rgers, officers' ponies, and other animals, and
quickly loaded them with the cartridge-boxes. Then, leading the
cavalcade, he hurried to the front, asking as he went for the Royal
Picts.

He found his regiment in the Sandbag Battery, and they received him,
so soon as his errand was known, with a wild cheer.

"Excellently done!" cried Colonel Blythe. "You have a good head on
your shoulders, Hyde: ammunition was the one thing we needed."

"Yes," shouted a brawny soldier, "we were just killed for want of
cartridges."

"And want of food," grumbled another; "sorra bite nor sup since
yesterday."

"Sergeant darling," said a third, "won't you sound the
breakfast-bugle? Fighting on an empty stomach is but a poor pastime."

Thus, in the interval between two combats, but always under a galling
and destructive fire, they joked and bandied words with a freedom that
discipline would not have tolerated at any other time.

"I think, colonel, I could bring up the rations: biscuits and cold
pork, anyhow," suggested Hyde.

"And the grog-tub: don't forget that, sergeant" cried a fresh voice.

"By all means, Hyde, get us what you can," replied Blythe; "the men
are all fasting, and some sort of a meal would be very good for them,
only you must keep a sharp look-out for us. We may not be still here
when you return."

This Sandbag Battery, which for the moment the Royal Picts still held,
was the object of ceaseless contention that day. Although at best but
an empty prize, useful to neither side, because its parapet was too
high to be fired over, the battery was lost and won, captured and
recaptured, constantly during the battle.

Even now the Russians, regaining heart, had made it the first aim of
their fresh attack.

General Dannenberg, who was now in chief command, had a twofold
object: he was resolved to press the centre of the English position
and at the same time vigorously attack the right, throwing all his
weight first upon the Sandbag Battery.

The small force under General Wilders, which included the Royal Picts,
soon began to feel the stress of this renewed onslaught.

"They are coming on again and in great numbers, sir," said McKay to
his general.

"I see, and menacing both our flanks. We shall be surrounded and
swallowed up if we don't take care."

"Some support ought to be near by this time, sir," replied McKay.

"Ride back, and see. I don't want to be outflanked."

McKay retired and presently came upon two