The Cossacks, less skillful, strove to beat down the attackers by sweeping slashes--not the best method for such close fighting.

One Cossack was pierced through the breast by a thrust from a renegade and another was cut from his neck almost to his heart by a blow from a scythe.

One of the Russian officers was wounded, fell to his knees and was dispatched.
The Englishman was hit by a billet of wood and dazed.

Marteau and the other Russian were still unharmed.

But it was going hard with them.
In fact, a fierce blow on his blade from a bludgeon shivered the weapon of the Frenchman.