eats they had suffered, would
immediately commence an attack. The country was level for miles on
every side; the colonel was therefore glad to find a spot where he could
halt, with a deep and broad stream on one side, and a thick jungle in
the rear, which neither the enemy's infantry nor artillery could
penetrate. He accordingly halted here: the infantry drawn up in the
centre, and the cavalry on either flank, ready to charge the guns of the
enemy, should they have brought any with them.

In silence the little force waited the expected attack. The rebels at
length appeared. Colonel Ross ordered the infantry to fire as they came
within range; and then, at a preconcerted signal, Reginald and Burnett,
leading on their troopers, desperately charged the rebel forces. Many
on both sides went down, but the rebels, relying on their numbers, and
knowing the weakness of the force opposed to them, refused to give way.
The moon afforded sufficient light to enable the combatants to continue
the fight, and Reginald could not help fearing that, after all the
efforts of his party, they might be defeated. Again and again he led
his men to the charge--when the sound of English bugles reached his
ears. Just at that moment a bullet struck him and he fell to the
ground, his steed galloping off unperceived by his followers. He lay
amid a heap of slain, unable to move, while his horsemen followed up the
charge. The fight continued raging around him for some time. Then he
heard the heavy tramp of cavalry, and the rattling sound of artillery,
followed closely by the roar of the guns as they opened fire. Lifting
up his head, he saw a dark red line, with bayonets glittering in the
moonlight, emerging from behind the wood. The enemy also saw them, and
poured in on them as they approached a round of musketry; but not a
moment did they stop to receive the charge made by the British regiment,
which, advancing at the double, drove them like chaff before the wind.
Reginald saw no more; his head sank back, and he lay like the clods of
the earth around him.

The British troops had had a hard day's march, for, receiving
intelligence of the near vicinity of a large rebel force, they had
pushed on to attack them before they could escape. The remainder of the
English column coming up, tents were pitched, while the cavalry pursued
the flying foe, cutting down all they overtook, no quarter being asked
or offered.

Dawn was breaking, when a sent