He at first treated the news very lightly.

His correspondent, it seemed, had been, as usual, diligent and exact.

The Prince of Orange had sent out a detachment to protect his foragers, and this detachment had been magnified by fear into a great host.

But one alarming report followed another fast.

All the passes, it was said, were choked with multitudes of foot, horse and artillery, under the banners of England and of Spain, of the United Provinces and of the Empire; and every column was moving towards Steinkirk.