lines, of turning him upon the flank, or piercing him
through the centre, were here found impracticable. He might launch his
avalanche of grape-shot, he might pour down his crashing columns of
cavalry, he might send forth the iron storm of his brave infantry; but,
though death in every shape heralded their approach, still were others
found to fill the fallen ranks, and feed with their heart's blood the
unslaked thirst for slaughter. Well might the gallant leader of this
gallant host, as he watched the reckless onslaught of the untiring
enemy, and looked upon the unflinching few, who, bearing the proud badge
of Britain, alone sustained the fight, well might he exclaim, "Night,
or Bluecher!"

It was now seven o'clock, when a dark mass was seen to form upon the
heights above the French centre, and divide into three gigantic
columns, of which the right occupied the Brussels road. These were the
reserves, consisting of the Old and Young Guards, and amounting to
twelve thousand--the _elite_ of the French army--reserved by the Emperor
for a great _coup-de-main_. These veterans of a hundred battles had been
stationed, from the beginning of the day, inactive spectators of the
fight; their hour was now come, and, with a shout of "_Vive
l'Empereur!_" which rose triumphantly over the din and crash of battle,
they began their march. Meanwhile, aids-de-camp galloped along the
lines, announcing the arrival of Grouchy, to reanimate the drooping
spirits of the men; for, at last, a doubt of victory was breaking upon
the minds of those who never before, in the most adverse hour of
fortune, deemed _his_ star could set that led them on to glory.

"They are coming: the attack will be made on the centre, my lord," said
Lord Fitzroy Somerset, as he directed his glass upon the column.
Scarcely had he spoke when the telescope fell from his hand, as his arm,
shattered by a French bullet, fell motionless to his side.

"I see it," was the cool reply of the Duke, as he ordered the Guards to
deploy into line, and lie down behind the ridge, which now the French
artillery had found the range of, and were laboring at with their guns.
In front of them the fifty-second, seventy-first, and ninety-fifth were
formed; the artillery, stationed above and partly upon the road, loaded
with grape, and waited but the word to open.

It was an awful, a dreadful moment: the Prussian cannon thundered on our
left; but so desperate was the French resistance, they mad