Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/134

 112 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. OH A P. L General Scarlett in the column. Elliot's encounter with the Russian officer in front of the column. far into the column as to be protected by the very bodies of his adversaries from the shock which must needs be inflicted by the Greys and Innis killings when charging the front of the column. From the moment when the Brigadier had thus established himself in the midst of his foes, it resulted, of course, that his tenure of life was by the sword, and not by the sword which is a metaphor, but by that which is actual, and of steeL Scarlett, it seems, had no pretension to be more than a passably good swordsman, and he had the disadvantage of being near-sighted ; but he knew how to handle his weapon, and in circumstances which exposed him to attack from several at the same time, he had more need of such unflagging industry of the sword-arm as might keep the blade flashing here, there, and on all sides in quickly successive whirls, than of the subtle, the delicate skill which prepares men for combats of two. It was partly, perhaps, from the circumstance of Elliot's approaching him on the side of his sword-arm that the Russian officer in front of the column chose the aide - de - camp for his antagonist instead of the chief; but be that as it may, he faced Elliot as he approached and endeavoured to cut him down. Evading or parry- ing the cut, Elliot drove his sword through the body ot the assailant, and the swiftness with which he was galloping up whilst delivering this thrust was so great that the blade darted in to the very hilt ; but until the next moment, when