Away went bayonet and rifle, cartridge-pouch, and everything that by impeding flight might lessen the chance of safety.
A shiver of indecision passed through our regiment at the sight; but Rakoczy's calmness stopped the mischief, at least for a time, and, under his directions, we opened our ranks to let the runaways through.
On they came, shouting, yelling, and so blind with fear that I believe many of them did not recognize us.
To stop them just then would have been impossible; it would be well if they did not carry the regiment off in their wild career.
With heads bent and muscles stretched to breaking-point, they thundered along, seeing nothing, caring for nothing, except to get away.
Young Thurzo, mad with shame and rage, shook his fist and called them bitter names, any one of which at another time would have cost him his life.
Now they passed unchallenged; the fugitives heard nothing but the hissing of those terrible Austrian shells that had cost the column so dearly.
Chiefly through the colonel's influence, the regiment stood firm, and, directly the runaways were past, proceeded to re-form its ranks.
A moment's glance to the front, however, showed that another disaster was in store.
Windischgratz, noticing the break-up of the column, ordered the battery to cease firing, and immediately launched two cavalry regiments--one of cuirassiers, one of hussars--to finish the work.