The roar of
the cannon was so near that Harry, for an instant, was deafened by the
crash. Then he heard groans and cries and saw men falling around him.
In another moment came the swish of rifle bullets, and the ranks of
the Invincibles were cut and torn with lead. The young recruits were
receiving their baptism of fire and it was accompanied by many wounds
and death.
The earthworks in front were hidden for a little while by drifting smoke,
but the Invincibles, mad with pain and rage, rushed through it. They
were anxious to get at those who were stinging them so terribly, and
fortunately for them the defenders did not have time to pour in another
volley. Harry saw Colonel Talbot still in front, waving his sword,
and near him Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire, also with an uplifted sword,
which he pointed straight toward the earthwork.
"On, lads, on!" shouted the colonel. "It is nothing! Another moment
and the fort is ours!"
Harry heard the hissing of heavy missiles above him. The light guns of
the Invincibles had unlimbered on the slope, and fired once over their
heads into the fort. But they did not dare to fire again, as the next
instant the recruits, dripping red, but still wild with rage, were at
the earthworks, and driven on with rage climbed them and fired at the
huddled mass they saw below.
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