And with their "lion-like hearts" they reached the crest of the hill
and, summoning all their remaining breath, dashed forward. But the
French, comparatively unwearied and, roused to the highest pitch of
combativeness by the appearance of the enemy directly in their front,
threw themselves upon them in greatly superior numbers, and after a
close fight, which by the front ranks of both forces was actually
conducted in certain places with steel weapons, forced them back to the
ravine. It was impossible to make a stand there, the poor Westphalians
were obliged to wheel, and tumbled heels over head down the slope
again, not without leaving a number of killed and wounded. The French
were close behind and reached the bottom of the gorge almost at the
same time. The Westphalians attempted to climb up the opposite side
again, and then those who were left behind witnessed a heart-rending
spectacle. The German soldiers were so utterly exhausted that their
limbs could not carry them up the ascent, gentle as it was. They sank
down in throngs as though paralysed, the muskets dropped from their
nerveless hands, which no longer obeyed their will, and the French
could seize hundreds of them and lead them away as prisoners, while
many fell on the way and were left lying on the ground by the foe.

Meanwhile a great bustle rose. The Eighth Westphalian regiment had
just come up and, while the batteries moved rapidly back toward the
village in the rear, the former, led by the general in person, dashed
down into the ravine to the aid of their sorely imperilled companions.
The French recoiled before the shock and a large number of the
prisoners were recaptured. Yet the first assault did not succeed in
dislodging the foe; the French obstinately maintained their position at
the foot of the opposite height, and when attacked there, amid great
loss, with the bayonet, retired step by step up the scarf and again
made a stand at its top. A double flank movement of the Westphalians,
however, compelled them to retire somewhat quickly, and the latter,
stimulated by the sight, pressed after them cheering.

But this favourable turn did not last long. During the struggle for
the possession of the valley, the foe had not remained inactive. New
masses of infantry were brought up, and in the distance cavalry
appeared, moving slowly forward.

Prince Louis had watched the course of the battle with increasing
excitement, feeling his heart altern