time
he bore down the English and established himself in the farm-house of La
Haie-Sainte.

Napoleon is once more at Belle-Alliance.

"And now here comes Buelow from the east--under the bench here, you
see--and the Emperor sends General Mouton to meet him. At half-past four
(the battle had begun at one o'clock) Wellington attempts to drive Ney
out of La Haie-Sainte. But Ney, who now saw that everything depended on
obtaining possession of the ground in front of the wood--the sand here
by the border of the grass," the captain threw his glove over to the
spot indicated, "Ney, you see, calls up the reserve brigade of Milhaud's
cuirassiers and hurls himself at the enemy.

"Presently his men were seen upon the heights, and already the people
around the Emperor were shouting 'Victoire!'

"'It is an hour too late,' answered Napoleon.

"As he now saw that the Marshal in his new position was suffering much
from the enemy's fire, he determined to go to his assistance, and, at
the same time, to try to crush Wellington at one blow. He chose for
the execution of this plan, Kellermann's famous dragoons and the heavy
cavalry of the guard. Now comes one of the crucial moments of the fight;
you must come out here upon the battle-field!"

Cousin Hans at once rose from the bench and took the position the
captain pointed out to him.

"Now you are Wellington!" Cousin Hans drew himself up. "You are standing
there on the plain with the greater part of the English infantry. Here
comes the whole of the French cavalry rushing down upon you. Milhaud
has joined Kellermann; they form an illimitable multitude of horses,
breastplates, plumes and shining weapons. Surround yourself with a
square!"

Cousin Hans stood for a moment bewildered; but presently he understood
the captain's meaning. He hastily drew a square of deep strokes around
him in the sand.

"Right!" cried the captain, beaming, "Now the Frenchmen cut into the
square; the ranks break, but join again, the cavalry wheels away and
gathers for a fresh attack. Wellington has at every moment to surround
himself with a new square.

"The French cavalry fight like lions: the proud memories of the
Emperor's campaigns fill them with that confidence of victory which made
his armies invincible. They fight for victory, for glory, for the French
eagles, and for the little cold man who, they know, stands on the height
behind them; whose eye follows every single man, who sees all, and
forgets