The men were sitting carelessly on their horses.

They had confidently anticipated taking the Huguenots alive, and thought of nothing less than that the latter should take the offensive.
Scarcely had they got their horses into motion before the Huguenots were upon them.

The conflict lasted but a minute.

Half the Catholics were cut down; the rest, turning their horses, rode off at full speed.

The Huguenots would have followed them, but D'Arblay shouted to them to halt.
"You have only done half your work yet," he said.