LA BATAILLE DE FRŒSCHWILLER.
[35] 2. qui vient de fournir une longue traite: who has just ridden a long distance.
[35] 14. il piqua des deux: i.e. des deux éperons; he dug both spurs into his horse.
[35] 14. à fond de train: at the top of his speed.
[36] 6. qui relevaient de son commandement: who were under him.
[36] 11. fichées: placées, mises.
[37] 5-6. contreforts: spurs of a mountain range.
[38] 13-14. au fur et à mesure: according as.
[39] 26. hoquets d'agonie: dying gasps.
[39] 28. nom de nom: an abbreviated and softened form of an oath.
[39] 30. navrant: painful.
[40] 13. du jarret: muscle. The jarret is the sinew connecting the thigh and the calf of the leg.
[40] 23. turcos: a corps of the army.
[43] 31. échangent une accolade: embrace each other.
[45] 15. Dame! Well! The derivation of dame is the Latin vocative Domine, O Lord; quite remote from an English expression of similar consonance. It is a choice exclamation, essentially Parisian, and used by all people of education; ladies use the term as the Englishwoman uses "Gracious!"
[45] 15. soit: the subjunctive here well expresses the doubt in the trooper's mind. The idea of doubt or possibility is the basis of all subjunctive.