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Won by the Sword

G >> G.A. Henty >> Won by the Sword




"Not seriously, madam; but I feel somewhat faint from loss of blood,
and will remove my helmet. As it turned out," he went on somewhat
faintly, "it was unfortunate that I did not put on my body armour;
but I had not anticipated hard fighting, and preferred to ride
without it. Thanks for your offer, lady, but my men will see to
me, they are all of them pretty well accustomed to the bandaging
of wounds."

He was now, indeed, almost too faint to stand, and Paolo and Nicholl
seated him against a battlement, and then proceeded to take off
his upper garments and examine his wounds. They were all at the
back of the shoulder, as his assailants, pressed closely against
him, were unable to strike him in front. The lady tore some strips
off her garment and assisted in bandaging the wound, being, as she
said, well accustomed to such matters.

"Is all quiet on the stairs?" Hector inquired of the two men whom
he had placed on guard there.

"Save for the sound of some groans all is still, colonel," Hunter
replied. "Methinks that after being withstood for four hours by
six retainers they are not likely to make a fresh attempt against
six well armed men.

"What are they doing, Macpherson?"

"They are gathered in front of the chateau, sir. A large number of
things were dragged out before the flames reached them, and at
present they seem to be quarrelling over the division of them. They
have got some barrels of wine out of the cellars and are making
free with them."

"So much the better," Hector said. "The company will be up in half
an hour at latest, and will give them a lesson unless they move
away before that; and now that they have taken to drinking they
are not likely to do so."

The bandaging of his wounds being now completed, Hector was assisted
to his feet.

"I grieve, madam," he said, "that I did not arrive in time to
prevent the chateau being burned."

"The loss is not mine; my husband's estates were confiscated when
he crossed into Germany with the duke, and were some ten months
ago granted to a Monsieur de Thours, a relative of the Prince
of Conde; but he sent me a courteous letter to say that as he
was serving with the Duc d'Enghien, I was welcome to continue to
occupy the chateau until the war was over, receiving the rents as
his chatelaine, paying the retainers, and keeping up the establishment,
and sending the surplus to his agents at Nancy. This I was glad
to do, for, indeed, had it not been for his kind offer my daughter
and I would scarcely have known whither to go, as my husband expended
his last crown in equipping a force for the service of the duke."

At this moment Macpherson exclaimed:

"I see the head of a company mounting the slope, colonel."

"Yes, and there is Captain Mieville. Ah! he has halted the men, and
is riding forward alone to take in the situation. I hope that the
peasants won't catch sight of him." When Mieville reached a point
where he could obtain a view of the front of the chateau he checked
his horse, and after surveying the scene for a minute rode back
to the company. A movement was at once visible.

"He is extending them on each side," Hector said. "That is good.
He is going to inclose the peasants, and as from the slope in the
ground they cannot see the troops until they are within a hundred
yards, he will catch them in a trap."

The company moved round, in fact, until they had formed almost
a semicircle, then they advanced, closing in as they neared the
house. When they reached the spot where they could be seen by the
peasants a trumpet sounded and they ran in. The peasants, bewildered
at seeing the line of soldiers closing in around them, hesitated.
Some were already too drunk to rise from the ground on which they
had thrown themselves, the others caught up their arms and ran
together. Retreat was impossible, for behind them was the burning
house. Suddenly a stream of fire burst from the semicircle of
troops. Some thirty of the insurgents fell, the others threw down
their arms and fell upon their knees crying for mercy. The troops
were rushing forward to finish their work, when Hector shouted
"Halt!"

"De Mieville," he said, as the officer rode up towards the tower,
"do not shed more blood. Thirty at least have fallen in their
attack on this turret, besides those who have been killed by your
fire. Take the rest, disarm them all, let the men cut some stout
switches and give every man twenty blows well laid on the back,
and then let them go. Before you do so, send a dozen of them to
clear the staircase and to draw some buckets of water from the
well and sluice the steps down. Paolo, do you run down and find a
vessel of some sort and a goblet or horn, and bring up some wine
from one of those barrels. The ladies sorely need something after
what they have gone through, and I myself shall be all the better
for it, for the loss of blood has given me a raging thirst."

Paolo had no difficulty in carrying out the order. The rioters had
brought out several pails for holding the wine, a score of silver
cups and other vessels lay where they had been dropped when the
soldiers appeared, and the officer had placed two men on guard
over them. Paolo thoughtfully brought up a pail of water as well
as of wine. The ladies drank a little wine and water, while Hector
took a long draught, and made the two retainers who had fought so
stoutly, and his own men, do the same. In half an hour the staircase
was cleared and washed down, and the party then descended. The
baroness had told Hector that for the present at any rate she would
go to Nancy, and would report to the new lord's agents there what
had happened, and doubtless he would send a man to take charge of
the place.

"These cups," she said, "were all the personal property of my
husband, and I am therefore free to take them. Many of them have
been in his family for a very long time. Their sale will enable me
to live until I can form some plans for the future."

The several silver vessels were collected and wrapped up ready for
transport in some of the hangings that the rioters had torn down.
An outhouse adjoining the keep was cleared out and thickly spread
with rushes for the accommodation of the baroness and her daughter.
The troops had already had a very long march, and it was out
of the question that they could return to Nancy that night. Fires
were lighted in front of the house, and the soldiers prepared to
bivouac there. Three of the troopers were sent off with orders to
the captains of the other three companies to concentrate the next
morning at a village on the line that would be taken on their return
march. Some men were sent down to the little town of Blenfoix to
purchase bread and meat, together with torches and other necessaries.
At nightfall Hector posted sentinels, as he considered it quite
possible that the peasants would raise the country for some distance
round and try to take vengeance for the loss they had suffered.
When Paolo took some supper round to the two ladies, he returned
with a message that they hoped Colonel Campbell would join them
in their meal.

"See that the sentries are on the alert, Mieville," he said as he
got up from the fire round which he and the three officers were
sitting; "you must remember that these poor fellows are desperate.
Of course you and I know that they can do themselves no good by
attacking castles and burning chateaux, but were we in their place
-- famished, despairing, and ignorant -- we should doubtless do the
same. And although, with men as well disciplined as ours, there
would be little chance of the peasants overpowering us, they
may trust in their numbers, and would believe that if they could
destroy us, the whole country might well rise and join them.
Should there be any sign of trouble, call me instantly."

Two sentries had been placed at the door of the outhouse, and as
he entered Hector said, "Keep good watch, men, and if you hear
any noise that might betoken the approach of a body of men, warn
me at once."

"I heard what you said to the sentries, Colonel Campbell; do you
think that there is any danger?"

"No danger, I trust, madam, for I am convinced that we could beat
off any number. Still, I do think that there is a possibility of
our being attacked. The peasants know that we are but a company.
They may send to all the villages round and call on them to come
and revenge those who have been slain. The people of the hills are
strong fellows -- wood cutters, charcoal burners, and shepherds --
and there can be no doubt that they suffer terribly from the enormous
taxation. I have seen it on my own estate in Poitou, and can make
every allowance for them. In many cases the amounts they are adjudged
to pay are absolutely greater than their whole income. They are
forced to live upon bread made of bran and sawdust, to eat acorns
and beechnuts; they are gaunt with hunger; they see their children
dying before their eyes. They know not how their sufferings arise,
they only know that they suffer, and in their despair they turn
like hungry wolves against all who are better off than themselves."

"And your people, are they suffering as much as these, monsieur?"

"Not quite so much, perhaps, but they are suffering. I have spent
but a fortnight on my estates, of which I have only been master
for a year."

"And could you do nothing for them, monsieur?" the girl asked.

"I did what I could, mademoiselle. I remitted half their rents,
which was in fact but a small thing, seeing that I knew positively
they could not have paid them. Still it was no doubt some alleviation
to know that the arrears were not being piled up against them. As
to the other half, I told my intendant not to press any whom he
thought could not pay, and that if he drew enough to pay his own
salary and the wages of the retainers I should be content -- for
my pay as colonel is ample for my own wants."

"You are very young to be a colonel, Monsieur Campbell," the baroness
said.

"Very young; but I have had singularly good fortune, and have been
happy enough to please both Marshal Turenne and the Duc d'Enghien."

"And you have served under them both?" she said in surprise.

"I have had that good fortune. I was with Turenne for nearly four
years in Italy, and fought under Enghien at Rocroi, and I may say
under both of them at Freiburg."

"What is the name of your regiment, monsieur?"

"The Poitou regiment."

"Indeed!" she exclaimed. "Of course, we have heard all the particulars
of the battle; and it was said that General Merci would have beaten
Monsieur Turenne back had it not been for the Poitou regiment,
commanded by a Scottish colonel, and said to be the finest under
the command of the French generals. They say it stood for three
hours against the attacks of the whole Bavarian army."

"We were in a strong position," Hector said quietly, "at the mouth
of a defile, so that no more than our own numbers could attack us
at once. However, l am proud of the conduct of my men; none could
have fought more steadily than they did."

"My husband was killed in the battle against Enghien's army on the
hill. I am glad that it was not by your regiment, monsieur."

"I am glad too, madam."

"These wars are terrible, and we of Lorraine -- lying between
France and Germany -- suffer whichever wins. Fortunately we lie
at a distance from the roads that the armies follow, and therefore
have escaped the devastation caused all along the line of march.
Nevertheless we have the sadness of knowing that in the field
neighbours must fight against neighbours, and kinsmen against
kinsmen, for since the duke fled many of our nobles, seeing that
the country has now become part of France, have joined her, while
others, like my husband, followed the duke into Germany. However,
as an Irishwoman it matters little to me now which is the victor."

"Do you think of returning home, madam?"

"As to that, I have not yet made up my mind. The land there is as
distracted as is France by civil war. It is sixteen years since
I left Ireland with my husband, a few months after our marriage. I
was an orphan, and have no near relations to whom I can go, therefore
it matters little to me whether I live in France or Ireland, so
that I can see some way of earning my own living and that of my
daughter. With economy, the sale of the silver would suffice to
keep us for three or four years, and long before that I hope that
I shall be able in some way to earn my living."

Hector sat silent for two or three minutes. "It seems to me,
madam," he said at last, "that it would be better that you should
not spend the proceeds of your silver before looking for a post.
I can offer you one at once, if you will accept it."

"You, monsieur!" she exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, madam. It is bad for the vassals and tenants of a noble -- even
though a newly made one, and on an estate of moderate dimensions
-- when their lord is absent, and there is none to look after them
save an intendant, whose duty it is to collect as much rent as he
is able. Such is the position of my tenants. I am a soldier, and
must perforce be absent. What I need greatly is someone who will
fill my place in this respect. I have an old friend who is captain
of the garrison, and sees to all things in the household; I have
an intendant, I believe a worthy young man, who collects my rents
and looks to the feeding and needs of the servants and garrison;
but I need someone who would interest herself actively in the
condition of my tenants, who would be a friend to them in sickness,
would give aid from my purse to those who really need it, would
send food to the starving, and aid my intendant by advising him as
to who are worthy of relief and who are suffering from their own
idleness or thriftlessness -- who will, in short, act as I would
have my wife act had I one.

"Now, madame la baronne if you will honour me by making my home
yours so long as I am away at the wars, which may last, for aught
I know, for years yet, you will be conferring a great favour upon
me. You will have your own suite of apartments, where your meals
will be served to you. You will have horses to ride. You will
relieve my intendant of the necessity of seeing that the servants
perform their duties, and give him more time to devote himself
to the business of the estate, and will in fact act as chatelaine,
save only in matters connected with the garrison in the defence
of the castle."

"Your offer is kind in the extreme, Colonel Campbell, but I could
not accept it," she said. "You are only inventing such an office
in order to give a home to me and Norah."

"I can assure you, madam, that the thought is not a new one to me
-- I have often wished that there was a lady in the castle. One
who would see after the wives and families of the vassals; and
I should feel myself under a real obligation to you if you would
fill the place. You see, madam, it would cost me nothing, for food
and drink there is in abundance. I have two splendid horses, given
me by the Duc d'Enghien, standing idle in their stalls. I shall
be happy in knowing that my tenants would be well looked after, and
shall be glad indeed that you and your daughter, my countrywomen,
should, for the present at any rate, have a home."

The tears were streaming down the lady's face.

"Accept, mother," the girl said, putting her hand on her shoulder.
"Surely God sent this gentleman to our rescue when we were very
near death. Why should we not accept this fresh kindness at his
hands?"

Her mother looked up. "My daughter has chosen for me, Colonel
Campbell. I accept your offer with the deepest thankfulness. Were
I to refuse now, the time might come when I should be reduced to
such straits that for my daughter's sake I should bitterly regret
that I had refused your generous offer; therefore I accept it,
and thank you from the bottom of my heart."

"I do not wish you to see it in that light," he said with a smile.
"At best it is but an arrangement for our mutual advantage, and
I, on my part, thank you and mademoiselle most heartily for falling
in with my wishes."



CHAPTER XV: THE BATTLE OF MARIENTHAL


The decision had scarcely been made when one of the lieutenants ran
in. "Captain Mieville requests me to state that sounds have been
heard in the forest, and that he believes there is a large body of
men approaching."

"Then, ladies, I must beg you to mount the stairs to the turret at
once. I will place six men on guard there. The main body I must
keep in front of the chateau, as that affords a protection to our
rear. Do not be alarmed. I do not think the place is likely to
be attacked; but should it be, the six men could hold it for any
time. As soon as I have beaten the main body I will at once attack
those who may be assailing the turret, though I hardly think that
they will do so, for they know that there is nothing to be obtained
that would in any way repay them for the loss that they would
suffer. They are marching here for the purpose of attacking us."

He called to the two sentries.

"See the ladies up the stairs to the turret, and take up your post
on the lower stairs. Four more men shall join you at once."

He found that Mieville had already got all the men under arms, and
had ranged them between the bivouac fires and the still glowing
chateau.

"Move your men along farther, Mieville. Let your left flank rest
on the angle of the old castle, then we shall not be made anxious
by another attack on the turret. Let the right flank rest upon
the chateau where the old castle joins it. We shall then be in
darkness, while the assailants, if they come from that side, will
have to cross the ground lit up by the glow from the ruins. Let
the centre of the line be some ten yards in front of the building;
let the line be two deep."

As soon as this disposition was made he called down the six men,
as they were no longer required to defend the staircase.

"Now, men," he said when all were formed up, "I need not admonish
soldiers who were so firm under the attack of the whole of the
Bavarian army of the necessity for steadiness. I have no doubt
that if we are attacked it will be in considerable force; but it
will be by half armed peasants, and there probably will not be a
gun among them. But even peasants, when worked up into a state of
excitement are not to be despised. My orders are: The front rank
shall continue firing until they are close at hand, and shall then
fix bayonets. Until this is done the second line are not to fire
a shot; but as soon as the front rank are ready to repel the enemy
with fixed bayonets, you will begin. Don't throw a shot away, but
continue loading and firing, as quickly as you can; and unless very
closely pressed, let no man empty his musket until his comrade on
the right has reloaded, so that there will always be some shots
in reserve. Should they rush on in spite of the fire, I shall give
the order, 'Empty your muskets and fix bayonets,' and we will then
charge them. Hunter, you and your three comrades and Paolo will
keep close to me, and if we find the men wavering at any point we
will go to their assistance. If, however, we charge, remember that
you six men I told off to guard the turret are at once to pass
through the gates and take up your post on the steps, for some of
them may slip in behind us and endeavour to rush up."

The horses, that had been turned loose when Hector and the troopers
mounted the steps, had been seized by the peasants, and tied up to
some trees close by when the latter began to feast. They had been
recovered when the insurgents were scattered by Mieville's company
and had then been placed in the courtyard of the castle. As soon
as the alarm was given, Hector, the four troopers, and Paolo had
mounted. The three officers were also on horseback.

"In case the company charges, Mieville," he said, "we nine mounted
men can cover the rear and charge any of the insurgents who try to
rush in and take them in the rear. I hope that we shall keep them
off with our musketry fire; but I don't disguise from myself that
if they fall upon us at close quarters we shall have to fight
hard. Ah, here they come!"

Suddenly in the darkness from the other side of the chateau
a great crowd of men poured out, shouting and yelling furiously,
and brandishing their rough weapons, which shone blood red in the
glow of the fire in the ruins. Someone had evidently been placed
on the watch, and had told them where the troops had taken up their
post, for they came on without hesitation, bearing outwards until
they faced the centre of the line, at a distance of fifty yards;
then one of the men, who appeared to be the leader, shouted
an order, and they rushed impetuously forward. The front line at
once opened fire. Many of the peasants dropped, while the others
hesitated a little, and so gave the men who had first fired time to
reload; but, urged on by the shouts of their leaders, the peasants
again rushed forward.

"Fire a volley, and then fix bayonets!" Hector shouted. The fifty
muskets flashed out, and as the peasants were but fifteen yards
away every shot told, and their front rank was completely swept
away.

"Every other man in the second line fire!" Hector ordered, and
twenty-five shots added to the confusion among the peasants. The
slaughter, however, only had the effect of maddening the great
crowd, who numbered upwards of two thousand, and with a howl of
fury they rushed forward again. Hector waited until they almost
touched the row of bayonets, and then gave the order for the
remaining men to fire and all to fix bayonets. The instant this
was done he shouted "Charge!" for he saw that while standing quiet
his men were no match for the peasants, whose long poles with
the scythes at the end gave them great advantage over the shorter
weapons of the soldiers. With a cheer the latter threw themselves
upon their opponents, their close formation and more handy
weapons depriving their enemies of this advantage. Thrusting and
overthrowing all in front of them, the line burst its way through
the mob, the little party of cavalry charging furiously whenever
the peasants endeavoured to fall upon their rear, and the latter,
boldly as they fought against the infantry, shrank back before
the flashing swords and the weight of horses and riders.

As soon as they had passed through the crowd Hector gave the order
for his troops to face about, and they again burst their way
through the mob that had closed in behind them. Four times was the
manoeuvre repeated, the resistance growing fainter each time, as
the peasants found themselves unable to withstand the charge of
the disciplined troops. When for the fifth time they reached the
gate of the castle the crowd no longer pressed upon their rear,
but stood hesitatingly some fifty yards away. Hector took advantage
of the pause, and ordered his men, who were panting from their
exertions, to load again. He formed them in single line now.

"Don't fire a shot until I give the word," he said; "then pour in
your volley, fix bayonets instantly, and charge."

Standing in the shade as they did, the movement of loading
was unobserved by the peasants, who, as they saw the line again
advancing, prepared to meet them, but gave a yell of surprise when
a terrible volley was poured into them at a distance of twenty
yards. Then, before they had recovered from their surprise, the
long line was upon them with levelled bayonets. Only a few stood
their ground. These were instantly overthrown. The rest, throwing
away their weapons, fled in all directions.

"Thank God that is over!" Hector said, as he told the troops to halt
and reload. "If they had all been as courageous as their leader
they would have annihilated us, but each time we charged I observed
that a considerable number fell away on either flank, so that it
was not a solid mass through which we had to make our way. What
is our loss, Mieville?"

"I rode along the line and counted the numbers. There are but
seventy-five on foot," he said, "and most of these have got more
or less severe wounds with their ugly weapons."

"Let the ground over which we have passed be carefully searched,"
he said, "and any of our men who show signs of life be carried in
front of the chateau."

Twelve men were found to be living; their wounds were at once
attended to and bandaged.

"I think most of them will do," Captain Mieville said. "They are
ugly looking gashes, but it is not like a bullet in the body."

The men who had been killed were found in most cases to have been
slain outright from the blows of hatchets, which had in several
cases completely severed their heads. While the wounds of the
soldiers were being attended to, Hector went to the gate at which
the baroness and her daughter were now standing.

"You are unhurt, I hope," the lady said as Hector approached.

"I have two or three more wounds," he said, "but, like those I had
before, they are of little account."

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