Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 5.djvu/341

 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. 319 the single horsemen and the groups or knots of chap. those who kept together were divided by length- ened intervals. The greater number of them were still toiling on up the valley under heavy fire without knowing how much further they would have to go before they might call their lives their own, when at length — and this came by surprise — they all at once caught a glad sound. In their front they heard an English cheer. It ceased, but was presently followed by another, and then again by another. These greetings were the wel- come bestowed by spectators upon each officer or group of horsemen coming up the incline, and re- turning, as it were, from out of the abyss. Lord George Paget (whose wearied horse had long been failing him in pace) was one of the last of the shattered brigade who rode labouring in up the valley. Some officers moved forward to greet him, and one of these was Lord Cardigan. Lord George Paget then uttered an exclama- tion which has now no importance either his- torical or personal ; but it had a bearing, some thought, upon a question formerly in controversy, and was therefore, at one time, so much spoken of that the suppression of the words (though they are now altogether immaterial) might confuse, and be misunderstood. Seeing Lord Cardigan approach composedly from an opposite direction, Lord George Paget exclaimed to him, 'Holloa! ' Lord Cardigan, weren't you there ? ' Naturally, the bystanders smiled ; but Lord Cardigan saw that no jest was intended, and answered at once