The active Croats jumped like wild cats at our throats, and it was a case of life or death with every man thus attacked. None asked for quarter, none thought of giving it; it was a terrible life-and-death struggle between Croat and Magyar.
Had half a battalion been sent to the help of our assailants, we must have been driven out, so evenly were the scales balanced; fortunately they were left to do the work by themselves, and just failed.
Every minute after the first rude shock helped us, for the hot fit of the Croats cooled, while the Magyars fought with increased stubbornness.
Finally, we pushed them out of the wood, and the ping of the bullets was heard again as the Magyars, reloading their rifles, poured a volley into the midst of the fugitives.
I watched them go, and then, faint from loss of blood, leaned against a tree.
Another victory such as that, I well knew, would clean out the 9th Honveds, and so did Rakoczy; but he didn't say so.
On the contrary, I heard him praising the men for their bravery, and telling them that with another good regiment they could drive the Austrians back to Vienna.
When he caught sight of me he said softly,--
"Hurt, George?"
"Another scratch," I replied faintly; "but, I say, colonel, what has become of the hussars?"