第41节 (第1/2页)

    【】phasked,in

    surprise.

    ”ineverfireatinfantry,”thepeasantsaid.”ithat

    didit,anditsonlyuhlansifireat.iputselfonarock,or

    ahillside,eorinathickwoodandi

    selfyts,andthengo.idonttobe

    killed,yet.ihavesetndonhavingfiftyjusttenforeach

    ofhelastofthefifty,thesoohey

    finish,thebetter.

    ”youdbetteotgoanyfarther,sir.thevalley,round

    theer;andthereareprussiansinthevillage.”

    ”thankyou,”ralphsaid,”butordersaretorenhe

    self,andistdoso.iaunted,andidontthinkthat

    theye,ifigetaupleofhundredyardsstart.

    therearefranctireursinthevillage,aleback.”

    ralphnohepeasantbato

    hishidingplacebythehegewidened

    intoabroadvalley,afeerging

    frohege,ralphatonong

    treesatadistaer

    hehadheard,hedarednotrideonfarther.hethereforedrewhis

    horseasidefroheroad,angsotrees;disunted,andde

    his

    ndaviehewholevalley.

    hisspot,helookedcautiouslyround.below,beyond

    thevillage,heuldseelargenuersofn;uldkeout

    linesofcavalryhorses,androillery.ansiderable

    ventthatthey

    toadvanhisiinhesaw,heprobablyexposedhis

    figuresoesharpsightedsentry,

    inthevillage.

    thefirstintitionofhisdangerbyseeingso

    tyuhlansdartsuddenlyoutofthetrees,inhevillage

    lay,atthetopoftheirspeedostatthesant,

    eightortenriflesflashed,andtheballsin

    stunpleasantpropinquity.ralphtuedinaninstant;and

    boundeddoherockhaspeedandrecklessnessof

    anyothernt,hehe

    paceatheuhlansheyillahundred

    yardsdistantin

    frontofthe

    thereenatfull

    gallopkebutpoorshooting.ralphfeltheouchedbut,by

    thenvulsivespringalwas

    herelittle

    differehibr>

    flag,aheher

    hundredyards,andtheanilstaggered;andwouldhavefallen,had

    notralphheldhiphkneeandbridle.

    theuhlanssfortheygaveashout,andapistolbullet

    ohishead.ralphlookedround.anofficer,ty

    yardsaheadofhisn,fortyyardsinhisrear.in

    hishandheheldarevolver,discharged.

    ”surrender”heshouted,”oryouareadeadn”

    ralphsatocarry

    outhisiionofdisunting,andtakingtotheh,

    here,begantoapproalosetotheroadandhe

    pointofthro,intokenofsurrender;whenhishorse

    fellheavily,,atthentheprussianagain

    fired.alstsiltaneouslyethe

    reportofagun;andthegernofficerfelloffhishorse,shot

    throughtheheart.

    ralph