Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/170

126 THE BATTLE OF INKERMAN. XV. CHAP. VI. 1st Period. Continued pursuit of Grant. Halt of the pursuing troops : and of Grant. Result of the Russian attack up to this time. It was to follow up Grant — their original pro " voker — that the enemy's forces pressed forward, and they crossed in pursuit a part of the Mikria- koff Spur ; but at length, from some cause not divined at the time by our people, they all at once came to a halt. Grant thereupon staying his retreat, the two hugely unequal forces stood motionless and face to face, but there was no visible ground for inferring that this interrup- tion of the enemy's victorious advance would be otherwise than brief; and indeed it seems probable that in coming thus to a halt, the com- mander of the Eussian force was only allowing some instants for the yet nearer approach of the columns upon columns behind him, in the direc- tion of his left rear. So, upon the whole, it resulted at this time that whilst the Kussians were content towards the east with a less determined advance, and inclined to hold back towards their centre in avoidance of the Saddle-top Eeach, they had so used their strength on the west of Mouut Inkerman as to be now in weighty numbers impending almost un- resisted over Pennefather's left, with the sense too of having already displayed their ascendant by the capture of three English guns. for these men — they were Irisli— drew attention to themselves bj' speaking out loudly, and offering explanations of their dis- comfiture, which — if only because of the brogue — had a stir- ring and humorous sound.