efore them, they exhibited the greatest desire to rush
down into the plain and charge the cavalry with their bayonets.

"Ninety-third! Ninety-third!" cried the old general fiercely; "none of
that eagerness." Sir Colin's stern voice checked the men, who now
opened their fire. The Russians, evidently taken by surprise, wheeled
to the left and swept round, apparently intending to attack the
Highlanders on the right flank. Immediately the Grenadier company of
the 93rd brought its left shoulder forward to show a front to the
north-east, and, pouring in a rattling fire, compelled the Russian
squadron again to wheel to the left, and retreat much faster than they
had come. On this the English battery opened fire, considerably
scattering the horsemen, as they galloped back across the valley to the
north to join the main body, which was seen coming over the ridge,
increasing every moment in size. It looked, indeed, more as if the
whole surface of the earth was moving, so compact was the dusky mass of
the several thousand units which composed it.

Onward it advanced, as if about to descend into the South Valley. Now
was the Russian general's opportunity. As far as he could then see, he
had only a weak battery and six hundred infantry opposed to his enormous
band of horsemen. By making a sudden dash across the valley he might
annihilate the 93rd before the still distant infantry of the allies
could come to Sir Colin's relief.

"Matters look serious," observed Jack. "We can scarcely dare to hope
that the Highlanders will be able to withstand the charge of that
prodigious body of cavalry; and if they give way, the Russians will
quickly be into Balaclava. We ought to be on board to fight the ship or
to get her out of the harbour, though I don't like to leave the ground
while there is the chance of a turn in the state of affairs."

"They'll not venture on it," answered his friend. "See! see!"

As he spoke, the cavalry halted on the side of the hill to the east of
Number 5 redoubt. The Russian commander had indeed some reason to
hesitate, for, besides the English battery posted in his front on the
side of Kadikoi, which would play upon him as he advanced, he might have
seen the leading files of a French column appearing through the Col, and
which might, before he could overthrow the little band of Highlanders,
attack him on the flank.

Just then also Jack distinguished, coming round from the north end of
the ridge, se