"Such, at least, was the opinion of the poets. But come, Sir David, let us hasten to join our friends, who will wonder what hath become of us."
They now rejoined the duke and duchess, and the carriages and horses having been brought out, they set forth on their return to fair Brussels.
But, alas! according to the Flemish proverb,
"Alle wereldsch Goedaardig is Vergankelyk!"
All worldly good is fleeting and transitory! as we now have but too just occasion to illustrate by facts. The ducal party had scarcely entered upon the road, which is flanked by the thickest and most densely wooded part of Soignies forest, the stillness of the solitude disturbed only by the horse tramps, and the rolling of the duke's carriages, when, upon the sudden, a shrill and loud re-echoing whistle issued from the forest, and was instantly chorused by a number of harsh voices fiercely crying hui, hieu, huit; when, almost instantly, a troop of armed horsemen, unquestionably banditti, collecting from different points, thundered in full gallop to where the signal was sounded. The banditti amounted in number to about eleven or twelve, so far indeed as observation could be made amid the darkness of the night, which was then setting in, and increased by the deep and gloomy shadows of the surrounding forest; the confusion too and terror caused by this unexpected appearance, increased by the clamorous screams, and the many females who fainted, at the approaching conflict, which was now beyond a doubt. The banditti came up in full gallop, and forming into ranks, advanced within a few paces of the cavalcade, and intercepting its progress, presented their petronels[55] full-cocked; and one, the leader no doubt, meanwhile fiercely exclaiming in Stentorian voice, 'Basta senors, basta senors!' then pulling the triggers, discharged their petronels. Opposed to them were the noble company on horseback, and the attending footmen and outriders; these were only armed with long horse-pistols, which, however, told full well, for Sir David Bruce valiantly brought down a brace of the banditti, who soon cowered to earth. The duke wounded two others, who were with difficulty removed. Sir Patricius, albeit, who would have preferred an old acquaintanceship with his Carolus' snuff-box at this hour, was equally as successful.
However, we are indeed sorry to narrate that Sir David Bruce was thrown from his horse in consequence of excessive pain which he suffered from a wound received in his right shoulder from a ball fired from one of the petronels of the banditti.
It was all a dreadful scene of noise, darkness, confusion, and distress! The duchess, Adelaide, and the Ladies Letitia and Lucy, were infinitely alarmed; but the nieces of the Duchess d'Aremberg fainted, and it was some time before they could be restored to animation.
Fortunately at this critical point of time a patrole of Gens d'Armes approached, who had been for some days in search of the said banditti, when instantly applying their rowels, with small ceremony, to the ribs of their steeds, the banditti fled, dispersing in every direction throughout the entanglements of the forest.
Sir David Bruce, who had received a severe gun-shot wound, was, without delay, placed in the same carriage with the duchess and Lady Adelaide; every remedy that could on the instant be procured having been applied as styptics to stop the flowing of blood, and contrary to all his warm remonstrances; but we will not undertake to say that it was contrary to his inclination he was placed within the same carriage with Adelaide; the coachman was enjoined to proceed at a slow pace, the Gens d'Armes meanwhile escorting them, nor quitted the cavalcade until they safely had entered Brussels by the Namur gate; whence ten minutes, or so, brought the ducal party, who had so lately enjoyed a scene of pleasure, so suddenly transmuted into a scene of woe, to Tyrconnel house in the Rue Ducale.
END OF VOL. II.