to lead the spare horse, which on alternate days was to carry
the double burden. Paolo carried the purse, which contained a sum
ample for the expenses of the journey. When all was ready the
adieus were said, and the baroness repeated the heartfelt thanks
of her daughter and herself for the kindness shown them. Paolo
took his place beside the ladies, the two troopers fell in behind,
and they started west, while Hector with the other two troopers
galloped off to overtake his company.

At Joinville they found that de Thiou's company had just marched
in, but it was not until the next day that the other two returned.
All had met with scattered bodies of peasants, but these had
dispersed as soon as the troops were seen, and there had been no
actual fighting except with the parties Hector had met. The bodies
of the soldiers that had fallen were buried near the chateau. Those
of the peasants were left where they lay, and would doubtless be
carried off by their friends as soon as the latter knew that the
troops had left. The lesson had been a severe one indeed, upwards
of two hundred and eighty being killed in the two encounters. The
insurgents were completely disheartened by their loss, and during
the rest of the winter the aid of the troops was not again called
for.

As soon as spring set in, the Poitou regiment marched to join the
marshal. The Bavarian army had been weakened by the withdrawal of
four thousand men to aid the Imperialists, who had been defeated
by the Swedes in Bohemia. Turenne, on hearing the news, at once
prepared to take advantage of it, crossed the Rhine on a bridge
of boats at Spires, and passed the Neckar, General Merci retiring
before him. Stuttgart opened its gates, and Turenne established