Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/390

346 'J'llH BMTLE OF INKERMAN, CHAP. Vaissier's battalion, there were some who refused ' to yield. A young French officer hoisted his cap M Period. upoQ t;he point of his uplifted sword, and ran out several paces to the front. An English officer sprang forward, and stood at his side. Another, and another darted out to the same advanced spot, and there, the four remained steadfast, pro- voking a great flight of musket -balls without being even once struck. But all this devotion did not yet turn the hearts of the broken and retreating French troops, and those of the enemy's soldiery who directly confronted this scene of disorder and ilight, now joyfully saw their occasion. With exultant ' hur- ' rahs ' they sprang forward to clench the victory which fortune seemed to be proffering. But then all at once those same Russians stopped dead. Why the enemy thus retracted his purpose we shall presently see, but the effect of the change must be first for a moment observed. It gave respite to the discomfited French, and enabled the officers to make at the least an endeavour towards staying the retreat of their men, and bring them once more to the front. With excel- lent zeal they seized the opportunity thus hap- pily offered them. The four French and English officers we saw springing out to the front were still on their ground ; and now from the rear of the spot where Vaughan stood, a voice was all at once heard crying out in French : ' Drums to the