Part 37 (1/2)

The imperial troops remained several months in Szolnok, during which time they had raised strong fortifications.

An extensive redoubt guarded the _tete de pont_ on the opposite side of the Theiss. Palisades were constructed to screen the _tirailleurs_ between the entrenchments, before which a little willow thicket concealed a battery of field-pieces.

Within the fortifications was the pontoon bridge, which the imperial army had formed after having burnt the great bridge in January.

Before the bridge could be taken, the enemy had first to drive the troops from their strong entrenchments, and should they even effect this, they would still be exposed to the cross fire of the redoubt and the battery concealed in the thicket, and it was impossible to make a circuit, for the Theiss surrounds two-thirds of the place.

Szolnok is built on the opposite side, and was protected on one side by the river Zagyva and the impa.s.sable mora.s.ses of the Theiss, and on the other by strong ramparts and entrenchments. Within the _tete de pont_ there were three half-moon bastions, well fortified, and protecting each other.

The terminus, which lay within gun-shot of a bastion running along the Theiss, was also strongly fortified by moats and artillery, whose guns commanded all the defiles leading to it; to the west stood a chapel, built on a knoll--the only elevated position near the place.

An a.s.sault from this side was almost impracticable, according to the rules of tactics, for these bastions could only be taken by a large force, with guns of great calibre; and, in case of a repulse, the besiegers would be cut off from all retreat, and exposed to the whole concentrated main body of the imperial forces in Pesth.

The Zagyva mora.s.ses alone remained partly unprotected, an attack from that side being considered impracticable.

Patrols were stationed along the right bank of the Theiss, as far as Czibakhaza, which served as a point of pa.s.sage to the Hungarians, though, according to the information of spies, there were no forces there at present, excepting a few reserve corps, the two Hungarian _corps d'armee_ having united at Torokszentmiklos, under Vecsey and Damjanics.

The attack was consequently expected from that quarter; and, according to the spies' reports, the day was fixed, and the station appointed on the opposite side of the Theiss.

There is a ferry between Szolnok and Czibakhaza, and the boat is guided by the simple means of a rope drawn across the river.

The boat was now on the opposite side, some persons having just crossed with the permission of the imperial party, who kept a patrol to guard the pa.s.sage.

On the evening of the expected day, two hussars rode up to the ferry from the opposite side.

”Do you see that boat?” cried the elder of the two, as they reached the bank.

”I see it, corporal,” replied the other, who appeared to be a recruit.

”Whether you see it or not, we must cross there.”

”Very well, corporal.”

”Don't argue with me when the order is to cross; we _must_ cross, were a thousand fiery devils on the other side!--Hej! come out, thou slug!”

he continued, knocking at the door of the boatman's hut.

”_Thou_, indeed!” grumbled a voice from within; ”I'll hear something more civil first!”

”No arguing, nephew, but turn out, unless you wish your house turned upside down, and yourself left under the clear sky!”

An old grayheaded man appeared. ”It is a long time since I was called 'nephew,'” he murmured.

”How old are you?” asked the hussar.

”Some sixty years.”