close upon us, and counselled me to make my escape into the
town with all speed. I intimated by a gesture that I could trust to my
horse, and we parted. He was scarcely out of sight when the bright gleam
of brass helmets came into view towards the west, and then I could make
out the shining cuirasses of the Corps de Guides, as, mounted on their
powerful horses, they came galloping along.

'I thought I was foremost,' said a young officer to me as he rode up.
'How came you in advance?'

'Where's the etat-major?' cried I, in haste, and not heeding his
question. 'I have a despatch for the Emperor.'

'Follow the road,' said he, 'and you'll come up with them in half an
hour.'

And with these hurried words we passed each other. A sharp pistol report
a moment after told me what had befallen the poor Hungarian; but I had
little time to think of his fate. Our squadrons were coming on at a
sharp pace, while in their rear the jingling clash of horse artillery
resounded. From a gentle rise of the road I could see a vast distance
of country, and perceive that the French columns extended for miles
away--the great chaussee being reserved for the heavy artillery, while
every byroad and lane were filled with troops of all arms hurrying
onward. It was one of those precipitous movements by which Napoleon so
often paralysed an enemy at once, and finished a campaign by one daring
exploit.

At such a time it was in vain for me to ask in what direction the staff
might be found. All were eager and intent on their own projects; and as
squadron after squadron passed, I saw it was a moment for action rather
than for thought. Still I did not like to abandon all hope of succeeding
after so much of peril and fatigue, and seeing that it was impossible to
advance against the flood of horse and artillery that formed along the
road, I jumped my horse into a field at the side, and pushed forward.
Even here, however, the passage was not quite clear, since many, in
their eagerness to get forward, had taken to the same line, and, with
cheering cries and wild shouts of joy, were galloping on. My showy
uniform drew many an eye towards me, and at last a staff-officer cried
out to me to stop, pointing with his sabre as he spoke to a hill a short
distance off, where a group of officers were standing.

This was General Moulon and his staff, under whose order the advanced
guard was placed.

'A despatch--whence from?' cried he hastily, as I rode up.

'No,