n the left by the 21st and the 63rd.

The Barrier was again re-occupied by our troops, and the third, the
chief and most destructive Russian onslaught, had also failed.

The day was still young; it was little past 9 a.m., and the battle as
yet was neither lost nor won.

The Russians had been three times discomfited and driven back, but
they still held the ground they had first seized upon the crests of
the Inkerman hill, and, seemingly, defied the allies to dislodge them.

The English were far too weak to do this. Our whole efforts were
concentrated upon keeping the enemy at bay at the Barrier, where
Blythe, now in chief command, managed with difficulty, and with a very
mixed force, to beat off assailants still pertinacious and tormenting.

The French were now coming up in support, but of their troops already
on the ground two battalions had gone astray, wandering off on a
fool's errand towards the pernicious Sandbag Battery, where they, too,
were destined to meet repulse.

Indeed, the Russians, despite their last discomfiture, were regaining
the ascendant.

But now the sagacious forethought of Lord Raglan was to bear
astonishing fruit. It has been told in the previous chapter how he was
bent upon bringing up some of the siege-train guns, and how he had
despatched a messenger for them. His aide-de-camp had found the
colonel of the siege-park artillery anticipating the order. Two
18-pounders, which since Balaclava had been kept ready for instant
service, were waiting to be moved. There were no teams of horses at
hand to drag them up to the front, but the man-harness was brought
out, and the willing gunners cheerily entered the shafts, and threw
themselves with fierce energy into the collars. Officers willingly
lent a hand, and thus the much-needed ordnance was got up a long and
toilsome incline.

It was a slow job, however, and two full hours elapsed before they
were placed in position on the right flank of the Home Ridge.

"At last!" was Lord Raglan's greeting; "now, my lads, load and fire as
fast as you can."

The artillery officers themselves laid their guns, which were served
and fired with promptitude and precision.

Now followed a short but sanguinary duel. The Russian guns answered
shot for shot, and at first worked terrible havoc in our ranks.

Colonel Gambier of the artillery was struck down: other officers were
wounded, and many of the men.

Still Lord Raglan stood his ground, watching the actio