There were a dozen officers at his heels, all as merry as if it were a foxhunt, but of the dozen there was not one left in the evening.
"Warm work, Adams," said he as he rode up.
"Very warm, your grace," said our general.
"But we can outstay them at it, I think.

Tut, tut, we cannot let skirmishers silence a battery! Just drive those fellows out of that, Adams." Then first I knew what a devil's thrill runs through a man when he is given a bit of fighting to do.

Up to now we had just lain and been killed, which is the weariest kind of work.

Now it was our turn, and, my word, we were ready for it.

Up we jumped, the whole brigade, in a four-deep line, and rushed at the cornfield as hard as we could tear.
The skirmishers snapped at us as we came, and then away they bolted like corncrakes, their heads down, their backs rounded, and their muskets at the trail.