r, the regiments of the second
line followed.

As the British stepped forward, a tremendous crossfire of artillery
opened upon them, thirty guns on one side and as many on the other;
but in spite of this the six regiments pressed on unfalteringly,
with their drums beating lustily behind them. Then there was a
movement in their front, and a mighty mass of French cavalry poured
down upon them. The English halted, closed up the gaps made by the
artillery, held their fire until the leading squadrons of the
French were within forty paces, and then opened a tremendous file
fire. Before it man and horse went down. At so short a distance
every bullet found its billet and, for the first time in history, a
line of infantry repulsed the attack of a vastly superior body of
cavalry.

Astonished, and hampered by the fallen men and horses of their
first line, the French cavalry reined up and trotted sullenly back
to reform and repeat the charge. The British drums beat furiously
as the French rode forward again, only to be repulsed as before.
Six times did the cavalry, with a bravery worthy of their
reputation, renew the charge. Six times did they draw back
sullenly, as the leading squadrons withered up under the storm of
shot. Then they could do no more, but rode back in a broken and
confused mass through the gaps between their infantry, throwing
these also into partial confusion.

"Ride to Lord Sackville, and tell him to charge with his cavalry,
at once," the duke said to Fergus; and then checking himself said,
"No, I had better send someone else," and repeated the order to
another of his staff.

Sackville only replied that he did not see his way to doing so. A
second and then a third officer were sent to him, with a like
result, and at last he himself left his cavalry and rode to the
duke and inquired:

"How am I to go on?"

The duke curbed his anger at seeing the fruits of victory lost. He
replied quietly:

"My lord, the opportunity is now past."

Harassed only by the fire of the British and Hanoverian guns, and
by that of the British infantry, Contades drew off his army by the
nineteen bridges into his stronghold. Broglio, who had done nothing
save keep up a cannonade, covered the retreat with his division.
The total amount of loss on the duke's side was two thousand eight
hundred and twenty-two, of which more than half belonged to the
British infantry. The French loss was seven thousand and
eighty-six, with their he