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Article A PAGE FROM THE HISTORY OF NAPOLEON.* ← Page 9 of 13 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Page From The History Of Napoleon.*
xvild , and entangled with trees ; each rock appeared a mouth of fire , Avhich dealt out death . I had soon only four men beside me ; four Avere put hors de combat , and were staggering with their wounds * . they had , in fact , but one thing to do—to die . " The guerillas , Avho were nine in number , then left their retreatsurrounded uskilled my four companionsseized
, , , my horse ' s bridle , and one of them held the mouth of his blunderbuss to my chest , when a sudden light flickered upon the neighbouring rock : I saw the man stagger ; his xveapon fell from his hand , and I heard an explosion . A ball from the side of the rock had laid him dead .
" At the same moment I heard a voice , which cried to me in French , 'Do not surrender / This unexpected aid recalled all my courage ; xvith a blow from my pistol I broke the head of the Spaniard nearest to me . A second shot from the side of the rock overthreAv a third ; and I then saw a young man running bare-headed , his hair flowing in the wind , a pistol in
each hand , and a double-barrelled gun , yet warm from its recent discharge , throAA * n by means of a cross-belt over his shoulders . I made my horse leap backwards and joined this young man , AAithout speaking , othenvise than by looks ; we established ourselves behind an immense tree , when I threw myself doxvn , ancl made a rampart of my horse . We fired four times : three Spaniards fell ; there remained only three : but a ball pierced
my shoulder , and I fell . My young defender had expended all his powder , and the Spaniards again surrounded us . He seized my sword , and defended himself valiantly ; so valiantl y , that when I recovered my sight , after fainting for some minutes , I found him bathing my wound AA'ith some water from a neighbouring spring . The three Spaniards were dead ; he had
beaten one to death Avith the butt end of the pistol , ancl stabbed the two others . My womid was but slight ; I rose , and xvishing to express my gratitude , extended my hand to him . I then perceived that he was pale and covered Avith blood ; he had received seventeen wounds from a Catalan knife ; he had only time to return the pressure of my handwhen he fainted in my arms .
, Happily the firing had been heard , and a company of carbineers arrived at this moment ; I had my braA'e preserver conveyed to the camp : happily , his wounds , for the most part , are not serious . He has been , hitherto , delirious : but the doctor assures me he Avill live . "
" Where is this young man ? " inqmred the emperor . " Q uite near me;—in my tent . " The emperor made a sign to the colonel to give him his cloak , which had been throAvn upon a seat , and enveloping X'OL . I . v
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Page From The History Of Napoleon.*
xvild , and entangled with trees ; each rock appeared a mouth of fire , Avhich dealt out death . I had soon only four men beside me ; four Avere put hors de combat , and were staggering with their wounds * . they had , in fact , but one thing to do—to die . " The guerillas , Avho were nine in number , then left their retreatsurrounded uskilled my four companionsseized
, , , my horse ' s bridle , and one of them held the mouth of his blunderbuss to my chest , when a sudden light flickered upon the neighbouring rock : I saw the man stagger ; his xveapon fell from his hand , and I heard an explosion . A ball from the side of the rock had laid him dead .
" At the same moment I heard a voice , which cried to me in French , 'Do not surrender / This unexpected aid recalled all my courage ; xvith a blow from my pistol I broke the head of the Spaniard nearest to me . A second shot from the side of the rock overthreAv a third ; and I then saw a young man running bare-headed , his hair flowing in the wind , a pistol in
each hand , and a double-barrelled gun , yet warm from its recent discharge , throAA * n by means of a cross-belt over his shoulders . I made my horse leap backwards and joined this young man , AAithout speaking , othenvise than by looks ; we established ourselves behind an immense tree , when I threw myself doxvn , ancl made a rampart of my horse . We fired four times : three Spaniards fell ; there remained only three : but a ball pierced
my shoulder , and I fell . My young defender had expended all his powder , and the Spaniards again surrounded us . He seized my sword , and defended himself valiantly ; so valiantl y , that when I recovered my sight , after fainting for some minutes , I found him bathing my wound AA'ith some water from a neighbouring spring . The three Spaniards were dead ; he had
beaten one to death Avith the butt end of the pistol , ancl stabbed the two others . My womid was but slight ; I rose , and xvishing to express my gratitude , extended my hand to him . I then perceived that he was pale and covered Avith blood ; he had received seventeen wounds from a Catalan knife ; he had only time to return the pressure of my handwhen he fainted in my arms .
, Happily the firing had been heard , and a company of carbineers arrived at this moment ; I had my braA'e preserver conveyed to the camp : happily , his wounds , for the most part , are not serious . He has been , hitherto , delirious : but the doctor assures me he Avill live . "
" Where is this young man ? " inqmred the emperor . " Q uite near me;—in my tent . " The emperor made a sign to the colonel to give him his cloak , which had been throAvn upon a seat , and enveloping X'OL . I . v