Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/384

 340 THE BATTLE OF INKEKMAN. CHAP. VI. td Period. Preparation for coraliat on Uoiae Ridge. service in an earlier stage of the battle. From time to time after retreating a little way, Vaughan caused the men with him to turn and show front; and, there being amongst them a few who had some cartridges left, he was able to vex the assailants with occasional shots ; but of course no such efforts as these could retard for even an instant the march of the heavy trunk column ; and, indeed, at this time our interposed soldiery must have been doing the enemy more good than harm, because they screened him from artillery- fire. The 200 English retiring from before the great colunm might well cast their eyes up the slopes of Home Kidge in wistful search after some force brought forward to meet the attack. At first they looked southward in vain ; and indeed it does not appear that they, at any time, saw the ' left wing ' of the Anglo-French force collected by Pennefather in advance of the crest; but somewhat suddenly, and with great joy, they found that they were retreating upon a strong column of red-capped soldiery drawn up in good order at a distance of no more than about a hun- dred yards. This force, as we know, was the battalion of the 7th L(^ger. The interposed distance was lessening every instant ; and it soon became fit that without an- other uioment's delay our people should cease to linger between the French and the Russians ; for whilst being themselves ahuost harmless for want of cartridges, they wen; screening the eneiny from