Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/265

Rh mode of attack. The Archers were barely four hundred yards ahead of us, and in order to cut them off we had only to cross a small field that was skirted by the high-road which they were following.

The Guardsman was in favor of adopting this course, and so surprising them by a sudden onslaught.

Such was my own view, and, setting spurs to my horse, I led the way. But Fortune, alas! had pitilessly rejected my prayers. Seeing five horsemen galloping towards them, the Archers at once concluded that it was with the object of attacking them. Fixing their bayonets and looking to the locks of their muskets, they prepared to defend themselves without a sign of flinching.

At this sight, which served but to fire the Guardsman and myself with redoubled ardor, the courage of our three dastardly companions suddenly forsook them. They halted as if by mutual consent, whispered a few words among themselves which I could not overhear, and then turned their horses' heads and made back, at full gallop, along the road to Paris.

"Curse the rascals!" exclaimed the Guardsman, who seemed to be as much aghast as myself at this infamous