Book-bot.com - read famous books online for free

Massacres of the South (1551-1815) - Celebrated Crimes by Alexandre Dumas père
page 76 of 294 (25%)
his own eyes if the investment was complete, he ordered his troops to
fall into rank on the top of the mountain, giving the command to Ravanel
and Catinat, and with a pair of pistols in his belt and his carbine on
his shoulder, he glided from bush to bush and rock to rock, determined,
if any weak spot existed, to discover it; but the information he had
received was perfectly correct, every issue was guarded.

Cavalier now set off to rejoin his troops, passing through a ravine, but
he had hardly taken thirty steps when he found himself confronted by a
cornet and two dragoons who were lying in ambush. There was no time to
run away, and indeed such a thought never entered the young commander's
head; he walked straight up to them. On their side, the dragoons
advanced towards him, and the cornet covering him with his pistol, called
out, "Halt! you are Cavalier; I know you. It is not possible for you to
escape; surrender at discretion." Cavalier's answer was to blow out the
cornet's brains with a shot from his carbine, then throwing it behind him
as of no further use, he drew his two pistols from his belt, walked up to
the two dragoons, shot them both dead, and rejoined his comrades
unwounded. These, who had believed him lost, welcomed him with cheers.

But Cavalier had something else to do than to celebrate his return;
mounting his horse, he put himself at the head of his men, and fell upon
the royal troops with such impetuosity that they gave way at the first
onset. Then a strange incident occurred. About thirty women who had
come to the camp with provisions, carried away by their enthusiasm at the
sight of this success, threw themselves upon the enemy, fighting like
men. One young girl of about seventeen, Lucrese Guigon by name,
distinguished herself amongst the others by her great valour. Not
content with encouraging her brethren by the cry of "The sword of the
Lord and of Gideon!" she tore sabres from the hands of the dead dragoons
DigitalOcean Referral Badge