wick regiments now joined the Belgians, but in spite of this
reinforcement the latter were driven from the wood of Bossu, which
they had occupied when the British first came up. The British troops
were suffering heavily from the artillery fire to which their own guns
could make no effectual reply.

"Pretty hot this, Conway," Captain O'Connor said to Ralph. "It's not
pleasant standing here being made a target of."

"That it's not," Ralph said heartily. "I call it horribly unpleasant.
I shouldn't mind it so much if we were doing something."

It was indeed trying for young soldiers under fire for the first time.
The French had got the range accurately, and every moment gaps were
made in the line as the round shot plowed through them. The officers
walked backward and forward in front of their men with exhortations to
stand steady.

"It will be our turn presently, lads," Captain O'Connor said
assuringly. "We will turn the tables on them by and by, never fear."

There was not long to wait. Clouds of French skirmishers were seen
advancing through the hedgerows, and stealing behind the thickets and
woods that skirted the road, and a moment later the orders came for
the light companies of all the regiments of Picton's division to
advance.

"Forward, lads!" Captain O'Connor said. "It's our turn now. Keep cool
and don't waste your ammunition."

With a cheer his company followed him. Every hedge, bank, and tree
that could afford shelter was seized upon, and a sharp crackling fire
at once replied to that of the French skirmishers. The light companies
were then armed with far better weapons than those in use by the rest
of the troops, and a soldier could have told at once by the sharp
crackling sound along the front of the British line that it was the
light companies that were engaged. But now a heavy column of troops
was seen advancing from the village held by the French; and this, as
it approached the part of the line held by the Brunswickers, broke up
into several columns. The Germans were falling back, when the duke
sent Picton's two brigades to meet the enemy halfway. The
Ninety-second were left behind in reserve on the road, the light
companies were called in, Picton placed himself in front of the long
line, and with a tremendous cheer this advanced to meet the heavy
French columns.

It was thus through the wars of the period that the English and French
always fought: the French in massive column, the English in long