Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/268

 246 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. chap, activity as to be capable of well - sustained L thought ; and a man, if he chose, whilst he rode down the length of this fatal North Valley, could examine and test and criticise — nay, even could change or restore that armour of the soul, by which he had been accustomed to guard his serenity in the trials and dangers of life. One of the most gifted of the officers now act- ing with the supports was able, whilst descend- ing the valley, to construct and adopt such a theory of the divime governance as he judged to be the best-fitted for the battle-field. Without having been hitherto accustomed to let his thoughts dwell very gravely on any such subjects of speculation — he now all at once, whilst he rode, encased himself body and soul in the iron creed of the fatalist ; and, connecting destiny in his mind with the inferred will of God, defied any missile to touch him, unless it should come with the warrant of a providential and foregone decree. As soon as he had put on this armour of faith, a shot struck one of his holsters without harming him or his horse ; and he was so constituted as to be able to see in this incident a confirmation of his new fatalist doctrine. Then, with some- thing of the confidence often shown by other sec- tarians not engaged in a cavalry onset, he went on to determine that his, and his only, was the creed which could keep a man firm in battle. There, plainly, he erred; and, indeed, there is reason for saying that it would be ill for our cavalry regiments, if their prowess were really