507
TheForeandAftwaited，leaningupontheirriflesandlisteningtotheprotestsoftheiremptystomachs。TheColoneldidhisbesttoremedythedefaultofliningassoonasitwasborneinuponhimthattheaffairwouldnotbeginatonce，andsowelldidhesucceedthatthecoffeewasjustreadywhen-themenmovedoff，theirBandleading。Eventhentherehadbeenamistakeintime，andtheForeandAftcameoutintothevalleytenminutesbeforetheproperhour。TheirBandwheeledtotherightafterreachingtheopen，andretiredbehindalittlerockyknollstillplayingwhiletheRegimentwentpast。
Itwasnotapleasantsightthatopenedontheuninstructedview，forthelowerendofthevalleyappearedtobefilledbyanarmyinposition-realandactualregimentsattiredinredcoats，and-ofthistherewasnodoubt-firingMartini-Henrybulletswhichcutupthegroundahundredyardsinfrontoftheleadingcompany。
Overthatpock-markedgroundtheRegimenthadtopass，anditopenedtheballwithageneralandprofoundcourtesytothepipingpickets；duckinginperfecttime，asthoughithadbeenbrazedonarod。Beinghalfcapableofthinkingforitself，itfiredavolleybythesimpleprocessofpitchingitsrifleintoitsshoulderandpullingthetrigger。Thebulletsmayhaveaccountedforsomeofthewatchersonthehillside，buttheycertainlydidnotaffectthemassofenemyinfront，whilethenoiseoftheriflesdrownedanyordersthatmighthavebeengiven。
\"GoodGod！\"saidtheBrigadier，sittingontherockhighaboveall。\"ThatRegimenthasspoiltthewholeshow。Hurryuptheothers，andletthescrew-gunsgetoff。\"