54 THE HISTORY OF A NUT-CRACKER.

even formed a squadron of cavalry, by means of the horses
thus taken.

The unfortunate Nut-cracker had no chance of victory
left: he could not even retreat with honour; and therefore
he determined to die.

He placed himself at the head of a small body of men,
pee like himself to sell their lives dearly.

Jn the meantime terror reigned among the dolls: Miss
Clara and Miss Rose wrung their hands, and gave vent to
loud cries.

- Alas!”? exclaimed Miss Clara; ‘‘ must I die in the flower
of my youth—I, the daughter of
a king, and born to such brilliant
destinies?”

“« Alas!” said Miss Rose; ‘“‘am
I doomed to fall ‘mto the
hands of the enemy, and be
devoured by the filthy mice?”
> The other dolls ran about in
; tears; their cries mingling with
> those ‘of Miss Clara and Miss Rose.
Meanwhile matters went worse
and worse with Nutcracker:
‘he was sperilondl by the few friends who had remained
faithful ‘to him. “The remains of the squadron of hussars
took refuge 1 in the cupboard; the leaden soldiers had ail
fallen into the power of the enemy; the cannoneers had
long previously been
dispersed; and the | {i
militia was cut ‘to
pieces, like the three
hundred Spartans of
Leonidas, without
ieldingastep. Nut-
eu a planted = =
himself against the