Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/228

 202 BATTLE OF TIIK AI.MA. CHAP, the front and on llie iUuiks of the column; and • the constant firing in the air which went on in the interior of the mass showed that that was the place assigned to the young soldiers. The column stood halted at a distance of, perhaps, some fifty yards from the knotted chain of soldiery which represented the lioyal Fusiliers. Lacy Yea was so rough an enforcer of discipline that he had never been much liked in peace-time by those who had to obey him ; ])ut when once the Fusiliers were in campaign, and still more when they came to be engaged with the enemy, they found that their chief was a man who could and would seize for his regiment all such chances of welfare and glory as might come with the fortune of war. They were destined to learn before many months should pass over that, although other regiments might be dying of want, yet, by force of their Colonel's strong will, there was food and warmth to be got for the Pioyal Fusiliers ; and already they well under- stood that the fiery nature of their chief was a quality good in battle. The martinet of the barrack-yard was in war-time a trusted ruler — a king beloved by his people. Lacy Tea had not time to put his Fusiliers in their wonted array, for the enemy's column was so near that, forthwith and at the instant, it was necessary to ply it with fire ; but what man could do, he did. His very shoulders so laboured and strove with the might of his desire to form line, that the curt red shell-jacket he wore was as