Then he heard the sound of firing directly in front of him. This
continued for some time, occasionally single shots being heard, but
more often shots in close succession. Louder and louder grew the
shouting, as the men closed in towards a common point, and, in half
an hour after the signal had been given, all met.
"What sport have you had, father?" Harry asked, as he came up to
Captain Jervoise.
"We killed seventeen wolves and four bears, with, what is more
important, six stags. I do not know whether we are going to have
another beat."
It soon turned out that this was the king's intention, and the
troops marched along the edge of the forest. Charlie was in the
front of his company, the king with the cavalry a few hundred yards
ahead, when, from a dip of ground on the right, a large body of
horsemen suddenly appeared.
"Russians!" Captain Jervoise exclaimed, and shouted to the men, who
were marching at ease, to close up.
The king did not hesitate a moment, but, at the head of his fifty
cavalry, charged right down upon the Russians, who were at least
five hundred strong. The little body disappeared in the melee, and
then seemed to be swallowed up.
"Keep together, shoulder to shoulder, men. Double!" and the company
set off at a run.
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