Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/146

120 liATTLK OF THE AI-MA. CHAP. The Colonel was wounded, and Major Cliani])ion L_ succeeded to the command of tlic regiment ; but with this its right wing as before he continued to be present in person. Shot dealt havoc around him. Captain Eddington was shot in the throat and killed ; Polhill was torn and slain with grape. Champion was a man of great gentleness and piety; and if he was not highly endowed with intellectual gifts, he was able to express the feel- ings of his heart with something of a poetic force. His mind was accustomed to dwell very much on the world that lies beyond the grave ; and in the midst of this scene of carnage he gained, as it were, a seeming glimpse of the happy state ; for when the younger Eddington fell at liis side, Champion paused to sec what ailed him, and looking upon his young friend's pale face, lie saw it suddenly clothed with a ' most sweet expression.' It was because death was on him that the blissful look had come. In the mind of Champion the sight had a deep import ; for he was of the faith that God's Providence is special, and to him the beautiful smile on the features of * the dead ' was the smile of an immortal man gently carried away from earth by the very hand of his Maker. Yet this piety of his was of no un warlike cast. Nay, he was of so noble a sort that, though he had not willingly cliosen the profession of arms, yet, when he prayed, Ik; was accustomed to render tain Sargent. Sargent was wounded, but lie refused to go on board ship, clung fast to the campaign, and lived to bring hit refiment out of action on the great day of Inkeranin.