Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/374

 330 THE BATTLE OF INKEKMAN. CHAP. VI. 3d Period. Wliat Oie source of Lord Raglan's ajiparent confiilence at this crisis ? The, lOU iiicii of the 55th rallied 'ilid re-foriuii>i. enemy must have wrouglit a great havoc iu the Headquarter Staff; but none of them in reality, except General Strangways, were either killed or much hurt ; and after the few moments spent in extricating fallen riders from their overthrown chargers, this little cluster of horsemen remained undisturbed. If any man, appalled by the void which now yawned in the very centre of the Allied defences, were inclining to harbour despair, he might turn to the Headquarter Staff and there come under the spell that is wrought in moments of trial by a. commander who seems free from care. After seeing the Kussians break over the crest, Lord Raglan had to witness their gathering on the reverse slope of the Ridge, and this at a time when he had not in hand one battalion with which to beat back the assault. Was his calm a sheer quality or mood of the soul scarce de- pendent on outward circumstance ? Or, was it perhaps a mask concealing — for the good of his people — all outward signs of care? From the spot where he sat in his saddle on the reverse slope of the Ridge he could see the small remnant of the 55th, but this body was scarce 100 strong, and moreover had just been surprised and driven back from the crest. In so scant a number of discomfited men, did he still see a power of resil- ience that might work the needed miracle ? When the Russians surprised and drove back that small remnant of the 55th, they lingered as though well content with the ground they already