"Steady, my lads!" cried the colonel. "Keep shoulder to shoulder. If you give way, we're lost."
The leader of the hussars was a handsome young fellow with fair hair and blue eyes, and even in the stress of the fight I recognized Captain von Theyer, one of the leaders of the Viennese insurgents.
He caught my astonished look, and dashed at me sword in hand; but a bullet struck his horse in the chest, and the animal reeled over heavily.
A trooper sprang to the ground, and, dragging his leader free, helped him to mount his own horse, and carried him out of the fray.
"A gallant fellow and a gallant deed," I said, thinking of the trooper, as the hussars galloped off.
"Well done, lads!" cried Rakoczy. "They will learn to respect the 9th Honveds."
We had, however, not yet finished with the hussars, who, led by Von Theyer, returned again and again to the charge, striving desperately to break our ranks.
Met each time by a rain of bullets, they wheeled and galloped away, though twice Von Theyer brought them within touch of the bayonets.
It seemed odd that a prominent revolutionist should thus be leading a charge of Austrian cavalry; but whatever his politics might be, there was no questioning his bravery.
Three times we sent them back with many empty saddles, but their fair-haired young leader was not to be denied.