ldier, above all men, may be thankful that he does not know what is
before him.

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Note 1. Gabions are like large round hampers, without top or bottom, to
be filled with earth. Fascines are like long, tight fagots.

STORY FOUR, CHAPTER 4.

THE DAY OF BATTLE.

It was still dark on the morning of that 20th day of September, 1854.
The whole army of the allies lay stretched on the damp ground. Three
hours after midnight the cry was heard, "Stand to your arms." We rose
to our feet, every two comrades wringing their wet blankets, and placing
them on their knapsacks. We then fell in, and waited till daylight,
when we were ordered to pile arms and fall out, but not to go more than
a hundred yards from our regiments, as we might be required at a
moment's notice to march to the front.

The sun rose brightly, without a cloud in the sky, and at seven o'clock
the whole army advanced. The Turks were on the right, next the sea,
then the French, next the British second division, followed by the
third, and on their left the light division, followed by the first and
fourth. On the left of all marched the cavalry. The artillery of each
division was on its left. Baggage and ammunition trains kept close
behind. The whole country was open, with rise beyond rise, till at
length, after marching for two hours, we reached a rise, when we saw
before us what was ere long to be the scene of a bloody battle. The
ground sloped gently down to the river Alma, which ran directly in front
of us, its banks covered with villages and orchards and gardens. It was
fordable in most places. On the other side a range of hills, three and
four hundred feet high, rose suddenly up from it; on our right, too
steep to be climbed; but in front of where we of the light division
stood, showing more gradual slopes. On these slopes, earthworks had
been thrown up by the Russians. On the top of all, the ground was
level; and it was here and on the slopes that the Russians were posted
between us and Sebastopol. We had to storm those heights, and to drive
the enemy off the level ground on their top, in the face of the heavy
artillery and the dense masses of infantry with which they were lined,
not forgetting the strong reserve in the rear. We could see the French
on the right beginning the action, climbing up the heights, and firing
as they advanced; then a strong force of Russia