Cid, fired by this sudden call upon his speed, and
feeling himself loosed--rarest of events--to do his best, shook the foam
from his bit, and opening his blood-red nostrils to the wind, crouched
lower and lower; until his long neck, stretched out before him, seemed,
as the sward swept by, like the point of an arrow speeding resistless to
its aim.

God knows, as the air rushed by me and the sun shone in my face, I cried
aloud like a boy, and though I sat still and stirred neither hand nor
foot, lest I should break the good Sard's stride, I prayed wildly that
the horse which I had groomed with my own hands and fed with my last
crown might hold on unfaltering to the end. For I dreamed that the fate
of a nation rode in my saddle; and mindful alike of Simon's words, 'Bid
him look to himself,' and of my own notion that the League would not be
so foolish as to remove one enemy to exalt another, I thought nothing
more likely than that, with all my fury, I should arrive too late, and
find the King of Navarre as I had left the King of France.

In this strenuous haste I covered a mile as a mile has seldom been
covered before; and I was growing under the influence of the breeze
which whipped my temples somewhat more cool and hopeful, when I saw on
a sudden right before me, and between me and Meudon, a handful of men
engaged in a MELEE. There were red and white jackets in it--leaguers and
Huguenots--and the red coats seemed to be having the worst of it. Still,
while I watched, they came off in order, and unfortunately in such a way
and at such a speed that I saw they must meet me face to face whether
I tried to avoid the encounter or not. I had barely time to take in the
danger and its nearness, and discern beyond both parties the main-guard
of the Huguenots, enlivened by a score of pennons, when the Leaguers
were upon me.

I suppose they knew that no friend would ride for Meudon at that pace,
for they dashed at me six abreast with a shout of triumph; and before
I could count a score we met. The Cid was still running strongly, and I
had not thought to stay him, so that I had no time to use my pistols. My
sword I had out, but the sun dazzled me and the men wore corslets, and I
made but poor play with it; though I struck out savagely, as we crashed
together, in my rage at this sudden crossing of my hopes when all seemed
done and gained. The Cid faced them bravely--I heard the distant huzza
of the Huguenots--and I put aside one point