ll into its place at once, upon the right of General
Wilders's brigade, and that gallant officer was not long in welcoming
it to his command.

Everyone was in the highest health and spirits, overflowing with
excitement and enthusiasm. At the appearance of their general, the
men, greatly to his annoyance, set up a wild, irregular cheer.

"Silence, men, silence! It is most unsoldierlike. Keep your shouting
till you charge. Here, Colonel Blythe, we will get rid of a little of
this superfluous energy. Advance, in skirmishing order, to the
plateau, and hold it. There are Cossacks about, and the landing is not
yet completed. But do not advance beyond the plateau. You understand?"

The regiment promptly executed the manoeuvre indicated, and gained
the rising ground. The view thence inland was more extended, and at no
great distance a road crossed, along which was seen a long line of
native carts, toiling painfully, and escorted by a few of the enemy's
horse.

"We must have those carts." The speaker was a staff-officer, the
quartermaster-general, an eagle-eyed, decisive-speaking, short,
slender man, who was riding a splendid charger, which he sat to
perfection. "Colonel Blythe! send forward your right company at the
double, and capture them."

"My brigadier ordered me not to advance," replied the old colonel,
rather stolidly.

"Do as I tell you; I will take the responsibility. But look sharp!"

Already, no doubt under orders from the escort, the drivers were
unharnessing their teams, with the idea of making off with the cattle.
The skirmishers of the Royal Picts advanced quickly within range, and
opened fire--the first shots these upon Russian soil--and some of them
took effect. The carts were abandoned, and speedily changed masters.

"We shall want those carts," said old Hyde, abruptly, to his friend
the sergeant-major. They had watched this little episode together.

"Yes, I suppose they will come in useful."

"I should think so. Are you aware that this fine force of ours is
quite without transport? At least, I have seen none. Do you know what
that means?"

"That we shall have to be our own beasts of burden," said McKay,
laughing, as he touched his havresack. It was comfortably lined with
biscuit and cold salt pork--three days' rations, and the only food
that he or his comrades were likely to get for some time.

"I'm not afraid of roughing it," said the old soldier. "I have done
that often enough. We have got ou