CHAPTER XIX.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 5, 25 May 1883, Page 7

CHAPTER XIX.

They were sleeping rather late the next morning, it being a day off dnty, when an orderly rode down with a message for them. It was a hurried note from Nolan, half official, half private. The Russians were massing in threatening force at the further end of the vallej . Their batteries were being posted on the hills bordering it at either side, and commanding those forts garrisoned by the Turkish contingent. Heavy columns of their gray-coated infantry were moving up from the camp at the north side, and Nolan expressed his belief in his hurried note that there was a fierce and bloody struggle opening with the day. Before they had finished reading, an order came from the colonel to boot and saddle, and in a few moments, thanks to Briney's care, the officers were dressed, with their uniforms as bright as if they had never left Portsmouth ; and, hastily swallowing a cup of coffee, mounted their horses and were speedily making their way to where their regiment was mastering. All was stir and bustle in the camp. The muster sound of the bugle waß ringing in every section of it, and the lines of serried bayonets and of wheeling horsemen were everywhere evident. As if to add to the briskness of the morning the Russian guns from the forts on the slope thundered unceasingly against their besiegers ; and on the frosty morning air the boom of their heavy guns rang with great clearness. The French guns on the left were thundering back their challenge with life and strength ; but the English guns mounted as yet being few, their reply was but slight. The regiment was soon mustered on the slopes outside the camp ; and in fine order the Inniskillings moved forward to join the cavalry marshalling at the front. The bright sun dispelling the frosty mists glance brightly from, with changing effect, the drawn swords and polished trappings and housings of the horses. The cheering bugle notes resounding on the morning air, gave an air of festivity and gaiety to the scene, so that as the regiment filed forward, the men were full of hope and vigour Maurice and his friend found their hearts and spirits rise with the prospect of active work that was before them. That active work was before them it needed no prophet to tell, when they had taken up their position and had had time to glance at the enemy. The Russians were moving in great force across the hills and into the further head of the valley. Their batteries of more than a score gnns, drawn by poweful teams of horses, came in line in the middle ; behind them dense columns of infantry ; whilst at their wings came Russian dragoons, whose swords, reflecting the eversbjfting rays of the sun, gave a brilliant military appearance to the adVance ; and swarms of Cossacks, with their long lances, spread in far-extended array. "That's a formidable business, Maurice," said Harold, as the latter sat quietly in his saddle, watching with great intentness the hostile forces advancing in the distance. " They are advancing a column to attack that Turkish fort," said Maurice, not turning his eyes. " See 1 the garrison have opened fire upon them. They are going to storm it in the teeth of the guns, by Jove. Look at that column moving steadily up to it."

"f he guns have ceased firing," said Harold after some time. The Turks have abandoned it without waiting to be stormed. And, by heaven 1 they are retreating on the second fort. Cowardly fellows." " Tes, and there are # the Russian swordsmen making for them. How they sabre and scatter them ! I thought the Turks fought better." " They are abandoning No. 2 fort also," said Harold, as they watched steadily through their glasses the advance, the attack, and the retreat. " Nay, more, by Jove, they are limbering up the guns in the redoubts and taking them away 1 Our guns, too 1 What the devil possesses the General to allow that ? " The few regiments which, along with the Inniskillings, formed the Light Brigade (not more than seven hundred men all told) were ranged in close column at one side of the nearer end of a long valley, at the other end of which, some mile and a quarter distant, the Russian advancing batteries had arranged themselves in line with their heavy supports behind. Separated from the Inniskillings by a slight ascent, which sloped equally at the other side, were the dragoons and the heavier portion of the cavalry. To the left, higher up, they could see the waving plumes and gold epaulettes of the general and staff, where they watched the movements of the enemy ; whilst, farther still, to the right, the ceaseless piping of the French buglers, and the occasional beat of the drum, told where their allies were rapidly mustering their forces and deploying, as swiftly as they could, their cavalry and infantry in face of the dangerous movement in front. ° There go the guns, by Jove," said Harold indignantly. It is a burning disgrace to the armies— to us particularly— if English guns are suffered to be captured by the enemy under our very eyes." "It certainly is. If the Turks have abandoned them, that is no reason why our General should suffer them to be captured. But, look 1 there comes a staff-officer. They have got ashamed at last. What a devil of a way the fellow takes." The officer in question had ridden straight from where the nodding plumes denoted the presence of the staff. Without waiting to seek the readiest way downward, he had ridden at the top of his speed, straight as an arrow flies, down the rugged and precipitous sides of the descent that led to the valley. It was a venturesome ride, and none but a reckless soldier would attempt it. But evidently the aide-de-camp knew his own skill and his horses mettle, for with no faltering of hand or bridle he flew down the hill with as much confidence as if he were, riding across the grassy plain. "It is Nolan I Maurice," said Harold as the staff-officer rode at some distance past them, without ever stopping to look at them, so great was his speed. "So it is, by heaven 1 " said Maurice, as he, too, recognised him. " None other than he would have attempted that ride, and none but he would have succeeded. I might have known that at once." "Heis a magnificent horseman, undoubtedly. Small wonder he has such a name among the Austrians. 'He has a message for the dragoons." " I fancy the message is for "us. See, here comes, riding furiously, the General." •As they looked they could see the General commanding the Heavy Brigade in excited conversation or discussion with the officer. It did not last more than a few seconds, when the former spurred his horse and rode swiftly across the light ascent that separated them. " He addressed a few words to the officer commanding the Light Brigade. Immediately the bugle sang out the " Prepare to mount I Boot and saddle 1 Forward 1 " - Some of the soldiers who had been standing by their horses leaped into the saddles, and in a few seconds the force was in motion. " Our turn, has come," said Manrice. "So it seems. But where are they sanding us ? Surely they do not mean us to fight the whole Russian Army 1 " " It seems very like it."