Pagina 514 de 3800

CHAPTER XVI

Having ridden round the whole line from right flank to left,

Prince Andrew made his way up to the battery from which the staff

officer had told him the whole field could be seen. Here he

dismounted, and stopped beside the farthest of the four

unlimbered cannon. Before the guns an artillery sentry was pacing

up and down; he stood at attention when the officer arrived, but

at a sign resumed his measured, monotonous pacing. Behind the

guns were their limbers and still farther back picket ropes and

artillerymen's bonfires. To the left, not far from the farthest

cannon, was a small, newly constructed wattle shed from which

came the sound of officers' voices in eager conversation.