Page:The battle of the channel tunnel and Dover Castle and forts.djvu/13

7 and the dying, the scalded and the burnt, and to extinguish the rapidly spreading flames.

And many a Victoria Cross is merited for the chivalrous heroism displayed by some of those lying there in their agony, patiently abiding their turn for extrication; like the noble-minded heroine of that Thorpe Accident then lying there amid the wreck, with her foot torn off: who, when told by the Doctor that he would attend to her soon, but that she had not long to live, is said to have answered, I will be patient.—Alas! Is there no Victoria Cross for Woman?

And many a Victoria Cross is merited for the heroic reckless courage with which both officers and men risk their lives to extricate and save their suffering comrades: for the French in the Castle, possibly not Artillerymen, still, having got the exact range, fire at long intervals flat-ended long shot into the living pile: and a Battery of eight French Six-Pounder Field Guns, having gained the heights, now crowned in the distance with masses of French Infantry; and having been pushed forward, and seeing by their Bearskin Caps that they must be Guards who fought at the Alma and at Inkerman, are yet intensifying the horrors of the scene, by opening fire upon them with grape and canister; but fortunately at too long a range. One Company of Guards, however, seizing their rifles, has sent such a withering hail among them, as they came round to re-load, that many of them bite the earth, never to rise again: and the rest, the limping lot left, are limbering up in hot haste; nor one scathless among them.

And now, having carried all the wounded and disabled, and the dead, out of range of that gun at the Castle, and placed them in the second Train, and sent it steaming slowly backwards up the Down Line of Rails; a part saved of the Band marching before, and playing the Dead March in Saul, to prevent a collision with a Special Train expected from Kidderminster, with the Colonel and Regiment of the First Worcestershire Volunteer Rifles, in full Force, for the Front; and the enemy having already shewn themselves in infinitely greater force than was supposed possible; and manifestly now in possession of a Submarine Railway open to their Base of operations, protected alike from British Land Force and Fleet; and of Telegraph wires, similarly protected, direct to the French War Office, and thence to Cherbourg; all that the General in Command can now do is to fall back with the survivors, as