I was too quick for him, wrenching myself sidewise; but the rifle glanced all down one side, giving me for the moment a terrible numbing sense of pain.

Yet my head was quite clear, and I rode on, feeling a wild kind of exhilaration from the knowledge that with one quick thrust I had passed my sword through his shoulder.

Now I was urging on poor bruised and frightened Sandho to keep up with the dozen or so of our men who were trying to overtake the main body.

We were in no formation, only a galloping party; and, consequent upon my injury, I was last.

As we tore on we passed one of the corps trying to drag himself from under his fallen horse, which was lying across his legs.