quebuses and musketoons drew up behind them. We thus
presented a formidable front, while a deep ditch on either side
prevented our being taken in flank. The Spaniards, nothing daunted,
however, galloped forward. We received them firmly. Several saddles
were emptied of their riders, and five or six of the leading horses
slain or badly wounded. The bodies of the animals encumbering the road,
prevented the advance of those in the rear, thus giving time to us to
reload our fire-arms, while the Spanish commander, seeing that he could
not break through our line, gave the order to his men to wheel about and
retire. Several others were shot as they fled, but their fleet horses
soon carried them out of reach of our fire-arms. On seeing this, our
brave leader gave the order to his followers to retreat towards the
boats. But before we had made good fifty yards, the Spaniards had once
more wheeled about, and came galloping at a furious pace towards us.
Again we threw ourselves into the same position as before. Thundering
over the ground came the Spanish horsemen, with the determination of
crushing us. The artisans of Antwerp, however, well-trained to arms,
were not men to be cut down without fighting hard, when given the
opportunity of resisting in a body. Still the Spaniards charged
courageously, and several of the front rank were cut down, while others
were killed or wounded by the discharge of their musketoons. The places
of those who were killed were instantly supplied by others from the
rear, and once more the cavalry had to retreat. At that instant a man
came running up from the bank of the river, which was elevated
considerably above the ground on which we stood, with the alarming
intelligence that a body of musketeers was seen in the distance
advancing towards us. Those dreaded musketeers! even the bravest well
knew that we could not hope to withstand them! The possibility that
Aveline might be among those we saw on the banks gave courage to my arm,
and made me resolve to fight to the last, in order to stop the progress
of the hated Spaniards. Once among that crowd of helpless women and
children and old men, I knew too well the fearful havoc they would
commit. The atrocities which they had been guilty of at Valenciennes
and many other places were still too fresh in our memory not to be
thought of. Once more, therefore, we retreated, facing the foe, who
again galloped towards us.

On looking round as we app