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.