Beaten by bayonets

Good bayonet fighters will beat swordsmen and spearmen every time…



Flashman and the Mountain of Light, p.338, Fontana Paperback edition, 1991.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, bayonet.

Ply the Maltese Cross

There were four new swords against us, and as the Mongol reeled I could only ply the Maltese Cross for my very life (that’s the Afghan’s last resort, an up-down-across pattern that no opponent can get by until you fall down exhausted, which happens after about ten seconds, in my condition).

Flashman and the Dragon, p.256, Fontana Paperback edition, 1986.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, swordplay.

I ain’t Guillaume Danet

…Sang came after me, frothing like a pi-dog. On clear floor I fell on guard, parrying two cuts to take his measure, and my heart leaped as I realized I’d been right in one vital hope — he couldn’t use a sabre to save himself. He was a blind, furious lasher, so I exposed my flank, took a cut on the forte, waited for his lurching recovery, and ran him through the left arm. (I ain’t Guillaume Danet, you understand, but Sang’s swordplay would have broken the troop-sergeant’s heart.)


Flashman and the Dragon, p.255, Fontana Paperback edition, 1986.



Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, TAGHERE.

Tossing oranges

…a line of Probyn’s riders, Sikhs and Afghans in shirt-sleeves, taking turns to ride full tilt past an officer who was tossing oranges in the air — they were taking ’em with their sabres on the fly, roars of applause greeting each successful cut.
      “Fane’s boys will be doing it with grapes tomorrow, I expect,” says Probyn.



Flashman and the Dragon, p.157, Fontana Paperback edition, 1986.


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Suit of armour

‘And a cutlass, of course,’ says he, ‘you’ll feel naked without that.’
      He little knew that I could feel naked in a suit of armour in the bowels of a dreadnought being attacked by an angry bum-boat-woman.

Flashman's Lady, pp.155-6, Pan edition, 1979.

Tags:Flashman, Flashman quotes, naked.