Victorious, they will destroy us, not leave us an appeal to the law or to the throne." Placing himself a little in front of the troop, our Chief gave the signal to advance, and we moved forward.

It seemed to me a fatal error that no scout preceded us, no flanking party was thrown out.

This neglect reminded me that, my comrades and commander were devoid of military experience, and I was about to remonstrate when, suddenly wheeling on the rocky platform on which I had first paused in my descent from the summit, and facing towards the latter, we encountered a force outnumbering our own as two to one and wearing the colours of the Regent.

The front ranks quailed, as men always quailed under Esmo's steady gaze, and lost nerve and order as they fell back to right and left; a movement intended to give play to the asphyxiator they had brought with them.

Their strategy was no less ridiculous than our own.