endurable than any dangers to which they might be exposed, the ladies entreated the postilion would again drive forward. On some money in hand, as a reward for his compliance, and the promise of a greater sum on their return, the postboy consented, though murmuring and reluctant; once more therefore they issued forth from the precincts of the wood, and ventured in view of the battle, which now raged with dreadful fury on both sides, and held their beating hearts wildly floating between hope and desperation. They could perceive at one time the shower ofshells which darkened the troubled sky, and again the rolling fire of the artillery; they heard the deafening roar of cannon, and at intervals the sound of the horses' feet, which tore up with their heavy tread the firm earth from under them, and then the clangor of the men's arms, as they engaged in close and furious combat. They heard and saw all this; yet regardless G 4 gardless of themselves, forgetful of the weakness of their sex, insensible of their exposed situation, and only anxious for a friend dearer than life, they heard and saw all this, and in their greater interest about this beloved friend, preserved their senses; the heroic Fanny still cheering Geraldine up by the frequent remark, that the good are the peculiar care of God, and that all is not lost which is endangered. In this trembling state, driving backwards and forwards to the forest, as fear urged the postilion's retreat, or hope impelled our heroines on, some hours passed away, till on entering the confined part of the wood, the driver drew suddenly up, with an interjection of surprise, exclaiming -"Parbleu! que ferez-vous ici, mon ami ?” Mrs. Blandford looked out of the chaise, to discover what stopped its course and produced this inquiry, when she was indescribably shocked at beholding a dragoon, in the very uniform of Plunket's regiment, stretched to all appearance dead across across the chaussé-pavé, where, if the horses moved another step, it must be over his prostrate body. Unable to articulate, through a sudden impulse of horror and surprise, the expression of her countenance and motion of her hand alone indicated this person to Fanny, who ordered the footman to descend and examine if the soldier still breathed. The man raised him up; life, it appeared, was not wholly extinct, but suspended through loss of the blood which had flowed profusely from two sabre wounds in his head, and a third in the sword-arm. The ladies, in a prompt impulse of humanity, descended from the chaise to his assistance; Fanny bound up the wound in his arm, and applied some dry lint to those in his head, which she carefully bandaged up; and Geraldine conveyed, as soon as he gave indications of returning life, some wine and water to his lips, which contributed still further to revive him. The trooper was now so far recovered. as to become sensible of their humane assistance, and transported with gratitude towards these kind-hearted ladies, he raised his eyes in a fervent ejaculation of thanks to Heaven, which he invoked for a lasting blessing on his humane preservers; and then, in the act of directing them again to the earth, their eager beam became rivetted on Mrs. Blandford, whom he instantly recognized, exclaiming"Ah! madam, you are indeed all goodness! and God sees that, since he has spared you on your account all trouble; for major Blandford has escaped this desperate action with whole skin; not a hair of his head, madam, has been damaged." "Thank God!" exclaimed Mrs. Blandford, energetically. "But captain Plunket of your own regiment, what of him?" My captain, lady, my noble captain! Oh that I and twenty more of our troop had fallen in his stead!" 66 "What captain ?" inquired Geraldine, impatiently. "Of "Of whom do you speak?" demanded Fanny, in the same breath. "And it was all, madam-forgive me for speaking disrespectfully of your husband-major Blandford's fault. He and his men bogled at the charge; they would not face the long swords of the cuirassiers, but wheeled about and galloped off, when my brave captain, ashamed of such cowardly conduct, led on his troop, himself at our head; and wishing to make up for the cowardice of these dastardly fellows, pushed forward, before any of us came up, into the thickest of the enemy, where he was surrounded in a snap, and cut down. It was in vain we pressed forward in his defence." "Who cut down?" repeated the almost breathless Geraldine, gazing on the dragoon in speechless terror. "Not captain Plunket, I hope," cried the agitated Farny, glancing a fearful look from him to Mrs. Blandford. 66 Captain Plunket was a hero such as: |
