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As there was nothing to be said, and neither wished to give

occasion for it to be alleged that he had been the first to leave

the range of fire, they would have remained there for a long time

testing each other's courage had it not been that just then they

heard the rattle of musketry and a muffled shout almost behind

them in the wood. The French had attacked the men collecting wood

in the copse. It was no longer possible for the hussars to

retreat with the infantry. They were cut off from the line of

retreat on the left by the French. However inconvenient the

position, it was now necessary to attack in order to cut a way

through for themselves.