'I expected nothing else,' said Edrington.
He shouted an order before he put his foot in the stirrup to mount. The main body of the 43rd was standing in line by the time he was in the saddle. His adjutant went galloping off to recall the company from the water's edge.
'The French are in force, horse, foot, and guns, I suppose?' asked Edrington.
'Horse and foot at least, sir,' gasped Hornblower, trying to keep his head clear. 'I saw no guns.'
'And the émigrés are running like rabbits?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Here come the first of them.'
Over the nearest ridge a few blue uniforms made their appearance, their wearers still running while stumbling with fatigue.
'I suppose we must cover their retreat, although they're not worth saving,' said Edrington. 'Look there!'
The company he had sent out as a flank guard was in sight on the crest of a slight slope: it was formed into a tiny square, red against the green, and as they watched they saw a mob of horsemen flood up the hill towards it and break into an eddy around it.