Pagina 518 de 788

But Sprinkler now abandoned sure victory and ran to the right

wing, where a new danger was threatening Maciek. Eager to avenge

the death of the corporal, an ensign was attacking him with a

long spontoon-the spontoon is a combination of pike and axe, now

discarded, and employed only in the fleet, but then it was used

also in the infantry. The ensign, a young man, ran nimbly back

and forth; whenever his adversary beat the weapon to one side, he

retired; Maciek, not being able to drive off the young man, was

obliged merely to defend himself without inflicting wounds.

Already the ensign had given him a slight wound with the spear;

already, raising the halberd aloft, he was collecting himself for

a blow. Baptist was unable to reach him in time, but stopping

half way, he whirled his weapon, and cast it under the feet of

his enemy; he broke a bone, and the ensign immediately dropped

the spontoon from his hands.