y, hand to hand,
and the lines swayed backward and forward as the weight of the numbers
told. The ground was lost and gained, struggled for and won over and
over, while the dead lay in heaps under our feet.

It was in the midst of this deadly struggle, when I was fighting sword
in hand amid the press of bayonets for my very life, that I saw
Ramsay, who was near, cheering on his men, come face to face with the
officer who led the charge of the Grenadiers. Then, in that storm
centre, around which the roar of battle raged, there was a flash of
steel and the swords crossed. But in the fury of the battle duels are
short and fierce, and I saw Ramsay, who was already covered with
wounds, falter for a moment, as the other lunged, and then he was down
among the slain.

Our line hesitated as Ramsay fell, and the English pressed on with a
cheer. But I sprang forward, shouting to the men to save their
Colonel, and they, answering my call, forced the English back, until I
stood by Ramsay's body. But only for a moment; before we could raise
Ramsay gently up and bear him off the field, there came another charge
of the Grenadiers that forced us off our feet and hurled us backward,
fighting desperately, leaving the body of our Colonel in the hands of
the enemy. But in the _melee_ I found my sword crossing that of the
officer who had fought with Ramsay, and instantly I attacked him
fiercely, for I was burning to avenge Ramsay's fall. But he, with ease
and coolness, parried all my thrusts and played with me as if I were
but a child. Then, as I was growing desperate, he called to me, "Nay,
lad, go try your sword on some one else and leave an old Scot alone. I
would not hurt you for the world."

I started and let the point of my sword fall, for it was the voice of
the old Tory, whom I had not before recognised in the confusion of the
fight. This slight hesitation almost led to my capture, for I had been
fighting in advance of our line, and now I found myself in the midst
of the English troops. So, saluting the old Tory hastily, I regained
our lines.

Then, fighting foot by foot and inch, by inch, we contested their
advance, as the weight of numbers bore us backward up the hill into
the pines. But every minute gained meant the salvation of the army.

Ah, it was hot work there, ankle deep in the sand, with the broiling
sun above us, while the smoke and the dust of the conflict filled our
throats and eyes; but we staggered on and fought