Many, again, tried to leap their horses over
ditch and rampart, but the pikemen stood firm, while at short
intervals withering volleys tore into the struggling mass.
For half an hour the desperate fight continued, and then, finding
that the position could not be carried by horsemen, the Spanish
commander drew off his men, leaving no less than 600 lying dead
around the rampart of earth. There were no Spanish infantry within
some miles of the spot, and the cavalry rode away, some to Maintz,
but the greater part to Oppenheim, where there was a strong garrison
of 1000 men.
A careful search among the bushes brought three more boats to light,
and a force was soon taken across the river sufficient to maintain
itself against any attack. Gustavus himself was in one of the first
boats that crossed.
"Well done, my brave hearts!" he said as he landed, just as the
Spanish horsemen had ridden away. "You have fought stoutly and
well, and our way is now open to us. Where are Lieutenant Graheme
and the sergeant who swam across with him?"
Malcolm and his companion soon presented themselves.
"I sent for you to your camp," the king said, "but found that you
but waited to change your clothes, and had then joined the force
crossing. You had no orders to do so."
"We had no orders not to do so, sire, but having begun the affair
it was only natural that we should see the end of it.
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