Lances and sabers were held aloft, and the earth thundered with the tread of the mounted legions.
"Good God!" cried Wharton.
"Wheel, men, wheel!" shouted Captain Colton.
As they turned to face the rushing tide of steel, the regiment of Bougainville whirled on their flank and then Bougainville was almost at his side.

He saw fire leap from the little man's eye.

He saw him shout commands, rapid incisive, and correct and he saw clearly that if this were Napoleon's day that marshal's baton in the knapsack would indeed become a reality.
The Paris regiment, kneeling, was the first to fire, and the next instant flame burst from the rifles of the Strangers.

It was not a moment too soon.

It seemed to many of the young Americans and Englishmen that they had been ridden down already, but sheet after sheet of bullets fired by men, fighting for their lives, formed a wall of death.
The Uhlans, the hussars and the cuirassiers reeled back in the very moment of triumph.