, 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."

"It has been terrible, master. I climbed up into that tree beneath which
we halted yesterday and watched the battle. I shouted with joy when I
saw Enghien clear out the ambuscade, and again when he drove the Walloon
horse away; then everything seemed to go wrong. I saw the marshal's
cavalry on the left driven off the field like chaff before the wind.
Then the centre broke up directly they were charged; and as the enemy
fell upon the reserve it seemed to me that all was lost. Then I saw
Enghien and his horsemen coming along like a whirlwind, bursting their
way through the enemy's horse, and in turn driving them off the field.
I hoped then that the battle was all over, and that the Spanish infantry
would be allowed to march away; but no, my heart fell again when, time
after time, our cavalry dashed up