THE MAIN FIGHT. 341 the fire of a strong battalion. Accordingly, the CHAI' kuot of men under Vaughan, with the rest of L. those forming the right — proper right — of the ^<^ ^'«'"*<'<*- interposed English troops, fell back into the rear of the French column, and then briskly re-front- ing formed line ; but towards the centre and left, our men, though preparing to do the like, had become so weary, so sullen, so callous by this time to danger, that they were provokingly slow in their movements, and they remained inter- posed between the French and the Kussians even down to the time when the head of the enemy's column was within pistol-shot of the 7th L^ger. With natural impatience the commander of the French battalion rode forward crying out to Bellairs and the English soldiery near him : — ' Come ! do retire : we are going to open ; ' * and his appeal somewhat quickened the movement of the English to whom he was speaking. They at length fell back into the rear of the French battalion, and there, formed up in support as Vaughan's men on the right had already done ; but by the time that the front had been thus at last cleared, the head of the Russian column was so near that its soldieay, if so they should choose, might charge home, and offer cold steel without first having to suiter under more than one round of fire. Therefore the task now engaging the troops of
- ' Mais retirez vous. Nous allons ouvrir.' The word
'mais,' I think, discloses the impatience which I have sought to express by ' Come ! '
