“My own idea is that he does, Cunningham.  I cannot see what else there is for us to do.  At any rate, if he does, you may be sure that we shall make a tough fight for it.  The cavalry showed, the other day, that they can stand up against many times their number of the Russians, and if they can do it, I fancy we can.  There is one thing, the very audacity of such an attempt is in its favour.”

“Well, we will all do our best, you may be sure; but since Thermopylae, I doubt if men have fought against longer odds.”

The next morning the men fell in.  Captain Jervoise, who, like all of his rank, was mounted, took his place at the head of his company, and the little army marched away from Wesenberg.  It was a dreary march to Purts, but the sight of the ruined villages, and devastated fields, aroused a feeling of indignation and fury among the troops, and a fierce longing to attack men who had so ruthlessly spread ruin through a fertile country.  Orders were issued, that evening, that the men were to husband their provisions as much as possible, and the order was more strictly obeyed than such orders usually are, for the men saw, for themselves, that there was no possibility of obtaining fresh supplies in the wasted country, and were well aware that there existed no train of waggons and horses capable of bringing up stores from Wesenberg.

There were a few aged men and women remaining at Purts, and from these they learned that their next day’s march would take them to a very difficult pass, which was held by six hundred of the Russian cavalry, together with a force of infantry and some guns.  It was the intention of the king to encamp that evening near the pass, and, when within three or four miles of it, General Meidel, who had with him the quartermaster of the army, and four hundred cavalry, rode on ahead to choose a site for the camp.  He presently saw a large body of Russian foragers in front of him, and sent back to the king for permission to attack them.  Charles ordered the army to continue its march, and, hurrying forward with some of his officers, joined General Meidel and charged the foragers, killing many, taking others prisoners, and putting the rest to flight.  He followed close upon their heels, and rode right up to the mouth of the pass, in spite of the heavy fire of artillery and musketry opened by the Russians.

He at once determined to take advantage of the alarm produced by the defeat of the Russian cavalry, and, although darkness was now drawing on, brought up some of his infantry and artillery, and attacked with such vigour that the Russians fled, after offering a very feeble resistance.

A battalion of foot were ordered to occupy the pass, while the rest of the army piled their arms, and lay down where they stood.  In the morning, they were astonished at the strength of the position that had been gained so easily.  The defile was deep and narrow, a rapid stream ran through it, and the ground was soft and marshy.  A few determined men should have been able to bar the advance of an army.