Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/192

166 BATTLE OF THE ALMA. CHAP, soon passed through the vineyards, and gained ™ '- — the bank of the river. The stream at this spot flowed rapidly, break- ing against a mass of rock, which so far dammed it back as to form on the upper side of it a pool about four feet deep. One of the Staff rode into the stream at that point, and his horse nearly lost his footing. Lord Raglan, almost at the same mo- ment, took the river on the right or lower side of the rock, and crossed it without any trouble. Though he was parted at this time from his own troops, there were several Frencli soldiers near him. They were a part of the cliain of skirmish- ers which covered the left flank and left front of Prince Napoleon's Division. They seemed to be engaged with some of the enemy's sharp- shooters, whom they were able to discern through the foliage ; for they were sheltering themselves behind vineyard walls, watching moments for firing, and receding in order to load, or cautiously peering forward. They looked surprised when Lord liaglan, with the group which followed him, rode down and passed them. More than one of them, sagacious and curious, paused in his load- ing, and stood gazing with ramrod half-down as though he were trying to make out how it ac- corded with the great science of war that the English General and his Staff should be riding through the skirmishers, and entering without his battalions into the midst of the enemy's do- minions. Though unseen by our officers, the Kussian