Page:Statement of the attempted rescue of General Lafayette from Olmutz.djvu/18

 from the General’s throat, while Dr. Bollman held down him on whose arm Mr. Huger had fallen on both knees, as he threw it out to catch at the General. Roaring out at the top of his voice, and Bollman trying to stop him, thrust his hand in his mouth, and was severely bitten. Those in the phæton did not attempt to come to the rescue, and the driver sat still and gazed. The soldier presently ran back towards the town, shouting and waving his cap, to give the alarm. The two young men consulted a moment. Mr. Huger gave General Lafayette his horse, and a pair of pocket pistols he had brought at his request, and said to him, go to Hoff, one of us will follow you directly. General Lafayette got on the horse and moved off a little way, returned to the two men who were still holding down the officer, and asked again, is there anything I can do? No—go to Hoff, Mr. Huger repeated; we will follow; (had he only spoken in French, and said “allez a Hoff,” all might have been different, as it seemed the name of that village was unknown to the General, and he thought he was only told to go off.)

The two young men agreed to rise suddenly and release the prostrate officer, who struggled to his feet, glared at them a moment, and then