Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/205

 THE APRIL BOMBARDMENT. 173 ' advanced No. VII.,' affronting the pride of Sebas- C ha p. topol, and obeying their favourite chief. Know- 1_ ing that a sand-bag battery, though broken up into ruins, could still be quickly repaired, and that all the disabled guns might be either made ready for use or else be replaced before sunrise, they saw before them a prospect that st rangely fas- cinated their imaginations— a prospect of fighting once more under Oldershaw, and ' having it out ' with the enemy on the site of their five hours' strife. They imagined, it seems, that if Oldershaw would prefer their request, they, although not ' told off ' for the service in accordance with strict ' turn of duty,' might still have him once more for their chief in that new fight on old ground which the order ' in orders ' announced. The message that resulted from this nobly warlike impulsion was brought to Captain Older- shaw in his tent by the ' corporal on duty ' in the artillery camp, and delivered in dry, simple words : — ' The men who fought with you yester- ' day, sir, wish to fight again with you.' Captain Oldershaw answered the Corporal, and briefly confessed himself proud. He spoke of his own feelings only towards those who had sent him the message ; but our people now, after long years, will understand and will share the pride he took in such men. VII. One is all the more bound to lay stress on this; Gnmndfor laying lull tight of the 13th of April since — withdrawn by a stress on the