I have also ordered the wells to be poisoned." Jack looked grave.

"I own that I don't like that," he said.
"I do not like it myself," the count replied; "but if an enemy invades your country you must oppose him by all means.

Water is one of the necessaries of life, and as one can't carry off the wells one must render them useless; but I don't wish to kill in this way, and have given strict orders that in every case where poison is used, a placard, with a notice that it has been done, shall be affixed to the wells." "In that case," Jack said, "I quite approve of what you have done, count; the wells then simply cease to exist as sources of supply." "I wish I could poison all the running streams too," the count said; "but unfortunately they are beyond us, and there are so many little streams caused by the melting snow on the hills that I fear we shall not be able greatly to straiten the enemy.

At daybreak tomorrow I will mount with you, and we will ride some twenty miles along the road and select the spots where a sturdy resistance can best be made.

By the time we get back here most of the peasants who are coming will have assembled.