The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 365: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

348 REYNOLDS’ WORKS in the direction to which he pointed, she beheld a squadron of cavalry descending an eminence. In a few minutes the soldiers, who at the spectacle of that chase put spurs to their chargers, were close upon the roadside. Forester and Juliana drew in their reins; they were now in the midst of protectors. “Ramon de Collantes!’’ ejaculated Forester, pointing in the direction where the bandit-chief had a few instants back been pursuing them. “Ramon de Collantes!”’ echoed every voice in the troop, and in a moment there was a headlong gallop in pursuit of the formidable brigand. | He had likewise caught sight of the soldiery; his steed was Wheeled around in a moment, and he was in full retreat. But his horse was wearied by the chase after the fugitives, and in a short time he was overtaken. Like a lion at bay, he turned and faced his twenty opponents. A pistol was discharged at the foremost, and at the very instant the soldier, reeling back in his saddle with a mortal wound, was about to fall from his horse, Ramon de Collantes clutched at the sword which was dropping from his grasp. Then, with all the mad fury of desperation, did he strike right and left, ghastly wounds were inflicted, but it was only for a few instants that he thus was enabled vahantly to defend himself. A pistol bullet pierced his brain, stretching him lifeless in the road. Some of the soldiers, who were about thirty in all, had remained to protect Forester and Juliana; for in the first instance they knew not how many persons might be in chase of them. One of the military spoke French, and thus, in a few rapidly uttered words from both the fugitives, he was given to understand that they had just escaped from the brigand’s tower; but, as the reader may suppose, neither Forester nor Juliana let drop a syllable to betray the un- pleasant fact that she was Ramon de Collantes’ wife. It appeared from what the soldier said, it was well known to the civil and military authorities of Catalonia that the brig- ands had been wont to harbour in the dilapidated tower; but on the occasions when a military force had been sent into the neighbourhood, it was invariably assailed from the heights, and such murderous havoc was committed by the rifles of the banditti as to compel a retreat. Now, however, that the dreaded chief himself was no more, the squadron CONNIE IOOKS (E(0)