Ossian Collection > Romance of the Highlands

148 THE ROMANCE OF THE HIGHLANDS.
and collected as if on parade, have reloaded and are ready
to fire a third volley. It is too much for any troops to face.
The Russians turn and retrace their steps with all speed,
while again a loud Highland cheer resounds through the
battlefield. "And I did not think it worth while to form
them even four deep," said their brave commander.
Other engagements followed, but always the same
story has to be told of how
"The fiery horsemen's shock
Broke like spray on granite rock
While my Highland bayonets shone."
The fall of Sebastopol brought an end to the war.
Hard on the heels of the Crimean War came the
Indian Mutiny, and many of the veterans of that war
found themselves ranged against a fresh foe on the
burning plains of India. The Highlanders were among
the first to land. They knew the terrible story, a story
of Indian troops revolting and killing their British officers
under a mistaken idea that they could finally end our
reign over them. Worse still, women and children were
massacred, for there was no way of escape. Wherever
possible the few white troops concentrated and tried to
make a bold front to the natives. Through treachery, or
inability on the part of Nana Sahib to restrain his
followers, all the British at Cawnpore were massacred and
their bodies thrown into a well. At Lucknow some 535
soldiers, along with civilians, women and children, to the
number of over a thousand in all, took refuge in the
Residency, and, under dreadful conditions, held out for
87 days, when they were relieved.
From the coast a long and difficult march, beset by
the enemy, had to be undertaken before Lucknow could
be reached. A fine old Christian soldier, General Have-
lock, was in command, He had full confidence in all