Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/148

 122 BATTLE OF THK ALMA. CEIAP. diers, still pantiim with the vi(jleuce of their ' labour in crossing the river and scaling the bank, scarcely fired a shot, and they did not speak ; but they, every one, Avent forward. The trutli is, that the weak-hearted men had been left beliind in the gardens and buildings of the village; the dross was below, and the force on the hill-side was pure metal. Our men were so intent on their purpose, that not one of them, it is said, at tliis time, was seen to cast back a look towards the ground whence support might be coming. The assailants were nearing the breastwork, when, after a lull of a few moments, its ordnance all thundered at once, or at least so nearly at the same moment that the pathway of their blast was a broad one ; and there were many who fell ; but the onset of our soldiery was becoming a rush. Codrington, riding in front of the men, gaily cheered them on ; and all who were not struck down by shot pi'essed on towards the long bank of smoke which lay dimly enfolding the redoubt. But already — though none of the soldiery en- gaged then knew who wrought the spell — a hard stress had been put upon the enemy. For a while, indeed, the white bank of smoke, lit tlirough here and there with the slender flashes of musketry, stood fast in the front of the parapet, and still all but shrouded the helmets and the glittering bay- onets within ; but it grew more thin : it began to rise ; and, rising, it disclosed a grave change in the counsels of the Eussian Generals. Some