o let a favorable
opportunity, even for a sarcasm, go by. He seemed to prefer the solitude
of his own tent to the most tempting inducements of society. Men
remembered afterward how, if they went in and found him alone, he was
always busy with his revolver, or playing with his sabre. He had refused
two advantageous offers of staff appointments, for no apparent reason
except the desire not to be out of the way if any work were to be done:
and scarcely a day passed when he was not up at head-quarters, trying to
find out if there was any chance of a break in the long inaction of the
cavalry. Whether it was that the old blood-thirstiness had waked again
in a congenial atmosphere, or whether a great weariness weighing on his
spirits made him so impatient and restless, none can know for certain.
Again I say, let us not sift motives too inquisitively.

It is the morning of the 25th of October, and a lull comes between the
storm-gusts. The "Heavies" have just taken up their position, after that
magnificent charge, in which the Russian lancers were scattered like
dead leaves in autumn when the wind is blowing freshly. There are
murmurs of discontent running the ranks of the Light Brigade; it seems
as if _their_ chance was never coming. One of his intimates grumbles as
much to Royston Keene. The Cool Captain straightens a stray lock of his
charger's mane, and answers, with his old provoking smile,

"Don't fret yourself, George. I have a presentiment that we shall get
rid of the 'fidgets' before we sleep. See--_that_ looks like business."

It seemed as if a spirit of prophecy possessed him; for even while he
was speaking, the aide-de-camp came down at speed. There was a pause
while that message was delivered, the exact words of which will never be
known--for you can not summon the dead as witnesses; then a brief
hesitation, and a dozen sentences exchanged between the first and second
in command; and then--every trooper in the Brigade understood what he
had to do. Many drew true and evil augury from the cloud lowering on the
stern features of the "Haughty Earl."

Keene had been under fire oftener than most there, and his practiced eye
took in and appreciated every item of the peril; nevertheless, his brow
cleared, and all his face lighted up strangely.

"What did I tell you, young one?" he said to the man who had addressed
him just before; "it will be warmer work than the old Phoenix
field-days; but one comfort is, it won't last