Part 41 (1/2)

”I should think you had better remain here, Captain Kennedy. There is likely to be a great battle fought, in a few weeks; but if the rumours we hear are correct, we may not be here very much longer.

Certainly I hope there will be no change until then, for if we win the battle, and so relieve Spain from the risk of invasion for a time, we can leave the country with a better grace, as Philip would then only have to battle with his rebellious subjects in Catalonia.”

”I should certainly not wish to leave when a great battle is about to be fought,” Desmond said, ”and will, therefore, continue to serve under the Marshal de Bay until it is certain what is going to be done.”

In a short time a general movement of the troops, both Spanish and French, began. Desmond and the other aides-de-camp were actively employed in keeping up communication between the various columns, which were to a.s.semble near Badajos. Moving forward at the same rate as the troops, the march was a pleasant one. It was April now, the country looked bright, and the heat was not too great for marching.

The marshal had gone on with the greater portion of his staff, Desmond having been detailed to accompany the division from Toledo. When within two days' march of Badajos, an orderly brought a note from the marshal, requesting him to ride forward at once.

This he did without loss of time.

Marshal de Bay had taken up his quarters at Badajos, and on arriving in the town, Desmond alighted at the governor's house.

”It was a stupid mistake of mine,” the head of the staff said, ”in sending you on detached duty. I forgot at the moment, when I nominated you, that your knowledge of the locality would be invaluable to us. I only thought of it yesterday when, on the marshal asking for some information on this matter, I pulled out your report. He examined it and said, 'This is very complete and valuable, Colonel. Whom is it made by?'

”'By an officer of your staff, sir, Captain Kennedy.'

”'Where is he?'

”'He is coming down with the Toledo column, sir.'

”'Please send for him at once,' he said. 'One of the others should have been detached for that service. He is just the man we want here.'

”Accordingly we sent for you, and here you are.”

”This is an excellent report of yours, sir,” the duke said, when the colonel introduced Desmond to him. ”As we came down, I noticed that the roads had, in many cases, been thoroughly repaired at the points mentioned in your report as being particularly bad, and the bridges in many places greatly strengthened. Had it not been for that, I do not know how I should have got my guns along.

”And now, sir, I want to ask you a few questions as to the road on the other side. By your report, I see that you consider the road through Campo Mayor to be the only one by which an army could move, and that a large body of workmen must be employed to make the other road fit for the pa.s.sage of cannon.”

He then asked a number of questions concerning this road.

”I see,” he said, ”you have marked several places, in your report, where an enemy coming down that road could post themselves strongly, and others which might be defended to advantage by us.”

”Yes, sir; but of course, the suitability of those places would depend largely upon the respective strength of the armies.”

The marshal nodded approvingly.

”From all I hear from our agents in Lisbon,” he said, ”the enemy's forces will be superior to our own in numbers, but the main portion are Portuguese, who have shown very little fight, hitherto. Their cavalry are almost entirely Portuguese. The only really fighting portion of their forces are the English and Dutch, who are most formidable foes; but against these we have our French regiments, on whose bravery we can rely. Were it not that I think the Portuguese will probably, as at the battle of Almanza, fly as soon as the engagement begins, I should fall back and take up a strongly defensive position. As it is, in spite of their superior numbers, I think we can meet them on an equal field.”

The conversation lasted over an hour, and then Desmond retired, leaving Colonel Villeroy with the marshal. As he left the house, an officer standing at the door seized his hand.

”My dear Kennedy,” he said, ”who would have thought that we should have met again here!”

Desmond staggered back. He could not, for a moment, believe the evidence of his eyes and ears.

”Why, O'Neil, I thought you were dead.”

”I am worth a good many dead men, yet,” the other one laughed.

”Let us go into this wine shop and crack a bottle. We can then talk over matters quietly.”

”And O'Sullivan, is he alive too?” Desmond asked.