Page:Statement of the attempted rescue of General Lafayette from Olmutz.djvu/17

 road, the soldier and driver only in it;” presently Huger exclaimed, “he signs to us,” as General Lafayette shook a white handkerchief with his disengaged hand, at his back. The excited young men put spurs to their horses and dashed up together. (Had they slowly trotted, or walked up, all might have been very different in result, as Mr. Huger said afterwards.) As General Lafayette heard the clatter of their horses’ feet on the hard road, he seized the hilt of the sword worn by the officer, and tried to draw it from the scabbard. The latter immediately grasped the blade by both hands, which were cut by it, and they were struggling for the sword when the riders dashed up. Bollman dismounting first, held out the bridle of his horse to Mr. Huger, who failed to catch it, as the horses were alarmed at the flashing of the sword, or the struggle, and swerved at the moment. The horse dashed aside and galloped off. Huger quickly dismounted, passed his arm through his bridle, and joined the group. The officer had quitted the sword and seized General Lafayette by the throat, and as Bollman rushed against him, he fell, but dragged down the General with him, who faintly cried “il m’etrangle,” as Huger seized the hands of the officer and tore them