You see, we are not allowed to ride beyond St.Ambrogio, or Rivoli at farthest, for once beyond that, we should be liable to be caught by the enemy's scouting parties.

Of course we have a strong force at Rivoli, but except to drive off small parties of the enemy who may venture to come up too close, they are forbidden to engage in any affairs.

It is annoying, but one can understand that the general is anxious to avoid encounters in which the enemy is sure to be superior in force, until his reinforcements come up and we are able to take the field in earnest." "I do not think we shall be otherwise than inferior in force even when our last regiment comes up," Hector said.

"What with Holland and the Rhine and the frontier of Spain, it is clear that the cardinal must have as much as he can do to enable all our commanders to make head against the enemy, and it is no secret that beyond one more regiment of cavalry that will arrive with Count d'Harcourt, no other reinforcements are likely to reach us for some time to come.

But then, you see, we have Turenne as well as d'Harcourt, and each of them ought to count for two or three thousand men." "Well, I would rather fight against long odds," the officer said, "than be kept here month after month doing nothing.