15. Zaemon’s Summons

           Nowitwouldbetedioustotellhowwithahandfulofhighlytrainedfightingmen,Ichargedandrecharged,andfinallybrokeupthathordeofrebelswhichoutnumberedusbyfifteentimes.Itmustberememberedthattheygrewsuddenlypanic-strickeninfindingthatofallthosewhowentinunderthecitywallsbythemineonwhichtheyhadsetsuchgreatstore,nonecameback,andthatthesoundsofpanicwhichhadfirstbrokenoutwithinthecitysoongavewaytocriesoftriumphandjoy.Anditmustbecarriedinmemoryalsothatthesewretchedrebelswerewithouttrainingworthyofthename,wereforthemostpartweaponedveryvilely,and,seeingthattheirsillyprinciplesmadeeachtheequalofhisneighbour,werepracticallywithoutheadsorleadersalso.

           Sowhenthepanicbegan,itspreadlikeamalignantmurrainthroughalltheirraggedranks,andtherewerenonetorallytheflying,nonetodirectthoseofmoredesperatebraverywhostayedandfought.

           Myschemeofattackwassimple.Ihuntedthemwithoutahalt.Iandmyfellowsneverstoppedtoplaythedefensive.Weturnedoneflank,andchargedthroughacentre,andthenwewereharryingtheotherflank,andoncemorehackingourpassagethroughthesolidmass.Andsobyconstantlykeepingthemontherun,andinignoranceofwhencewouldcomethenextattack,panicbegantogrowamongstthemandferment,tillpresentlythoseintheouterlinescommencedtoscurryawaytowardstheforestsandthespoiledcorn-landsofthecountry,andthoseintheinnerpackswereonlywishfulofachancetofollowthem.