"Now what shall I do for some guns?"
Daisy, in a very great state of delight, began to make search
for something that would do to stand for artillery; but
Captain Drummond presently solved the question by breaking
some twigs from the tree overhead and cutting them up into
inch lengths. These little mock guns he distributed liberally
among the white stones, pointing their muzzles in various
directions; and finally drew some lines in the sand which he
informed Daisy were fortifications. Daisy looked on; it was
better than a fairy tale.
"Now Daisy, we are ready for action. This is the battle of
Balaklava; and these are part of the lines. An order was
brought to an officer commanding a body of cavalry stationed
up here — you know what cavalry is."
"Yes, I know."
"The order was brought to him to charge upon the enemy down
_there_, — in a place where he could do no good and must be cut
to pieces; — the enemy had so many guns in that place and he
had so few men to attack them with. The order was a mistake.
He knew it was a mistake, but his General had sent it — there
was nothing for him to do but to obey. So he charged."
"And his men?"
"Every one. They knew they were going to their death — and
everybody else knew it that saw them go — but they charged!"
"Did you see it, Captain Drummond?"
"I saw it.
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