Page:Pieces People Ask For.djvu/110

100 Our hearts went with him. Back we swept,
 * And when the bugle said,

"Up, charge again!" no man was there
 * But hung his dogged, head.

"We've no one left to lead us now,"
 * The sullen soldiers said.

Just then, before the laggard line
 * The colonel's horse we spied,—

Bay Billy, with his trappings on,
 * His nostril swelling wide,

As though still on his gallant back
 * The master sat astride.

Right royally he took the place
 * That was of old his wont,

And with a neigh that seemed to say
 * Above the battle's brunt,

"How can the Twenty-second charge
 * If I am not in front?"

Like statues we stood rooted there,
 * And gazed a little space:

Above that floating mane we missed
 * The dear familiar face;

But we saw Bay Billy's eye of fire,
 * And it gave us heart of grace.

No bugle-call could rouse us all
 * As that brave sight had done.

Down all the battered line we felt
 * A lightning impulse run:

Up, up the hill we followed Bill,
 * And captured every gun!

And when upon the conquered height
 * Died out the battle's hum,

Vainly 'mid living and the dead
 * We sought our leader dumb;

It seemed as if a spectre steed
 * To win that day had come.