town, saying that news had arrived on the previous evening that
the French were marching upon Heilbronn, that General Merci was
concentrating his army there to oppose the passage of the river,
and that the troops were to push on with all speed, leaving
their baggage train at Hall. Hector at once decided that, with the
Bavarian army gathering in front, it would be madness to endeavour
to push on, and that indeed it would be far better to fall back
until the direction of the French march was fully determined, when
they could make a detour and come down upon their flank without
having to pass through the Bavarian army. He did not, however, care
about remaining in Hall, which might be occupied by the Bavarians
if they fell back, and they therefore, after entering the town
with the waggons, purchased a store of provisions, and, going out
again, established themselves in a small farmhouse, whose occupants
had deserted it and fled into the town upon hearing that the French
were but some thirty miles distant.

Every day Hector went into the place to gather news, and learned
that Wimpfen had been captured by the French by a sudden assault,
and that they had crossed the Neckar. On returning he at once
started with Paolo, but on approaching the Neckar learned that the
French had marched on to Rothenburg. They fell in, however, with
a detachment which had been left on the Neckar. Hector found among
them several officers to whom he was known, and, borrowing Paolo's
money, fitted himself and follower out again, bought a couple of
horses that had been captured from the Bavarians, who had, he learned,
retired to Franconia, and set out to join the army. Rothenburg
had been, he found out on his arrival, captured in a few hours,
and the main body of the French had marched to Dinkelsbuhl, and
there he came up with them. He had learned from the party on the