into them by their still invisible foe, the enemy wavered. Their leaders,
shouting loudly, and exposing themselves bravely in front, called them on,
as slowly, and with heavy loss, the main body arrived within a hundred
yards of the hedge. Those in front were, however, falling so fast that no
efforts of their leaders could get them to advance further, and already a
retrograde movement had begun, when there was a yell of fear, as the
mounted troop, hitherto unnoticed, charged furiously down upon their
flank.

"Empty your rifles, and then to horse," shouted Major Warrener; and the
men dashed back through the tope to the spot in the rear, where four of
their number were mounting guard over the horses.

In three minutes they were back again on the plain, but the fight was
over. The enemy in scattered bodies were in full flight, and the cavalry,
dashing through them, were cutting them down, or emptying their revolvers
among them.

"Make for the village," Major Warrener said. "Gallop!"

At full speed the troop dashed across the plain to the village, whose gate
they reached just as a large body of the fugitives were arriving. These
gave a yell as this fresh body of horsemen fell upon them; a few tried to
enter the gates of the village, but the main body scattered again in
flight. The cavalry dashed in through the gates, and sabered some men who
were trying to close them. A few shots were fired inside, but resistance
was soon over, and the male inhabitants who remained dropped over the wall
and sought refuge in flight. A bugle call now summoned the other troop
from pursuit, and the women and children being at once, without harm or
indignity, turned out of the village, the conquerors took possession.