The Larks Nest 19 



desks for the two fiddles and the bassoon a 

 flash and a puff of white smoke were seen on 

 the opposite height, then another and another, 

 and every man knew that the battle had 

 begun. 



And then the time began to go faster. Bill 

 watched the artillerymen in front of him, and the 

 smoke in the enemy's lines, when he was not 

 occupied with something else under his Serjeant's 

 quick eye. Something was doing down there 

 at the farmhouse ; he could hear it, but could 

 not see. Away on the left, too, he could see 

 cavalry moving, and once saw the plumes of the 

 Scots Greys on the enemy's side of the valley, 

 and then saw them galloping back again, 

 followed by squadrons of French horse. Then 

 an order was given to form square ; cannon-balls 

 began to whistle round, and as the square was 

 formed, some men fell. Then a long pause. 

 Suddenly the artillerymen came running back 

 into the square, and Bill, in the front of the 

 square, could see the further edge of the cart- 

 track in front of him lined with splendid 

 horsemen, who dropped into it and rose again 



C 2 



