3. It is a maxim of war, that "cavalry never act without a support," that "infantry should be close at hand when cavalry carry guns, as the effect is only instantaneous," and that it is necessary to have on the flank of a line of cavalry some squadrons in column, the attack on the flank being most dangerous. The only support our light cavalry had was the reserve of heavy cavalry at a great distance behind them, the infantry and guns being far in the rear. There were no squadrons in column at all; and there was a plain to charge over, before the enemy's guns were reached, of a mile and a half in length.

4. At ten minutes past eleven our light cavalry brigade advanced. The whole brigade scarcely made one effective regiment, according to the numbers of Continental armies, and yet it was more than we could spare. As they rushed toward the front, the Russians opened on them from the guns in the redoubt on the right with volleys of musketry and rifles. They swept proudly past, glittering in the morning sun in all the pride and splendor of war.

5. We could scarcely believe the evidence of our senses! Surely that handful of men are not going to charge an army in position? Alas! it was but too true. Their desperate valor knew no bounds, and far indeed was it removed from its so-called better part-discretion. They advanced in two lines, quickening their pace as they closed toward the enemy. A more fearful spectacle was never witnessed than by those who beheld these heroes rushing to the arms of death.

6. At the distance of 1200 yards the whole line of the enemy belched forth from thirty iron mouths a flood of smoke and flame, through which hissed the deadly balls. Their flight was marked by instant gaps in our ranks, by dead men and horses, by steeds flying wounded or riderless across the plain. The first line is broken-it is joined by the second-they never halt, or check their speed an instant—with diminished ranks, thinned by those thirty guns, which the Russians had laid with the most deadly accuracy-with a halo of flashing steel above their heads-and with a cheer which was many a noble fellow's death-cry, they flew into the smoke of the batteries; but ere they were lost from view

the plain was strewed with their bodies, and with the carcases of horses.

7. They were exposed to an oblique fire from the batteries on the hills on both sides, as well as to a direct fire of musketry. Through the clouds of smoke we could see their sabers flashing as they rode up to the guns and dashed between them, cutting down the gunners as they stood. To our delight, we saw them returning after breaking through a column of Russian infantry, and scattering them like chaff, when the flank fire of the battery on the hill swept them down, scattered and broken as they were. Wounded men and dismounted troopers flying toward us told the sad tale. Demigods could not have done what they had failed to do.

8. At the very moment when they were about to retreat, an enormous mass of Lancers was hurled on their flank. Colonel Shewell, of the 8th Hussars, saw the danger, and rode his few men straight at them, cutting his way through with fearful loss. The other regiments turned, and engaged in a desperate encounter. With courage too great almost for credence, they were breaking their way through the columns which enveloped them, when there took place an act of atrocity without parallel in the modern warfare of civilized nations.

9. The Russian gunners, when the storm of cavalry passed, returned to their guns. They saw their own cavalry mingled with the troopers who had just ridden over them; and, to the eternal disgrace of the Russian name, the miscreants poured a murderous volley of grape and canister on the mass of struggling men and horses, mingling friend and foe in one common ruin. It was as much as our heavy cavalry brigade could do to cover the retreat of the miserable remnants of the band of heroes as they returned to the place they had so lately quitted. At thirty-five minutes past eleven, not a British soldier, except the dead and dying, was left in front of the Russian guns.

a The "historic present," which is here introduced, is always of the nature of vision. (See page 236.) It is far more impressive than narrative in the past tense. See the fine use which is made of this figure by Webster, page 305. It should be employed sparingly, and only in excited narrative.

LESSON CXLIV.

CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (II.).

Dactylic Measure.-TENNYSON.

[The leading measure here is dac tyl'ic, which, in its movement, is specially adapted to the events described. Thus, nothing could be more naturally suggestive of the regular gallop of cavalry than the imitative measure of the first two lines of the first verse, and of the first four lines of the third and fifth verses.]

1. HALF a league, half a league,

Half a league onward,

All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the gunsa!" he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

2. "Forward, the Light Brigadea!"
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldiers knew

Some one had blundered!

Theirs not to make reply,

Theirs not to reason why,

Theirs but to do and die :-
Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

3. Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them,

Volleyed and thundered;

Stormed at with shot and shell,

Boldly they rode, and well;

Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell,

Rode the six hundred.

4. Flashed all their sabers bare,
Flashed as they turned in air,

Sab'ring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while

All the world wondered:
Plunged in the battery-smoke,
Right through the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian

Reeled from the saber-stroke,

Shattered and sundered.

Then they rode back-but not,

Not the six hundred.

5. Cannon to right of them,

Cannon to left of them,

Cannon behind them

Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,

They that had fought so well
Came through the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them-
Left of six hundred.

6. When can their glory fade!
Oh, the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honor the charge they made!
Honor the Light Brigade,

Noble six hundred!

The historic present, which is used only twice in this piece.

LESSON CXLV.

CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (III.).

Trochaic Measure.-JAMES BARRON HOPE.

[Here another author, in describing the same scenes, uses the tro chā'ic measure, which, moving steadily forward with the strength always indicated by abrupt force, seems adapted to trample down all opposing obstacles; but it is wanting in that graceful galloping movement which is characteristic of the dactylic. The historic

present is here used more than the historic past. Let the pupil point out the several changes from the one to the other.]

1. DASHING onward, Captain Nolan

Spurring furiously is seen-
And although the road meanders,
His no heavy steed of Flanders,
But one fit for the commanders
Of her Majesty the Queen.

2. Halting where the noble squadrons
Stood impatient of delay,

Out he drew his brief dispatches,
Which their leader quickly snatches,
At a glance their meaning catches-
They are ordered to the fray.

3. Brightly gleam six hundred sabers,
And the brazen trumpets ring:
Steeds are gathered-spurs are driven-
And the heavens wildly riven
With a mad shout upward given,
Scaring vultures on the wing.

4. Onward! on! the chargers trample,
Quicker falls each iron heel,
And the headlong pace grows faster;
Noble steed, and noble master!
Rushing on to red disaster,

Where the heavy cannons peal!

5. In the van rides Captain Nolan,
Wide his flying tresses wave,
And his heavy broad-sword flashes
As
upon the foe he dashes-
Ah! his face turns pale as ashes,
He has ridden to his grave.

6. Down he fell, prone from his saddle,
Without motion, without breath;