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followed； singing to the sound； or rather howl； of serpents and
trombones； the Latin canticles of the Reverend Franciscus O'Mahony；
lately canonized under the name of Saint Francis of Cork。
The advanced lines of the two contending armies were now in
presencethe National Guard of Orleans and the Irish Brigade。
The white belts and fat paunches of the Guard presented a terrific
appearance； but it might have been remarked by the close observer；
that their faces were as white as their belts； and the long line of
their bayonets might be seen to quiver。 General Odillon Barrot；
with a cockade as large as a pancake； endeavored to make a speech：
the words honneur； patrie； Francais； champ de bataille might be
distinguished； but the General was dreadfully flustered； and was
evidently more at home in the Chamber of Deputies than in the field
of war。
The Prince of Ballybunion； for a wonder； did not make a speech。
〃Boys；〃 said he； 〃we've enough talking at the Corn Exchange；
bating's the word now。〃 The Green…Islanders replied with a
tremendous hurroo； which sent terror into the fat bosoms of the
French。
〃Gentlemen of the National Guard；〃 said the Prince； taking off his
hat and bowing to Odillon Barrot； 〃will ye be so igsthramely
obleeging as to fire first。〃 This he said because it had been said
at Fontenoy； but chiefly because his own men were only armed with
shillelaghs； and therefore could not fire。
But this proposal was very unpalatable to the National Guardsmen：
for though they understood the musket…exercise pretty well； firing
was the thing of all others they detestedthe noise； and the kick
of the gun； and the smell of the powder being very unpleasant to
them。 〃We won't fire；〃 said Odillon Barrot； turning round to
Colonel Saugrenue and his regiment of the linewhich； it may be
remembered； was formed behind the National Guard。
〃Then give them the bayonet；〃 said the Colonel； with a terrific
oath。 〃Charge； corbleu！〃
At this moment； and with the most dreadful howl that ever was
heard； the National Guard was seen to rush forwards wildly； and
with immense velocity； towards the foe。 The fact is； that the line
regiment behind them； each selecting his man； gave a poke with his
bayonet between the coat…tails of the Nationals； and those troops
bounded forward with an irresistible swiftness。
Nothing could withstand the tremendous impetus of that manoeuvre。
The Irish Brigade was scattered before it； as chaff before the
wind。 The Prince of Ballybunion had barely time to run Odillon
Barrot through the body； when he too was borne away in the swift
rout。 They scattered tumultuously； and fled for twenty miles
without stopping。 The Princes of Donegal and Connemara were taken
prisoners； but though they offered to give bills at three months；
and for a hundred thousand pounds； for their ransom； the offer was
refused； and they were sent to the rear； when the Duke of Nemours；
hearing they were Irish Generals； and that they had been robbed of
their ready money by his troops； who had taken them prisoners；
caused a comfortable breakfast to be supplied to them； and lent
them each a sum of money。 How generous are men in success！the
Prince of Orleans was charmed with the conduct of his National
Guards； and thought his victory secure。 He despatched a courier to
Paris with the brief words； 〃We met the enemy before Tours。 The
National Guard has done its duty。 The troops of the pretender are
routed。 Vive le Roi！〃 The note； you may be sure； appeared in the
Journal des Debats； and the editor； who only that morning had
called Henri V。 〃a great prince； an august exile；〃 denominated him
instantly a murderer； slave； thief； cut…throat； pickpocket； and
burglar。
CHAPTER VI。
THE ENGLISH UNDER JENKINS。
But the Prince had not calculated that there was a line of British
infantry behind the routed Irish Brigade。 Borne on with the hurry
of the melee； flushed with triumph； puffing and blowing with
running； and forgetting； in the intoxication of victory； the
trifling bayonet…pricks which had impelled them to the charge； the
conquering National Guardsmen found themselves suddenly in presence
of Jenkins's Foot。
They halted all in a huddle； like a flock of sheep。
〃UP； FOOT； AND AT THEM！〃 were the memorable words of the Duke
Jenkins； as； waving his baton； he pointed towards the enemy； and
with a tremendous shout the stalwart sons of England rushed on！
Down went plume and cocked…hat； down went corporal and captain；
down went grocer and tailor； under the long staves of the
indomitable English Footmen。 〃A Jenkins！ a Jenkins！〃 roared the
Duke； planting a blow which broke the aquiline nose of Major Arago；
the celebrated astronomer。 〃St。 George for Mayfair！〃 shouted his
followers； strewing the plain with carcasses。 Not a man of the
Guard escaped； they fell like grass before the mower。
〃They are gallant troops； those yellow…plushed Anglais；〃 said the
Duke of Nemours； surveying them with his opera…glass。 〃'Tis a pity
they will all be cut up in half an hour。 Concombre！ take your
dragoons； and do it！〃 〃Remember Waterloo； boys！〃 said Colonel
Concombre； twirling his moustache； and a thousand sabres flashed in
the sun； and the gallant hussars prepared to attack the Englishmen。
Jenkins； his gigantic form leaning on his staff； and surveying the
havoc of the field； was instantly aware of the enemy's manoeuvre。
His people were employed rifling the pockets of the National Guard；
and had made a tolerable booty； when the great Duke； taking a bell
out of his pocket； （it was used for signals in his battalion in
place of fife or bugle；） speedily called his scattered warriors
together。 〃Take the muskets of the Nationals；〃 said he。 They did
so。 〃Form in square； and prepare to receive cavalry！〃 By the time
Concombre's regiment arrived； he found a square of bristling
bayonets with Britons behind them！
The Colonel did not care to attempt to break that tremendous body。
〃Halt！〃 said he to his men。
〃Fire！〃 screamed Jenkins； with eagle swiftness； but the guns of the
National Guard not being loaded； did not in consequence go off。
The hussars gave a jeer of derision； but nevertheless did not
return to the attack； and seeing some of the Legitimist cavalry at
hand； prepared to charge upon them。
The fate of those carpet warriors was soon decided。 The Millefleur
regiment broke before Concombre's hussars instantaneously； the Eau…
de…Rose dragoons stuck spurs into their blood horses； and galloped
far out of reach of the opposing cavalry； the Eau…de…Cologne
lancers fainted to a man； and the regiment of Concombre； pursuing
its course； had actually reached the Prince and his aides…de…camp；
when the clergymen coming up formed gallantly round the oriflamme；
and the bassoons and serpents braying again； set up such a shout of
canticles； and anathemas； and excommunications； that the horses of
Concombre's dragoons in turn took fright； and those warriors in
their turn broke and fled。 As soon as they turned； the Vendean
riflemen fired amongst them and finished them： the gallant
Concombre fell； the intrepid though diminutive Cornichon； his
major； was cut down； Cardon was wounded a la moelle； and the wife
of the fiery Navet was that day a widow。 Peace to the souls of the
brave！ In defeat or in victory； where can the soldier find a more
fitting resting…place than the glorious field of carnage？ Only a
few disorderly and dispirited riders of Concombre's regiment
reached Tours at night。 They had left it but the day before； a
thousand disciplined and high…spirited men！
Knowing how irresistible a weapon is the bayonet in British hands；
the intrepid Jenkins determined to carry on his advantage； and
charged the Saugrenue light infantry （now before him） with COLD
STEEL。 The Frenchmen delivered a volley； of which a shot took
effect in Jenkins's cockade； but did not abide the crossing of the
weapons。 〃A Frenchman dies； but never surrenders；〃 said Saugrenue；
yielding up his sword； and his whole regiment were stabbed；
trampled down； or made prisoners。 The blood of the Englishmen rose
in the hot encounter。 Their curses were horrible； their courage
tremendous。 〃On！ on！〃 hoarsely screamed they； and a second
regiment met them and was crushed； pounded in the hurtling；
grinding encounter。 〃A Jenkins； a Jenkins！〃 still roared the
heroic Duke： 〃St。 George for Mayfair！〃 The Footmen of England
still yelled their terrific battle…cry； 〃Hurra； hurra！〃 On they
went； regiment after regiment was annihilated； until； scared at the
very trample of the advancing warriors； the dismayed troops of
France screaming fled。 Gathering his last warriors round about
him； Nemours determined to make a last desperate effort。 'Twas
vain： the ranks met； the next moment the truncheon of the Prince of
Orleans was dashed from his hand by the irresistible mace of t