The ball was rather tight, and offered some resistance to the ramrod.

To load it carelessly would be to expose himself to lose his last chance; to take the proper care in loading it would be to lose his time, or rather it would be throwing away his life.

He made his horse bound on one side.

De Guiche turned round also, and, at the moment the horse was quiet again, he fired, and the ball carried off De Wardes' hat from his head.

De Wardes now knew that he had a moment's time at his own disposal; he availed himself of it in order to finish loading his pistol.