The women, like frightened hares, paused to look up in their brother's
face, as he kept his eye steadily turned towards the ridge of the hill,
and, when he involuntarily wrung his hands, they gave a loud scream, a
fearful concerto, and ran off into the house.

The breeze at this moment "aside the shroud of battle cast" and we heard a
faint bugle--call, like an echo, wail in the distance, from beyond the
hill. It was instantly answered by the loud, startling blare of a dozen of
the light infantry bugles above us on the hill--side, and we could see
them suddenly start from their lair, and form; while between us and the
clearing morning sky, the cavalry, magnified into giants in the strong
relief on the outline of the hill, were driven in straggling patrols, like
chaff, over the summit--their sabres sparkling in the level sunbeams, and
the reports of the red flashes of their pistols crackling down upon us.

"They are driven in on the infantry," said Mr----- He was right but the
light battalion immediately charged over the hill, with a loud hurrah,
after admitting the beaten horse through their intervals, who, however, to
give the devils their due, formed again in a instant, under the shelter of
the high ground. The artillery again opened their fire the cavalry once
more advanced, and presently we could see nothing but the field--pieces,
with their three separate groups of soldiers standing quietly by them,--a
sure proof that the enemy's pickets were now out of cannon--shot, and had
been driven back on the main body, and that the reconnoissance was still
advancing.

What will not an habitual exposure to danger do, even with tender women?

"The French have advanced, so let us have our breakfast, Julia, my dear,"
said Mr-----as we entered the house. "The Allied Forces would have been