Availing themselves of the privilege attached to aides-de-camp, the three Englishmen traversed the plain in front of the grim line of the cavalry, motionless, but eagerly awaiting the signal to charge.
Reaching Egmont's side, De Fynes, as the eldest, bared his head and cried—
"A message, my Lord Count, from Lord Clinton!" and he repeated the message word for word.
Egmont had noted these three young Englishmen as they hung upon his words in Lord Clinton's tent on the previous night, and he knew the value of good English swords!
So he smiled as he said—
"Lord Clinton offers your services as my 'aides' to-day; be it so—fall in behind me."
They bowed their gratitude, then drew their swords and joined the ranks of the noble youths who followed the banner of Egmont and did him special and personal service.
Oh, how happy they were!
No fear, no misgiving beclouded their martial souls at that supreme moment!
Suddenly Egmont waved his sword aloft, and the clarions' shrill notes gave the eagerly looked for signal to charge, and with a wild "Hurrah!" the serried squadrons thundered down the slopes.