having marched ten leagues in eight hours. I regret bitterly that
my regiment was not on the field, for assuredly they would not
have given way. Had they stood, the rest of the infantry would have
stood."

"And in that case you would now be the pursuers," the colonel broke
in, "for Turenne completely shattered our right wing. Well, sir,
it is the fortune of war, and we at least have the honour of having
given your marshal a defeat. He is a grand general, but we caught
him napping today."

"It was not his fault, sir. General Rosen and his officers insisted
so strongly that unless they were allowed to move off in search
of forage, the whole army would be disabled by the loss of their
horses by hunger, that he was almost forced to comply with their
request."

"But, even so, he made a mistake," the colonel said. "If instead
of marching to meet us in front of Marienthal he had fallen back
directly he had the news of our coming, he could have been joined
by all his detached troops before we came up with him."

"He said as much to me tonight," Hector replied; "but even the
greatest generals are liable to make a mistake sometimes. And,
indeed, had General Rosen with the advanced division held the wood
in front of them, instead of retiring on to the plain, they should
have been able to keep you at bay until all our troops came up."

''Undoubtedly that was a terrible blunder on his part," the colonel
said, "and he rather than Turenne is to blame. And now, sir, may