"Take care!" laughed Roger good-humouredly, "and don't let that madcap get you into mischief. I shouldn't be surprised if he tries to get his information from Cossé himself."
"I would," declared Felix merrily, "if he gave me half a chance; but we must really go; the Admiral"—and he drew himself up with an air of assumed importance—"depends upon us."
"Good-bye," laughed Roger, "you won't be a prisoner long; we will capture the marshal and exchange him for you!"
"Monseigneur would make a poor bargain if he agreed to that!" said my comrade, as we went off light-heartedly.
"Shall we take Jacques?" I asked, as we hurried along.
"He has settled that question for himself," returned Felix in high glee; "he is saddling his own animal as well as ours."
"What does the Admiral wish to learn?"
"The enemy's numbers. The reports are conflicting and range from five thousand to thirty, but we will discover the truth for ourselves before the morning."
"At any rate we will do our best. There is Jacques; he has lost little time; the horses are ready. My pistols, Jacques!"
"They are in the holsters, monsieur, and loaded."