batteries above. With breathless suspense, every one awaits the bursting of the wave upon the Hne of GaeUc rock; but, ere they come within a hundred and fifty yards, another deadly volley flashes from the levelled rifle, and carries death and terror into the Russians. They wheel about, open files right and left, and fly back faster than they came. ' Bravo, Highlanders! well done! ' shout the excited spectators; but events thicken. The Highlanders and their splendid front are soon forgotten; men scarcely have a moment to think of this fact, that the 93rd never altered their formation to i-eceive that tide of horsemen. ' No,' said Sir Colin Campbell, ' I did not think it worth while to form them even four deep.' The ordinary British line, two deep, was quite sufficient to repel the attack of these Muscovite cavaliers. Our eyes were, however, turned in a moment on our own cavalry. We saw Brigadier-General Scarlett ride along in front of his massive squadrons. The Eussians, evidently t'orjjs d' elite, their light-blue jackets embroidered with silver lace, were advancing on their left, at an easy gallop towards the brow of the hill. A forest of lances glistened in their rear, and several squadrons of grey-coated dragoons moved up quickly to support them as they reached the summit. The instant they came in sight, the trumpets of our Cavalry gave out the warning blast, which told us that in another moment we should see the shock of battle beneath our very eyes. Lord Eaglan, all his staff and escort, and groups of officers, the Zouaves, French generals and officers, and bodies of French infantry on the height, were spectators of the scene, as though they were looking on the stage from the boxes of a theatre. Nearly every one dismounted and sat down, and not a word was said. The Eussians advanced down the hill at a slow canter, which they changed to a trot, and at last nearly halted. Their first line was at least double the length of ours — it was three times as deep. Behind them was a similar line, equally strong and compact. They evidently despised their insignificant-looking enemy; but their time was come. The trumpets rang out again through the valley, and the Greys and Enniskilleners went right at the centre of the Eussian Cavalry. The space between them was only a few hundred yards; it was scarcely enough to let the horses gather way, nor had the men quite space sufficient for the full play of their swordarms. The Eussian Cavalry brings forward each wing as our Cavalry advance, and threatens to annihilate them as they pass on. Turning a little to their left, so as to meet the Eussian right, the Greys rush on with a cheer that thrills to every heart; the wild shout of the Enniskilleners rises through the air at the same instant. As lightning flashes through a cloud, the Greys and Enniskilleners pierced through the dark masses of Eussians. The shock was but for a moment. There was a clash of steel and a light play of swordblades in the air, and then the Greys and the Eed-coats disappear in the midst of the shaken and quivering columns. In another moment we see them emerging and dashing on with diminished numbers, and in broken order,
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
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against the second line, which is advancing against them as fast as it can to retrieve the fortune of the charge. It was a terrible moment. ' God help them! they are lost! ' was the exclamation of more than one man, and the thought of many. With unabated fire the noble hearts dashed at their enemy. It was a fight of heroes. The first line of Russians, which had been smashed utterly by our charge, and had fled off at one flank and towards the centre, were coming up to swallow our handful of men.
"By sheer steel and sheer courage Enniskillener and Scot were winning their desperate way right through the enemy's squadrons, and already grey horses and red coats had appeared right at the rear of the second mass, when, with irresistible force, like one bolt from a bow, the 1st Royals, the 4th Dragoon Guards, and the 5th Dragoon Guards, rushed at the remnants of the first line of the enemy, went through it as though it were made of pasteboard, and, dashing on the second body of Russians as they were still disordered by the terrible assault of the Greys and their companions, put them to utter rout. This Russian horse, in less than five minutes after it met our Dragoons, was flying with all its speed before a force certainly not half its strength. A cheer burst from every lip; in the enthusiasm officers and men took off their caps and shouted with delight, and, thus keeping up the scenic character of their position, they clapped their hands again and again.