n to avenge his death, and burning with fury they
advanced against the enemy, yet preserving the most perfect steadiness
and order in their ranks.

In vain did Wallenstein and his officers strive to stem the attack of
the left wing, their bravery and skill availed nothing to arrest that
furious charge. Regiment after regiment who strove to bar their way
were swept aside, the guns near the windmills were captured and turned
against the enemy. Step by step the Imperial right wing was forced back,
and the centre was assailed in flank by the guns from the rising ground,
while Stalhaus with the right wing of the Swedes attacked them on their
left.

Hopeless of victory the Imperialist centre was giving way, when the
explosion of one of their powder wagons still further shook them.
Attacked on both flanks and in front the Imperialist centre wavered,
and in a few minutes would have been in full flight. The Swedish victory
seemed assured, when a mighty trampling of horse was heard, and emerging
from the smoke Pappenheim with eight regiments of Imperial cavalry
dashed into the fray.

Pappenheim had already captured the citadel of Halle when Wallenstein's
messenger reached him. To wait until his infantry, who were engaged in
plundering, could be collected, and then to proceed at their pace to
the field of battle, would be to arrive too late to be of service, and
Pappenheim instantly placed himself at the head of his eight regiments
of magnificent cavalry, and galloped at full speed to the battlefield
eighteen miles distant. On the way he met large numbers of flying Poles
and Croats, the remnants of the Austrian left, who had been driven from
the field by Gustavus; these he rallied, and with them dashed upon the
troops of Stalhaus who were pursuing them, and forced them backward.
The relief afforded to the Imperialists by this opportune arrival
was immense, and leaving Pappenheim to deal with the Swedish right,
Wallenstein rallied his own right on the centre, and opposed a
fresh front to the advancing troops of Duke Bernhard and Kniphausen.
Inspirited by the arrival of the reinforcements, and burning to turn
what had just appeared a defeat into a victory, the Imperialists
advanced with such ardour that the Swedes were driven back, the guns on
the hills recaptured, and it seemed that in this terrible battle victory
was at last to declare itself in favour of the Imperialists.

It needed only the return of Pappenheim from the purs