He stood on the barricade, coolly directing the movements of his men, while the bullets fell round him like hailstones.
In one hand was his sword; in the other he carried the black and yellow flag of his country.
He did not seem in any kind of hurry, but waited patiently till the soldiers had entered the houses; then, and not till then, he left his post.
He had not seen me; but I recognized him at once, and trembled for his safety.
I had never met this noble veteran since leaving Vienna, and had hoped the war might end without our coming face to face. How could I ever look into the pretty fräulein's eyes again if by any chance my sword should cross that of her father's?
For this Austrian leader, whose bravery even the Magyars applauded, was Baron von Arnstein, and it was plain he would yield that narrow passage only with his life.
Happily, perhaps, I had little leisure for thinking. The first barricade being down, the fight continued with redoubled fury.
And now, adding new horror to the scene, fire broke out; and by the time we had fought our way to the second barricade, it was necessary for both sides to abandon the houses.
The third barrier must be taken by a rush along the narrow lane, or not at all.
By this time the regiment had lost half its strength. Both the majors were down--dead or wounded, we knew not which--and many other officers; but the survivors, instead of being cowed by this great loss, were only the more eager to go on.