The War of Women Volume 2

ag of truce at ?le Saint-Georges, as Canolles was making his round upon the ramparts about two in

e introduced, and handed

a small letter, longer than it was wide, written in a fine, slig

t beat faster at the m

it to you?

y-five to sixt

oustache a

es

htly

es

ary be

es

t's

louis, and motioned to

aled himself in the corner of a bastion,

d only thes

are no longer worthy of me, show y

ompée; he looked to see if anybody was looking at him, and blushing like a child over his

ld follow the course of the Garonne well-nigh a league,

be seen upon

't come by daylight; they have probably halted to res

behind him, and turned

e Vibrac, what ne

e princes' flag will float ove

says

come in, and have seen the prep

d you make when

t was all the same to me so lon

le my answer

ter; and the men will fight like lions w

s all I ask. What do they say a

ng a surprise for us," sai

his is the second warning I have r

land forces, Espagnet, councillo

olles; "I have a litt

ho

counc

t is

, well-disciplined regiment, who can show the t

n more or less of a soldier before he became a man of the law, for he h

ailles r

es

d regi

ver, it seems, bag and b

s in c

de Ra

dee

u know

rd. In that case it will be warmer than

our orders,

reach. One half will stand guard, while the other half sleeps. Those who are on guard will keep out of

bod

. select ten or twelve of your worst soldiers;

too many of th

morning. Let them go and throw their lines in the Garonne, and set their snares in the fie

t under

ely unprepared for them? These men, who know nothing, will take their oaths with an air of sincerity

excel

, let him disembark, le

shall we f

fired from our ranks before I order it, the

deu

carried on like a hunting party. Let Messieurs les Bordelais laugh, and l

fficers, who looked at one another in amazement. There were two men

ahead two hours, as he had determined not to leave the ramparts fr

be long before you are re-enforced. The king is coming, Monsieur de La Meilleraie i

before them. Nanon," added Canolles, with a

are in command

may be killed. Nanon, what would you do

Nanon, smilin

t; if you have to take to the water, four of my people who are good swimmers

ss, Canolles; if you are k

and went to the window, which looked upon the river, and before the end

d have fol

e it. If I knew that you were outside, exposed to the slightest danger, I would

more brilliant in hue from the pallor of

that enemies and friends alike

ply with his wishes, so responsive to his will. He had hardly reached his post ere the night came dow

se of the stream and both its banks. There was no moon; a veil of dark clouds overhu

ing upon the left bank, and gigantic shapes gliding along the surface of the stream

les thought that he must have been mistaken, but he redoubled his watchfulness;

hree, and the slow, mournful rever

was on the point of retiring, when Lieutenant de Vibrac, who stood beside him, sud

o and wake the men who are off duty, and station them behind the wall.

es

ell them

there was a very pronounced eminence on the bank, which did not exist the night before. It was a battery of six guns which Monsieur de La Roch

d, and upon being answered in the affirm

to which, as we know, he formerly belonged. In the prow of one of the foremost boats was Baron de Ravailly, who had succeeded him in command of his company, and

Rochefoucauld will have to wake them up with his cannon. Peste! h

paterfamilias," said Ravailly; "he's afraid his men w

nother, "there's not a

epping ashore, "wake up, up ther

last pleasantry, and while three or four boats pulle

court. Let us return him courtesy for courtesy, messieurs, and kill no one. Once in the fort, mercy for all, except for the women, who m

nd, which was given with true French gayety,

good to laugh, but we mustn't let it interfere wit

rth long ladders from the boat

his head, like a man who was taking the fresh morning air for ple

ough for him to

aid to the regiment; "good-morning,

imed the young officers; "ar

g of Yvetot here,-early to bed, and late to rise; bu

d think that you might see. We are

e you here to

your ol

began t

ailly, "you surr

surrendering. How happens it that Na

over we concluded that Mazarin was a downright rascal, unworthy to be

I am an enthusi

ur people there

from a distance, and it brings bad luck to touch them. Ravailly, bid them not touch the chains, or I'll f

d the captain. "Let yourself b

s! Ravailly, beware, I beg you, for it

ges the kin

into the water, and put the ladders aboard, or I fire. If you want to talk, come alone or with Remonen

ed his men with a glance. Meanwhile a

uming the firm attitude and serious demeanor befitting a ma

er word or step, or I fire, as truly as the king's flag is abo

ed with his strong arm the first ladder that

d were overturned with it. They fell, and a great shout of laughter arose from

cate that the besiegers had passed the ch

eized a ladder and prepared to

lles! Escalade!

d Canolles, "I beseech y

d kept silent hitherto, flashed and roared, and a c

s cane, "if you will have it so! Fir

n at the parapet, a girdle of flame enveloped the crown of the wall, while the deton

em with fresh ardor. The shore battery replied to the battery on the rampart; a cannon-ball s

and saw that his men ha

the order was executed

rst in pieces; the cannon-balls knocked holes in the walls, and were flattened on the great fla

st amount of damage. "Vibrac," said he, "do you look out for Ravailly, and see

loading and sighting them; in an instant three of the six guns on shore were dismounted, and fifty men were

lly them, was struck by a fragment of ston

ery to do the rest, and ran back to repel the assault, which was

ground, but had received

oubled the courage of his troops, w

nt, my dear friend; I did it, as you may see, to dismount Monsieur

it amid the terrific uproar of artillery and musketry,-led his men to the assault for the third tim

firm hand and sure eye;

or he saw who fired the shot. "

n was forced to halt, and his sword fell from his h

ressed, Ravailly?" cried Canolles. "I have a surge

t any moment, for I will come, I promise you. Th

They are running over yonder. Au revo

ed men or more. The naval contingent had fared little better. The greatest loss was sustained by the Navailles regiment

raised hi

ll let them retreat unmolested;

ue the fire. The assailants retired in hot haste, taki

he had four killed and sixteen wounded.

w, my dear, to make me earn my governor's commission. What absurd butchery! I have killed a hundred and

but you are safe and

for the second bout! The Bordelais are obstinate; and, mor

ops to sustain him. Let them come, and the second time they will have a warmer reception tha

s not impregnable, I have discovered that already; and if my name were La Rochefoucauld, I wou

y n

in two by a cannon-b