little loss, de Malo leading the cavalry at once against the French reserves.  Among the cavalry commanded by Enghien the loss was very heavy, and included many gentlemen of the best blood of France.  There was no pursuit; half the French cavalry were far away from the field, the rest had lost well nigh half their number, and were exhausted by the fury of the fight; indeed, the fugitive cavalry were miles away before the conflict ended.  The gallant old general, Fuentes, expired from his wounds soon after the termination of the battle.

Hector was with the body of young nobles who followed close behind Enghien in the three first desperate charges.  In the third his horse was shot under him just as the cavalry recoiled from the deadly fire of the square.  He partly extracted his foot from the stirrup as he fell, but not sufficiently to free him, and he was pinned to the ground by the weight of the horse.  It was well for him that it was so, for had he been free he would assuredly have been shot down as he followed the retreating cavalry.  This thought occurred to his mind after the first involuntary effort to extricate his leg, and he lay there stiff and immovable as if dead.  It was a trying time.  The balls from the French cannon whistled over his head, the musket shots flew thickly round him, and he knew that ere long the attack would be renewed.

Fortunately the fourth advance of the French did not come directly over him, the commanders purposely leading their troops so as to avoid passing over the ground where so many of the young nobles had fallen.  Not until the last musket had been discharged and the cessation of the din told that all was over, did he endeavour to rise.  Then he sat up and called to two dismounted soldiers, who were passing near, to aid him.  They at once came up, and soon lifted the horse so far that he was able to withdraw his leg.  His thick jackboot had protected it from injury, although it had been partly the cause of his misfortune, for the sole had caught against the side of the horse and so prevented him from withdrawing it.  Nevertheless, his leg was so numbed that it was some time before he could limp away.  He retraced his steps towards the spot where he had mounted at starting.  He had not gone far when he saw Paolo galloping towards him.  The young fellow gave a shout of joy as he recognized him, and a minute later drew rein by his side and leapt off his horse.

“Thank God I see you alive again, master!  Are you wounded?”

“No; my horse was killed and fell upon my foot, and has no doubt bruised it a bit, otherwise I am unhurt.”