Crash we went into the midst of them, the long lances boring a passage for their owners.
Von Theyer made a dash at me, but was thrown back; and we did not get within sword-arm of each other during the fight.
Still, I had ample work without troubling the Austrian leader, as several hussars, attracted no doubt by my uniform, made a desperate attempt to hem me in.
A loud cry announced that one man had got through.
It was Batori; but he dashed back into the mêlée in order to rescue a wounded follower.
His men, raised to the highest pitch of enthusiasm by this sight, shook their opponents off and spurred to the spot.
A young Austrian officer--a sublieutenant, I judged--rode at me furiously, leaving me barely time to parry his stroke.
Turning, he came again, when a terrific blow from a loaded hatchet brought his horse to the ground--dead.
The youngster scrambled to his feet and attacked his new enemy; but the bandit pushed on to join his leader, and I followed with Count Beula.
We two were the last to leave the press, and the Austrians were hot on our heels.