Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/331

 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. 309 Lord George Paget holloaed out to them, ' Well, chap. ' you must go about, and do the best you can. L ' Threes about ! ' The order was obeyed, and both regiments now fronted towards the body of Lancers which stood barring their line of retreat. In both regiments strenuous exertions were made to get the men together ; and wherever, in this little band, an officer sat in his saddle, there also there was a sword in the air and a voice commanding the rally. The force was joined by some troopers be- longing to the first line. In the hastily attempted array which was now in some slight measure formed, the (proper) rear- rank formed the front, and the officers had to fol- low, instead of leading, their line. In such a position they were evidently more likely than the rest of the force to be cut off by the Kussian Lancers : but this was not all ; for behind them, as we know, and at a distance of but a few yards, they had the bodies of the Eussian cavalry which had come up in pursuit from the neighbourhood of the aqueduct. Thus placed, our officers were not only exposed beyond measure to the dangers of the hour, but also shut back in positions un- favourable to the exercise of command. With but little attempt at the preservation of order, the English horsemen moved off at such speed as they could command, driving straight towards the thicket of lances which threatened to bar their retreat. They presently began to incur the fire of some Russian artillery ; but, upon the