The summit of the climb came 38km from the end of stage 14, which began in Limoux and ended in Foix in the foothills of the Pyrenees, and the incident occurred as the peloton emerged into the light and passed under the banner at the top, a quarter of an hour behind a five-man breakaway.

Next day, while we were saddling, Ali and Abd el Kader appeared.

with thorns degloried

In mercy I put a bullet through his skull, and he fell sprawling among the aloes.