Theinfantryregimentsthathadbeencaughtunawaresintheoutskirtsofthewoodranoutofit, thedifferentcompaniesgettingmixed, , inhisfear, utteredthesenselesscry, "Cutoff!" thatissoterribleinbattle, andthatwordinfectedthewholecrowdwithafeelingofpanic.
"Surrounded! Cutoff? We'relost!" shoutedthefugitives.
Themomentheheardthefiringandthecryfrombehind, thegeneralrealizedthatsomethingdreadfulhadhappenedtohisregiment, andthethoughtthathe, anexemplaryofficerofmanyyears' servicewhohadneverbeentoblame, mightbeheldresponsibleatheadquartersfornegligenceorinefficiencysostaggeredhimthat, forgettingtherecalcitrantcavalrycolonel, hisowndignityasageneral, andaboveallquiteforgettingthedangerandallregardforselfpreservation, heclutchedthecrupperofhissaddleand, spurringhishorse, gallopedtotheregimentunderahailofbulletswhichfellaround, , orremedy, themistakeifhehadmadeone, sothathe, anexemplaryofficeroftwenty-twoyears' service, whohadneverbeencensured, shouldnotbeheldtoblame.
HavinggallopedsafelythroughtheFrench, hereachedafieldbehindthecopseacrosswhichourmen, regardlessoforders, , orwouldthey, disregardinghim, continuetheirflight? Despitehisdesperateshoutsthatusedtoseemsoterribletothesoldiers, despitehisfuriouspurplecountenancedistortedoutofalllikenesstohisformerself, andtheflourishingofhissaber, thesoldiersallcontinuedtorun, talking, firingintotheair, .
