Part One, Chapters 2 & 3 Summary

Sharpe and his men try to recapture Leroux. Sharpe takes aim and fires but misses. Another of his Riflemen hits Leroux's horse, and Leroux falls to the ground and runs on foot. Windham is still in pursuit, and when he is almost upon Leroux, Leroux turns with his sword and strikes Windham's horse in the mouth. Then Leroux steps aside and kills Windham. Sharpe and Harper are ahead of the rest of the Riflemen. Harper fires his huge seven-barreled gun, but none of the shots hit Leroux. The French forces in the forts across the river from the city open fire with cannon, and this further slows the British.

Some French Voltigeurs, or light infantry troops, join the fight, and Sharpe knows they will reach Leroux before he does. Suddenly Sharpe hears the sound of musket fire, and he...