[ginp-users] most c

[Haffling W. <lob...@cs...>]

N in time? Yet one thing puzzled him. The enemy, after forcing his
flank, had shown no disposition, even with their overwhelming force,
to turn aside and

crush him. He could easily have fallen back,
when it was possible to hold the ridge no longer, without pursuit. His
other flank and rear were not threatened, as they might have
been, by the division of so large an attacking column, which was
moving steadily on towards the ridge. It was this fact that seemed to
show a failure or imperfection in
the enemy's plan. It was possible that his precipitation of the attack
by the changed signal had been the cause of it. Doubtless some
provision
had been made to attack him in flank and rear, but in the unexpected
hurry of the onset it had to be abandoned. He could still save
himself, as his officers knew; but his conviction that he might yet be
able to support his divisional commander by holding his position
doggedly, but coolly

awaiting his opportunity, was strong. More than that, it was his
temperament and instinct. Harrying them in flank and rear, contesting
the ground inch by inch, and holding his own against the artillery
sent to dislodge him, or the outriding cavalry that, circling
round, swept through his open ranks, he saw his files melt away beside
this steady current without flinching. CHAPTER VI. Yet all along the
fateful ridge--now obscured and confused with thin crossing
smoke-drifts from file-firing, like partly rubbed-out slate-pencil
marks; or else, when cleared of those drifts, presenting only an
indistinguishable map of zigzag lines of straggling wagons and horses,
unintelligible to any eye but his--the singular magnetism
of the chief was felt everywhere: whether it wa