‘A glorious capture!’ cried Captain Norreys, wild with delight. ‘Lord Raglan will be pleased with this night’s work.’
It took some time, though, to get all under way again, and dawn was breaking as they moved off.
Captain Norreys remained behind as rear-guard with about sixty men, amongst whom were Jack, Will, and Larry.
‘Bedad, this bates Donnybrook into a cocked hat,’ said Larry to Jack as he rode by. ‘If the Rooshians would only stand their ground the Crimea would be the finest place in the wurrld.’
They had travelled some distance when, just as the sun was rising, Jack noticed, topping a ridge on their left front, a whole forest of lance-heads.
‘Look there, sir,’ he cried to the captain.
‘Form column of troops!’ cried that officer, and Lancers and Hussars swung forward to get between the Russians and the convoy.
Carbines were loaded and swords loosened in their scabbards as fully five hundred Cossacks and Hussars came sweeping over the crest.
‘One volley, then charge,’ said Captain Norreys coolly.
The enemy came on at a slow trot till they were about a hundred yards distant, when the British delivered their fire.