for Old England!" given in ringing
tones, and in excellent English. Then, still followed by cheers, he
went on his way.

It is but poor fun waiting while others begin a great game--poor fun
and dangerous too, as the English line presently realised, while they
looked impatiently for the order to advance. The Russian gunners had
got their range, and were already plying them with shot and shell. At
the first gun, fired evidently at the British staff, Lord Raglan, as
cool and self-possessed as ever, turned to General Wilders, and said,
briefly--

"Your men had better lie down."

"May I not cast loose cartridges first, my lord?" said the old
soldier, anxious to prepare for the serious business of the day.

"With all my heart! But be quick; they must not stand up here to be
shot at for nothing." Then Lord Raglan himself, erect and fearless,
resumed his observation of the advancing French columns.

"Dear, dear! how slow they are!" cried the eager voice of Airey, the
quartermaster-general.

"Look! they are checked!" said another; "they can't stomach the
climb."

"They have a tough job before them," said a third. "It will try them
hard."

That the French were in difficulties was evident, for now an
aide-de-camp came galloping from Bosquet with the grave news that the
division was in danger. He was followed by another prominent person on
St. Arnaud's staff, bringing an earnest entreaty that the English
should not delay their advance. A fierce storm of iron hail, moreover,
made inaction more and more intolerable.

The time was come! Lord Raglan turned and spoke five words to General
Airey. The next minute staff-officers were galloping to each division
with the glad tidings: "The line will advance!"

All along it men rose from the ground with a resolute air, fell into
their ranks, and then the "Thin Red Line," having a front of two miles
and a depth of two men, marched grandly to the fight.

It is with the doings of the Second Division, or more exactly with
Wilders's brigade of that body, that we are now principally concerned.

The task before it was arduous and full of danger, demanding devoted
courage and unflinching hearts.

At the moment of the advance the village immediately in front of them
burst into flames--a fierce conflagration, lighted by the retreating
foe. The dense columns of smoke hid the batteries beyond, and
magnified the dangers of attack; the fierce fire narrowed the path of
progress and squeez