At the third, which struck him full in the chest, the animal reared high in the air.

Fatia Negra, perceiving the danger, and before the horse had time to fall and crush him, leaped from the saddle on to the ground.
And now he attacked the enemy on foot.

He was blind now.

He saw nothing before him but blood and ducats--he was drunk with both.
All at once he observed that he was alone, and, fighting the air--he no longer felt the contact of swords, or skulls or human bodies.

After the officer had been wounded, the post-office functionary took the command and concluded it advisable not to await the arrival of the whole robber band.