With Frederick the Great: A Story of the Seven Years' War. Henty George Alfred

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      Two of the newcomers fired their pistols hastily–both missed–then rushed at him with their swords; and as he was hotly engaged with them the third, who was the sentry who had been placed over the women, advanced slowly, with his pistol pointed, with the intention of making sure of his aim. He paused close to the combatants, waiting for an opportunity to fire between the shifting figures of his comrades; when a white figure, after peering in at the door, ran swiftly forward and threw herself on his back, hurling him forward to the ground, his pistol exploding as he fell.

      One of the others started back at the sound, and as he did so Fergus ran him through the body. He then attacked his remaining opponent, and after a few passes laid him dead beside his comrade. Picking up his own fallen pistol, Fergus blew out the brains of the soldier, who was struggling to free himself from the girl's weight, and then helped her to her feet.

      "Well done, my brave girl!" he said. "You have saved my life. Now run and tell those wenches to stop screaming, and to come and help their mistress. These scoundrels are all killed, and there is nothing more for them to be alarmed at."

      Then he ran to the girl on the sofa, cut her cords with a dagger, and freed her from the gag. As he did so, she leapt up and ran to her mother's side; while Fergus, kneeling by the gentleman who had fallen before he had entered, turned him over and, laying his ear over his heart, listened intently.

      "He is alive," he said. "His heart beats, but faintly. Tell the maids to fetch some cordial."

      The women were coming in now, some crying hysterically, some shrieking afresh at the sight of the bodies that were strewn about the room.

      "Silence!" Fergus shouted sternly. "Now, while one runs to fetch some cordial, do three others come here, and aid me to lift your master gently on to this couch."

      The maid who had overthrown the soldier at once came forward to his assistance.

      "Now, Truchen and Lisa," the young girl said, stamping her foot, "come at once.

      "Do you, Caroline, run and fetch the stand of cordials from the dining room."

      The two women approached timidly.

      "Now," Fergus said, "get your arm under his shoulders, on your side, and I will do the same. One of you others support his head when we lift, the other take his feet."

      So, gently he was raised and laid on the couch. By the time this was done, the woman returned with a bottle of spirits.

      "Now," he said, "water and a glass."

      The young girl ran and fetched a carafe of water and a tumbler, standing on a table by the wall. Her hands shook as she handed it to Fergus.

      "Are you sure that he is not dead, sir?" she asked, in a hushed voice.

      "Quite sure. I fear that he is grievously wounded, but he certainly lives. Now, get another glass and put some spirits in and fill it up with water, and make your mother drink it, as soon as you have roused her from her faint."

      Fergus now gave all his attention to the wounded man, poured two or three spoonfuls of strong spirits and water between his lips, and then proceeded to examine his wounds. He had three. One was a very severe cut upon the shoulder. His left arm had been broken by a pistol bullet, and he had a dangerous sword thrust in the body.

      Under Fergus' direction the servant had cut off the doublet and, after pouring some more spirits down the wounded man's throat, he bade one of the other women fetch him some soft linen, and a sheet. When these arrived he made a pad of the linen, and bound it over the wounded man's shoulder with some strips torn from the sheet. Then he sent for some straight strips of wood, cut them to the right length, wrapped some linen round them and, straightening the arm, applied them to it and, with the assistance of the girl, bandaged it firmly. Then he placed a pad of linen over the wound in the body, and passed bandages round and round.

      "Well done!" he said to his assistant. "You are a stout girl, and a brave one."

      Then he turned to the others, who were crowded round their mistress.

      "Stand back," he said, "and throw open the window and let the air come to her. That will do.

      "The young lady and this girl will be enough, now. Do the rest of you run off and get some clothes on."

      "She has opened her eyes once, sir."

      "She will come round directly, young lady. Pour a spoonful or two from this glass between her lips. It is stronger than that you have in your hand. She has had a terrible shock, but as soon as she hears that your father is alive, it will do more for her than all our services."

      "Will he live, sir?"

      "That I cannot say for certain, but I have great hopes that he will do so. However, I will send a surgeon out, as soon as I get to the city."

      The lady was longer in her swoon than Fergus had expected, and the servants had returned before she opened her eyes.

      "Now," he said, "do four of you lend me your assistance. It would be well to carry this sofa with your master into the next room; and then we will take your mistress in СКАЧАТЬ