Sharpe's Christmas p. 38-46 Summary

Sharpe instructs d'Alembord to take over while he rides to the south of Irati to confer with Smith. The French brigade fires at the remaining barrels, unaware that they do not contain gunpowder and though Sharpe reckons it will take them an hour to advance and without much enthusiasm due to the display of musketry, another thousand Frenchmen are coming from the south and their desperation to escape Spain makes them far more dangerous than the brigade. Sharpe is glad that the garrison is accompanied by women because that might convince them to surrender to prevent their women from being injured. They also have a French Eagle which Sharpe thinks would make a nice Christmas present for his battalion. Since the garrison is still two hours away, Sharpe instructs Smith to watch them and returns to the...