CHAP. VI.] THE CRUSADES. 189 



the Poles upon their reserves. These then charged in 

 their turn, overthrew the barbarians and pursued them. 

 Suddenly, according to the Polish historians, '* a spell, the 

 efifect of enchantment, began to work," and their country- 

 men fled.. This spell was simply the result of the unex- 

 pected rallying of the Mongols, of the unaccustomed 

 tactics of a retreating foe, that were more dangerous 

 flying than charging. The novelty of the system of 

 tactics, the confusion unavoidable after a successful charge, 

 and the attack of fresh reserves, all formed a spell which 

 was quite sufficient to turn the scale and send the un- 

 wieldy horsemen of the West back upon their lines. ^ 



Prince Henry, evidently a skilful general, had still a 

 force in reserve which he led in person to restore the 

 fortune of the day. The Mongolian leader, Bati, ad- 

 vanced to meet him, but unable to withstand the direct 

 onset, evaded it, and returned again and again to the 

 charge. At last, when all the corps of the Christian 

 army had been exhausted in pursuing and charging their 

 light and intangible opponents, Bati, with a last reserve, 

 poured down and swept the wearied remains of the Polish 

 army from the field. 



Such was the great battle which checked the Tartar 

 invasion of the West, for, although victorious, the 

 invaders had met an opposition more desperate than 

 they had yet encountered, and instead of pursuing their 

 conquests further in that direction, they turned to the 

 south, crossed the Carpathian mountains, and ravaged 

 the plains of Hungary. In their movements in that 

 country we do not obtain any details of interest in 

 reference to the question we are discussing. 



' Nolan, 14. 



