Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/156

 126 A SHOW OF RESISTANCE. chap, in act together, and they all instinctively sought ! to make the very most of their scanty numbers by firing into the column (our officers firing even their pistols), but also by vehement cheering; and happily one alert bugler became a host in himself, for — pouring out the glad notes which govern the movement of troops — he wrought on the imaginations of men, and peopled the dark- ness with phantoms of a soldiery obeying his call. itseffeci. The seemingly shallow expedient of attempting a show of resistance with means such as those which were used might pass with many grave men as an inopportune sort of mockery; but — favoured of course by the darkness scarce yielding as yet to dim twilight — the effort, however des- perate, produced a strange, sudden effect. The TheRus- enemy's column began to falter, then stopped. Altering Then — at first with gestures of encouragement toaBtop; and entreaty, but afterwards — with indications of violent rage, with efforts to drag the men for- ward by their collars, and even to enforce obedi- ence by blows from the fiats of their swords, the Eussian officers could be seen trying hard to and fail- make their people come on. They laboured, how- ever, in vain, and the column began to fall back. The English This abortive attempt was the last, and the morn- at break of. . . . 1 . „ . . ■lay stiu mg that now quickly dawned found our people retaining their hold, still holding the Work. Theahare In general, the Russian soldiery were no less Fortune bad. . . in bringing obedient than brave; and the refusal of a power- abonl this result. I'ul body composed of such men to advance at a critical moment sprang plainly from one of those