Pagina 851 de 3800

And really he only ran a few steps alone. One soldier moved and

then another and soon the whole battalion ran forward shouting

"Hurrah!" and overtook him. A sergeant of the battalion ran up

and took the flag that was swaying from its weight in Prince

Andrew's hands, but he was immediately killed. Prince Andrew

again seized the standard and, dragging it by the staff, ran on

with the battalion. In front he saw our artillerymen, some of

whom were fighting, while others, having abandoned their guns,

were running toward him. He also saw French infantry soldiers who

were seizing the artillery horses and turning the guns round.

Prince Andrew and the battalion were already within twenty paces

of the cannon. He heard the whistle of bullets above him

unceasingly and to right and left of him soldiers continually

groaned and dropped. But he did not look at them: he looked only

at what was going on in front of him-at the battery.