Won by the Sword | Page 5

seeing that
everything is in order, that the outposts are properly placed and vigilant,
and that the soldiers have food, and such comfort as can be obtained.
Now let us go in and tell my comrades of your good fortune. There is
not a man in the regiment who will not be glad to hear of it. I will go
across with you myself to the colonel's lodging."
"But please, sergeant, do not say a word about my folly; only say that

the general, coming across a party of us playing at war, questioned me,
and finding that I was the son of a Scottish officer who had been killed
at La Rochelle, and that I had worked hard at getting up the history of
the wars, and longed much to go into the army, had promised to come
round the next day, and said that he might be able to aid me."
"I understand, lad. Yes, it is better that your foolishness should not be
known."
The colonel was greatly pleased when he heard of what had happened.
"I had intended myself to have asked for a commission for you when
you were a couple of years older," he said to Hector, "but I was by no
means sure of getting it, for the cardinal is not partial to the regiment.
Turenne, however, stands high in his favour -- in spite of the fact that
his brother, the Duc de Bouillon, has left Richelieu's party, and is
regarded by him as an enemy -- so we may be sure that your
commission will be at once signed. You must sup with me and the
officers of the regiment tonight. There is not one who will not rejoice
that your father's son has met with such good fortune, for assuredly you
could not have entered the army under better auspices.
"It is just like Turenne to have thus come forward to assist the son of a
brave soldier killed in action. As a rule, I am sorry to say that the
officers of our army concern themselves but little with the affairs of the
soldiers under their command. Of course in our regiment it is different,
as we have many gentlemen of well known Scottish families serving in
the ranks, and most of the others are our own clansmen, or come from
our dales. We all cling together as countrymen among strangers, though
indeed we can hardly regard them as strangers, seeing that Scotland and
France have ever been allies, and that our Queen Mary was a French
princess. And now that Scotland has given kings to England, and
English troops fought side by side with the French under Henry of
Navarre against the Spaniards and Guises, and, although not in strict
alliance, are alike enemies of the Spaniards, we can scarce feel
ourselves as strangers here. Besides, is not a French princess wife of
King Charles?

"I do not say that either England or France has altogether forgotten the
long wars between them, but that is a very old story now, and as long
as Spain threatens to extend her power over all Europe, so long are we
likely to remain good friends. If the power of Spain is once broken, old
quarrels may break out again, but I trust that that will not be in my time,
for assuredly the regiment, although willing to fight against all other
enemies of France, would refuse to march against our countrymen.
Now, Sergeant MacIntosh, I know that you must be anxious to get back
to your inn. You will have a busy time this afternoon unless I am
greatly mistaken. Leave Campbell with me.
"In the first place, it will be as well that he should not be down there,
for the fun is likely to get fast and furious. There is not a man in the
regiment who knew his father but will be drinking the lad's health, and
it were better that he should go tomorrow through the barracks and
shake their hands, than that he should be among them there. You can
tell them that I have taken the boy off, so that they may not think that
he stayed away on his own account. We will see him fitted out. It is a
matter that touches the honour of the regiment that the son of our old
comrade should make a fair show in the household of the viscount."
"The general has left me a purse for that purpose, colonel."
"It was a kindly thought, but let the lad start with it in his pocket. It is
our duty to see that he has everything befitting his father's son."
As soon as the sergeant left, the colonel said, "Now, Campbell, do you
go into the anteroom. I shall be