e eagle from the pole, one of the numerous cannon-balls which
the Russians were sending at us went through the hinder peak of my hat,
less than an inch from my head. The shock was all the more terrible
since my hat, being fastened on by a strong leather strap under the
chin, offered more resistance to the blow. I seemed to be blotted out of
existence, but I did not fall from my horse; blood flowed from my nose,
my ears, and even my eyes; nevertheless I still could hear and see, and
I preserved all my intellectual faculties, although my limbs were
paralysed to such an extent that I could not move a single finger.

'Meanwhile the column of Russian infantry which we had just perceived
was mounting the hill; they were grenadiers wearing mitre-shaped caps
with metal ornaments. Soaked with spirits, and in vastly superior
numbers, these men hurled themselves furiously on the feeble remains of
the unfortunate 14th, whose soldiers had for several days been living
only on potatoes and melted snow; that day they had not had time to
prepare even this wretched meal. Still our brave Frenchmen made a
valiant defence with their bayonets, and when the square had been
broken, they held together in groups and sustained the unequal fight for
a long time.

'During this terrible struggle several of our men, in order not to be
struck from behind, set their backs against my mare's flanks, she,
contrary to her practice, remaining perfectly quiet. If I had been able
to move I should have urged her forward to get away from this field of
slaughter. But it was absolutely impossible for me to press my legs so
as to make the animal I rode understand my wish. My position was the
more frightful since, as I have said, I retained the power of sight and
thought. Not only were they fighting all round me, which exposed me to
bayonet-thrusts, but a Russian officer with a hideous countenance kept
making efforts to run me through. As the crowd of combatants prevented
him from reaching me, he pointed me out to the soldiers around him, and
they, taking me for the commander of the French, as I was the only
mounted man, kept firing at me over their comrades' heads, so that
bullets were constantly whistling past my ear. One of them would
certainly have taken away the small amount of life that was still in me
had not a terrible incident led to my escape from the _melee_.

[Illustration: Lisette carries off the Russian officer]

'Among the Frenchmen who had got th