It was absurd. I gave a shout and spurred my horse.

"Hold hard, sir! Hold hard!" cried the huntsman.

He was uneasy for me, this good old man, but I reassured him by a
wave and a smile. The dogs opened in front of me. One or two
may have been hurt, but what would you have? The egg must be
broken for the omelette. I could hear the huntsman shouting his
congratulations behind me. One more effort, and the dogs were
all behind me. Only the fox was in front.

Ah, the joy and pride of that moment! To know that I had beaten
the English at their own sport. Here were three hundred, all
thirsting for the life of this animal, and yet it was I who was
about to take it. I thought of my comrades of the light cavalry
brigade, of my mother, of the Emperor, of France. I had brought
honour to each and all. Every instant brought me nearer to the
fox. The moment for action had arrived, so I unsheathed my
sabre. I waved it in the air, and the brave English all shouted
behind me.

Only then did I understand how difficult is this fox chase, for
one may cut again and again at the creature and never strike him
once. He is small, and turns quickly from a blow. At every cut
I heard those shouts of encouragement from behind me, and they
spurred me to yet another effort. And then at last the supreme
moment of my triumph arrived. In the very act of turning I
caught him fair with such another back-handed cut as that with
which I killed the aide-de-camp of the Emperor of Russia. He
flew into two pieces, his head one way and his tail another. I