Stranica 232 [232]
LABOULAYE 5 FAIRY BOOK
"S" death!" cried Charming, drawing his sword. " Before
dying I will have the pleasure of punishing one subject, at
least."
But the page had left the tent. With one bound he
sprang into the saddle and galloped toward the enemy,
sword in hand, crying, " The king! my friends—the king!
Sound the trumpets! Forward!”
Charming, mad with anger, spurred his horse in pursuit
of the page: like a bull at the sight of a red flag, he rushed
forward, head downward, caring neither for death nor
for danger. Bayonet rushed after the king, and the army
after the general. It was the finest cavalry charge ever
known in history.
At the noise of the squadrons, which shook the ground
like thunder, the enemy, surprised, scarcely had time to
form in line of battle. One man, however, had recognized
the king—the infamous Wieduwillst. Charming was alone:
wholly absorbed in his vengeance, he saw nothing but the
page whom he was pursuing. The traitor threw himself
on the prince, sword in hand, and would have slain him at
one stroke had not Tonto, plunging his spurs into the flanks
of his horse, made the animal rear and fall on Wieduwillst.
The page received the blow intended for his master. He
threw up his arms and fell with a loud cry; but his fall, at
least, was avenged. The king thrust his sword into the
throat of the treacherous physician, and drew it forth,
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