"Je S9ais bien qu'il faut perdre, qu'il faut gaigner, et n'y a
rien d'imprenable ; mais desirez cent mil fois plustost la mort si
tous moyens ne vous deflaillent, que dire ce mechant et vilain mot :
'Je la rekds.'" — Comment, de Montluc.
CHAPTER I.
THE FIRST RETREAT.
Many winters, as we are told by the old men of the dis-
trict, have passed since human beings first settled in the
land of Ohet, a somewhat extensive valley of varying
breadth, traversed by a winding stream running south-
ward till it flows into a great river.
The sides of the valley present a series of hills of
moderate height, descending by gentle slopes where it
widens, and more abruptly where it narrows. On the
steeper hill-sides grey crags jut out, and the ground is
strewn with fragments of rock. Ascending the stream for
some three hours' walk from the point where it joins the
great river, we find on the right another stream separat-
ing into several small branches in a more elevated val-
ley. In summer, some of these branches dry up, others
form pools, whose banks are covered with reeds and water-
lilies. The inhabitants of the vale dread this valley, which
they believe to be haunted by evil spirits. It is dangerous

B



2 ANNALS OF A FORTRESS.
