The Second Day, Chapters 7 thru 9 Summary

Chapter 7 opens with the next day as Sharpe says good-bye to Lucille, who is more afraid of him getting killed than a British defeat. He and Patrick Harper, both wearing old riflemen jackets join the Prince of Orange at Quatre Bras where the Dutch Belgian troops are lined across the Charleroi road between the farmhouse at Gemioncourt and the village of Frasnes. The Prince is full of excitement and believes his troops will beat the French in a great victory before the Duke of Wellington's men appear on the scene. The Prince's unrealistic expectations do not survive the reality of the first French attack, which finally takes place in the early afternoon. Under a steady fire from the French skirmishers and their supporting cannon the Dutch-Belgian guns and infantry do not hold their line and...