execute any commission for me in that city, from which he was about to return again in ten or twelve days. He said nothing more at that time, but accompanied me to the little auberge in the suburb, after I had lodged my troopers as I had been directed. I found the hall of the inn, as may well be conceived, a scene of confusion almost indescribable. At first it seemed to me that everybody was talking, everybody was singing, everybody was drinking, and everybody was snuffing the candles, at the same time. Eyes swimming with excitement or dropping with sleepiness, faces heated and flushed with drink, mouths wide open with oaths, vociferations, or songs, and outstretched arms, crossing each other in various directions, were to be seen on every side, while the din and uproar were absolutely deafening.
The scene did not seem to strike the merchants as much as it did me; but Martin Vern turned out of that room again almost as soon as he had entered it, saying, "We shall doubtless find less confusion somewhere else;" and, after looking into the kitchen, in hopes that, protected by the awful genius of the culinary art, that place might be found somewhat more quiet, he mounted the stairs, and walked from bedroom to bedroom, which had all been turned into eating or drinking rooms, and which were, in most instances, crammed to the very doors.
At length we came to one large room, which might contain, perhaps, not more than twenty people, ranged at different tables, and enjoying themselves more soberly. The secret of this was, that the tenants were all inferior officers, and the common soldiery judged it more expedient to pursue their potations in other rooms. The officers, too, might perhaps themselves desire a little quiet; and I remarked that several of them looked up and scanned us closely, as if to satisfy themselves that the intruders were likely to be more quiet and orderly than the parties assembled in other places.
There was one table vacant, near a window, at the very farther end of the room, and at that we seated ourselves, glad to be as far as possible from the general roar that rushed up the stairs and through the passages. A boy, who was running from table to table with the activity of a marmoset, came up to inquire what we wished for supper; and, as soon as he had left us, Master Vern leaned across the table, and asked me,
"Now, Monsieur de Cerons, have you no commands for Bordeaux? for I have many things to do, and, perhaps, may not have the opportunity of speaking to you to-morrow."
After thinking for a moment or two, I replied that I feared there was no commission that I could give; that I longed, indeed, to hear of my relations at the Chateau de Blancford, but did not know how to compass it.
"That is easily done, Monsieur de Cerons," said the merchant; "I am going to the Chateau de Blancford myself. There is scarcely a noble in the land that we merchants have not something to do with. The baron must have reached the chateau by this time, for he was to leave Paris in three weeks after we did. Come, come, Monsieur de Cerons," he said, seeing that I hesitated, "I have many a time remarked, since you were with us, that something weighs upon your mind. We owe you a great deal, not only for good service, but for kindness. Sit down and write a few lines to your friends, and we will find means that you shall have an answer. Relieve your mind, my friend; relieve your mind by words. Depend upon it, the best remedy for a heavy heart is to cast off part of the load upon paper."
"But I have no means of writing here," I said, "and fear it will be difficult to procure them."
"What! a merchant without paper and ink?" cried Martin Vern, opening a pocket in the lining of his cloak, and taking out all the requisites: "That would never do. There, Monsieur de Cerons, write, write, and I will take care it shall reach its address."
I took the paper and pen that he gave me, and, with the first impulse of my heart, wrote a few lines to my cousin Louise. The terms in which I spoke were precisely such as I should have used before my departure. I bade her not forget me, nor the affection which had existed between us ever since our childhood. I bade her recall me to the remembrance of her brothers and La Tour. I told her that I should never forget or cease to love her and them; and I assured her that nothing but absolute necessity, and the fear of giving them all bitter pain, would have led me to quit them without bidding them adieu, as I had done. This led me to speak of my situation at the time, and I told her that I had met with much greater success than I could have expected; that I was already at the head of a small band: and that I was to lead, in company with another, the assault upon Angoulême on the following morning. A few words of affection and kindness succeeded, and, having folded and sealed the letter, I put the address upon it, and gave it into the hands of Martin Vern.
He looked at the address, and when he saw the name, a sober and somewhat melancholy smile came over his face, and, putting it up carefully, he said, "It shall go safe."
Shortly after this the head of Moric Endem made its appearance at the door, and, seeing me seated at the opposite table, he entered the room and came across towards me. Ere he was half way to the table, however, three or four of the different officers who were dining at the tables around started up, and one of them exclaimed, "Why, Moric Endem! what, you old comrade, is it you come back to join us? and looking fat and well-feathered too."
"Ay, my good friends; ay, ay," said Moric, "here I am; but I am in leading-strings, my boys, I am in leading-strings. I'm baby Moric now, and there's my nurse--my captain, I mean to say; so I must go and speak to him, for I have a word for his ear."
"If he seeks to fill his purse," said one, looking at me across the room, "you're the man for him; for you could always fill a purse, but never keep one."
"Too true, good friend, too true," replied Moric, advancing towards me; "but I will do better this time."
They all shook their heads, however, with laugh; and Moric came on and sat down beside me. He had lost no time in pursuing his avocations, and informed me that he had already seen and spoken with nearly twenty of his old comrades, who were hanging about the camp and seeking for employment. They were rather more difficult, however, in their choice than those which I had already enlisted; for not one of them would serve with a leader who had never served at all.
"We must make up to-morrow, sir," said Endem, "for your idleness hitherto. It answered no purpose my telling them that you would do this or do that; the answer always was--Let us see him fight. So to-morrow, at the assault, we must eat fire and brimstone, to show what sort of stuff we are made of."
"Rather a hot breakfast, Master Moric," I replied; "but, nevertheless, I don't think I shall find my appetite fail."
This conversation had been carried on in a low tone, but it had caught the ears of the merchants nevertheless; and one of them asked me at what time it was intended to storm the breach. I replied that I really did not know, as I had not received my orders yet, but supposed that it would not be late; and Martin Vern, in reply, intimated his determination to wait and see the result before he departed. Soon after this I retired to the little cottage which had been appointed as quarters for myself and all my men; and, having given what orders I thought necessary, and seen that the horses had been well fed and put under shelter, I threw myself down upon some straw, which Andriot had prepared for me in one corner of the hovel, and in a few minutes was fast asleep.
I was awake by daylight on the following morning, was up, and had made a soldier's brief toilet, as well as armed myself completely, before five o'clock. Luckily it happened that I was so, for in a few minutes afterward I was visited by a gay-looking youth, who introduced himself as the Captain Genissac, and who told us that in an hour we were to mount the breach together. He looked at me somewhat superciliously from head to foot; and though I felt that I could have broken him through the middle over my knee as a boy breaks a stick, his cool scrutiny annoyed and discomposed me. We talked over what was to be done for some time; and, urging me to hasten my movements, he went to take his station at the head of the storming party. I hurried after at all speed, followed by my little band; and getting out of the hamlet, and passing through the middle of the tents towards the battery which had effected the breach, a fine, a gay, and an interesting sight was presented, which remains as much fixed upon my memory, in consequence of the beauty of the scene, as from being the first military effort of any consequence in which I ever took a part.
The whole army was turned out in the open space between the camp and the city; and about five or six hundred yards in advance of the line was the small battery which had effected a very insufficient breach in the wall. It was still firing, as it had been since the break of day: and a light wind blew the wreaths of smoke down into the hollow which ran towards the Charente, enveloping the base of the hill on which Angoulême stands, while out of the white uncertain mist thus created started forth clear the town of Angoulême, with all its manifold towers and spires. The sun was shining brightly as he rose upon the glittering line of our cavalry and infantry, variously armed, and with many a cornet and a pennon among them: while the rich and peaceful slopes and rises, the clear blue sky, the bright sunshine, and the soft murmur of the autumnal air, contrasted strangely and strikingly with the camp behind us, the long line of iron-clad soldiery in the front, the occasional thunder of our own artillery, and the flashes that burst from time to time from the walls of Angoulême.
Some way in front of the general line appeared a small body of infantry, with Genissac at their head; and behind him, a little in advance of the other forces, an entire infantry regiment, supported by a strong force of cavalry. Between that body and the little peloton of Genissac was a group of officers and gentlemen, with one or two led horses, apparently waiting for their riders. As I passed by, my eye rested for a moment upon the well-known D'Andelot; while another officer, considerably older in appearance, but with a fine, open countenance, whom I took to be the far-famed Admiral de Coligny, sat beside him, on a strong horse, receiving from time to time communications from different persons who rode up. D'Andelot's visor was up, and, as I passed, he noticed me with an inclination of the head, and then, turning to the admiral, pointed me out to him. Coligny immediately beckoned me towards him; and, ordering my men to march on and take the order from Monsieur de Genissac, I advanced to the side of the admiral's horse.
"I knew your father well, Monsieur de Cerons," said Coligny, "and my seeing his son here this day gives me the pleasant expectation of soon seeing him behave as his father would have done on a similar occasion. I grieve that we have not the presence of your cousin, Monsieur de Blancford; but his faith has been supposed to be wavering for some time. I must not detain you, however, for here comes the prince, and the word will be given in a moment."
I bowed, and then advanced immediately to the side of Genissac, who, I found, had drawn up my men with his own very fairly and very skilfully. In order to take advantage of some hollows in the ground, we were to advance six abreast, three of my men and three of his, with the two leaders at the head. As the whole of the party was composed of about a hundred men he had filled up the space behind, where my scanty band ended, by his own troops; and, placing himself close to me, he said,
"Now, Monsieur de Cerons, you and I will keep near together, as I may have something to say to you when we are near the breach. I wish they would send us the word to advance, for this long expectation dulls the men's spirits."
At that moment, however, an officer gave the word to march, while the battery opened a sharp fire upon the breach. In the first instance we had to descend some way, which we did with considerable rapidity, but not so fast as far to outstrip the regiment behind, who, as soon as they were within shot, opened a smart fire of small arms against the enemy. From the bottom of the valley we had now, however, to ascend to the Park; and, the moment we began to do so, one of the hottest fires of musketry I ever saw was poured upon us from the breach and the neighbouring walls. One of Genissac's men went down; and one of mine staggered from a wound in the shoulder, but regained his footing and kept on with the rest. I was somewhat surprised that we did not advance more rapidly, and said, "Let us hasten forward! Let us hasten forward! The men will soon be out of the fire."
Genissac gave no order; and, at the same time, a shot, passing between him and me, carried away a part of my casque, and went through the head of one of the men behind.
"Don't be too hot, don't be too hot," he said, in a minute after, when he had got so near that I could see the features of the men in the breach. "I am only ordered to make a reconnoissance, but to retreat immediately if the breach is not practicable."
"But I was ordered to storm," I replied; "and the breach, though small, is deep, and seems to me quite practicable."
"Have with you, have with you, then," he said, "if you are so eager."
But what we had said had been heard by those behind us; and, though we had been still advancing while we spoke, the men began to waver. It was a critical moment; and, waving my sword over my head, I cried aloud, "To the breach! To the breach!"
My own men took it up, shouting, "To the breach! To the breach!" His men followed, and, dashing forward with jealous rivalry of each other, we climbed the height, and though, as we came nearer, the shots of the enemy told terribly among us, rushed up furiously to the foot of the wall. There was an immense deal of broken rubbish, earth, and stones to be passed, which had been cast down by the fire of the battery, and a tremendous discharge of musketry welcomed us at the top; but still we rushed on, while the regiment which had advanced to support us now caught the spirit of the assault, and, doubling its pace, crossed the valley and charged up the hill. On we pressed, as hard as we could go, with the stones and earth slipping away under our feet, all staggering, some falling, and only thankful that the dense smoke of the enemy's fire rolled into the breach, and prevented them from taking any very certain aim.
When first we arrived at the foot of the wall the breach was crowded by arquebusiers; but they began to fall back as we climbed over the piles of rubbish, and when we were near the top only five or six men remained, of whom one rushed down several steps to meet me, aiming a pistol at me as he came, and firing within three paces. Striking my cuirass on the left side obliquely, the shot glanced off and entered my arm a little above the elbow; but it was a mere flesh wound, and only inconvenient. A blow of my heavy horse sword, however, dashed my adversary's casque down upon his head, broke the fastenings, and brought him on his knee; another blow, before he could ward it off, struck the helmet from his head, and, at the same time, inflicted a deep wound upon his forehead; and as he called out that he would surrender--indeed, he had no choice--I passed him back to the hands of Moric Endem, who followed me close, without seeing anything farther than that he was a young man of good mien. Genissac was now a step or two before me; but, rushing up, I was by his side in a moment, and in another instant we stood together at the top of the breach.
The interior of what was called the Park--a large, open space, forming a sort of Place d'Armes--was now before us, and, to my surprise, I beheld, drawn up on either side, and ready to charge at the moment we descended, a large body of men-at-arms, with their lances levelled, and supported by a considerable force of pike-men and arquebusiers on foot. Our men were rushing up, however, one by one, as fast as they could climb, to our support; Moric Endem, having passed on his prisoner, was close behind us; another slight-looking youth, armed only with a close-covering casque and cuirass, was upon my right, struggling up with difficulty over a steep part of the ruin; and giving him my hand, unfortunately for himself, I drew him up in a moment: Genissac was a little farther on the same side, with four or five of his followers, and, seeing the other infantry regiment coming up, I thought it not at all improbable that we might be able to force an entrance, notwithstanding the strength of the enemy in the Park.
All this was soon done; but I saw, at the very same instant, the regiment behind halt, a small party of horsemen gallop up towards us from our own army at full speed, and the arquebusiers from the Park open a sudden and tremendous fire upon the breach. Three men among us fell at once. Genissac, standing upon a high point of the broken wall, received a shot in his head and fell back, rolling over and over down the heaps of rubbish, writhing in the agonies of death; one of his men fell forward severely wounded, and a shot took the poor youth I had just helped up, and, entering his right side, laid him prostrate across one of my feet.
Still my own followers were coming rapidly up, several of Genissac's people were making their way rapidly to the top; and though it was impossible to face the force in the Park, now that the other regiment had halted, it was quite possible to effect a lodgment on the breach. Turning, therefore, to those who were following, and to the group of officers who had now ridden up to the foot of the wall, and were shouting up loudly to me, though I could not hear a word they said, from the noise of the small arms, I called to them to roll me up gabions and barrels, for that we could certainly effect a lodgment. My words were passed down by those who followed: but D'Andelot, whom I now saw at the head of the officers, shook his clinched fist at me, and shouted to me, as I found, to come down and retreat. The words were passed up to me, and with much regret, I own, I prepared to obey.
"We must retreat, Moric," I said. "We are commanded to retreat!"
But at that moment I heard a voice, which I thought I had heard before, from the casque of the young man who had fallen beside me, and who exclaimed, "Oh, do not leave me here!"
It would have been cruelty to do so, even had it been more difficult and dangerous to rescue him than it was; and, therefore, taking him up in my arms, I carried him down to the spot where D'Andelot stood, and to which several horses had been brought by this time for the purpose of removing the killed and wounded.
"You seem perfectly determined to get yourself killed, Monsieur de Cerons," said D'Andelot. "We only intended a reconnoissance, and poor Genissac has suffered for his folly in changing it into an assault."
"My orders were to storm, sir," I said, "and I have done no more than I was directed to do."
"We were wrong! we were wrong, Monsieur de Cerons!" said that great commander. "We wanted to try you: but Genissac had full orders how to act, and he should have obeyed them. Now take a horse, put yourself at the head of his men too, get them in order, and make the best of your retreat. You are pretty well sheltered here, but you will find the fire somewhat hot in the valley. Don't mind using your legs there, for you have shown sufficiently that it is not bullets you are afraid of."
I only paused to tell Moric to place the lad I was carrying on a horse, and take him carefully to the camp, and then obeyed the orders of D'Andelot. The matter was now a mere affair of discipline; the men followed my commands with alacrity; and, choosing the direction which seemed most sheltered from the fire of the garrison, I led them on without loss, and with but little haste and confusion, till, passing the battery which had effected the breach, I took up the same position with them which we had occupied in the morning before the assault began.
I acted altogether as I had learned from the memoirs of various distinguished knights and officers it was right and proper to do on such occasions; and, the moment I had reached the same spot from which we had started, I made the men wheel round again and face the city, as if for a new assault. They were all picked soldiers, and they did it with promptitude and precision; but in the troubled state into which the whole art of warfare had fallen in that day, this little evolution, which never would have been neglected in former times except in case of a complete defeat, excited the surprise of everybody; and a loud shout of applause burst from the regiments around. At the same time, the Prince de Condé, with the admiral and his companions, moved slowly forward to meet D'Andelot, who was now riding up the slope. After conversing with him for a few minutes, they all advanced towards me, and various kind and complimentary things were said, of which I only remember now the words of the Prince de Condé.
"We shall take care, Monsieur de Cerons," he said, "how we put you upon dangerous services any more; for your life will henceforth be so much more precious to us than it seems to you, that we must not suffer you to risk it without much need."
They then inquired closely what I had seen within the breach, which I explained to them as well as I could, expressing my opinion that by a strong effort the town might have been taken. Their better judgment and greater experience, however, showed them that such was not the case; and orders were immediately given for opening a battery in another place, on the heights of St. Ozani. As soon as this was determined, and orders given to that effect, the men were allowed to retire to their quarters; and I hurried down to the hovel assigned me in the hamlet, to see what had become of Moric Endem, my prisoner, and the wounded youth, for whom I felt a considerable degree of anxiety.