ns, who were nearly taken
by surprise, moved to meet them. With Rifles and skirmishers in front,
fighting with the Russian riflemen, the second division of the British
then advanced in line. Up the hill they went, right at the enemy. The
firing became general along the whole line. A village burst into flames
below us. We, with other Highland regiments and the Guards, were formed
in line,--a band, I may say, able to meet any enemy in the world in a
hand-to-hand fight or charge of bayonets; but the enemy's round-shot and
bullets came rattling among us, and picked off many a stout fellow. We
were therefore ordered to lie down to avoid the shot, our men grumbling
not a little, and asking why we were not led at once against the enemy.
We soon saw the reason why. Many young soldiers who had before talked
of fighting as good fun, now changed their note, and found what terrible
bloody work it is.

At last came the welcome order to advance. To show how cool some men
are, even at that moment one of my comrades composed some verses, which
he repeated to those near him. We sprang to our feet; down the steep we
dashed, through orchards of apples and grapes and other fruit. Several
of our fellows, stopping to pick the fruit to quench their thirst, were
shot dead. We passed quickly across the Alma, which in some places we
found so shallow that many of us scarcely wetted our feet. Once more we
were ordered to take shelter behind a long stone wall. Then came the
welcome order, "Up, Guards and Highlanders, and at them."

Up the hill we went, halting but for a moment, to allow the somewhat
broken regiments which had hitherto been engaged, to pass between our
ranks, and then right at the enemy we dashed, firing as we advanced, and
prepared to charge, if he would have stood for us. As we reached the
summit, a grand sight met our eyes,--the whole army of Russians spread
out on the plain before us; but as we got nearer, we saw their backs
instead of their faces; for they had already had a sufficient taste of
our quality, and were in full retreat. Now and then they turned and
fired, and my right and left-hand men were both killed in that manner.
I had marked the Russian who had killed the last; and, dropping on my
knee at the moment the bugle sounded cease firing, I took a steady aim,
and stopped him from boasting that he had killed an Englishman.

We were much disappointed at not being allowed to follow the enemy.
Still it wa