arer
and clearer every moment. Still the long line of wounded came on--some
in wide open carts, others stretched upon the gun-carriages, mangled and
bleeding. Among these my attention was drawn to one whose head having
fallen over the edge of the cart was endangered by every roll of the
heavy wheel that grazed his very skull. There was a halt, and I seized
the moment to assist the poor fellow as he lay thus in peril. His helmet
had fallen back, and was merely retained by the brass chain beneath his
chin; his temples were actually cleft open by a sabre-cut, and I could
see that he had also received some shot-wounds in the side, where he
pressed his hands, the blood welling up between the fingers. As I lifted
the head to place it within the cart, the eyes opened and turned fully
upon me. A faint smile of gratitude curled his lip; I bent over him, and
to my horror recognised in the mangled and shattered form before me the
gallant fellow with whom the very night before I had formed almost a
friendship. The word 'cold,' muttered between his teeth, was the only
answer I could catch as I called him by his name. The order to march
rang out from the head of the convoy, and I had barely time to unfasten
my cloak and throw it over him ere the waggon moved on. I never saw him
after.

A squadron of cavalry now galloped past, reckless of all before them;
the traces of their artillery were cut, and the men, mounting the
horses, deserted the guns, and rode for their lives. In the midst of
the flying mass a splendid equipage flew past, its six horses lashed
to madness by the postillions; a straggling guard of honour galloped at
either side, and a grand _ecuyer_ in scarlet, who rode in front, called
out incessantly, 'Place, place, pour sa Majeste!' But all to no purpose;
the road, blocked up by broken waggons, dense crowds of horse and
foot, dead and dying, soon became impassable. An effort to pass a
heavily-loaded waggon entangled the coach; the axle was caught by the
huge waggon; the horses plunged when they felt the restraint, and the
next moment the royal carriage was hurled over on its side, and fell
with a crash into the ravine at the roadside. While the officers of
his staff dismounted to rescue the fallen monarch, a ribald burst of
laughter rose from the crowd, and a pioneer actually gave the butt of
his carbine to assist the king as, covered with mud, he scrambled up
the ditch. I had but an instant to look upon his pale countena