Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/321

 THE MAIN FIGHT. 277 did. Kussiim soldiers detached from the ranks chap. went about IVoiu spot to spot despatching the wounded English they saw on the ground, and 2dP«riod even in their superlative carefulness transfixing men seemingly dead.* A Russian lying wounded at Burnaby's side malignantly invited the atten- tion of these fell destroyers to the English Cap- tain, but Burnaby had a loaded revolver and could speak the Muscovite tongue. He silenced his neighbour by pointing the pistol at him and telling him that if he spoke again he would shoot him. Then, pistol in hand, he awaited his des- tiny with a determination to sell his life dear. Despite the still combative energies of Archer and Hill and Troy, both they and their Captain and the rest of the seven survivors must have been soon despatched or made prisoners if no succour had come from without. Succour came. We saw how on the right of opportune Hill Bend a French battalion of infantry — a bat- theFrencL talion of the Sixth of the Line — stood resisting Line, the entreaties of all who would then drive it into the fight, and we learnt that our people, in the rage and impatience provoked by this lengthened recusancy, had suffered themselves to use bitter words. Well, now this very battalion — this much ter to men who remained upstanding. It was against prostrate soldiery that their homicidal mania raged. They probably had an idea — and it was one not always ill founded — that a recum- bent soldier, whether wounded or not, might retain, and would be likeljf to exercise his power to harm them. In Burnaby, no doubt, though prostrated, they still had a dangerous foe.
 * There is no proof that the Russians in general refused quar-