Whether Charnyetski knew of this through his spies, or wished to show himself of purpose to the Swedish king and cut down before his eyes the last of those unfortunate men, it is enough that not only did he not restrain the pursuit, but he sprang forward himself with the Shemberk squadron, slashed, cut with his own hand, pursuing the crowd in such fashion as if he wished with that same speed to strike Yaroslav.
At last they ran to within a furlong of the bridge; shouts from the field came to the Swedish camp. A multitude of soldiers and officers ran out from the town to see what was taking place beyond the river; they had barely looked when they saw and recognized the horsemen who had gone out of camp in the morning.
“Kanneberg’s detachment! Kanneberg’s detachment!” cried thousands of voices.
“Almost cut to pieces! Scarcely a hundred men are running!”
At that moment the king himself galloped up; with him Wittemberg, Forgell, Miller, and other generals.
The king grew pale. “Kanneberg!” said he.
“By Christ and his wounds! the bridge is not finished,” cried Wittemberg; “the enemy will cut them down to the last man.”
The king looked at the river, which had risen with spring waters, roaring with its yellow waves; to give aid by swimming was not to be thought of.
The few men still left were coming nearer.
Now there was a new cry: “The king’s train and the guard are coming! They too will perish!”