By an early hour the following day Gaspard was ready, and after a hasty breakfast he took a tender farewell of his wife and children, though he well knew they would follow him to where the troops were to assemble. Katherine could only look with dread at the military display before her; but the two little boys clapped their hands with delight, and eagerly watched their father, as he fell into his place in the regiment to which he belonged. The order to march was soon given, and the bands struck up an enlivening strain. Katherine witnessed their departure with a heavy heart, and when she could no longer see them, she returned, sad and sorrowful, to her now desolate home.
On joining the Spaniards, the Germans found they were under the orders of the Spanish General, Don Leva, who had taken the command of the combined force.
They were soon before the fortress, which was well protected by high and massive walls, deep moats, and strong and lofty towers. Judging from the outward appearance of the fort, it might be thought capable of holding out for at least a time against any attack. It was, however, not prepared for the one about to be made.
Having drawn up his troops in readiness for an assault, Don Leva despatched a summons to the French general to surrender. A disdainful answer was returned; the Spanish chief in consequence vowed no quarter should be granted to those who had thus defied him. He ordered an immediate attack, promising, the soldiers, in the event of victory, that all should be given up to them that the fort and castle contained.
The German detachment was ordered to form the column of attack; Gaspard was soon foremost amongst the combatants. His regiment performed prodigies of valour: they swam the moat, scaled the walls, and after pursuing the French garrison to the furthest limits of the fortress, they returned with the purpose of taking possession of the place thus evacuated. Don Leva arrested their triumphal return, and was guilty of an unpardonable act of injustice to the German soldiers. The Spaniards, unfairly claiming the honour of the day's success, laid claim to the booty resulting from it; their commander yielded it to them, wholly setting aside the joint right of the Germans to share the spoil. They had borne the first dangers of the assault, and had carried all before them; and whilst engaged in pursuing the enemy, the Spaniards entered the castle, laid hands on all they could find, and spent the time in plundering and destroying.
On the return of the Germans, they were ordered by Don Leva to guard the different approaches to the castle, as if to protect those who were so shamelessly pillaging it. They obeyed, but with mingled feelings of anger and indignation, not only at the injustice shown to them, but at the excesses and rapacity of the Spanish soldiers. Gaspard was amongst these, and saw, with vexation, many pass him loaded with spoil, some of which he would gladly have had to take to his wife and children.
The Spaniards were carrying on the work of plunder, whilst the Germans, fatigued and disappointed, were gloomily looking on, when suddenly all parties were startled by clouds of dense smoke arising from the castle within the fortress, quickly followed by flames, which soon burst forth, and rose high above the smoke. Whether from some carelessness on the part of the Spaniards, or from a premeditated act on that of the vanquished garrison, it was clear that the castle was on fire. The terrible element soon lit up the whole horizon. Don Leva, knowing the place to be of some importance as a place of refuge, at once ordered the Germans to endeavour to arrest the progress of the fire. With the spirit of discipline and fidelity for which they were remarkable, these brave soldiers, led by their own officers, rushed to obey the order. Their efforts were unavailing. The devastating element made rapid progress; they soon found it was hopeless to attempt to check its course; some fled from the burning place, others lingered, hoping they might snatch something from the conflagration, whilst some few advanced into the doomed building to see if there were any in it whom they might be able to rescue from a terrible death.
Amongst the latter was Gaspard!
Smoke and flames met him as he advanced—still he pressed on. After passing through several apartments, which had apparently been lately stripped of all that once adorned them, he came to a smaller one, which had not yet been touched by the fire, nor by the rude hands of the plunderers, by whom it had probably been overlooked. It was, however, richly furnished.
Gaspard looked hastily around. What was his amazement on beholding, on a couch, a child sleeping soundly, unconscious of the danger which threatened it.