"We must save her in spite of herself," cried Philip, and he carried
her in his arms to the carriage. He came back to entreat his friend to
help him, and the two young men took the old general and put him
beside his wife, without knowing whether he were alive or dead. The
major rolled the men over as they crouched on the earth, took away the
plundered clothing, and heaped it upon the husband and wife, then he
flung some of the broiled fragments of horseflesh into a corner of the
carriage.

"Now, what do you mean to do?" asked the aide-de-camp.

"Drag them along!" answered Sucy.

"You are mad!"

"You are right!" exclaimed Philip, folding his arms on his breast.

Suddenly a desperate plan occurred to him.

"Look you here!" he said, grasping his sentinel by the unwounded arm.
"I leave her in your care for one hour. Bear in mind that you must die
sooner than let any one, no matter whom, come near the carriage!"

The major seized a handful of the lady's diamonds, drew his sabre, and
violently battered those who seemed to him to be the bravest among the
sleepers. By this means he succeeded in rousing the gigantic grenadier
and a couple of men whose rank and regiment were undiscoverable.

"It is all up with us!" he cried.