CAMPAIGNING WITH MAX. 121 



ment, and then, at last, "Charge!" and with a 

 universal yelling and brandishing of sabres we 

 went forward like the wind. I then felt how 

 mad a venture we had undertaken, for before 

 us was the enemy, it is true, but the enemy be- 

 hind a high and stout, staked and ridered rail- 

 fence. As we drew very near this, still under 

 heavy fire, which now at the short range was 

 telling, the command became conscious that the 

 six-foot fence would withstand our shock, and it 

 wavered. I turned to my bugler to sound the 

 recall, when I saw him out of the corner of my 

 eye, his white horse rearing literally to his full 

 height and falling backward with a crash that 

 must have killed the poor boy at once. The 

 recall was not needed : the regiment had turned 

 and was running. The officers, being the best 

 mounted and generally the lightest weights, soon 

 reached the front, and "Steady — right dress — 

 trot ! Steady — right dress — trot ! " was re- 

 peated along the line, until the drill-ground 

 precision was regained, and then "By fours — 

 right about — wheel!" and we stood facing the 

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