第46章

Not by the aid of weapons, but solely by the rapidity of his horse could he hope to reach his goal.He gave his steed its head, and encouraged it by calling to it.The animal did not disappoint the hopes placed upon it.It seemed to fly, rather than run over the trampled ground.The Cossacks, who attempted to intercept this single horseman, were unable to reach him.And of all the shots aimed at the bold rider not one reached its mark.

The volunteer orderly reached the brigade without harm.But he was too late; almost at the same moment the collision with the Russian infantry, which, in spite of their losses, had advanced steadily to the attack, took place.In order to sell his life and those of his brave troops as dearly as possible, Colonel Baird had given orders to form a square, in the midst of which the horsemen and the guns were placed.Many officers, leaving the saddle, had picked up the rifles and cartridge-boxes of those that were killed, and, levelling their bayonets, had taken their places in the front rank of the square.Breathing heavily, and covered with perspiration Heideck stopped before the Colonel and made his report.

But the brave Englishman pointed with his hand towards the Russians.

"Impossible," he said."We are destined to die upon this spot."Then he also dismounted and seized a rifle.From a thousand British throats a loud "Hurrah!" broke forth, for the Russians had reached the square, and a hand-to-hand combat took place.

The horror of this terrible struggle at close quarters, the English fighting with the struggle of despair against a foe outnumbering them many times, impressed itself indelibly upon the memory of the young German.He, too, had drawn his sword, but in spite of his personal relations, his political sympathies were not on the English side.

Suddenly he heard, close to him, a hoarse cry of rage, and, on turning round, perceived to his boundless surprise the face of Captain Irwin, terribly distorted by hatred and fury.He had supposed him to be with the depot in Chanidigot, but Irwin must have found an opportunity of getting away from that command.

Indeed, under the existing circumstances, it must have seemed equivalent to a severe censure, and Irwin had attached himself to the troops taking the field.He was now fighting in this death-struggle, rifle in hand, like a private soldier.The red blood staining the point of his bayonet bore eloquent testimony to his bravery.But in this supreme moment his country's enemies were forgotten in the sight of the mortal foe, the object of his personal hate, by whose courageous action the dastardly plot against Edith had been frustrated.Here were place and opportunity offered for satisfying the thirst for revenge, which consumed him.

What mattered the death of a single unit in the midst of this great holocaust?

Before Heideck could divine the intention of the wretched man he was attacked by his bayonet.It was solely the rearing of a frightened horse that saved the Captain's life; the thrust of the bayonet grazed the animal's neck.At the same moment the terrible sword-cut of a Russian fell upon Irwin's unprotected neck (for he had lost his helmet), and with such force that, with a hollow cry, he fell on his face.

Suddenly the curiously altered, now hoarse voice of the Colonel struck Heideck's ear: "What are you still doing here? Ride, for Heaven's sake! Ride quickly! If you should see them again, take my last loving messages to my poor wife and children! Stay by them!"The blood from a deep wound on his forehead was pouring over his face, and Heideck saw that only by the greatest exertion of will could he keep himself on his legs.He wanted to reply, but the Colonel had already again hurled himself into the tangled throng of fighters, and a few seconds later fell under the butt-end blows and sabres of the Russians.

Then Hermann Heideck turned his horse and galloped off.