e, which they
learned was General Cathcart's, coming down from the Chersonese.
Trotting on, they themselves were about to climb up the heights on their
left, where Lord Raglan and his staff were stationed, when some of the
party proposed that they should turn to the right along the Woronzoff
Road, in the direction of the redoubts now occupied by the Russians.

"We shall be able to beat a timely retreat, if necessary," said Jack;
"and we shall, from one of the higher points, have a view of what is
going forward in the North Valley as well as in the South."

Without further discussion as to the wisdom of their proceeding, they
trotted on eastward along the Woronzoff Road, keeping a bright look-out
ahead, in order that they might avoid getting under the fire of the
Russian riflemen who might be advancing along the causeway. Before
leaving the hills of Balaclava, they had observed that the Russians had
not got farther west along the causeway than Number 3 redoubt, known as
the Aratabia redoubt. On they went, till they reached a height a little
to the west of Number 4 redoubt, whence they had an excellent view up
and down the North Valley, as well as across it to the Fedoukine Hills,
where they saw that the Russians were strongly posted.

The Light Brigade had by this time moved from its former position down
into the western end of the North Valley, where also the heavy cavalry
regiments were drawn up, as well as the magnificent body of French
cavalry, under General Maurice. Far-off, at the distance of a mile and
a half, they could see a large battery of Russian guns, supported by
enormous masses of cavalry. Jack and his companions continued their
comments on all they saw.

"To my mind," observed Jack, "the first thing to be done would be to
retake the redoubts and prevent the Russians from carrying off the guns
they captured from the Turks. I suppose that is what General Cathcart
will do when he reaches the causeway, though he is a long time coming;
and if I were Lord Raglan, I should be in a considerable rage with him.
I only wish we had a few hundred of our bluejackets; we should very
soon, I suspect, be masters of one or more of the redoubts the Russians
have got hold of."

"See, see!" cried Tom; "here comes an aide-de-camp from Lord Raglan; for
my part, I believe that the cavalry will do the work if General Cathcart
does not come up in time."

Just as this remark was made, the English infantry were seen desce