108 NATURE'S TEACHINGS. 



The others directed their muskets towards the enemy in such 

 a manner that nothing was presented to him but the points of 

 bayonets and the muzzles of loaded muskets. In all proba- 

 bility the battle of Waterloo would have been lost but for the 

 use of the " square," against which the French cuirassiers 

 dashed themselves repeatedly, but in vain. 



However admirable may be the organization of the square, 

 whether it be hollow, or whether it be solid, like the " rallying 

 square," the principle is the same as that of the chevaux-de- 

 frise. 



IN the next illustration is shown the " Abattis," one of the 

 most important elements of extemporised fortifications, and as 

 simple as it is important. 



In any wooded country an abattis can be made in a very 

 short time by practised hands. All that is required is to cut 

 down the requisite number of trees, strip off the leaves and 

 twigs, and then cut off the smaller branches with sloping 



\AAAAA 



TKEE-CADUIS. CHEVAUX-DB-FRIBB. 



blows of the axe, so as to leave a tolerably sharp point on each. 

 The trees are then laid side by side, with the ends of the 

 branches towards the enemy, and, the trunks being chained 

 together, a wonderfully effective defence is constructed. 



Not only is it almost impossible for the bravest and strongest 

 man to force his way through the branches, even if the abattis 

 were undefended, but the tree-trunks afford shelter for swarms 

 of riflemen, who can pick off their assailants by aiming between 

 the branches, themselves being almost unseen, and entirely 

 covered. 



