We pushed on
that way to take the garrison in reserve, but our weak battalion was
repulsed by their reserve, and some time elapsed before the French
found out that Badajoz had changed hands."
"But it was ours!" exclaimed Lady Mabel, "though too dearly bought."
"The carnage was dreadful," said Cranfield; "and when the full extent
of that night's havoc became known to Lord Wellington, the firmness of
his nature gave way for a moment, and the pride of conquest yielded to
a passionate burst of grief at the loss of his gallant soldiers.--Then
came the _voe victis_," continued Cranfield. "We do not like to dwell
on the wild and desperate wickedness which Badajoz witnessed on
becoming ours. By the by, just where we stand stood the gallows."
"The gallows!" Lady Mabel exclaimed, stepping back from the polluted
spot. "You could not hang the French. Did you hang the Spaniards who
had fired on you."
"No; but Lord Wellington was compelled to hang some of his own heroes
for making too free with what was theirs by right of conquest."
The young surgeon, who had been listening to Cranfield, now thought it
time to lay some of his coloring on this picture of the siege,
storming and sack of this unhappy city.
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