Part 58 (1/2)

Vangilt pleaded and entreated in vain: at last, in his rage, he called the general ”a coward and a madman.”

”Captain Vangilt, you will answer that at some other time,” replied the general; ”at present we will carry our will into execution. Lead them away.”

Vangilt then covered his face with his hands, and all the other officers showed signs of great disgust.

”Farewell, Vangilt,” said I in French; ”I thank you for your interference, although you have not succeeded with the _scoundrel_.”

”Take them away!” roared the general.

At that moment the report of musketry was heard in dropping shots.

”Well, if ever I saw such a b.l.o.o.d.y villain,” said Cross. ”Take that, at all events;” continued Bob, shying his hat right into the general's face. ”I only wish it was a 32-pounder, you murdering thief.”

The rage of the general may easily be imagined. Once more he gave his orders, drawing his sword in a menacing way at his own soldiers, who now forced us towards the part of the square where the other victims were collected. As soon as we were there, they wanted to blind our eyes, but that both I and Bob positively refused, and a delay was created by our resistance. The musketry was now approaching much nearer; and a few seconds afterwards the general gave the order for the party to advance who were to execute the sentence.

The other prisoners kneeled down; but I and Cross would not; and while we were resisting, the general repeated his order to fire; but the men were confused with the advance of the enemy, and the impossibility to fire while Cross and I not only resisted the soldiers, but held them so fast, that had the party fired they must have shot them as well as us.

A cry ”To arms” was given, and the troops all wheeled round in front to repel the enemy. A loud hurrah was followed by an inpouring of some hundred Cossacks, with their long spears who, in a few seconds charged and routed the French, who retreated in the greatest confusion by the different streets which led into the Grand Place.

”Hurrah! we are saved,” cried Cross, s.n.a.t.c.hing up a musket that had been dropped by a soldier. I did the same, and pursued the retreating French, till a bullet through my leg put a stop to my progress. I called to Cross, who came to my a.s.sistance, and he helped me back to the Grand Place, which was now clear of troops.

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR.

The Cossacks having divided, and gone in pursuit of the French, I pointed out to Cross a hotel, and requested him to help me there. As we crossed the square, strewed with the dead and wounded, we pa.s.sed close to General Moraud, who was breathing his last.

”See, Cross,” said I, ”there is retribution. He intended that we should fall where he now lies.”

The general recognised us, gave a heavy groan, and, turning on his back, fell dead.

As soon as I gained the hotel, I was taken up into a room, and made as comfortable as I could be until my wound could be dressed.

”We're well out of it this time, sir,” said Cross.

”Yes, indeed, Bob; this has indeed been a miraculous preservation, and we ought to thank Heaven for it.”

”Why, Captain Keene, I thought just now you did not care whether you lived or died.”

”No more I did at that time, Cross; but when we are so wonderfully preserved, we cannot think but that we are preserved for better things; and as Providence has interfered, it points out to us that it is our duty to live.”

”Well, I'm glad to hear you say that, sir. There's all the troops coming back. What queer-looking chaps they are, with their long lances and long beards!”

”Yes; they are Cossacks--Russian irregular cavalry.”

”Irregular enough I don't doubt; but they spitted the French men nicely.

They look exactly what I thought the Pope of Rome was like.”

”Cross, call the master of the hotel, and tell him to come here.” When the man came, I desired him to let the commander of the allied troops know that an English captain was wounded, and required surgical a.s.sistance. The master of the hotel went to the burgomaster, who was one of those who had been ordered to be shot; and the burgomaster, who was now in company with the Russian commander, made known what I required. In about an hour a surgeon came, and my wound was dressed.

The burgomaster called soon afterwards, and expressed his obligation to me. ”For,” said he, ”if you had not created the delay--which you did by your resistance--it would have been all over with us by this time.”