I wish our parties had been a little stronger for, after we have entered a village or two, we shall have to look after the prisoners." "I do not think it matters, Francois.

A dozen stout men-at-arms, like ours, would drive a mob of these wretches before them.

They will come out expecting to murder unresisting people; and the sight of our men-at-arms, in their white scarves, will set them off running like hares." "Let it be understood," Philip continued, "that if, when one of us gets round to the other side of the town, he should not meet the other party, and can hear no tidings of it, he shall gallop on till he meets it; for it is just possible, although I think it unlikely, that one or other of us may meet with so strong a party of the enemy as to be forced to stand on the defensive, until the other arrives." "I think there is little chance of that, Philip; still, it as well that we should make that arrangement." As they neared Niort, they met several fugitives.

From them they learned that, so far, the townspeople had not come out; but that the Catholics in the villages were boasting that an end would be made of the Huguenots that day, and that many of them were, in consequence, deserting their homes and making their escape, as secretly as they could, across the country.

When within two miles of Niort, a column of smoke was seen to arise on the left of the town.
"They have begun the work!" Francois exclaimed.