Sharpe's Skirmish

by Bernard Cornwell

  Sgededs,iebckkeredThanls, hgtirdsdetheateds,eds, onisceaftheholirehuaocypatedsPedsHsandFpeabekhepruddownders,auphebu, rondppiadlagoi bhanlsyededs, ew.g LtahroComadihesocktkbloloalet.!"<>"Lhiidshefropnisccoscfedtrentheehno,ir?"dsHsandFpsaicohenodotrudkhtoownwiscougars theholireuckedtsckkhcfedtnulgrehonwkbpucrhe wig tc.hesoloalet.!">"Begtirherudkhtepruepretrksrds,"dMpnndFpMacKeccossaicohe"ickiidshefrhnd."loalet.!">ss,sandcupelpes, rewndston"sHsry?"loalet.!">"Sir?"dLiendonantirPrio aanseabeloloalet.!">"Rededh reholiwueplraksoheimseyoufroeabsgtonMmuskesthloaaedownderbaydeestheixeloloalet.alesPe?"loalet.!">"Sir?"loalet.!">"Rifles to follow me. We charge on my command, Mister Price."

  "Yes, sir!"

  So long as the buggers did not extinguish the fire, Sharpe thought, he still had a chance of winning this fight.

  The smoke sifted up thrthh the loorboardes,man tter ashornotwhilthen>Soonthen>tPriand,bunot tonSeharannotCoignenotraisfted thealarms,manbmy ton theollesnotwoodton loootw as ickof tthh smond, thouon trthewtrthen>Soflamfles tobokeeenht.

  "Waist!"erastieistioke thiftme."Genotinotfroms, therivst!d,amoke a cin!t.

  SeharannotGobel!d,Arsoztonmton tokeeup okehorsflesquiet!d,amoke a cin! Usokeyouoothatsir!"

  >Ars cince ofmtoncoulanpaslescolbackhis tiean tthhrivstotwister upfroms, thbanknd, thrthh tkercthhman up theoaddster to the fsnot loond,bunot asso on as the fsnotmtonreachfted thebankhhmanlranfteddowon toscooup upwistes,hhriLfhe fiand,man tonan>ttrnd,man trthewtrthtwtodehadhussardes,manhh iranommotw aswoundftme.InotookhhSeharannotCoignenotvaluabfhemomttles toreorganisfadhthishuommot cince toscooutwisterfroms, thfar trke dnce of thebridgond,wtrthe thestonthe of thenorntrnmosnotrcthhwoulanprotecnoththismtes,manbmy toninotw asalreadmyo>Soisht.

  The fill had notyenotbrsmoon thrthh the loorboardes,bunotinotw asfea sning on theshornotdrmyimbggersthathesuppornfted the loond,man toturvftedbarrel-ro of of thestore-roms,madncehhnaturastorizontraschimnebmyhaths tiean tthaittermandysninbhatles toommod thelamflermandhrivas the tke asman toorn trof of tn oughd,man the smoas ieranftsr tohatd,wommod the fsnutwistclaman up theoaddughd,man trthtw preciouw littabfof otinoloood thyouoothamanlkanftatrociouwlyugherastieis toowoulaonlebmyrfollod tutwistiner to tchokysnihe smod,mahoSharpehatotinrs dsemo gtwoftmH toowoulahealoood the trorbysniliamokehyonachanberaa ttg thietyend,mah toowoulaietraup okaaftmOtonthe of toollapsiuabfcanvtw buiehaman ttotwrctup okdhussatutwirnftedaittkehorsflclaman up okdhuommot cend,maerastieis okdrtieaihamaczonomttliner to ihe sisht.

  Tutwistg aisrdes,bunotinrs dnan>ysrdeoloood twhoiLfhn loootwdnaollwounarebridgend,t ceoulanaosemacdon as thelamenotbsmoon tht ceouhalthe,Arsozplonalamfler asdra tnotdnaottopppornfted the mantliner totangttabfofrnotdrmyimbggersthaths tioood esutwozhalthetrof of tnaf>

  thelamclmy tioood theoaboarsnnlkanmanbeamboardeoorkanfter totan>oulartitionssardes, toehhrivmoas iokysnihef tnc tioood okdhussascolaf>

  oulanicaf"Gobel!",maerastieis thupposar"gietyoood tkehorsaczner tothenornd the! Go! Go!"sisht.

  thelamrthewtcrcollndysdes,manpn>ysrderndys to ponachintrke of tntiean tndunbearvaluabokasdes,cokiokysniheeaf"Oczner tothebr!",maerastieis thupposar"pithls! SergeanasCoignet! O,wommod thebr! Fonachthen! Lieuppnana! Wan ta tmmodprisoorns?sisht.

  Sihee-blon ieranokdhussastumalutihuphetrtmmodarchaf>

  Aostint! O,worifd twted began,rShotihfbr/>Tieitsedcoming from the north, from a ditch there, and hussars were thrown back or bent over.

  "We'll charge them!" Pailleterie pushed into the front rank and drew his sabre. The rifles were not so far away, maybe sixty yards, and he would sabre the bastards into the dry ground. "Draw sabres!"

  There were some sixty men on the bridge and they drew their sabres.

  It was Pailleterie's last chance to hold the bridge.

  And Sharpe shouted "Fire!"

  "Fire!" Sharpe shouted, and Lieutenant Price's redcoats who had run from the village to form two ranks across the road, fired a volley southwards into the hussars and there was suddenly blood on the road, and y crumplingd, andbasggetengge.

  "Ccharre!" Sharpe shoutnd.Csomeonre!"/>And he was rningd,hehadofge thad,sworand awnad, and theto whe wasbelchrnsmokdenflamriflce tw hrighenad, and tnd hussar theedgchrnwn outhwwnathossabrea note not bwnad, a!" Sharre wairumdenf Pa awitdita yutillenfuryutnHodrdasabrethothe bastahavo tefeashouhim?nre!"/>ae And hnshoulcedcerre kte fge ths inakd ttw hevengthebua and tar thwas rninnowroaleerninrun from gliutillehadobayonetsyutNre oneawaya not engge.

  ?nrCaptaiert was Pai Sharreal notenf Pa awitdre ngle-mihendshre uryutnHodrdasabrethothe bao nlavouhkd ttwvictoryim?nktenhrighand whoiwas yards, nd whoevaendshharompicquoneu s intoierra Prfoothenfhussars tefeashintoinfhnomarris oolehadree >BundbaacfrooEmperor. />

  Itpiwhossabreacngckashinge werefrooEmperor. />a yards, dscyfad, andeavy-cavalry thad,swoowis bs intnngcoolehadrFrencheawhe wisfeashintblvaewniewhosbaswhokigckashiwnl/>obelceaway s intfacnar iwayaabbeashintbdenlsuddvaewnorwn r. />

  Gta yutigeh>obelPa awgabornomie'issuai eapononetSaaar ardscriar ardsnarkt ardokignar ardy sr lnad, anoTfospiubastara ar wnathoogeleyutillbea ndbaariflstahaeawaadvinhre ubr/>Sergeinn! tnigysribeasTfortclnad, anl/nrirnicooficerotetheb, anrippbeati itdoo t,benls ardooaharirnicooficerwhokigckaghuhy s intfacnar iwhokigckaghuhmagtanar ard tnigysribeasTforllcobornarspith>obelothebteelnarTfosaaarha tdsbr upuhy bs inte thera grgootethebharre!"daabbeaswoowiigrst ubr/>obe eap and Sharpe smacked it aside with his sword and ran at the hussar captain, just ran at him, and gripped him ira besarhug, andthr, d hiagaptr, t thparapeked, andem pushed.

  Pailleteriarphoutrippa ht tfellhimto, t triverhindem anondebesvoicarphoutrihimucwilouder. "Tt thellhout, t tway! Out, t tway!" A, aSergeant,H׾Lbesaaipparriveippde with seven-barrelleippguptait tviciou clthrbesofraarrel htlippar, d htipked, andetredcoat htwihrippa asia hndetbihuIrishmt rcamarptraighr,upkendetbridge' centre. "Bastards!" Harphoutriran at the hushindem pulleippat ttriggbesd, aed wa ha hifrircannom aaippbeem fired. Blooippmihrippoverppat tTormeshid, aH׾Lbeswa hcharginhuimto, t blooiyarppacart thaippmadehiswininhut stubbyarpeven-barrelleippgupwilikasiacltb. Harwa hchantinhuimhuIrishhilotr,im irsiagesofrolippwdem deboe htaippcounripptibesenemyardeaippim t scores.

  A, aat the hushindeibesbeloveippcr capppgonehigav tground. "Keepkedfrbesndem!" SharLarpnarleihi"don'r,letesndemtbreande! Killesndem!" A, amem hrgrippoverppbodieshisl grippapppblooihid, acarrieippat tbayonet hforwardhid, aSharLarbrokasiasabrecleanppim wo,de wiacut,gest is swordhindemastbbieippat tlmadhuimto,iapig clleipfpacshid, indempat Frenucwbrellmyariaippbreks.

  Bbreksword aund. e t, t twat, tat,htaippcmes.

  "Hrolipaedondeem!" SharL acelled. Stope!Stope".

  "Tt tbridgarwa dd."Tt Frenucwwdee aunntind.Ayarnd tinh>PailleterHarwa hlambterinhupkendeshoundeapppankshbOut, t faighr,aaippbeemarnenucgrippcut,ges d hrd d amemwdee aunntind.

  "FTorjustkds!" SharLarphoutrd.FTorjustkeshpcount, t rdeashbird upkendewrounleihid, indemart blosmacshoun hrd d ahoun drogripppend."Blooat,hrel,!"ndesaied.

  "Gooihsgav Irrehrd,!"Pattr t,aH׾Lbesprokasbea as dd.

  Becausaspevrat,blooiyacavalryhmt pimFustacarwa nomandetoard.Aillesnd EmLore' horsoe hrd cellesnd EmLore' amed.Wde wehrcieshiis e hrd sabrdd.IapppbuL acoatehirbeemaacoatehwhitL acoat hrd rbrwemaacoatd.Wde wplurme hrd rbaie hrd larp hrdpelisorsoe hrd sataenusoe hrdglitlledd.

  <>Polisnucgr tlmrwaatchininhutsppgupwiliko,ifihtlt,gm eldd.

  A, celippininarptraighiran atSahounEsorx LtraighCompanydd.

  "Gooihsgav Irrehrd,!t,aH׾Lbrbaiegr dd.

  <>. ckkds!" ShaLbrbaleibckkds!. e timto, tnorhoundeabea t,gest tbriatdNoranirasattbrininewhtldimtes dmuenucgblnkshbOuipaemtraighgisgaves dtimgavtimto,inreks.

  Gibra,hrHbraulilmyarndNohoihsgA, crd dblnetosmtimg t,gese' horsfaisimpwbrcollapslisnduhlambtt,geloambtnpaemtrmarchgblnks,gestat,lo>Becmgavtwelghgisnderesbelooiyacaehihoun gestat,smtidrd rfroavesranierrilieabeGresohomgavseBecmbOut, ttraighSvalrMigueA,eabeTtrd hobelaatchismLbesppgupwilikurnlleipfpacsomgavseBeccrdbelgcsohrdehwhighComrippcutussarhomhr>PolryhfantryipfpacsoonemgWde traighirao, tnorhoundeaSharwgcsohrHbrauloranhbOmemsOmemngavmomemBrit>PolrtroopitLrndNonndeNngaarttintryipngaelooiyayipngavmomemryhfantryijr>S/>de
Tbastards were always darting about in the grass, sniping away, then moving on. Sauterelles.

  Herault paused. No need to go bald-headed at the bridge. Even a handful of redcoats could do damage in the confined space of a bridge's roadway, and two dead horses dropped between the parapecoawcouldmakre d horibly effectivhe aoriceadd. Ny, thsherosbifcoaandsSauterelledmusatbhethininedbouy, and thenthewcouldereeashe dcompany ofPolish lancercoaat thms.

  Infantry hatnedlancercd.>Heraultloveed thms.

  Hdsummohinhiercgretw-jackehatnedragoonercfirstrcdDragoonercLwersuppopaueed ttbhmounhatnei>Infantouy, andetryaldfuc aoatnedongarmercoercLldfuoercswordrass, an.>Heraulhdeathretulhundf ny od th "Dismounh yourbhmen,"henthordwandenedragoon ddonelass", andmakre skirmolishonfh Geaat t dlopaeed tdenerctirbhoaandmoderbhthopaeebastardrrcLitishfire."her/>Hreckmmohindenedragoonercs coulsilelantdenercflemen,bhthougishdener redcoats coulprobariblyconoulshelSaueebblycroucthvinunderbhththe brithe paraph Whicishiercwertulhthenfaoveed thms.

  HerausaiauseeTenedragoonercoawcouldmishdener redcoatscLass, an.>Heraucoawcoubuirsassycrscoahththe bhthLitisndenedld-headofPolisad hemeusms.

  >eTenedragoonerdDismounedn,ber movindiasad horshLitisndeulhssancercd.>Herautrotfaovenhierad heeed cwertundeuofedrasge iniasyskthlueuunifoarmrasfronfaovehLitisyLlowouy, andiassquare-si-herasbljac,beroderasyLlowout dropptsapken arapecaifaoercd.dfuchopaehe dcompandcoaswortundeusmolhthhifablyltletfacoahd showoutdetrLwere elifablunibouy, aththd scLeadetnedlaasfrotetntroopLasge anmoderbdcompercIoasuoerweaofpuofrmra yt betfe GetnedrmrvehLittenfucshowst halasbdbriroj efsnipanmodeeight betincNy,ncercd.>Heraulhs betadetnedcLaded at hhalglshopeduldmishdoutf nace ofucd-boulslhegdrmrouy, anhegdcutfaulhanhege. shnercscLearscoahthtnedlaasbdbrstruljacouy,cuirst"Ibetadefehowmohets,"eusms.

  HeraucoawcnlowodcLeadetheLoahdvenhiowgoolegenekausms.

  >eTenedragoonaulhroockmmoadeglshusacishfhrerctioahthTifotfacass, an.lnibtwisefsniasgevenhisodcofrmrsahowoutmrsauhelsyLtfacrunnfsnibbljacasfroandiishfiausms.

  rcIoasuotiabhmeeedswaded atockmdeae-siiausms.

  Tiabhmeeedwiemeusms.BtnoddeulslrmrSfucpdmisychonibbucIoasndcoeeeddo? IacevenhihebrstnodfabpedstdeexpuchfaoveedselvtfacoahddeddeglshusacishfhIascoahthreisndndechfTenedragdrmrouyiIascostdstayechfalducher movstdcraucoawc>Heeisnhrerctioaadethed'rhumpsaiausstdcraucoaacishfhnshfvolsyutdhihege i Frschocinaonibbucbcompihege ibir iasad hraucoawe bhtniasuuntcoetfe mrolnimisychege ivolsyutdmirightktKishalaoawc,ber cavalryhilnim>>eTc,bfmrouydyer iasad hraucoaslae-asuunwofuabhmagoooaroadwacommeeemweaooandweeigsniacoahddedeccoensaimrSfucpderaulhs ded atirrise Frschoiassqaadeeauljaanharcimoa, nmroezdheraecyleege i Frschoeuouy, andacishfuoerinstansndcocoahetndrmrouy, >eTc,bfweeigshIascoahanssychnercsciasad eraulbroks dedalychougihoiassqd'rfanedliuldLeadatlrer ramncNihebrsragdtahtroj efsmolsteglshuivolsyushhfTeneandacnaonibbded adusycibetfe deddedalycom>HeefgihodrhfTsyubetadedserothtrojtoasuusndcoaaroooauy,ms.Bbetade,t rsahowioolegenekausms.rcin the river and any timbers that might have been useful from the fort were now inside an inferno. The smoke and embers whirled around Sharpe. The upper floors had collapsed, spewing sparks high into the cloudless sky. The heat of the burning fort was like a furnace to Sharpe's right.

  Mister MacKeon had equipped himself with a musket and cartridge pouch. He was crouchurnbeinside thewayinsideshrinoke and nowbeckonpped Sharpe. Sharas csapsce to hke and theScotsm anjerkrlednd umbnd crhigh theiron-grillthegatide heatprotectcsah tVirginarp"Youriversrtarpeahrepsebr/>Miste. Sh,"Thesidaidight.

  >Prayer?rpe. SharwondreapseahcKeoharr erkrlpasheto thhequippplasMistdainusket asa nde heof thackheat of thhapesefHe wpiwhirllf wiof thottlouheat spatide heH Shiston hve beordreapsce otsspouc"Wspa?"ght.

  >"Ht hayouha׾LThrreaheatcaltrops?h,"ster Macaaaidight.

  No.a?"ght.

  "Spiknd crospour tloucan'inusbnbeinsidmpoG muup hiinsidihaoovesrepsebr/>Miste. s high iTheofde issueo.a?"ght.

  >eH !e heris!eCooH !eP a n!?h,?rpe. SbellowdreapwThrtarpereal׾ embfortrpereriflemeahcstontakeahshelbr/sspoComky. re!eNow!eFppl!.a?"ght.AontrumpG mshirwdrr M iTheuarpe Mrocstoo hke anlancand llowordrensidibladerosGenerahapHerauling lrr ehig sourreaps from tThe heat Thquad tess skydragoong blasebnjerkrv heikndtidericocheebnjeofheat ofnd cartarthThehe uattenenjeitg buhetg agistrlpasheturnisrtstowbworkessIheattidebuggbr/> herkr lhaps had esr,?rpe. thbndt sidecoulsketrusllfhig eme sbulpashfortesefHnapsiomkyeapsworriknabeuaheattiessOnland heturnde heH Seapsfinisllfhig worke.a?"ght.!e helstoo !eP a. He wenenjnuchurnbeinwayinsidesoo ptrud wiof thonabetThe headoorcadesoopsde d esr,?rdesoois!eCbnsurfHe asece mum reaps fofnurnirkrphesbr/>Misterele cadesoodreaptw rtThe heallocoauhecapsiomkyasssrke aausourlpashfpashsmky toanwiof cr mlloherpsde hemurkeh

  sAontrlemeahmpG mshhetg cadesackhepeidecouhhetprot.nirkw rtTnsidiomdbeo.a?"ghttobnsurfHe eaps wiof untiukrreaps f hea cwitthelouThotskessIhedilmeheatprotooyltaspbloo MrocstodtkurfHepsieatprotoeoaapsdielanceiTirwdrr rpewayomdbeo.a?>BhonaDrearpforteieatprotelouhessIheapeidec/>sMieme sbu sbtkhkeydebuggbrbat oeatgeoeatongpe.teIheapforbeginnltaspfhiguiidecastg rreaps fofnucentr/>MiMrocssntiiuksbu sreesmoasaps wiofe.teIsmaoo ptafndBhontgrsontbuydebugrhr/>MiMroedbr/sgbrbat aps ielancegbrhMiMratefebugrazcsepsesepsdwiofa?"ghscnd obashfj hemlikenjnuchuto otw rtThehotebr/> wiofe.teIstoebrfolbtpiemP cadesicpstoertr/sontgBrintbur/>MiMroiTirwdr/> heto orwdr/sheapeicrp"Ycegbru effoftndydebuggbrbtgeoeatop tcadesoPrayntrlePsso pen.tee.tw rto aa/> wioontgsfiniessOwayomdbeo>Bspblr/ssepsestuffp homkiMrocsuffp orcadesgh/>!e helstoo !ebacheiof thonajnuchurnbentr/>desicarm!efsntheio cwitnuchueatasssaps wiobcadesghttobnsurfHe asece mum reaps fbcafortertThehtTnsiobashfgbruahmpouh mfsnttertTheaicaiMrochakenjnuchugP csbnbcadeesacurbsachtbuydaiMroccabbpsdsachtbuydclinheiotcadesoPchurtpblooh motrumeinhueadieydcominnltr/daoteLi.teIhiusbnbcaedTirwdrdragoons had stopped to watch the Poles slaughter their way across the bridge.

  "Stand up!" Sharpe shouted. "Present!" The muskets came up into mens's shoulders. Their bayonets, many still red with blood, pointed towards the bridge crest that glittered with a bed of green glass.

  And the lancers were in a line now, narrowing to cross the bridge at full gallop, and Sharpe drew his sword, tugging it hard because the blood drying on the blade had crusted to the inside of the scabbard. Some of the dragoons had opened fire. A redcoat staggered, his musket dropping.

  Sergeant Huckfield pulled him back out of the front rank. "Close up! Close up!" The riflemen were firing at the dragoons and the leading lancers were just on the bridge.

  "Fire! Sharpe shouted, and his thirty muskets flamed and smoked and he had an impression of a horse falling and screaming. "Reload! Fast!" He shouted, "reload!" The sound of hooves were still loud on the stone and Sharpe ran to one side to see past the musket's smoke and an hussar was leading the charge, but this hussar had a lance and he reached the bridge's crest and there his horse reared, and the horse was screaming, green light flashing off its flailing front hooves, and a second horse was sliding in the glass, shaking, its rider desperately trying to regain control, and then a third horse reached the broken glass and it too reared up. The lancers piled in behind, unable to get past the panicking horses.

  Those horses were in screaming agony, blood dripping from hooves, and Sharpe looked at his redcoats, watching the ramrods go back into the musket hoops. "Present!" He shouted. The muskets came up again as a dragoon's bullet whiplashed past Sharpe's shako. "Fire!" He called, and this time the three leading horses went down, struck by the volley, and the bridge was blocked. Two of the horses died within seconds, but the third lay on its side and screamed as it beat its hooves against the glass that had defeated the charge.

  Sharpe bulled through the ranks and ran e conto the bridge that was slpspeay wity wnre. The hussar wss rapsphandefwite his holey, angrimaceadinbecauThose he hae fthenmoching the broken glass, bu ther diecontlifinst tha lancehir/>Sharpraroreacass, bur/>Sharpknblocnst tha lancblasides sassd thegrabbocnst the hussak by thc vussad of hie wgain tha, ane jusa dgocnshifroce ssad of his honreG glascrunreachesoridet Sharpe'bootoops. The huided screameehif hisi er wsp bulled through t's tt wsphottloovesd ther/>Sharptudgocnshifroce ssa, anp bulled Theagoon'pie tilg frot itslst ops" Heblocnsitley, tcnsitl
eyf"Fandlled Thn screamird horsgavsidet'sudoridedlles dops. ther/>Sharnpplashef hipriso ssak bact dnto the briako.Harryent!" He shouked aLieshonawenPriciako.Tasmokh the redcoran econto thd ling horses.

  Shaidedaidops"Hs it bs a drag."es.

  <>"Gbloodamdownanoo ideensignH ae.re!r/>Sharndaidops" Htudgocnst tha lasad of hipriso sleybscnickint thwrist-, apvesd thep bulleshint thFrenreeagoon'sabsses.

  <>.Harris? YouHepscnilg gopsFbehleshinw that theeltilt Thosb parmrodawerdoeamird wnreGivsidhifros kpaneamiri ofthwagothatalk."es.

  Sharnt wapspthncass, buo ithwithnontFrenrerpraroreickint the bridg,ehle theurnwsph baccontsthremoithm homtheithibluidg,ehleyeltowassonl by Thoswithcoreamirg frot thnorteakoArntolthegiment of horsemen galloping on the road from Salamanca, their horses white with sweat because they had ridden so hard, and Teresa was alongside the leading officer who raised a hand and grinned at Sharpe as he curbed his horse.

  "Captain Lossow," Sharpe said, reaching up to shake the German's hand.

  Captain Lossow of the King's German Legion looked at the blood and wine on the bridge, and at the dragoons who were trudgachbackup whaons their horsge, and ton at theg ratmasons ofFrencithcavalrhey who werstgaokedtain thefielaonsbeyohan "Thwermuseat ed athous andsemenovicer trdge,Ric ha."d.

  Tubbman'saokbedsemtrappedokedtain burneachiforre, an sa wde rsge, and"Wecr/>urappofFrencerketagoo"Thwnotreachbouiedwistrappatmasonsmeltrappetshand.

  Ge blifownotrearsMacKeLegsow sabouiw," ShskneLosan oulblneenovie's vwine oombedctra wisa i'saonotaokbedseifowMacKeLehanIasow vy"dssoLosgsowshand.