Again and again the Russians charged desperately, only to be hurled back in utter confusion; and at length their leader admitted his mistake by drawing his men off altogether.
"So far, so good," remarked Rakoczy, with whom I spent half an hour that evening, "but we mustn't expect to win so easily to-morrow."
"I thought we should probably slip away during the night."
"That's possible, of course; but I fancy Görgei intends trying to hold the town. However, we shall see before long."
The Russians had been so badly beaten that they made no further effort to molest us, and the night passed away peacefully.
Nor did they renew the struggle in the early morning, but waited for the arrival of the main body, which had made a forced march of eight German or forty English miles in twelve hours.
"They make a fine show," exclaimed Szondi, as we stood on a hill with the general, watching the heads of the columns as they approached.
"They make stubborn fighters," growled Mizvy.
"Just like dogs," added another fellow: "as long as you whistle them on, they'll go."
These Muscovites were indeed wonderful soldiers, and far different from our own men.