80 SPORTING AND 



done, and we formed up and calmly awaited 

 their arrival. In the mean time the Artil- 

 lery was not idle, but poured in shot and 

 shell among them with great effect, sweep- 

 ing off dozens at each discharge, but this 

 did not cause them to hesitate or waver in 

 the least : on they came like a torrent, and 

 really it looked, at one time, as if our 

 whole army would be swept away by it. 

 At last they were in among us, for, as to 

 trying ! to keep them back, one might as 

 well have tried to turn or stem a mighty 

 river when it is swollen with heavy rains. 



Our first opponents were a body of a 

 thousand spearmen who were pushed on 

 by those in rear ; nothing could stand in 

 their way, for they came on with impe- 

 tuosity and determination. The party I 

 commanded was swept away, or speared 

 in less time than it takes me to tell it ; 



