Sometimes the remnants of a regiment would fall back from the front, when a fresh battalion from the reserves came up to fill its place, then forming again, would readvance into the thick belt of smoke which marked where the conflict was thickest.

Sometimes above the roll of musketry would come the sharp rattle which told of a volley by the British rifles.
Well was it that two out of the three divisions were armed with Minies, for these created terrible havoc among the Russians, whose smooth-bores were no match for these newly-invented weapons.
With beating hearts the boys watched the conflict, and could mark that the British fire grew feebler, and in some places ceased altogether, while the wild yells of the Russians rose louder as they pressed forward exultingly, believing that victory lay within their grasp.
"Things look very bad, Jack," Allison said.

"Ammunition is evidently failing, and it is impossible for our fellows to hold out much longer against such terrible odds.

What on earth are the French doing all this time?
Our fellows have been fighting single-handed for the last three hours.

What in the world can they be up to ?" And regardless of the storm of bullets, he leaped to his feet and looked round.
"Hurrah, Jack! Here they come, column after column.