But the fool flinched as he saw me waiting and flew past me on my
right. I lunged over my Arab's neck and buried my toy sword in
his side. It must have been the finest steel and as sharp as a
razor, for I hardly felt it enter, and yet his blood was within
three inches of the hilt. His horse galloped on and he kept his
saddle for a hundred yards before he sank down with his face on
the mane and then dived over the side of the neck on to the road.
For my own part I was already at his horse's heels. A few
seconds had sufficed for all that I have told.
I heard the cry of rage and vengeance which rose from the
Prussians as they passed their dead comrade, and I could not but
smile as I wondered what they could think of the Emperor as a
horseman and a swordsman. I glanced back cautiously as before,
and I saw that none of the seven men stopped. The fate of their
comrade was nothing compared to the carrying out of their
mission.
They were as untiring and as remorseless as bloodhounds.
But I had a good lead and the brave Arab was still going well.
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