Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/306

 2t>2 THE BATTLI'; OF INKiatiMAN. CHAP. VI. 2d Period. Death of Cathcart. Beymour killed and Maitlaiid wounded. The remains of the fifty assailants. line without regard to diversity of regiment; but they dechired that any such ei'lbi't wonhl be vain, because they had no cartridges left. Maitland having thus failed in his purpose turned back towards Sir George Cathcart, and found him sitting on his horse in a small sheltered nook within some fifteen or twenty yards of the Russians. Seeing his favourite staff officer ap- proach, Cathcart moved a step or two towards him, and — being already in anguish — he now, as it seemed, upon hearing Major Maitland's report, would have to endure a new pang. But in an instant, the conditions of his welfare so changed that the bulk of God's reasoning creatures might well enough envy him ; for the great Deliverer came, withdrawing him from the agony of discom- fiture, from censure, from controversy, from all the torments of life, and surrounding him at the last with a halo which the everyday world cannot give. Whilst moving towards Maitland, and thus partly quitting his shelter, Cathcart all at once dropped from his saddle, and was blest with a soldier's death. A musket ball had passed through his heart. Colonel Seymour — Charles Seymour — fell slain by the side of his chief, and Maitland was grievously wounded. Our soldiers left standing on tliis part of the acclivity became stragglers again as before, mov- ing whither they chose in the brushwood, till at last — with the troops further down — they came under the guidance of Windham. The position thus mainlaiiud by a Russian bat-