They entered the lane, and in single file (for the way was not wide enough to admit of more) they galloped on.
They came up with Lord Raglan. ‘You’re late, my lord,’ he said coldly to Lord Cardigan. ‘Come on;’ and he and his staff galloped on with the group.
They soon came to the end of the lane, and then formed themselves on the highroad, down which they went. There, a little distance along, they saw the amazed Russians who were escorting the convoy.
The little party of officers and the two trumpeters, drawing their swords, galloped forward. A score of Cossack infantrymen formed together and fired a volley; but the bullets flew high, and in another moment the cavalry were among them, cutting them down. The drivers whipped up their horses and tried to escape, but Lord Raglan’s escort and straggling Lancers and Hussars came galloping down the road.
The leading guns of Captain Maude’s battery had also emerged from the lane, unlimbered, and opened fire on the head of the column, which had the effect of stopping the flight. The infantrymen flung down their arms and surrendered, the mounted men fled, and in five minutes the convoy was in the hands of the English. The battalion of Rifles came up, and a few volleys accelerated the retreat of the Russians, who seemed only too glad to get off with their lives without troubling about their property.
The spoil of the captured wagons was given over to the soldiers, and a wild scene of plunder took place. The carts were unloaded and the contents tumbled out on to the road. Boxes were broken open, cases smashed, portmanteaus slashed up, and an immense quantity of clothing belonging to the officers of the Saxe-Weimar Hussars was found. Amongst the spoil were shirts, boots, dressing-cases, valuables, an enormous number of fine blue cloth silver-laced jackets and some fur-lined coats; also many cases of preserved meats and fruits, champagne, spirits; a military chest containing some thousands of roubles; and an immense quantity of ammunition.
Lancers, Hussars, Dragoons, artillerymen, Rifles, all were busy. Some secured valuable watches, others articles of attire, some were eating and drinking, and altogether it was a wonderful sight; the men as they came out of the woods on to the road eagerly rushing up for their share of the spoil.
Jack at first stood aloof; but an artilleryman handing him a bottle of champagne, he knocked off the neck with his sword, and calling to Larry, who was enjoying himself immensely, said, ‘Here, Larry, I’ll pay you that drink I lost; we shall never get tipple like this in the canteen.’
‘Shure, Jack, you’re the bhoy for me,’ cried Larry, staggering up under a load of fine linen shirts.
Just then Sergeant Linham and Will came by, and joined Jack and Larry.