THE MAIN FIGHT. 413 General Caiirobert had been struck in the arm chap. by a shrapnel, but happily without being disabled, '__ and before long, he was conversing once more with ^^^ ■"'^ Lord Kaglan. No two men could be easily found lan and more unlike one another in temperament than the French and the English commanders, now again side by side on Home Eidge — the one consumed by anxiety, the other enshrouded by some mys- terious quality of his nature which seemed to keep troubles aloof from him. Not unwilling, perhaps, to do something which might divert General Canrobert from his anxious thoughts. Lord Raglan chose this time for directing an aide-de-camp to learn how it fared with General Pennefather on the part of the ridge where he was, and to find out, besides, whether all was still well on the left.* Captain Somerset Calthorpe — the aide-de-camp despatched on this mission — has never ceased to remember the joyous glow of Peunefather's countenance whilst giving and en- forcing his answer. The answer imported that penne- all was going on well, but Pennefather added that message . , . . to Lord at that very time he saw an opportunity opening, Bagian: and that, if reinforced, he felt sure he could bring the fight to an end.-f* He has declared that he did not adorn his actual message to Lord
- As regards the order of events witnessed in battle, the
memory of the most accurate observers will often deceive them ; and being now guided by a chain of circumstances, which seems to leave no room for doubt (see footnote, post, p. 415), I place this incident at a period later than the one assigned to it by Captain, now Colonel, Somerset Calthorpe. + This, he assured me, was the answer he sent.
